The series is held from May to July at Madrid's Sala Cardamomo

Flamenco-world.com, May 2005

Filmmaking devoted to flamenco now deserves a revision. The 1st Flamenco Film Showcase has shaped up a program including the showing of a dozen movies, split into three series by subject: Carlos Saura Films, Flamenco Documentaries and Gypsy Films. Among other titles it will be possible to see the films ‘Bodas de sangre’ (‘Blood Weddings’), ‘Around flamenco’, ‘Agujetas, cantaor’ and ‘Gitano’ (‘Gypsy’) free every Monday from May 9th to July 25th at Madrid's Sala Cardamomo. The showcase closes with the showing of ‘Herencia flamenca’ (‘Flamenco Heritage’), the new film about the Habichuela family directed by Michael Meert. The chats complementing this bill are scheduled to be visited by filmmakers such as Carlos Saura and Dominique Abel. Moreover, from August 2nd to 5th, the Flamenco Short Film Festival will be held, open to works by new creators, film professionals and enthusiasts.

Fernanda de Utrera. 'Flamenco', by Carlos Saura

The first edition of the Flamenco Film Showcase at Madrid's Sala Cardamomo kicks off on May 9th with a tribute to Antonio Gades, the bailaor who enraptured thousands of fans all over the world on the silver screen. Besides a concert and the showing of the video ‘Disciplina y libertad’ (‘Discipline and Freedom’) by the Antonio Gades Foundation, an exhibit of film, theater and dance posters will be inaugurated. Directly afterwards, the series devoted to Carlos Saura's films begins with the projection of ‘Bodas de sangre’. It continues on the 16th with the showing of ‘Carmen’ and on the 23rd with ‘El amor brujo’ (‘Bewitching Love’), plus the flamenco chat whose guests are filmmaker Carlos Saura and Faustino Núñez, director of the Antonio Gades Foundation. The series devoted to the Aragonese director ends with the showing of ‘Flamenco’ on May 30th.

In the month of June, the showcase turns to documentaries on flamenco. On Monday the 6th, the documentary film ‘Around flamenco’ by Paco Millán is to be shown. By French director Dominique Abel, who receives a tribute in the series, the films to be shown are ‘Agujetas, cantaor’ on the 13th, ‘En nombre del padre’ on the 20th and ‘Polígono Sur’ on the 27th. A chat is also scheduled on the last day with both filmmakers.

Then in July, the series ‘Gypsy Films’ will take place, consisting of the showing of the films ‘Gitano’ starring Joaquín Cortés (the 4th), ‘Alma Gitana’ (‘Gypsy Soul’) by Chus Gutiérrez (the 11th) and ‘Lola vende cá’ by Llorenç Soler (the 18th). The last day of this third section also includes the projection of the documentary video ‘Nevimata’ by Ramón Vázquez and a chat about the analysis of the gypsy image in movies with the participation of Fundación Secretariado Gitano.

Paco de Lucía and Pepa Flores 'Carmen', by Carlos Saura

'Polígono Sur', by Dominique Abel

The showcase closes on July 25th with two showings of the premiere film ‘Ketama y su herencia flamenca’ (‘Ketama and Its Flamenco Heritage’) by director Michael Meert, currently playing at movie theaters.

The epilogue of this event will be the Flamenco Short Film Festival to be held at Sala Cardamomo August 2nd to 5th. It is open to works by new creators, filmmakers, producers, directors and fans willing to express their ideas about flamenco. The pieces, which will have to be sent to the organization on DVD, will be shown to a jury after a selection process. There will be prizes for the winners as well as backing to present their works at international film festivals.

magazine@flamenco-world.com