24 – 30 September 2015. Once again and for the 11th year, the London Spanish Film Festival returns with a selection of some of the best recent films from Spain including feature films as well as documentaries and shorts. This year some of the feature films (marked **) will be in competition and the winner will be decided by a Jury: Art Curator Andrew Dempsey, Vanity Fair’s journalist Bridget Arsenault, film producer Frank Mannion and actors Nickolas Grace and Charles Dance.
Once again and for the 11th year, the London Spanish Film Festival returns (24 – 30 September 2015) with a selection of some of the best recent films from Spain including feature films as well as documentaries and shorts. This year some of the feature films (marked **) will be in competition and the winner will be decided by a Jury: Art Curator Andrew Dempsey, Vanity Fair’s journalist Bridget Arsenault, film producer Frank Mannion and actors Nickolas Grace and Charles Dance.
Filmmakers and actors from nearly all corners of Spain will come to London to present their work and bring to the screenings some extra background and insight. For a special session this year filmmaker Isabel Coixet will come with one of her latest films, ‘Learning to Drive.‘ The Catalan filmmaker, who knows no frontiers and works in several countries and languages, will be on stage talking about her career with Prof. María Delgado on Sunday 27 September.
The London Spanish Film Festival is organised by Tristana Media and will take place at Ciné Lumière and the Regent Street Cinema.
Check out the full programme and save the dates!
MAGICAL GIRL
MAGICAL GIRL**
Dir. Carlos Vermut, with Bárbara Lennie, José Sacristán, Luis Bermejo | Spain-France | 2014 | 127 min. | col | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles | London première
At the same time that Bárbara struggles with a mental disorder that provokes anti-social behaviour and selfharm, an unemployed father despairs at his terminally ill daughter’s wish for an expensive dress from her favourite Japanese TV series. Blackmail, prostitution and a former teacher of Bárbara recently released from prison mix in a cool, calm drama that won Best Film and Best Directing awards at last year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.
Preceded by an introduction (tbc).
Thu 24 Sep | 6.00pm | Ciné Lumière
LAS OVEJAS NO PIERDEN EL TREN
LAS OVEJAS NO PIERDEN EL TREN
Sidetracked
Dir. Álvaro Fernández Armero, with Raúl Arévalo, Inma Cuesta, Alberto San Juan, Candela Peña | Spain | 2014 | 103 min. | col | cert. 12 | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
Alberto and Luisa, a couple in a bit of a crisis. He is an unemployed writer and she is trying to earn some money by giving cut and confection classes instead of designing, which was her dream. They have somehow ended up living in the countryside, but life there is not as idyllic as it promised. Alberto’s brother is separated with two daughters and dating a 25 year old girl who loves partying and which rhythm of life he struggles to follow. Luisa’s sister, Sara, is obsessed with finding a man and engages in nearly everything that can lead her to the right one. A delightful comedy about overcoming the challenges of modern life with some of the best character actors in Spain.
Preceded by the short CON BUENAS INTENCIONES
Dir. Virginia Romero, with Gorka Otxoa, Kiti Mánver, Holly Bodimeade, Jimmy Shaw | Spain-UK | 2015 | 15 min. | col | cert. 12 | In Spanish and English with English subtitles | UK premiere
An English family is lost in a remote region of Spain. After driving all night, Brad, his wife Annie & their precocious daughter Katy are tired & irritable. The girl’s apparent distress and man’s obvious discomfort soon fire Eulália’s vivid imagination when they stop in her bar.
Preceded by an introduction.
Sat 26 Sep | 6.30pm | Regent Street Cinema
ÄRTICO
ÄRTICO**
Dir. Gabriel Velázquez, with Juanlu Sevillano, Deborah Borges, Víctor García, Lucía Martínez | Spain | 2014 | 78 min. | col | cert. 15 | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
Gabriel Velázquez’s fourth feature film is both minimal and bold at the same time. Powerful silences are charged with emotion in the stories of two teenage couples in which the boys, both involved in the small local mafia, have completely opposite views of family: one thinks that having a child at 16 ruined his life, the other one that without a family you are nothing. The splendid photography of David Azcano is both suggesting and precise, giving those spoiled lives a sense of beauty and dignity. The film won the Generation 14plus Best Film last year in Berlin.
The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director.
Sat 26 Sep | 8.30pm | Ciné Lumière
TODO EL MUNDO LO SABE
TODO EL MUNDO LO SABE**
Everybody Knows
Dir. Miguel Larraya, with Bárbara Santa-Cruz, Diego Toucedo, Juan Blanco | Spain | 2014 |75 min. | col | cert. PG | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
Marta has been dumped by her lover, a married businessman involved in some illegal transactions and she confides in a friend from her home town. At the same, El Polilla (“The Moth”) shares information with a pal about the businessman and his confidences during the time they shared a prison cell. Jorge, a journalist who is in a precarious situation at the newspaper he works for is ready to buy El Polilla’s story. The film focuses on illegally taped conversations and offers us a potent, compelling and fresh look at the culture of corruption, intrigue and excess spending.
The film will be introduced by the director (tbc).
Sun 27 Sep | 6.00pm | Regent Street Cinema
BOCADOS DE UNA REVOLUCIÓN
SNACKS: BOCADOS DE UNA REVOLUCIÓN
Dir. Cristina Jolonch & Verónica Escuer | Spain | 2015 | 46 min. | doc | col | cert. PG | In Spanish and English with English subtitles | UK premiere
Jolonch, a gastronomic journalist, and Escuer, Director of the Film & Cook festival in Madrid and Barcelona, have joined forces to offer much more than a mere trip through some of the most prestigious restaurants of Spain and their inviting and goluptious dishes. Together they explore the revolution that Spain’s cuisine has enjoyed, the bases allowing that freedom of creativity and the influences, dreams and aspirations of now world-renowned cooks like José Mari Arzak, Ferran Adrià, Joan Roca, and Eneko Atxa, among others.
The screening will be followed by a round table led by Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office, with chefs and gastronomic journalists about this culinary revolution and the influence it has represented worldwide.
Event organised in collaboration with Spain Now!
PACO DE LUCÍA: LA BÚSQUEDA
PACO DE LUCÍA: LA BÚSQUEDA
Paco de Lucía: A Journey
Dir. Curro Sánchez | Spain | 2014 | 95 min. | doc | col/b&w | cert. PG | In Spanish and English with English subtitles | Courtesy of Doc’n Roll Films
This is an exceptionally intimate look at the life of the legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía, who was well known for his shyness as well as his humble and down-to-earth approach to life, as it was shot “in family” and directed by this own son, Curro Sánchez Varela. Through recent interviews with the guitarist himself, who died suddenly last year, and a wealth of archival footage, we see the amazing journey of a post-war poor child who picked up a guitar aged seven and learned to play by ear to international stardom and recognition.
The film will be preceded by an introduction (tbc).
Tue 29 Sep | 8.30pm | £12, conc. £10 | Ciné Lumière
LAS ALTAS PRESIONES
LAS ALTAS PRESIONES**
The High Pressures
Dir. Ángel Santos, with Andrés Gertrudix, Hugo Torres, Diana Gómez | Spain | 2014 | 85 min. | col | cert. 7 | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
Solitary and disillusioned, Miguel returns to his home town in Galicia, charged with finding locations for a film he is not the director of. Completely disconnected from the real world, the character reconnects with his former friends and observes their lives through his camera. While everyone seems to live a meaningful life,
Miguel has long since let his own life drift. This marks the beginning of an emotional journey and an in-depth analysis about his life. In his second feature, Santos invites us into a subtle modern tale, set to the rhythm of poetic photography.
Preceded by the short GALICIA. PORTOBELLO ROAD
Dir. Adriana Páramo, with Mariana Carballal, Estíbaliz Veiga | Spain | 2015 | 9 min. | col | cert. PG | In Galician with English subtitles | UK premiere
Mother and daughter discuss whether to go back to Galicia or staying in London and what it means for them.
Preceded by an introduction by filmmakers Ángel Santos and Adriana Páramo.
Wed 30 Sep | 6.20pm | Ciné Lumière
CARMINA Y AMÉN
CARMINA Y AMÉN
Carmina and Amén
Dir. Paco León, with Carmina Barrios, Paco Casaus, María León | Spain | 2014 | 100 min. | col | cert. 15 | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
After the hugely successful Carmina o revienta (Carmina or Blow Up), actor Paco León gathers together again his own family in this comedy drama in which Carmina, an eccentric and larger than life matriarch living in Seville, refuses to report the death at home of her husband, as she doesn’t want to loose his pension payment coming the following Monday. A superb story involving accusations, guilt, tears, complicity and money, always with a sophisticated Andalusian dark sense of humour, the film revolves around the witty Carmina and her daughter, two women that are used to struggling in life and won’t stop despite any scruples (at one point Carmina says to her daughter threateningly, “I don’t lie. When I say something, it becomes true”).
The film will be preceded by the announcement of the winner of this year’s Festival award.
Wed 30 Sep | 8.40pm | Ciné Lumière
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Official Website: www.londonspanishfilmfestival.com