Uli

While their parents are away, eight-year-old Rafaela stays at home in the care of her 15-year-old sister, Laura. When Laura decides to go visit a boy she likes, Rafaela has to tag along. But then Laura and the boy lock themselves in his room. Rafaela waits, gets bored and finally begins to explore the house. She has a unique encounter with Uli, a queer young woman, and her pet. A film about the feeling of strangeness and the possibility of finding freedom in an unfamiliar place.
by Mariana Gil Ríos
with Ulith Giraldo, María Camila Alarcón, Amelia Mejía Escobar, Emanuel Vélez Hernández
Colombia 2023 Spanish 17’ International premiere recommendation: 12 years and up

With

  • Ulith Giraldo (Uli)
  • María Camila Alarcón (Rafaela)
  • Amelia Mejía Escobar (Laura)
  • Emanuel Vélez Hernández (Alex)

Crew

Director Mariana Gil Ríos
Screenplay Mariana Gil Ríos
Cinematography David Correa Franco
Editing Juan Cañola
Sound Design Deimer Quintero Vertel
Production Design Juanita Salamanca
Costumes Susana Valencia Upegui
Make-Up Mariana Correa
Producers Juan Pablo Castrillon Vergara, Daniela Echeverri Idárraga

Produced by

Movimiento Cine

Mariana Gil Ríos

The director and visual artist participated in Talents Buenos Aires in 2015. Her short film Uli won an award from the Colombian Film Development Fund (FDC). She is currently developing her first feature film Otro Jardín which was selected for the Bogotá Audiovisual Market in 2023 and has received several writing and development grants.

Filmography

2014 El hombre más feliz (The Happiest Man); short film 2015 La hora de los venados (The Hour of the Deer); short film 2020 Silleteritos; web series 2022 Quién tiñe la boca o el ojo (Who Dyes the Mouth or the Eye); video installation 2023 Uli; short film

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024