Are you a foreigner finding it difficult to pick up English? Then you should try Geordie! The Newcastle dialect is a challenge to many Brits, let alone those coming from abroad already entangled in learning a different language and culture. It is a daunting task for travellers and newcomers looking to embrace (or simply grasp!) the city’s noble heritage and customs, such as football (Hoo’s the Toon gannin?) and wet afternoons (Cowld the day, mar!).

Differences between English dialects are much more profound than those between the Portuguese spoken in the various parts of Brazil. Geordie is considered one of the oldest English dialects in the world, and it is deeply rooted in a history stretching back to medieval times. At times it is hardly intelligible for Brits from the South.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Two years ago, a survey of 5,000 people for Travelodge revealed that Geordie is “the sexiest accent in Britain”, closely followed by Edinburgh. I wonder if it was Cheryl Cole’s warbling and Sting’s whining that helped Geordies to secure a place in people’s hearts and pants.

In November 2011 Brazilian entrepreneur Guilherme Afonso moved to Newcastle and was suddenly faced with the strange wonders of Geordie speech. And so he created the iPhone application Alreet Geordie School, a spoken dictionary to help those Brits and foreigners visiting or moving to Newcastle.

The initiative took several months to complete, and was supported by more than 40 local organisations, ranging from museums to night clubs. The project team also included Jorgen McLeman, Steven Hunt, Kerry Harrison and Peter Robson – the last two are authentic Geordies.

The project is UK-only, but there is potential for similar applications in Brazil. A baianês dictionary (Bahia dialect) and the Aurélia (gay dictionary) were once published in Brazil, but these jest-filled books served humorous purposes rather than more functional one. Also, they were simple lexicons with little or no regard to phonology and general characteristics of the cultures represented. Alreet Geordie School is much more than this.

Language is a quickly and vigorously changing field. It’s good that technology is keeping pace with this phenomenon and helping to bring different cultures together.  It is also helping to document unique language traits, shifts and trends –  very useful for linguists and historians. More importantly, it could help you to engage with a Geordie babe and thoroughly enjoy the nuances of their sexy tongue! Ye knaa what ah mean leik?

By Victor Fraga

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Find out more at their Facebook page  www.facebook.com/geordieschool

Or by the app at the Apple Store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geordie-school/id515823120?mt=8

The festival will be highlighting films from all over the world that shine the light on indigenous people. Of particular interest to us, and our Latin American eyes are Laberinto Verde (Green Labyrinth), studying the coca leaf and the difference between it’s traditional use in Bolivia and in other countries as cocaine; Octubre Pilagá (The October Silence) which tells the story of a genocide in Argentine; and El Perro del Hortelano (Dog In The Manger), a comedy about a man’s attempt organise his community in protesting against an encroaching US oil companies.

There are also plenty of short films about the indigenous people of Latin America. Here’s the full schedule for the festival:

Wednesday 12th October
Venue: Rudolf Steiner House

7pm: Opening Ceremony
Ancient Aztec huehuetiliztli dance and music. Xiquipiltan shares his heritage with a cleansing ‘Sahuamas’ ritual to commence the festival.

7.35pm: La Linea Negra (The Black Line Journey)
For millennia, in compliance with their ‘Law of Origin’, the Mamos (Indigenous Elders) of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have made offerings along The Black Line – a spiritual boundary which demarcates their ancestral territory and connects 54 sacred sites. This film documents how they care for what they call the ‘Heart of the World’.
Prod. Rick Harlow / 26min / Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa /Colombia

8.10pm: Cry Rock
The wild beauty of Canada’s Bella Coola Valley blends with vivid watercolor animation, illuminating the role of the Nuxalk oral tradition and the intersection of storytelling, place and culture.
Dir. Banchi Hanuse / 28min / Nuxalk / Canada

8.40pm: Le Pietre Sonore di Pinuccio Sciola (The Sound Stones of Pinuccio Sciola)
Pinuccio Sciola is a sculptor born in Sardinia, an island made of rock. He works with pietre sonore or ‘sound stones’: large sculptures that resonate when rubbed by human hands or small rocks. The film is a sonic illustration of his co-creation with nature and his views on ancestral sounds.
Dir. Yann Tonnar / 15min / Italy

8.55pm: West Papua: Freedom Be Sung
Through music and song we are taken to the highlands of West Papua where the Lani people live. Their lives are dramatically changing and they being silenced by the Indonesian military but they continue to try to have their voices heard. Through song we witness beauty, power and resistance.
Dir. Clare Harding / 17min / Lani / West Papua

9.30pm Live Music: Kouame Sereba
Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kouame was born in Abidjan, Cote d´Ivoire. He was sent by his parents to their native village Tiegba at the age of 10. Living there he learned about traditional life, music and dance, he now lives in Norway and was awarded Folk Musician of the Year during the Folk Music Awards at Folkelarm.

Thursday 13th October
Venue: Bolívar Hall

7.30pm: River of Renewal
“By saving the salmon we may save ourselves”. Over the years, different dominant groups have exploited
the Klamath River, which has led to the collapse of industries and of wild salmon populations. Now these
communities have to come together to defend the River.
Dir. Carlos Bolado / 55min / Hoopa, Yurok, Karuk, Klamath, Madoc / USA

8.30pm: Inuit High Kick
The high kick is an ancient celebration of Inuit culture. The film is a stunning demonstration of timeless athleticism.
Dir. Alethea Arnaquq-Baril / 3min / Inuit / Canada

8.35pm: Qimmit – A Clash of Two Truths
This film investigates the treatment of sleigh dogs by state authorities in the Inuit territories. Elders from the community seek to share and heal past grievances. A complex film that highlights the ambiguity of perception, memory and human behaviour in a colonial landscape.
Dir. Ole Gjerstad & Joelie Sanguya / 68min / Inuktitut / Canada

Friday 14th October
Venue: SOAS Khalili Lecture Theatre

8pm: A Un Paso del Cielo (One Step From Heaven)
An intimate portrait of Francisco, a farmer from Lunahuaná in Perú.
Dir. Franklin Alberto Saccsa Sánchez / 13min / Perú

8.15pm: A Thousand Suns
A film exploring food, ecology and religion in the 21st century. A Thousand Suns tells the story of the Gamo
Highlands of the African Rift Valley and the unique worldview held by the people in the region.
Dir. Stephen Marshall / 28min / Gamo / Ethiopia / Kenya/USA

8.45pm: Parque de la Papa (The Potato Park)
Introduced by Martin Pedersen
The potato is one of the world’s major food crops and has been protected for centuries by the deeply rooted
local food systems of Quechua peoples. This is a film about the Potato Park in Perú were six communities have come together to protect and preserve the interdependency of indigenous biocultural heritage for
local rights, livelihoods, conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity.
Sacaca, Chawaytire, Kuyo Grande, Pampallaqta, Paru and Amaru / 14min / Perú

9.30pm: Laberinto Verde (Green Labyrinth)
A gift from Pacha Mama – the coca leaf continues to spark debate at a time of geopolitical shifts in South
America. This film looks at the plant from a new perspective to highlight the difference between the sacred leaf and its use in everyday life and the drug derived from it – cocaine.
Dir. Abel Kavanagh and Amaru Durand Mitre / 82min / Quechua / Bolivia

Saturday 15th October
Venue: SOAS Room G51

2.00pm – 4.30 pm: Storytelling – Native Tales: Healing Words
Traditional stories have always been used to carry the culture and the wisdom of the people. Experience the joy of stories with Annie Spencer, founder of Hartwell Shamanic Ways, as she shares tales from across the lands. Booking for this event is available, to reserve your place email: press@nativespiritfoundation.org with ‘Storytelling’ in the title. £8 entry.

An Evening of Indigenous Culture from Britain and Ireland
SOAS Room G50

5.00pm: The Way of the Morris
Beautifully shot personal account one man’s journey to discover his Morris heritage. The film tells many stories; of the UK’s estrangement from it’s rural roots and the meaning of community, culture, tradition, place and belonging.
Dir. Tim Plester / 64min / English / UK

7.00pm – 11.00pm (SOAS Student Union Bar): Now Folk! Live music and song!
In partnership with The Magpie’s Nest – BBC Folk Club of 2010 – a selection of traditional music from around
Britain and Ireland. See website for details and tickets.

Sunday 16th October
Venue: SOAS Lucas Lecture Theatre (G2)

12.00 – 2.00pm: Native Spirit Children’s Workshop
(For children aged 5-11: young children to be accompanied by an adult)
This workshop will be led by Eduardo, who will be sharing cultural traditions from his homeland, Mexico. Children will have fun learning about aspects of Aztec culture creatively through art, dance and music. To reserve your place email: press@nativespiritfoundation.org with ‘Children’s Day’ in the title. £8 entry

Voices of Youth
SOAS Lucas Lecture Theatre (G2)
Two sessions of short films

First Session
2.00pm: O A’u O Le Taupou (I Am The Taupou)
A young Taupou (sacred maiden) must find the balance between Sãmoa traditions and her modern way of life.
Produced by participants from the Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) filmmakers’ workshop / Sãmoan / 6min / American Sãmoa

Non-Removable
A documentary addressing the grief felt by members of the Mille Lacs Lake Band of Ojibue following a series of teen deaths. The students grapple with growing up on their reservation.
Dir. Students of Nay Ah Shing School / 6min / Anishinaabe / USA

Don’t Cry
Children. Singing. Mountain. Snow. Don’t Cry…words can’t adequately describe this film – it’s beautiful – come
and see it!
Dir. Ken Awashish, Allen Clary, Dayla Awashish, Danicka Dubé / 5 mins / Attikamek of Opitciwan / Canada

It Came From The Wilderness
A simple yet profound portrait of a young boy in his ascent to manhood. He describes the excitement and adrenaline of learning to hunt, being with nature and learning how to provide for the family.
Dir. Kurt Mathias / 6min / Anishnabe, Winneway / Canada

Second Session
2.45pm: Keepers of the Water
Made by a group of Native Children in Fort Chipewyan, their community sits directly downstream from the
Alberta Tar Sands – the most environmentally toxic industrial project in the world.
Dir. Ayelen Liberona / 5min / Canada

Anishnabe Aki
A short film relating the importance of youth connecting with their culture, their land and their past.
Dir. Emilio Wawatie / 6min / Anishnabe (Algonquin) of Kitigan Zibi / Canada

Waseya Dizihin (Treasure of Light)
“…you will carry the fire, the water, the Earth.”
Dir. Kevin Papatie / 3min / Anishnabe (Algonquin) of Kitciskik / Canada

I Am Pema
A day in the life of little Pema, risking never being able to see her again, Pema’s parents send her to a life in
exile where she is free to gain an education into her true, Tibetan cultural identity.
Dir. Sam Wangyal / 12min / Tibetan / Tibet/Nepal

3.30pm: We Still Live Here (Âs Nutayuneân)
The remarkable story of cultural revival by the Wampanoag of Southeastern Massachusetts. Their ancestors ensured the survival of the first English settlers in America – and lived to regret it. Now they are bringing their language back again.
Dir. Anne Makepeace / 59min / Wampanoag / USA

6pm onwards: Sharing Messages from Indigenous Australia – An Evening of Culture, Film and Discussion
Including the Film: Our Generation
Hidden from the eyes of the world, Australia’s First Peoples are fighting for freedom. Our Generation is their call to the nation, a fresh and unflinching look at unresolved issues, driven by the Yolngu of Northeast Arnhem Land.
Dir. Sinem Saban & Damien Curtis / 73 min / Aboriginal / Australia

Evening’s programme TBA – see inserts/website for event details.

Tuesday 18th October
Venue: SOAS Khalili Lecture Theatre

7.00pm: The Welsh and the Tehuelche
A short animation recounting how Welsh settlers traded with the indigenous Tehuelche community in Argentina.
Dir. Gerald Conn / 4min / Tehuelche / Wales/Argentina

7.10pm: Octubre Pilagá (The October Silence)
In La Bamba, Northern Argentina, a group of elderly people put an end to the silence that has shrouded
their community for over sixty years. This film recounts what happened – a film about the past, and a vehicle for understanding the present. It reveals personal memories that tell the hidden story of the genocide of the native peoples of Argentina.
Dir. Valeria Mapelman / 80min / Pilagá / Argentina

8.45pm: Paracas
This animation of a 2000 year old textile from the Paracas culture of Perú brings figures and images to life and illuminates a vision of life as they saw it – for us to explore and experience. Through weaving they spoke to the dead, through weaving they speak to us across time.
Dir. Cecilia Vicuña / 18min / Pre-Colombian Paracas culture from Perú / USA

9.10pm: Written Out of History
Followed by Q&A with directors
Written Out of History blends historical facts with accounts of the forgotten legacy of Native American slavery told by indigenous scholars and anthropologists. This artistic documentary reconstructs for the first time on camera the events that led to the erasure of indigenous forced labour from the annals of history.
Dir. Max Carocci and Simona Piantieri / 23min / USA

Wednesday 19th October
Venue: Bolívar Hall

7.30pm: What Men Don’t Know
In Tao culture, men construct canoes and catch fish as women manage agriculture and bring in the taro har-
vest. During ‘Mingamangana’ (crab festival) Tao women prepare sumptuous meals of taro cakes and land crabs to cheer their men for their hard work at sea.
Dir. Jia-Wei Zhang / 24min / Tao / Taiwan

8.00pm: Fever: Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: Organisation & Resilience
Indigenous communities discuss the climate crisis from their unique perspectives. These two shorts explore the organisational tools and strategies they are employing to protect their cultures, territories and rights, and how indigenous people are increasing their resilience to climate change by strengthening their traditional knowledge and systems.
Dir. Serge Marti and Gemma Sethsmith / 45min / Nayak / Kichua / Cofan / Dayak / Lombok / Indonesia/Ecuador/Nicaragua/Philippines

9.00pm: Amador Hernández, Chiapas – Starved of Medical Services for Redd+
The region of Amador Hernández is threatened by plans to implement REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Villagers are concerned by the threat of displacement justified by the supposed protection of the jungle. A Global Justice Ecology Project production.
Dir. Jeff Conant / 10min / Tzeltal / Mexico/USA

9.10pm: Pitaqangittuq
In the isolated arctic community of Pitaqangittuq the climate is warming at an alarming rate, but its inhabitants are determined to adapt to their changing world by utilising their ancestral survival skills and creativity. This tongue-in-cheek film is a touching and humourous tale of adaptation, entrepreneurship and survival.
Dir. Guillaume Saladin, Felix Pharand, Nicolas Tardit / 32min / Inuit – Inuktitut / Canada

Thursday 20th October
Venue: Bolívar Hall

Community and Corporation
Communities around the world are having their traditions and livelihoods threatened by the pressures of modern industry. This evening looks at the impact of mining across Latin America and the efforts being made in parts of the world to empower communities to protect their cultural knowledge and heritage. It will be followed by a discussion to explore issues raised by the films.

7.30pm: 2nd December
Hard hitting short about the killing of two farmers by the Peruvian police in 2009.
Dir. Michael Watts / 12min / Perú

Benicia
The devastating consequences of conflict caused by informal mining on the life of Benicia.
Dir. Michael Watts / 6min / Perú

Margarita
The story of Margarita’s 10 year fight to bring a mining company to justice for health problems caused in her village of Mayoc in Perú.
Dir. Michael Watts / 12min / Perú

Women, Mining and Human Rights
This film captures the voice of the women attending a conference in Guatemala in 2010 that brought together Indigenous women affected by mining from across Latin America.
Dir. Michael Watts and David McNulty / 10min / Latin America

8.30pm: Reviving Our Culture, Mapping Our Future
This film shows the story of a special gathering of Indigenous leaders in Venda, South Africa. The community is brought together to map their culture and sacred sites to protect their rights and traditions in a modernising world.
Dir. Jess Phillimore / 13min / Vhavenda / Venda / South Africa

Panel Discussion and Q&A with:
Mauricio Lazala, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Teresa Anderson, Gaia Foundation
Jess Phillimore, Filmmaker
Michael Watts, Filmmaker

Friday 21st October
Venue: SOAS Khalili Lecture Theatre

8.00pm: El Perro del Hortelano (Dog In The Water)
El Perro del Hortelano is a feature comedy about Brus an indigenous artist in Peru’s Amazon, and his efforts to organise his community against the Americana oil company: Kenny Oil. Searching for answers Brus joins a local NGO and as he explores the surreal world of volunteers and development experts. Ultimately he discovers his own way of bringing strength to his community.
Dir. Renzo Zanelli / 90min / Amazon / Perú

9:45pm: Smokin’ Fish
A documentary about a young and quirky Tlingit businessman Cory Mann. Hungry for smoked salmon and nostalgic for his childhood, Cory decides to spend a summer smoking fish at his family’s traditional fish camp.
He makes a pilgrimage to his ancestral home in remote Alaska where he is forced to confront the dichotomy
between his history and the world he lives in.
Dir. Luke Griswold-Tergis and Cory Mann / 80min / Tlingit / Alaska, USA

22nd October – 2nd November: The Gathering of Spiritual Elders
Following the success of the encounters in previous years, Native Spirit Foundation, with the support of the
SOAS Students’ Union, is coordinating the visit of a delegation of Indigenous Elders to come to Europe. They
come representing different communities – some having had very little to do with the outside world – from North, Central and South America. As spiritual guides and community leaders they come to share ancient teachings in the form of ceremonies, workshops and talks in London, Lewes and Avebury. Updates will be posted on our website and Facebook. For more information about the visit and itinerary see website.

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12th-21st October 2011
Native Spirit Film Festival 2011

The event will be taking place across three venues:

Rudolf Steiner House
35 Park Rd
London NW1 6XT
Tube: Baker Street

SOAS
School of Oriental & African Studies
University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London WC1H
Tube: Russel Square

Bolívar Hall
54 Grafton Way
London W1T 5DL
Tube: Warren Street

This festival is organised entirely by volunteers, all the proceeds from ticket sales at the festival go towards
Native Spirit Foundation projects.

Tickets: £5 suggested donation on door
Festival Film Pass: £35 available on door

There is limited capacity at all venues – arrive early to secure seats!
Prior booking for workshops recommended – email press@nativespiritfoundation.org

nativespiritfoundation.org

For her performance Elza will be cherry picking a selection of hits from her repertoire and presenting them sound system style over instrumental versions of the songs, selected by her DJ Ricardo, in lieu of a full band.

There will be two sets, one at 9pm and one at 11pm, with djs playing afterwards till 2am

Advance tickets have now been sold out. However, there will be some tickets on the door for £10. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Elza is also playing at Mau Mau on Thursday 13th October. Details of that concert are here.

Table reservations for dinner is available from the venue on 020 7613 4228.

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Saturday 15th October, 9pm
Elza Soares
Favela Chic
91-93 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HZ
Tel: +44(0)207 613 4228

Advance tickets have now sold out for this event!!! There will be some £10 tickets on the door but arrive very early to avoid disappointment!

Other Brazilian musicians performing include Tabacarana, Flavia Bittencourt, Wanderson Lopez and Gilberto Mauro. There will also be Brazilian films (The Music Tree and Booted), visual art from Renato Pontello and Rodrigo Britto, poetry from Aline Yasmin and Caê Guimarães, and a load more from the non-Brazilian artists, musicians and poets at the festival.

You can listen to the artists appearing at the festival thanks to this compilation from Espirito Brum:

Here’s a selection of Brazilian events happening at the festival:

Friday 16th
4pm A Arvore Da Musica / The Music Tree (Film)
10pm Wanderson Lopez

Saturday 17th
11am-5pm Learn Brazilian Guitar workshop with Wanderson Lopez
3pm Babilak Bah Experimental Percussion Workshop
6pm Wanderson Lopez (performance following earlier workshop)
10pm Flavia Bittencourt
1am Jota III

Sunday 18th
1pm People’s Kitchen (Brazilian Fish Stew)
2pm Botinada / Booted (Film)
5pm Gilberto Mauro
7pm Tabacarana
9pm Babilak Bah

For more information on Espirito Brum go to: espiritobrum.org. Also check out their Events page on Facebook where there is plenty of information including a full festival line-up: facebook.com/event.php?eid=224438944269787

Espirito Brum is the UK leg of Espirito Mundo, a project designed to bring together artists/musicians from Brazil and the rest of the world. There are also Espirito Mundo events in Poitou, Madrid and Provence.

There will be 10 feature-length and 9 short films during the festival, including Henrique Dantas’ documentary Sons of João – The Admirable New Baiano World (released in Brazil in July), Claudio Torres’ Man from the Future (set to open in September) and Eduardo Vaisman’s 180 °, among other films selected by names such as Fernando Meirelles and Bianca de Felippe. The program also includes the Crystal Lens Award Ceremony, for Best Feature Film chosen by the audience, and a WFTV tribute (Women in Film and Television) to producer Paula Barreto.

Here’s the full line-up for the festival. Details of where to buy tickets are at the bottom.

Tuesday 6th September, 8.30pm
Opening Night @ BAFTA

Man From The Future (Dir: Claudio Torres)
Zero (Wagner Moura) is a brilliant and lonely scientist who believes he is unhappy because twenty years ago he was humiliated by the love of his life. When he tries to create a revolutionary source of energy, he accidentally goes back to the past and sees himself in the opportunity to meet his 20-years-younger self and “correct” the mistakes in his own life. Trying to manipulate the path of time is much harder
and confusing than what it seems.

followed by Q&A with producer Leonardo Monteiro de Barros

Wednesday 7th September, 6.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short Film: The True Story Of The Ballerina In Red (Alessandra Colasanti and Samir Abujamra)

Beyond The Road (Dir: Charly Braun)
Santiago, an Argentine in his late twenties, sets out to Uruguay to claim a land inherited from his parents, killed tragically some years earlier. As he arrives, he meets Juliette, a young Belgian girl in search of a past love and a new life. What seemed to be just a simple ride turned into a brief but intense journey. Together, they visit places and meet people lost in time, sharing experiences that bring them closer in a relationship of growing affection and tenderness.

Wednesday 7th September, 8.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: Cake (Dir: Robert Guimarães)

Head Over Heels (Dir: Roberto Santucci)
Head over Heels is a romantic comedy that examines the joys and hardships of contemporary love life: its limits, joys, fantasies and grievances. Alice, 35, is married with one son. Workaholic, her professional career steals most of her time… And virtually all her libido! In a twist of fate, she looses her husband and her job at the same time. Stunned, she decides to change radically and embrace a unique opportunity: to become a sex shop executive! In this new erotic world, she transforms herself and rediscovers pleasure and the ability to love.

Thursday 8th September, 4.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: Beard Boy (Dir: Christopher Faust)

Sons of Joao – The Admirable New Baiano World (Dir: Henrique Dantas)
The film richly portrays the Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) scene during 60s and 70s, through the path of the innovative and revolutionary music group Os Novos Baianos. It particularly reveals the influence that Joao Gilberto had in their musical lives and his valuable contribution to the improvement of the songs composed and sung by the group. The film also illustrates a time when the members led a communitarian style of life and its impact on their final work. The film features unique and rare archival materials of the best MPB music and cameos from Tom Zé, Rogério Duarte, Orlando Senna, Moraes Moreira, Pepeu Gomes, among others.

Thursday 6th September, 6.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: Little Ball Satellite (Dir: Bruno Vianna)

So Hard To Forget (Dir: Malu de Martino)
Julia is trying to get her life back after an intense love affair with Antonia. In this process she will find new
friends who are also experiencing loss of important things in their lives. They share the experience of pain, a feeling of solitude and, above all, a desire for better times.

Thursday 6th September, 8.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: The Bizarre Friends of Ricardinho (Dir: Augusto Canani)

180 º (Dir: Eduardo Vaisman)
180 º tells the story of Anna, Russel and Bernardo, three members of the urban intellectual middle class in Rio de Janeiro. They risk it all in a game of passion involving the authorship of a book. The non-linear narrative invites the spectator to piece together an elaborate puzzle, the solution of which can be found in the
characters’ past as well as their present.

Friday 9th September, 4.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: One Night (Dir: Daniela Santos)

Boca (Dir: Flavio Frederico)
Adapted from the autobiography of Hirohito Joanides de Moraes, the film portrays the atmosphere and life of the King of Boca do Lixo, a region of prostitution in downtown São Paulo in the 50s. Born into a family of upper-middle class, Hirohito went to Boca just as a bohemian in search of sexual adventure, until a personal
tragedy causes a change in your life. His father is viciously murdered and Hirohito is charged with the crime. Shortly thereafter, Hirohito buy two guns and moved to Boca, quickly becoming one of the most wanted criminals by the police.

Friday 9th September, 6.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

Short film: Storm (Dir: Cesar Cabral)

Elza (Dir: Izabel and Ernesto Jaguaribe Baldan)
Elza Soares is renowned as one of Brazil’s original samba superstars whose career has spanned 50 years. A remarkable singer and show woman, Soares was known for the uniting traditional samba sounds with modern touches that leant her songs a multigenerational appeal. Directos Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan’s documentary Elza explores her repertoire’s diversity and presents a series of encounters with renowned Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben Jor, Paulinho da Viola and Maria Bethania.

Friday 9th September, 8.30pm
Odeon Covent Garden

The Hour’s Home (Dir: Heraldo Cavalcanti)

VIPs (Dir: Toniko Melo)
Since childhood, Marcelo da Rocha (Wagner Moura) has found it difficult to come to terms with his own identity. His greatest pleasure is to imitate people and pretend to be someone else. Feeding the dream of learning to fly and become a pilot like his father, Marcelo runs away from his mother’s house and begins the adventure of his life. He starts to impersonate a series of different characters, until he manages to perform his highest scam. At a big party in Recife, he poses as the businessman Henrique Constantino, whose father owns airline Gol.

Saturday 10th September, 4pm
Odeon Covent Garden

3×4 (Dir: Caue Nunes)

The Supreme Happiness (Dir: Arnaldo Jabor)
The Supreme Happiness is the story of a middle class family in their quest for happiness. Set in the enchanted and marvelous Rio de Janeiro of the late 50s, the plot follows Paulo, from 10 until 18 years old of age, while he discovers the wonders of love and sex, backed up by the strong friendship he has with his
grandfather.

Saturday 10th September, 7pm
Closing Night @ Odeon Covent Garden

Special Screening of Bruno Barreto’s Romeo and Juliet Get Married as a homage to producer Paula Barreto, who will receive the WFTV Award for her outstanding contribution to Brazilian cinema industry.

Romeo and Juliet Get Married (Dir: Bruno Barreto)
Juliet, a die-hard Palmeiras fan falls in love with Romeo, die-hard fan of rival football team Corinthians. Juliet’s father would never accept such a son-in-law. Not wanting to loose Juliet, Romeo pretends to be a Palmeiras fan. The lie creates a series of hilarious twists and turns, and when the truth is revealed, the couple’s love must rise above their family sports rivalry.

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OPENING NIGHT @ BAFTA TICKETS
Standard – £12
Concession – £10
Booking: 08444 771 000
195 Piccadilly London W1J 9LN

ODEON COVENT GARDEN TICKETS
Standard – £10
Standard – £8
Booking: 0781 22 44 007
135, Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8AH

odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s81/Covent_Garden

brazilianfilmfestival.com/londres/2011/londres2011_en.html

We thought this would be of particular interest for all the other Latin Americans living in the UK or those thinking about it.

And here’s a little more information about Andre:

Andre was born in 1969. He started working as a photographer aged 15 for Brazilian Journal do Brasil, juggling school and work until he went to read history at PUC University. Amongst his first big assignments was the 1986 World Cup. At 17 he photographed the inside of a drug dealers war in a Rio slum – the powerful images prompted national outcry and the police intervention. 20 years later these images provided the inspiration for the film City of God.

Andre has worked for Associated Press, Reuters and The Times amongst others. He was the only photographer in Baghdad for many months during the first Gulf War, and won his first awards for his coverage of the IRA bombing of city of London.

Andre is now turning his attention to the 2012 Paralympic Games, just over a year away. Andre has a prosthetic leg and is a keen rower. He has been training intensively, hoping to qualify for a Brazilian Paralympic rowing team and says it would a dream to compete in 2012.

You can find out more about Andre and the Foreign Office’s See Britain Through My Eyes series at fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=642358282

To see more of Andre’s work visit his official page at andrecamara.com

Sunday 28th and Monday 29th August
Notting Hill Carnival 2011

The carnival itself will be starting at around 9am on both Sunday and Monday and will be finishing at 7pm. The procession generally starts at Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. Then, everyone goes off to find after-parties, of which there are many. If you’re after strictly Latin beats at Carnival then head over to the Latin Rave Street Jam on the corner of Portobello Road and Golborne Road for the only purely latino flavoured soundsystem of the carnival.

Here’s our recommendations for other events worth checking out around Notting Hill Carnival weekend:

Saturday 27th August 2011, 5pm-3am
Batmacumba versus Tribo: Carnival Showdown
The Lockside Lounge
75 – 89 Upper Walkway, West Yard
Camden Lock Place. (Nearest tube Camden)

Get ready for one of the funkiest carnival parties this summer as Brazilian beatmeisters Batmacumba go head-to-head with Afro-Bahian drumming bloco Tribo for a high octane carnival mix of Brazilian sounds.

Saturday 27th August, 9pm-3am
Urban Nerds Carnival Special 2011
XOYO

A bass-fueled Carnival Special and the biggest East London Notting Hill Carnival warm-up event around! Music will be a mix of dancehall, dubstep, baile funk, soca and various other underground sounds courtesy of the Schlachthofbronx crew. They will be joined by an army of DJs with heaps of reggae, moombahton, garage, electro and of course lots and lots of party bass!

urban-nerds.com/event/urban-nerds-carnival-special-2011

Sunday 28th August, 11pm-6am
Sun Bailante’s The Hot Caribbean Carnival
O2 Academy Islington

Sun Bailante returns to the O2 Academy Islington on Sunday 28th August for one of the hottest after-parties of the Notting Hill Carnival 2011 – ‘The Hot Caribbean Carnival’. Sun Bailante’s DJ’s will keep you entertained till the early hours to the sounds of Soca, Dancehall, R&B, Funky House, Hip Hop, Reggae, Reggaeton, Zouk/Kizomba and more. Plus there will be a Carnival parade and show straight from the Caribbean Islands and Muzik Lil Muzik, the top Soca band from St Lucia, will perform their latest tunes.

sunbailante.com/events/?event_id=34

Sunday 28th August, 6pm-2am
Fiesta En La Calle
Camino

After carnival join Movimientos for Fiesta en la Calle with the lively Brazilian roots Pe-de-Jurema getting everyone dancing outside and late night DJ action from the Movimientos DJs plus special guest from Barcelona DJ T-Bird (Los Chicos Del Alto).

jungledrumsonline.com/whats-on/live-music/fiesta-en-la-calle-street-party-returns-to-london

Thursday 25th August
Pre-Notting Hill Carnival Party
Favela Chic

Pre-Notting Hill Carnival Party at Favela Chic from Gandaia, featuring live music from Maracatudo Mafua, AJ Holmes and the Hackney Empire and John Blood, plus DJ sets from Pax Nindi and Cocoyea Mas Band.

jungledrumsonline.com/whats-on/live-music/pre-notting-hill-carnival-party-favela-chic

Thursday 25th – Sunday 28th August
Carnival Weekend
Guanabara

There’s a whole host of activities happening at Guanavara from Thursday 25th August until Sunday 28th. For the exact details please visit:

jungledrumsonline.com/whats-on/live-music/carnival-weekend-at-guanabara

This philanthropic spirit is one of the unique selling points of LUTA. The other is the fact that this is fight clothing made by people who have been in the ring. In addition to his 11 years with Fight for Peace, Luke was also a boxer and this has filtered through into the clothing range in it’s use of technology and revolutionary fabrics that will ensure the fighter gets the best possible comfort and performance from the clothing.

So, let’s look at the clothes, which is split into three ranges: Luta Pro representing the professional fight wear we just mentioned; Training Wear is ready for all kinds of training regimes; and Street Wear is the casual selection, representing both the style of fight wear and the comfort of casual clothing.

Luta Pro

A selection of rash guards, shorts and vests which have the kind of description that possible only make sense to fighters! For instance, LUTA’s Laser-Tech Rash Guard has “the added advantage of a bonded construction; laser cut panels and double taped seams are ultrasonically welded to promote zero friction, minimising chafing and irritation even in combat situations.” Though, we do understand the final sentence: “LUTA’s Laser-Tech Rash Guard serves well in high performance scenarios on the mat and in the gym, and also serves well as a technical multipurpose undergarment or training top,” we think.

And Luta’s summing up of the range:

Our LUTA PRO range combines the most advanced performance fabrics and technology with real fighters’ know-how. As part of our fightwear design and development process we receive feedback from hundreds of fighters as well as testing our gear on the mat and in the ring with multi-disciplined champions.

Training Wear

Comprised of training tops, shorts and vests, as well as track tops and pants, rash guards and hoodies. These are some really nice items which could also be worn in casual situations, especially the hoodies which will surely be very popular. Our favourite item is the LUTA Training Shorts with a simple black design, LUTA’s design ribbon running down the sides and the favela man logo popping up at the bottom. Importantly, they are extremely comfortable. We’ve worn them while doing all kinds of training and they never cause any discomfort.

Here’s how LUTA encapsulates the range:

Taking its cues from the rigours of fighters training regimes and employing the latest in high performance fabrics and design, our training wear is for those who are serious about getting fighting fit.

Street Wear

Essentially this is the range where you find your quality LUTA-emblazed shirts. There are a few different designs here, but in a myriad of different colours that should appeal to everyone. We’re big fans of the “rising favela man” design, as well as the “favela skyline.”

Working with designers from Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, our urban wear collection combines our fighting pedigree with the distinctive style and energy of the favela. Even the LUTA logo was inspired by pixação, an iconic form of graffiti native to Brazil.

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The entire range of Luta’s clothing can be seen at their pop-up shop which has recently opened in Convent Garden.

LUTA Pop-Up Shop
Unit 15/16 Thomas Neal’s Centre
35 Earlham Street
Covent Garden
London WC2H 9LD
Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=wc2h9ld&hl=en&client=firefox-a&gl=uk&z=16

luta.co.uk

The most important thing for any festival is to establish it’s own identity. With Latin activity in the north-east generally quite rare VAMOS has definitely found it’s niche, allowing it to offer a singular experience. With a small population in the region there is also no need to stick with traditions and this has meant for an increasingly-varied line-up.

I arrived on Friday 17th June ready for what looked like a packed weekend. Previous weeks had included events such as the Tyne Carnival, Pena Flamenca (a celebration of flamenco) and film screenings of Chico y Rita, Gigante and Birdwatchers. First on the menu for me was Bumbumbox at Grey’s monument where Matiás Aguayo (of Chile) and Capracara (of the north-east) would be showcasing their latest collaboration. Over the past year they had been writing songs over the Internet with the goal of playing them at this festival. For the purpose of this afternoon they would also be using Aguayo’s alternative party method, christened Bumbumbox, which involves putting a cassette into a stereo, start dancing and then wait for everyone to join in.

Unfortunately, due to the weather, due to the early hour and due to the people of the north-east not being used to having a dance on a Friday lunchtime the party fizzled but never really get going, but it did highlight an interesting project that Aguayo and Capracara would talk about further the following day. Bumbumbox began as an alternative way of throwing an underground party in Buenos Aires after a fire in a dance club led to new, stricter legislation and forced many smaller clubs to shut down. So came the idea of Bumbumbox where they could party wherever they wanted. The only problem was finding the right music, music that would sound good on the stereo and that would force people’s limbs to start moving. This led to the start of a label Coméme which released music made especially for Bumbumbox.

I asked Matías how this new environment for music had changed his process in making it. He said it was trial and error, but that generally he found he needed to use snatches of different music, bits of funk, cumbia, electrobrega, and so on, in order to engage the audience. He also said that music made for clubs didn’t translate itself well to the Bumbumbox whereas songs made for Bumbumbox always worked well in clubs.

In The Tyne, a small pub situated under a bridge in the Ousemouth region of Newcastle, he couldn’t have been more right. This is Saturday night and the Noname party if you’re still following, and Matías and Capracara played a set under the arches which had every single person dancing. True to form, they used snatches of different Latin rhythms, as well as funk and pop, while also adding extra vocals, to a dance sound that really did sound a little bit special. [By the way, you may have seen Matías singing with Battles at Glastonbury last weekend]

The weekend was not just about Bumbumbox though. On Friday night was Cafe Ipanema featuring bossa nova interpretations by an English singer, Spanish guitarist and cajon player (I can’t remember where he was from!). While not the most inspiring set of bossa nova you will ever hear it was great to hear the style with the added bombast of the cajon and also in the Barkollo bar, which is well worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

Saturday also featured the Eat-A-Long Movie (which was actually part of the EAT festival), a new concept I have only just discovered but really should be more widespread. The concept is simple, while watching a movie you are served with the same food that the people who are in the movie are eating. Obviously it wouldn’t work with every movie but Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) is food-obsessed enough to make it a success. We begin with margheritas which makes me wonder why people aren’t always given cocktails before the start of a movie (it really would have improved Hangover Part 2!) before such dishes as chicken and rose petals, turkey mole and ice cream to finish with.

And that’s it as far as Latin activities are concerned. There was a Culture Connect event teaching people salsa and sumba as well as a performance by Bacalao Men at Nancy’s Bordello, but there are only so many hours in the day.

NewcastleGateshead however deserves more of a mention. First off, you might be wondering why I’m writing NewcastleGateshead and not Newcastle and/or Gateshead. Well, because they are seperated only by a number of bridges over the River Tyne, which take mere minutes to cross, they are trying to promote the cities as one destination rather than two, in a similar way to Budapest (which is made up of Buda and Pest which are seperated by the River Danube) and so I figured I would continue the idea. It definitely turned out to be a great way to spend the weekend, with the fabled northeastern hospitality being as legendary as promised. I really did feel like I made friends with every person I met!

And in terms of things to do I only really scratched the surface. There is still Sage Gateshead, where Lucha Future will be taking place and which supposedly has some of the best acoustics around, the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and plenty of other places I simply didn’t have time to investigate. ¡Viva NewcastleGateshead!

Words by Russ Slater

Photos by Simon Williams except photo of Eat-A-Long Movie by Karolina Tamasauskaite

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You can find out more about VAMOS festival at vamosfestival.com.

Recommendations
If you’re visiting NewcastleGateshead anytime soon you should really check out:

BALTIC – centre for contemporary arts (in Gateshead)
Barkollo – great bar close to the city with lively atmosphere
Cumberland Arms – good venue for small bands and home to Roots Rhythms at VAMOS
MusicaMundo – promoters of Latin events in the northeast
Nancy’s Bordello – Newcastle’s only World Music bar!
Sage Gateshead – the place for big concerts or events. Worth visiting even if there’s no performances on. It’s also one of the big talking points for locals; is it hideous or beautiful? You decide!
Star and Shadow Cinema – independent cinema showing a wide variety of films as well as housing exhibits and special events
The Tyne – slightly out-of-the-way in Ouseburn but with real character and a great outside section under the arches. You’re guaranteed a good party at this place!
Tyneside Cinema – historical cinema in Newcastle city centre

Top of our list of things to do is the show subtitled New from Brazil: Sounds of Pernambuco at XOYO on Sunday 19th June. This is a real chance to enjoy the sounds swimming around Recife in Pernambuco, a city that has just as much musical depth as Rio, Sao Paulo or Salvador, even if it doesn’t always find it’s way to our eardrums. Representing Pernambuco will be Eta Carinae’s mix of electronica, mangue bit and rock, Fim de Feira and their combination of spoken word poetry and north-eastern rhythms, and Rivotrill who like to take their Brazilian rhythms on a jazz tip. There really couldn’t be a better way for Blaze to start!

30th June will be a special treat as accordion-wielding Colombian juggernaut Anibal Velasquez will be bringing his fierce Colombian grooves to an evening at the Barbican Hall helmed by Malian songstress Oumou Sangare.

On the 8th July Calle 13 will be bringing their unique vision of reggaeton to Hackney Empire. This is one for the hips! They will be joined by London’s very-own Cuban funksters Wara and tropical DJ extraordinaire Quantic on the decks. Sounds like a sizzler.

Our other main highlight is Bomba Estéreo’s appearance at Village Underground on Friday 29th July. Last year they were one of the sensations of the summer, ripping Hackney Empire to shreds in the process. I’m sure this year will be no different, especially of their ridiculously catchy version of “Pump Up The Jams”, re-titled “Ponte Bomb” is anything to go by.

Other interesting concerts include Shangaan Electro at Rich Mix on Saturday 25th June, Tara de Haidouks and Kocani Orkestar undoubtedly tearing the Hackney Empire down with their gypsy wizardry on Wednesday 6th July, an interesting take on Konono N°1’s Congotronics with an eclectic mix of artists joining in tribute to the Congo stats on Thursday 12th July, the Honduran Garifuna of Aurelio Martinez on Saturday 23rd July, and best of all, the highlife legend Ebo Taylor heading over to Hackney Empire on Thursday 14th July.

These are just the highlights so check out the Blaze festival website to see full listings. There are concerts taking place all over East London in June and July, at venues including the Barbican, Hackney Empire, Gillett Square, Wiltons Music Hall and Rich Mix.

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Saturday 19 June 2011, 7pm, £12 adv
Eta Carinae + Fim de Feira + Rivotrill
XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street London EC2A 4AP

Tuesday 21 June 2011, 8pm, £15 adv
Bomba Estéreo + support
XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street London EC2A 4AP
This show has now been rescheduled for Friday July 29th at Village Underground – see listing below

Thursday 30 June, 7.30pm, £15/20/25
Oumou Sangare + Anibal Velasquez y Los Locos del Swing
Barbican Hall

Friday 8 July 2011, 8pm, £20
Calle 13 + special guests
Hackney Empire

Tuesday 12 July 2011, 7.30pm, £15-25
Congrotronics vs Rockers feat. Juana Molina
Plus: Owiny Sigoma Band will be playing the Freestage after this performance
Barbican Hall

Thursday 14 July 2011, 8pm, £15/20
Ebo Taylor & Fools Gold
Hackney Empire

Saturday 23 July 2011, 7.30pm, £12/15/18
Aurelio + special guests
Barbican Hall

Thursday 29 July 2011
Bomba Estéreo + support
Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, London, EC2A 3PQ

Box Office: 0845 120 7550
www.barbican.org.uk/blaze