We’re thrilled to have seen Cornerhouse buzzing with festival goers all week long: having a giggle at 1970s werewolves in Andy Willis’ One Hour Intro, engaging in heated debate over Una Vida sin palabras, and discussing the charming Argentine film Medianeras. People were clearly in the mood for a laugh this week, with the comedies La Vida empieza hoy, La Chispa de la vida and Pescador drawing the biggest audiences.
We also enjoyed two wonderful post-screening Q&A sessions over the weekend, with Álvaro Alonso, the producer of Ali, and Patricia Ferreira, the director of Els Nens salvatges. After the Catalan film a select group of native speakers and language students gathered for wine and lively conversation in the Cafè ‘Els Quatre Gats’. Last night Carmen Herrero gave a fascinating One Hour Intro into the indignados popular movement, followed by a sold-out screening of El Mundo es nuestro which had the audience in fits of laughter during the film and Q&A with Alfonso Sánchez, Alberto López and Álvaro Alonso.
So the busiest ¡Viva! weekend may be over, but the fun hasn’t finished yet…
This Wednesday afternoon we present Long Holidays of 1936, a compelling classic from the late Franco era, followed by an informal post-screening discussion in the Annexe. And later that evening there’s a second chance to see the Canary Islands comedy Del lado del verano, one of our most popular public screenings so far.
There’s also a second chance to catch some of the films that made their UK premiere at ¡Viva! this year – Chocó on Thu 21 Mar, Las Buenas hierbas and 30 años de oscuridad on Sat 23 Mar, and Ali on Sun 24 Mar.
Another UK premiere at ¡Viva! this year, Benjamin Avila’s debut feature Infancia clandestina has just scooped the top prize in the Iberoamerican competition at the 28th Guadalajara Film Festival, and you can see it here on Thu 21 Mar or Sat 23 Mar. We’re also delighted to announce that the wonderful Chilean film Violeta se fue a los cielos is back by popular demand for an additional screening on Sun 24 Mar at 18:25.
And as the festival draws to a close, our partners at the Instituto Cervantes invite you to join us for music, drinks and dancing at the Fiesta Clausura – just pick up a free ticket from Cornerhouse Box Office and make your way to their Deansgate premises for 20:00 on Saturday.
Enjoy the rest of the festival!
Jessie Gibbs
¡Viva! Festival Coordinator