The Scars of Ali Boulala

Documentary Competition

World Premiere

FEATURE | Sweden, Norway | 100 MINUTES | English, Finnish, Swedish | English subtitles

THE SCARS OF ALI BOULALA

Documentary, Drama, Biography, Sports

At 16 years old, Ali Boulala was on top of the world: the Swedish skateboarding prodigy snagged a sponsorship from Flip Skateboards, who flew him out to LA at the height of the 90s skating craze. Boulala spent his days trying to nail new tricks for DIY videos and hanging out with a global cohort of other precocious pros, who loved Boulala for his charisma and punk-inflected style. But the indulgences of life on tour—especially for a group of death-defying teenagers—took its toll, building to a tragic accident that changed Boulala’s life forever.


In his debut feature, Max Eriksson tells Boulala’s story through an audaciously atmospheric blend of sources: we see Boulala in his prime in skate videos from the 90s and 00s, while fellow pro skaters—Rune Glifberg, Arto Saari, and Kevin "Spanky" Long—tell us who he was off the halfpipe. As Boulala revisits his youth with fresh eyes, he takes a clear-eyed look at the unexpected lifestyle that was inextricable from his childhood talent. As he puts it, a person’s inner scars will always outlast their physical injuries.
—Cara Cusumano


CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Max Eriksson

Max Eriksson is a Swedish documentary filmmaker based in Stockholm. Originally from the south of Sweden, he has directed a number of short films. The Scars of Ali Boulala is his first feature.

Director
Max Eriksson
Producer
Mario Adamson, Ashley Smith
Screenwriter
Max Eriksson, Mikel Cee Karlsson
Cinematographer
Jonas Embring, Ivan Blanco, Iga Mikler
Composer
Warren Ellis
Editor
Mikel Cee Karlsson
Executive Producer
Ewan Bowman, Rebecca Bennett, Danielle Turkov, Ben Marks, Elliot James Perry, Amy Shepherd, Ruth Reid
Co-Producer
Anita Norfolk
Co-producer
Anita Norfolk
Additional Photo
Michael Parry, Majaq Julén, Max Eriksson
Cast
Ali Boulala, Rune Glifberg, Arto Saari, Ewan Bowman, Dustin Dollin, Kevin "Spanky" Long

CONTACTS

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US Sales Contact
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Print Source
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