Internationally acclaimed Spanish and Latin American film festival ¡Viva! is set to return for its 19th edition at Manchester’s popular Cornerhouse on Friday.
The UK’s largest and most popular film festival will run from March 8 until Sunday March 24 and features the best dramas, comedies and documentaries from a host of Spanish-speaking nations.
¡Viva! festival programme director Rachel Hayward said she is delighted with the films that have been chosen and cannot wait for viewers to see them.
“We watch, on average, around 60 films in order to select the final 23 or 24 that are in the final programme,” she said.
“We do watch a really wide variety of films to pick out the best dramas, comedies and documentaries.
“Our aim is to get really high quality films and bring films to the UK which otherwise would not be seen.
“For us, we are very much focused on creating a great experience for people – whether they are a language-learner, a film fan or just looking to try something new.”
Miss Hayward has tipped Los Lobos de Arga (Attack of the Werewolves) and Violeta se fue a los cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven) as two films, in particular, fans will enjoy.
The festival will feature many exciting events including workshops, visits from film personalities and an exhibition by Mexican artist Yoshua Okón on the Guatemalan Civil war.
The public will have the chance to interact with Okón and Miss Hayward has promised his exhibition will be one of the festival highlights.
“We are really excited to have Yoshua here is with us,” she said. “The exhibition will last throughout the month.
“He is making a political comment on America’s involvement in the Guatemalan Civil War.
“He creates a reenactment of the civil war, but on US territory and uses very recognizable, contemporary US symbols.
“He is a very politically engaged artist but really accessible as well and he will be coming to the festival, not only to install his work, but also to take part.
“So the public can come along to check out the exhibition and then put questions to Yoshua as well.”
Image courtesy of Telespan 2000 via YouTube, with thanks.
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