The Forensic Film Director
The Argentine director Martin Kraut reveals that he keeps a file of newspaper cuttings that he likes to develop into stories. One such report, from a Uruguayan journal, was transformed into ‘LA DOSIS’ (2020) a tense and…
Latin Londoner #39: Spin, Professional Bboy
Born in Cali and raised in London, Juan David Gaviria Muñoz (aka Spin) is a professional Bboy (breaker): five times National Solo Champion, two times European Solo Champion and five times World Champion in crew category,…
AMAZONAS: The Beauty of Britain's Afro-Indigenous Latinas
Carina Costa Londono brings together some of Britain’s proud Afro-Indigenous to show their natural beauty in a pioneering photo shoot
Latin Londoner #38: Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis, Dancer, Choreographer and Actor
Raised in East London Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis is a queer dancer, actor, choreographer and proud afro-Latina from Dominican Republic. Starting out as a dancer including on an international tour with artist Wizkid and on the…
Latin Londoner #38: Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis, Dancer, Choreographer and Actor
Raised in East London Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis is a queer dancer, actor, choreographer and proud afro-Latina from Dominican Republic. Starting out as a dancer including on an international tour with artist Wizkid and on the…
Spring Hot List 2021
Even in Lockdown you can still Think Latin, Eat Latin, Feel Latin...here's our choice of Latin must-haves and must-eats
'Mujer de Soldado' Dir. Patricia Wiesse Risso
In the sleepy Andean town of Manta in Peru’s Huancavelica province, the wounds of the internal civil conflict between the Shining Path, the paramilitaries and the armed forces continue to bleed. Mujer de Soldado is a documentary…
'Madalena': Another Lonesome Transgender Death in Brazil
Shown last month as part of the official selection at the IFFR film festival in Rotterdam, 'Madalena' shows the reality of life and murder for the trans community in Brazil. The film is not a crime thriller, the police…
The Dose (La Dosis-2020)- thriller by Argentine director Martín Kraut
Angels of Mercy or Angels of Death? The taut psychological thriller ‘The Dose’ (2020) by Argentine first-time writer/ director Martín Kraut screened at the 35th BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, will, no doubt, reopen the…
Soldier's Woman
In an exclusive interview for Latino Life, Clorrie Yeomans talks to filmmaker Patricia Wiesse Risso about her new documentary 'Mujer de Soldado' (Soldier’s Woman) which serves to break the silence surrounding the human…
FRANCESCO (2020) Dir Evgeny Afineevsky
THE BRIDGE MAKER- Pope Francis has broken from some traditions, opening his arms and his heart to all sectors of afflicted humanity in the world. Evgerny Afineesky’s moving documentary reveals the huge scope of Pope Francis’…
Pool Boy (2021) Directed by Luke Willis
American/Salvadorian actor, model, and intersex rights activist River Gallo stars in the short film ‘Pool Boy’ 2021, written and directed by Luke Willis that is featured in the 2021 BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival.
A Passion for Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla has inspired many artists around the world, none more so than Ann Liebeck, creator of Violetta's Last Tango, the opera dance drama that premiered in Wilton’s Music Hall in 2017 and is streamed tonight. Here…
Women in Words: Books for International Women's Day
After the Socialist Party of America organized a Women's Day in New York City on February 28, 1909, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, Paula Thiede and others proposed at the 1910 International Socialist Woman…
Brazilian Filmmakers Karine Teles and Gustavo Pizzi
In their film ‘Trilogy’, ‘Craft’ (Riscado) 2010, ‘Loveling’ (Benzinho) 2015, and now ‘The Last Days of Gilda’ (Os Últimos Dias de Gilda (TV mini-series), Brazilian film makers Gustavo Pizzi and Karine Teles have created three…
Pioneering Black Latina Artists
Recently we published a list of Black Heroines of Latin American History, Afro-Latinas who put their lives at risk, and in some cases gave their lives, in order to shape our history. This week we bring you the brave women who…
'The Last Days of Gilda' Dir. Gustavo Pizzi
A Mini-series in 4 episodes, this is a lively and entertaining tale about the freedom-loving Gilda, who survives on a diet of love and more love, above all.
Queer Films from Spain and Latin America
Celebrating LGBTQ+ History month, here are some films from Latin American and Spanish directors celebrating queerness that we love and we thought you would too.
“Happiness is a Myth"
In his book 'You are not Meant to be Happy, so stop Trying' Basque psychiatrist Dr Rafa Euba argues that happiness is merely an ethereal ghost that inhabits our brain, not something to strive for. Released in these…
Latino Short films at BFI FUTURE FILM FESTIVAL
This festival, despite being relatively modest, is sponsored by Netflix and has attracted 45 short films submitted to screen online on BFI Player (UK only). The Festival is highlighting an interesting selection of budding…
'THE TRAITOR' Dir. Marco Bellocchio
An Italian/Brazilian/French co-production, 'The Traitor', a BAFTA contender this year, is a true crime drama based on the story of how Tommaso Buscetta, a prominent member of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, decided to become…
10 Queer Books from Latin America and Spain
LGBTQI+ History Month has been taking place every February in the UK since 2005 to celebrate the abolition of Section 28 in 2003 (which had previously led to the closure a number of lesbian, gay and bisexual student support…
Paula Hernández: Argentina's New New Wave of Film-making
Paula Hernandez is an Argentine writer and director whose recent film THE SLEEPWALKERS (2019) has been selected to represent Argentina at the 93rd Academy Awards. Being a talented filmmaker, with an eye for creating unforgettable…
Latin Londoner #36: Blanca Huertas, Senior Curator, Natural History Museum
Born in Bogotá, Blanca Huertas is Senior Curator of the Lepidoptera collections at the Natural History Museum. She is responsible for the direct care, development and access of the world’s largest and oldest collection of…
'The Sleepwalkers' by Paula Hernández
The latest film by Argentine director Paula Hernández who continues her successful run of intimate dramas with ‘The Sleepwalkers’ (Los Sonٞámbulos-2019). Selected to represent Argentina at the 93rd Academy Awards, it tells the…
Caetano Veloso – 54 days during the dictatorship
Narciso em Ferias (Narcissus Off-duty) is Caetano Veloso’s personal testimony of his arrest and imprisonment in 1968 during the dictatorship in Brazil. Premiering at the Venice Biennale and shown at DocLisboa, the film follows…
Latin Londoner #34: Gisella Stapleton, Artist
The unique artworks of vibrant colours, inspired by folklore and culture, with social undertones, are quickly earning a name for Peruvian artist Gisella Stapleton. Gisella’s work combines realism and abstract art, mixing figure…
Fish Finding Water: The Story of Pescadito Films
Children’s films do not always get the headlines they deserve despite being vital to the film industry these days. With Disney recently finding a lucrative business in Latino related animations such as the hugely successful Coco…
'3 Feet' Dir. Giselle Geney
This charming children’s short film '3 Feet' by Colombian director Giselle Geney is an unaffected and delightful tale of the challenges and dilemmas facing children when faced with the conflict between their dreams and…
Things You Should Know About...Inspiring US Afro-Latinxs
Changing the world in everything from Poetry to Baseball, from Politics to Hollywood, here, in no particular order, are just some of the US Afro-Latinos who have helped shape the American landscape and who you should definitely…
‘I'm No Longer Here' Dir Fernando Frías de la Parra
Selected to represent Mexico at the 93rd Academy Awards this debut from Fernando Frías de la Parra is profoundly accomplished, bringing a new and highly original voice to Mexican cinema. Garlanded at multiple festivals, the film…
Great Latin American films from 2021
2021 was a difficult year for film, especially cinema releases. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 Academy Awards event took place in April 2021, at the usual event venue, the spectacular Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los…
Top 10 Music Docs on Netflix
At LatinoLife we love our music and there are some great documentaries we've discovered on Netflix that we want to share...from a panoramic view into the electrifying world of Latin Rock to the fascinating lives of music…
Loathe the Word Latino? Blame it on the French!
The word ‘Latino’ may conjure up style and swagger (LatinoLife, of course, equalling all things cool). But having been created as a tool in Europe’s colonial tussle for territory, is the word really cool or has Latin America come…
10 Novels To Gift This Christmas
This list of books takes you from one corner of Latin America to the other with a special trip over the Atlantic to a lost town in the middle of Spain. We chose 9 books written by women authors in this selection where you'll…