Ludovica Fales

Ludovica Fales is a practising artist and researcher at the Royal College of Art, where she is affiliated with the School of Communication. She teaches documentary practice and theory, experimental and interactive storytelling, exploring forms of subjectivity through contemporary and participatory narratives and the relationship with film, new technologies and expanded cinema.

She holds an MA in Documentary Direction and a PhD in Audiovisual Studies, which form the foundation of her academic and creative work that bridges theory and practice in film and media studies. Her educational background directly informs her interdisciplinary approach that combines critical theory with hands-on creative practice.

Ludovica's research investigates film and new media as a praxis of dissent and resistance, examining how cinematic forms can challenge the status quo through non-linear storytelling approaches. Her work centers on creating spaces for subaltern identities and bodies, deconstructing dominant and disciplinary gazes related to class, gender, race and sexuality. She approaches film through decolonial and feminist frameworks, exploring what she terms 'ethics of imperfection' and 'practices of self' as pathways to collective becoming through cinema. Her research extends into expanded cinema, participatory narratives, and the relationship between film and new technologies as tools for social and political engagement.

Her publications and creative works reveal a consistent focus on documenting social movements, exploring new forms of storytelling through digital media, and investigating the intersection of material and digital spaces. Her research particularly emphasizes how film and media can serve as tools for resistance and social change, with significant attention to revolutionary movements, human rights documentation, and alternative forms of representation that challenge dominant narratives.

• Special Mention for Lala, Ortigia Film Festival, 2023
• Audience Award for Lala, Bellaria Film Festival, 2023
• Luis Buñuel Memorial price, for The Tales of the Black Saint, Arthouse Festival, 2022
• Special Mention Youth Award for The Real Social Network, Pravo Ljudski, 2013
• Best Use of Social Media Award for The Real Social Network, Social Media Film Festival, 2013

Ludovica leads significant research projects including 'Spatial Practices in Art and Architecture for Empathetic Exchange (SPACEX),' funded by MSCA Horizon 2020, European Funding for Research and Innovation. She also engages in curatorial practice through projects like 'Other Spaces' art, performance & architecture project, and 'Image Ouverte' art project, demonstrating her commitment to creating platforms for experimental media and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her creative practice spans filmmaking, installation art, and curation, with recent projects including 'Spaces of Coalescence: Material Constructions/Digital Realities' (2023) and 'Sires and Situations' (2023), which explore the intersections between physical and digital spaces, embodiment, and narrative construction.