Sebastián Manusovich
Lead producer, protagonist, co-director and creator of the project.
The Project
A film that reaches beyond the screen.
The Agonist began as an autobiographical documentary about the body, relationships, pain and a decision that could change everything. Over time, the film’s questions found new ways to move: conversations, workshops, installations and experiences created with organisations and communities.
01.
Where did it begin?
The Agonist began when Sebastián’s body started to hurt in a way he could no longer ignore. He had built a life filled with work, love, children, friends and travel. Then the possibility of brain surgery confronted him with an extreme decision: how much of himself was he willing to change in order to stop the pain, and what was he prepared to put at risk?
The film became a way of looking at himself, revisiting fifty years of life and searching for answers without following the obvious or expected path. Sebastián began filming himself to think through the decision with the people he loves and, ultimately, to make it for himself.
The documentary took shape over time, through trial and error: the portrait of a life that is still changing.
Can a documentary keep me standing?
For now, it can.
02.
What does “The Agonist” mean?
The word agonist comes from the Greek agōn, meaning struggle. In the body, an agonist muscle creates movement against an opposing force.
We use this as a metaphor: difference is not something to be corrected or forced to conform. It is a creative, collective force capable of opening up new ways of moving, relating to one another and changing the world around us.
03.
What is our perspective?
We work where art and encounter meet. We create experiences that challenge prejudice, identify barriers and explore more accessible ways of living together.
04.
Why a platform?
The documentary is the work from which everything began, but The Agonist reaches beyond the screen. Its questions unfold through participatory experiences, educational programmes, community-based initiatives and cultural interventions designed for different audiences and contexts.
Documentary→The Agonist→
- Screenings
- Conversations
- Workshops
- Installations
- Programmes
- Community
05.
Who is behind The Agonist?
Pablo Pintor
Co-director, documentary filmmaker and co-creator of the project.
Team and partners
We work with facilitators, educators, artists, producers and partner organisations across different communities and institutions.
06.
Our invitation
Every project we develop begins with a simple question: what happens when a personal experience becomes more than a story and opens up a chance to meet one another?