Alice is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, specialising in creative storytelling with elements of animation, reconstruction and collage. Alice was born in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alice’s first feature length project, The Undermine is in production, supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Docsociety.  

The Undermine straddles the real world and the inner world of Alice’s family, past and present: four generations in a dream like juxtaposition stitching together a version of the past, and a possible map for the future. As themes of trauma, neurodiversity and system failure emerge, this highly personal story mirrors the worldwide explosion of diagnoses of neurodiversity, an increasing understanding of how different brains work and how traditional western systems have failed them.

FILMOGRAPHY

Workers Union (2018) (16 mins)
(Alice Nelson, Zoë Irvine and Rebecca Milling)

Film installation to accompany a live performance of Louis Andriessen’s Workers’ Union by Edinburgh's Red Note Ensemble, a special event at Lammermuir Festival.

 Ron and Linda (2016) (10 mins)A short documentary, exploring the relationship between a carer and a sufferer of Hoarding Disorder, commissioned by See Me Scotland and Glasgow Film.

En Coulisse (2015) (17mins)
FIlm produced as part of a collaboration with Ethel Maude artists’ collective, commissioned for Hidden Door 2015

War Letters (2014) (17mins)
War Letters is a multiscreen work, based on the short story by Kamila Shamsie. War Letters is one part of Letters Home, a joint production of multi-award-winning site-specialists Grid Iron Theatre Company and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The four stories on which the performances are based were specially commissioned for 2014’s festival. Letters Home went on to win a Scotsman Fringe First Award and was shortlisted for a Creative Edinburgh Award.

Promenade (2012) (5 mins)
In a promenade theatre style, writer/director Alice Nelson takes the audience on an atmospheric journey through Edinburgh. Produced for the Edinburgh International Culture Summit at the Scottish Parliament in August 2012. Producer: Scottish Documentary Institute / Creative Scotland / Edinburgh International Festival Client: Scottish Government

New Ten Commandments (2008) (HDV / 105mins)
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Lansdowne Productions and the Scottish Documentary Institute gathered together some of the most talented filmmakers and visual artists based in Scotland. Collectively they created the feature length documentary, the New Ten Commandments.
Directors: Alice Nelson, Kenny Glenaan, Douglas Gordon, Mark Cousins, Tilda Swinton, Nick Higgins, Irvine Welsh, Sana Bilgrami, Doug Aubrey, David Graham Scott, Anna Jones. Producers : Scottish Documentary Institute / Lansdowne Productions Broadcaster: BBC Scotland1 

Losing Myself (2007) (HDV / 4 x 3 mins)
3 Minute Wonders series for Channel 4 on experiences of dementia sufferers. Producer: Clarity Productions Broadcaster: Channel 4 Losing Myself: Annie - Winner BAFTA Scotland 2007: Best Short Film

Science Scams (2006) (HDV / 5 x 10 mins)
Creative Documentary Series (5 episodes) for Channel 4 on hoaxes and scams perpetuated in the name of science throughout history. Producer: Clarity Productions Broadcaster: Channel 4 

A Map with Gaps (2006) (DV / 26 mins)
Director & Producer In 1972, the director's father set out for Soviet Russia in Supervan, a souped-up Ford Anglia. This is the account of the following 26 strange days, 14 countries and 12,000 miles - a catalogue of minor disasters where fact is way stranger than fiction. Producers: Alice Nelson / Scottish Documentary Institute. Screened at over 40 festivals worldwide and winner of 10 awards, including Best Short Documentary at Slamdance ‘07

A Difficult Case (2005) (DV / 11 mins)
The remarkable story of a woman who owes her life to unseen voices and an eminent psychologist who was prepared to believe.
Producers: Bridging the Gap / Scottish Documentary Institute. Shortlisted for the Jim Poole Award 2006

Vocation (2003) (DV / 10mins)
A priest faces the ultimate test of his faith, when he contracts polio and his ambition to be a missionary is potentially thwarted. Producers: Small Wonders / Edinburgh Mediabase.