¡Viva! opened in style on Friday, with a packed screening of Spanish-Argentine heist caper ¡Atraco! and a lively exhibition preview with Mexican artist Yoshua Okón. The vino, café con leche and conversation flowed at the ever-popular Café Cervantes on Sunday. And after the Opening Gala, the biggest draw of the weekend was Canary Islands comedy Del lado del verano; if you missed it there’s another opportunity to catch it on Wed 20 March.
We’ve got a jam-packed week of ¡Viva! events ahead, starting with Andy Willis’s One Hour Intro into the enduring popularity of Spanish werewolf films. This takes place on Tue 12 March, and is followed by a screening of a retro parody of the horror genre, Lobos de Arga. For more about the film check out our staff review.
If you’re looking for something with a more serious tone, we’re screening two documentaries this week – 30 años de oscuridad on Tue 12 March (read our staff review) and Una Vida sin palabras on Thu 14 March (followed by a panel discussion with local disability experts). Una Vida sin palabras is currently sold out, but please check with Box Office for returns on the night if you’re keen to come along.
For non-native Spanish speakers there’s a chance to practise your language skills at the Adult Study Morning on Sat 16 March, with an interactive study session based around the wonderful Argentine movie Medianeras.
The weekend also brings you opportunities to interact with the filmmakers themselves, with two very different tales of teenage rebellion. Firstly, we welcome Álvaro Alonso, the producer of Paco R. Baños’ Seville-based coming-of-age story Ali, on Sat 16 March. And secondly, the established Spanish director Patricia Ferreira with her Catalan language film Els Nens salvatges on Sun 17 March. All Catalan speakers and learners are welcome to join us for Cafè ‘Els Quatre Gats’ in the bar after the screening to share opinions on this and the rest of the festival.
Mon 18 March will be another busy evening, starting with Carmen Herrero’s One Hour Intro into representations of the economic crisis in Spanish cinema. This leads in nicely to a screening of heist comedy El Mundo es nuestro, another gem from Seville, with the writer, director, producer and actor Alfonso Sánchez here to answer questions along with his co-star and fellow comedian Alberto López. For those of you that speak Spanish it might be worth checking out our Spanish language staff review.
Hope you are enjoying the festival as much as we are!
Jessie Gibbs
¡Viva! Festival Coordinator