Alicia Mendy

Alicia Mendy is a Swiss director of Senegalese and Italian origin. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in sociology, she reoriented her studies towards cinema. Graduating in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema from HEAD-Geneva, she is interested in a cinema that represents and valorizes African and Afro-descendant peoples through the fantasy and science-fiction genres. African spiritualities and oral traditions are an essential part of her short films. Several of her previous projects have dealt with various issues linked to the continent’s traditions and history, focusing on West Africa, particularly Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. She was a member of the film selection committee for the Cinémas D’Afrique festival in Lausanne, and regularly works on projects to promote emerging cinema from the continent. She is also a musician and composer of original film music ranging from classical to electro and Afro rhythms. During her studies at HEAD, she composed two soundtracks for Myra Thiémard’s animated shorts. Alicia Mendy also produces her own film music. At present, she works as a freelance photographer and videographer, producing numerous video clips. Her first-year film Dommages Collatéraux (CH, 2021, 12’) was shown at the Geneva Int. Film Festival, her second-year film Entre Mer et Ciel was selected for the Journées de Soleure, and her Bachelor diploma film Beutset (CH/SN, 2023, 29’) won the Best School Film Award at the Int. Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.