Martin Scorsese is producing Aldeas – A New Story, a feature-length documentary created in collaboration with Scholas Occurrentes, the global educational foundation established by Pope Francis. The film includes what is described as the pope’s final in-depth on-camera interview recorded for cinematic release.
The project was developed before Pope Francis’ death and reflects his involvement in the ongoing Aldeas initiative. The program invites communities from around the world to produce scripted short films through locally organized workshops, combining storytelling, cultural preservation, and education. Participants in Indonesia, The Gambia, and Italy are among the first to contribute films to the project. Their creative process will be featured in the documentary alongside previously unreleased conversations between Pope Francis and Scorsese.
The pope supported the initiative as part of a broader effort to encourage community storytelling and promote cultural exchange. In a statement made before his passing, he described Aldeas as “extremely poetic and very constructive,” and said it addressed “the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts… the essence of a life’s journey.”
Scorsese echoed the pope’s vision in his own comments, describing cinema as an effective way to foster understanding between cultures. “Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally,” he said. “One of the best ways to accomplish this is by sharing the stories of who we are, reflected from our personal lives and experiences. It was important to Pope Francis for people across the globe to exchange ideas with respect while also preserving their cultural identity, and cinema is the best medium to do that.”
The film is being produced by Aldeas Scholas Films in association with Sikelia Productions and Massive Owl Productions. In addition to Scorsese, producers include Teresa Leveratto, Ezequiel del Corral, and Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. Lisa Frechette, Romilda de Luca, Ariel Tcach, and Ariel Broitman are serving as executive producers. The directing team includes Clare Tavernor and Johnny Shipley, with Amy Foster of Massive Owl Productions as lead producer. Cinematographers Ellen Kuras and Salvatore Totino also contributed to the production.
Aldeas – A New Story documents the process of community members developing and filming their short narratives, which will later premiere in newly built local cinemas intended to serve as long-term cultural spaces. These venues are part of the Aldeas program’s plan to establish ongoing access to the arts and media in underserved areas. The goal is to give participants the tools and platform to tell their own stories while preserving the local character of each community.
Scorsese’s involvement includes not only the film’s production but also a return to his ancestral hometown in Sicily, which will feature in the documentary. This personal element is presented alongside the stories emerging from the Aldeas workshops, as well as the filmed dialogue between the director and Pope Francis.
Scholas Occurrentes launched the Aldeas initiative as part of its broader educational work, which focuses on engaging youth through experiential programs. The organization has operated in dozens of countries and is supported by a network of international donors and sponsors. All funding for the film and the initiative is provided independently, with proceeds directed toward further expansion of Aldeas programming.
The documentary is designed to give audiences access to both the creative process behind the community films and the final exchange between two globally recognized figures. The interview between Pope Francis and Scorsese forms a central component of the film and was recorded exclusively for this project.
