Cyclovia

Cyclovia is a sensory odyssey through Colombia's cycling culture, exploring how the humble bicycle provides freedom, independence, and hope across a changing nation.

ENQUIRIES

Synopsis

From Tour de France winners to delivery bikers, city commuters to farm workers, no matter what age or socioeconomic status: cycling courses through the veins of the Colombian people.

This is the story of a 20yr old who found solace in her bike and is now determined to become a full time professional racing cyclist on the international circuit. The bike saved her from depression and anxiety and continues to provide an essential daily structure to her life.

The backbone of the film is created from excerpts of her diaries that she will narrate. The starting point is where she discovered cycling, at the same time Colombia was about to sign the historic peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) right up to the present day as she secures a professional contract. 

Along the way, to illustrate her story we move and weave between a diverse group of riders, physically and thematically going from one moment to the next. From daredevil biking rapper El Loko to superstar retired professional Rigoberto Urán, to one-armed cycling activist Berna, amongst a host of others.

The film reveals cycling’s transformative power in addressing climate challenges while bringing diverse communities together through a shared love of two wheels.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Finlay Pretsell is a BAFTA winning filmmaker driven by the authenticity and rawness of non-fiction cinema, with an ambition to immerse the viewer in an experience they wouldn’t usually have access to. He’s drawn to the human condition, fascinated by genuine characters who come out from behind the facade. Finlay arrived at filmmaking by way of a plethora of uninteresting jobs along with an unrealistic ambition of travelling the world racing his bicycle. Never having formally studied film or anything else and after exhausting all other options, he discovered a fledgling Scottish Documentary Institute which was based at Edinburgh College of Art. His debut theatrical feature Time Trial follows Tour de France cyclist David Millar on his last race which was broadcast and screened globally in film festivals and cinemas and is now on Apple TV, Amazon Prime etc. Filmmaking opened up a world beyond his dreams and became a natural way to interact and access people and stories enabling him to create meaningful experiences through film.

DIRECTOR

Finlay Pretsell

PRODUCERS

Sonja Henrici, Finlay Pretsell

CO-PRODUCERS

Nicolas van Hemelryck
Tobias Janson
Sigrid Dyekjaer
Kaarle Aho

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Martin Radich

EDITOR

Kieran Gosney

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Nadja Lapcevic

LINE PRODUCER

Sam Payne

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

Parcel of Rogues Ltd, Sonja Henrici Creates, Casatarantula, Story AB, Real Lava,

King Movies Oy

FINANCING

Screen Scotland

Film i Väst

Finish Film Foundation

Avek