...Spanish Tennis Greats
It's hard to look beyond Rafa Nadal, but Spain's current tennis titan didn't come from nowhere, he was inspired by the many that came before him. We tell you who...
Latino, Made in London
María Victoria Cristancho reports on the moment a major global record label decided to invest in the very first UK label dedicated to nurturing Latin talent and finding the next global superstar, singing Spanish and talking…
LATIN LONDONER #55 - Giullianna Martínez, Actor, Producer, Writer
In 2024 Florida-raised Colombian actress Giullianna Martínez became the UK's first Latinx actress to play Tituba in 'The Crucible' (Crucible Theatre). Her one woman show 'HóPe' follows two interwoven…
London's Unlikely Latin Hero
When they arrived at Tottenham Hotspurs in 1979, hot off their World Cup victory, Ricardo Villa and fellow Argentine Ossie Ardiles, were the first Latin Americans to play in English Football. Honoured at the 25th anniversary of…
‘Ropes’ (Cuerdas) Dir. José Luis Montecinos
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. With multiple awards for his six short films behind him, writer/ director José Luis Montecinos has finally plunged into his first feature with a dark thriller laced with horror at every turn.
Milton Nascimento'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 this month is Milton Nascimento, one of the most significant Brazilian musicians of the last…
Floripa's Bolinho de Bacalhau (Salted cod fish cakes)
Served with spicy Aily oil salsa, these are a favourite at East London's favourite Brazilian restaurant
‘SON OF MONARCH’ (Hijo de Monarcas) written and Directed by Alexis Gambis - Mexico/ US 2020
A collage of memories and events fragment like dreams when they collide with reality, in French-Venezuelan’s director Alexis Gambis’ film ‘SON OF MONARCH’ 2020.
HOLOGRAM (2022) Book of poems by Miguel Cullen
‘Books should be more than just lines of poetry.’ HOLOGRAM (2022) the new collection of poems by Anglo-Argentine poet and journalist Miguel Cullen, includes visuals and videos and certainly fits the bill of being different.
Latin Londoner #45: Marcos Mereles, Film Director
Born in La Rioja, Argentina in1990, Marco Mereles is a filmmaker, based in London. His first feature film ALL IS VANITY (UK, 2021) had its world premiere at the 65th BFI London Film Festival and will be released in UK cinemas…
La Casa de Bernarda Alba - A Talented Cast and Crew Dedicated to Preserving the Magic of Lorca
Lorca’s La Casa de Bernarda Alba - a masterpiece work exploring themes of repression, desire, control and suffering - is brought to life in the original Spanish on the London stage at the Cervantes Theatre. Jorge de Juan directs…
LATIN LONDONER #1 Angela Alonso - Flamenco Dancer
Angela Alonso from Almeria in Andalucia, arrived in London 13 years ago, and set up the UK's most popular Flamenco Dance School.
A Readers Guide to Argentina
Like its music, dance, theatre and art, Latin America is producer of some of the greatest literature that exists on the planet. But in this rich forest of words, it’s not easy to know where to start. Which is why we asked our…
OLIVIA AND THE CLOUDS (2024) by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.
“Like they don’t see something is pulling them apart.” In ‘Olivia and the Clouds’, a visually exciting animated feature, relationships flounder, steeped in memories and hopes as animator, film maker, professor and artist from…
Porteña Princess
Once upon a time there was a girl from Buenos Aires, who played Disney princesses during her weekend shifts as children's party entertainer. Until one day…armed with a guitar and her phone, she became a Latin pop princess…
Three Short Films: Madre, Piggy and Fifteen
Corina J Poore reviews three Latino offerings from the 'Shorts' programme at this year's The BFI London Film Festival: ‘MADRE (2017)’ by Spanish writer/director Rodrigo Sorogoyen, ‘PIGGY (Cerdita) 2018’, (14 min…
Brazil: the parallel universe of Messias Bolsonaro
The implosion of a government as the pandemic rages
Basque director, Pablo Berger, warms our hearts with ROBOT DREAMS
Following three acclaimed live-action movies, Pablo Berger, known for ‘Blancanieves’ (Snow White) has further surprised us with Robot Dreams, (2023) - a delightful, dialogue-free, 2D animated buddy movie of a Dog and a Robot.
Woman on the Verge: Ona Mafalda
"I am what I do," is how self-described compulsive composer, inevitable lyricist and optional instrumentalist Ona Mafalda identifies. Her music often leads to comparisons with artists such as Lorde, Mitski, Florence…
Portugal's Evita
Ever since she was six years old Lisbon-born Madalena Alberto dreamed of being an actress. Like Eva Perón, her character in Evita, which returns to the London stage next month, Madalena was strong-willed and persistent young girl…
MAGDALENA, TE AMO (2024) by Andrea Calao
‘Magdalena, Te Amo’ (2024) is a moving short film about student sex workers in New York. Premiered at the New York Latino Film Festival, it has also been longlisted for the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards.
Ismael Miranda Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in NY, Ismael Miranda was part as of the original “Fania All Stars” line up, as well as being the lead voice for Joey Pastrana and Larry Harlow’s band and then leading his very own crew, with a…
LATIN LONDONER #21.....Omar Puente - Jazz Musician
Jazz violinist and 2017 LUKAS winner, Omar Puente, has performed to audiences worldwide. First violinist at the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra before leaving Cuba in 1997, he toured with Buena Vista’s Ruben Gonzales all over…
Brazil: the flesh is weak but the meat is rotten
Police investigations reveal another massive web of corruption involving Brazil's strategic meat industry, inspectors and politicians
A Fan’s Dream Comes True
What happens when the UK’s most famous music fan and his long time idol, arguably Latin America’s most gifted guitarist, get together? Corina Poore visited Jools Holland and Jose Feliciano to learn about an English presenter’s…
HEARTSONGS
Lila Downs is back – with not one but Dos Corazones – a new song which she will be debuting live in London this this month. She tells Elizabeth Mistry how her first UK visit in eight years will be an opportunity to talk about…
Marielle: She Inspired Us All
Black Lives Matter in Brazil too, where of the thousands that die every year at the hands of police, 75% are black. Marielle Franco defended those who had no voice, she gave voice to the hopes of favela dwellers, black people,…
Transforming Urban Spaces: Guatemala City’s barrancos
“We dream of a green city, an inclusive city, full of squares, full of children. We dream of a fair, walkable, accessible, liveable city. We believe in a greener, happier, more human city.” Urban planners and community gardeners…
World Cup Wisdom
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a football icon? Latinolife talks to four World Cup legends of Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese football about their life and passions.
Things That Matter to...Alfredo Rodríguez
Widely considered to be one of the most gifted and exciting jazz pianists of his generation, Alfredo Rodríguez’s high-octane, warm and joyous musicianship won him at first the mentorship of Quincy Jones then a Grammy nomination.…
LATIN LONDONER #62 - Gigi Tisminetzky. Actor, Writer, Theatre Director
Gigi Tisminetzky is a multi-lingual Argentine actor and theatre maker. After arriving in London at 16 to train at LAMDA and The Drama Centre, Gigi embarked on a cross-border TV career which include 'Devils' on Sky and …
Teofilo Stevenson and some US-Latino magic moments
'What is 1 million dollars compared to the love of eight million Cubans?" A tribute to the great Teofilo Stevenson, who recently passed away, and other moments when Latinos made themselves noticed, challenging the…
The Wild South
After years touring the most successful and innovative tango shows around the world, most notably Tango Fire Immortal Tango, Argentine choreographer and lead dancer Germán Cornejo and his company of 10 men and 3 girls, challenge…
Argentina: Toxic Waste from Fracking in Patagonia
A BP subsidiary is being sued by indigenous groups for criminal dumping of toxic waste
LATIN LONDONER #23 Mike Kalle - Urban Latin Artist
Born in London to Colombian parents, Mike Kalle is the leading light of the young, creative Latino community. Referred to as the godfather of UK Latin Hip Hop, Mike won a LUKAS two years running as Urban Latin Act of the Year.…