Emotional challenges for a Colombian immigrant in the UK
Santi (2021) is a 10-minute short film directed by up-and-coming talent Harry Richards. He talks to Latino Life about the film and its inception, and explains that the short is a taster for what will become a 90-minute feature…
Daddy Yankee performs @ 02 Arena
London provided an electric atmosphere at The 02 but the performance by the King of Reggaetón didn't do it justice, says Abhijit Kapadia
Tango, Tanguera - an interview with Diego Romay
One of the most popular shows of one of the most popular dance genres, Tango, comes again to Sadlers Wells this summer. Corina Poore talks to famed Argentine choreographer Diego Romay about the history of tango and his show…
Birdsong in Quechua
Considered one of the most important indigenous singers to emerge out of South America over the last 50 years, through her 25 albums Luzmila Carpio has inspired millions while singing in both her native Aymara-Quechua language…
Marlon’s Lechona
Colombians love pork, and this stuffed pork, presented with a whole head attached, is the ultimate party feature served for Christmas, birthdays and any special occasion. It’s filled with pigeon peas and cooked rice (deliciously…
Picasso and Paper
This exhibition at the Royal Academy has concentrated on Pablo Picasso’s output on paper, which entails a large number of drawings and different inventive and dazzling works in many formats, from pastels, lincuts, watercolours,…
DEBRIS (DESECHOS) Dir. Julio O. Ramos
Despite being only 14min. long, this short film, that has qualified for Oscar consideration, turns out to be a chilling and riveting thriller. It exposes the tribulations suffered by men who are enticed to the USA for work and a…
Brazil: The Danger of a Bolsonarista Coup
João Cezar de Castro Rocha, a professor in comparative literature at the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), has been studying what he calls the ‘cultural war’ waged by Bolsonaro and his followers. The fruit of this…
Remembering...Pablo Milanés (1943-2022)
Where Poetry and patriotism meet sublime musicality. Any Latin American will know the angelic voice of one of Cuba's most well known singer-song writers, who stands tall amidst a plethora of Cuban musical legends. Love songs…
Seeing Double in Central America - Part 1
In his two part series on Central America, Russell Maddicks revels in the undiscovered joys of Central America from swimming in volcanoes in El Salvador to snorkeling the Mesoamerican Reef in Honduras
Truth or Illusion?
The unusual tale of a commune in the south of Chile takes us on an unexpected journey.It is based on a true story that immediately suggests that upsetting developments may take place, as indeed they do. Produced by the creative…
West Side Story @ Manchester Royal Exchange
Mexican actress Gabriela Garcia's performance is worth a trip to Manchester, says Elizabeth Mistry
The Trailblazers of Latin Hit-Making
From Perez Prado and Vinicius de Moraes to Carlos Santana and Emilio and Gloria Estevan, in our series of articles on Latin-hit-making in the UK, we recognize the heavyweights from Latin America and the Latin diaspora, whose…
Mousse de Maracujá - Passion Fruit Mousse
I’m about to let you into a little secret… it’s the tastiest and simplest recipe to come out of Brazil…. maybe even the world. Passionfruit Mousse (or Mousse de Maracujá as it’s more commonly known as) is made of just 3…
Spotlight on…Rubén Blades
There are many great salsa tunes; ones that, when you hear them in a club and you’re dancing, you don’t want them to end. And then there is Rubén Blades; the Panamanian song-writing law student with an abundance of rhythm,…
London’s Best Latin Restaurants
If your looking for tips on eating Latin in London from those who know the food best, then you could do worse than ask a LUKAS restaurant judge. Being the only Awards to send native experts to judge their own cuisine, you can…
Bacalhoada do Christiano (Christiano's Bacalhoada)
Easter and the onset of spring means only one thing in Brazil...eating Salt Cod! The practice of salting and drying cod has been around for 500 years and is said to have been discovered by the Vikings, who used the method to…
New Kid on the Block Enthralls with his Films
Chino Moya's ‘Undergods’ (2020) is an impressive sci-fi thriller opera prima that reveals much talent. It is a good omen that the Ridley Scott Creative Group have been supporting this production throughout, allowing Moya and…
Away from Tacos and Sombresos: CASA Latin American Theatre Festival
The CASA Festival remains the only theatre event dedicated to bringing Latin theatre to the UK. Now in it 5th year, this week the festival embarks on its usual ambitious feat of 45 events, seducing an eclectic London audience…
London's Top Latin Food Stalls
FOODIE ALERT!!! From Ceviche, bandeja paisa, empandas and churros to tacos, paella, pan de bono and cholados, London has some of the best Latin American street food in Europe. Recently we picked the best of the crop to come and…
BELFONSO - A Story of Love and Betrayal
Belfonso is a powerful tableau-video tale of love, jealousy, rage and betrayal played out between three dwarf characters. It is the result of an artistic collaboration between Argentine painter Ricardo Cinalli and the Argentine…
We Love Charlie Palmieri (1927-1988)
Pianist, organist, composer, arranger, bandleader and educator, Charlie Palmieri, Eddie’s older brother was one of the fundamental players in the development of Latin music in NY. His virtuosity and love for his art drove Charlie…
BLACK ORPHEUS (Dir. Marcel Camus 1959 - new Blu-Ray release)
The classic 1959 Rio Carnival adaptation of the ancient Greek tale about Orpheus and Eurydice, two lovers meeting and falling in love, pursued by the macabre figure of Death, is brilliantly brought back to life in a new Blu-Ray…
Escocesa
A marriage made in heaven as Spain 'a la Escocesa' finds its niche in Stoke Newington
La Vida es Sueño (Life is a Dream) by Pedro Calderón de la Barca at the Barbican Theatre.
Just as William Shakespeare was revolutionizing theatre in England, Spanish writers like Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderón de la Barca were shining bright in the Spanish 'Siglo de Oro'. 'Life is a Dream' is one…
Latin Sports Stars To Watch out for In 2020
You may have heard of some of these megastars before and there may be some new names on the list, but they all have one thing in common – 2020 is going to be a big year for these Latin Sports stars.
THE FABULOUS QUINTEROS
In most families, being a world class musician would be the pride of the family, but if you belong to the Quinteros of San Agustín, Caracas, it is merely fulfilling the duty of a long line of stellar musicians. Amaranta Wright…
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…
From The Docks To The Decks: The Cumbia explosion
Cumbia, a Colombian musical genre whose humble beginnings lie in the port of Cartagena, is finding its way into the hands of enthralled DJs and producers across the world. Why is it, asks Olly West, that a genre celebrated…
Los Amantes Astronautas (The Astronaut Lovers-2024) by Argentine Marco Berger
Prolific Filmmaker Marco Berger (Absent 2011/ Young Hunter (2019) & Horseplay (2022) has developed a reputation for dealing with gender issues in his own distinctive style.
'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…
German Cornejo's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway, German Cornejo, choreographer and lead dancer of the smash hit dance show Tango Fire, is…
Things That Matter to...Luiz Morais
Composer, arranger and 7-string guitarist Luiz Morais was born in Fortaleza, Brazil. Based in London since 201, the 32 year-old Brazilian is a unique voice in contemporary Jazz guitar and a virtuoso performer. Graduated in…
Watermelon & Tuna Ceviche
It’s September which means its officially the end of Summer….. boooooo! All the sad face emojis. I can’t let summer escape me with out making one last dish to celebrate the warmer seasons and that is my favourite new ceviche…
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…