Starting tomorrow: ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival 2017

Starting 31 March and running until 17 April, HOME’s ¡Viva! returns to Manchester for its 23rd edition, bringing with it a veritable feast of film, theatre and visual art from the Spanish-speaking world. The festival’s events this year will revolve around the theme of La Transición – the period of vibrant cultural change catalysed by Spain’s transition to democracy forty years ago.

Films such as Pedro Almodóvar’s notoriously racy Pepi, Luci, Bom themselves sprung from this flamboyantly hedonistic counterculture—known as la movida madrileña—while Sarah Perks curates a major new contemporary group visual art exhibition reacting to the movement. Emma Frankland’s new theatre show Republica is inspired by another historical period of transition in Spain and the last time democracy was seen before the Franco dictatorship.

As you might expect from what was originally exclusively a film festival, this year’s packed film programme boasts the best in new Spanish and Latin American filmmaking, including fifteen UK premieres, filmmaker Q&A sessions, and films from ten different countries. The festival will also include live music events, great international theatre and dance performances, including One-Hit Wonders, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Barcelona contemporary dance company Sol Picó. Talks and discussions will also cover compelling current debates in the world of Spanish film, honing in on female filmmakers (cineastas) with a panel discussion, as well as taking a look at the up-and-coming Basque cinema industry.

¡Viva! is part of HOME’s Theatre Spring / Summer 2017 programme. To find out more download a festival brochure or calendar. Book through the box office online or at 0161 200 1500.