With only a month to go, everything is now set for ¡Viva! 2012 and we can’t wait to let the fun begin!
The opening night looks set to be buzzing, with both Emilio Aragón, director of our Opening Gala screening Pájaros de papel, and Mexican artist Minerva Cuevas here to present their work in person. Don’t panic if you miss out on tickets for the Opening Gala, Emilio will be back the following night for a post-screening Q&A, and all you Spanish-speakers might even find him in the Café Cervantes event that afternoon! Don’t feel left out if English-language events are more your cup of tea, Minerva will lead an illuminating tour of her Gallery 1 exhibition on Saturday lunchtime, welcoming all your questions and comments.
If this week’s British Animation Awards screenings have whet your appetite for more, there are two special treats in ¡Viva! this year, focused on opposite ends of the age spectrum: the wonderfully moving documentary Pequeñas voces, using Colombian childrens’ own drawings and voices, and the heart-breaking and yet comic take on life in a care home, Arrugas.
And good news if you’re a Cornerhouse member, tickets are exclusively available to you from today until Wed 8 February, before going on sale to the general public on Thu 9 February. Something to bear in mind though – any priority booking period tickets will need to be purchased by phone or in person. Then on Thu 9 Feb we will open booking out to everyone!
And if you’re looking for the ultimate ¡Viva! experience we are pleased to announce that we have Festival Passes on sale for £50 full/ £36 concs, or if you’re a member you can take advantage of special members’ prices of £42 full/ £28 concs. Download a festival pass from our website here, or pick one up from Box Office. The pass doesn’t include the Opening Gala screening, or the Saturday screening of Pájaros de papel, both of which are sure to be popular – so we recommend early booking for these in particular.
More news to follow, so watch this space! And don’t forget to check out the ¡Viva! homepage with the full programme here.
Jessie Gibbs
¡Viva! Festival Co-ordinator