With this special program, LEFFEST honors and celebrates Roma culture in all its artistic expressions, from dance to literature, cinema to music, and visual arts. We will travel from the Iberian Peninsula to Eastern Europe to discover the richness and deep diversity of this culture, which includes gypsies, sintis, manouche, yeniche, caló.
We cannot ignore the fact that the memory of the Roma people has been and continues to be crossed by a long history of discrimination, segregation and genocide. It was also in this bloody soil that infinite artistic expressions flourished and continue to flourish, which, in the 21st century, are still not properly recognized or publicized as they fully deserve.
On the contrary, instead of moving towards an egalitarian recognition, we see that xenophobic hatred is once again taking over political discourse, to the point of even becoming an electoral argument.
Alarmed by this context, at LEFFEST we propose to counteract this movement and invert the discourse. We want to spread and deepen the knowledge about the Roma people and their cultural manifestations, which, for centuries and until today, have nourished, influenced and enriched the so-called European culture.
Therefore, we designed this program, which materializes as a set of unique events. We begin with emblematic concerts showcasing the musical variety of the Roma culture and the way it merged with local cultures: flamenco music, with the famous master Josémi Carmona and his trio, which will have as guest the great Pepe Habichuela, and a show by today's greatest bailaor, Farruquito; Romanian music with the group Taraf de Caliu, a new project by the mythical Taraf de Háïdouks, acclaimed as one of the best gypsy music groups in the world; Monika Lakatos, Hungarian singer and first Roma artist to receive the prestigious WOMEX award; Ricardo Ribeiro, famous Portuguese fado singer who recognizes Rom music as one of the influences on his singing; Areno, one of the greatest and most authentic ambassadors of gypsy music living in Portugal; Portuguese-Spanish singer Diego el Gavi, that will present us an irresistible fusion of Cuban, jazz and flamenco sounds; and, finally, the irreverent Emir Kusturika & The No Smoking Orchestra, at the festival's closing session.
We will present, at MU.SA, in Sintra, and for the first time in Portugal, an exhibition of the works of the Austrian Roman painter and writer Ceija Stojka. In the context of the exhibition, we will also have readings of her texts and the presentation of two films about her, by Karin Berger, who will also be present.
We will also organize five debates, each focusing on a specific historical moment or cultural condition: “From Al-Andaluz to “Gran Redada" in 1749”; “The Roma Genocide during the Second World War” ; “Flamenco: Heritage and Persecution”; “To Be an Artist, a Woman and Rom”; “The current situation of Roma people in Portugal”.
Finally, the program will feature a cycle of about twenty films, followed by conversations with special guests, including directors Tony Gatlif, Emir Kusturika, Leonor Teles, and also Michael, Carmen and Dolores Chaplin, who are currently preparing a film about the rom origins of Charlie Chaplin, which they will be talking about at the festival. And still many surprises…
Special thanks to Maria Gil and Bruno Gonçalves, for their collaboration within the scope of this program.
Films Cycle
Tony Gatlif Tribute
Presented by the director.
RUN, GYPSY
1982
SAFE JOURNEY
1993
VENGO
2000
And still in preview:
TOM MEDINA
2021
THE KID
by Charlie Chaplin, 1921
For its 100th anniversary, a new 4K digital version of “The Kid”, with an
introduction by Michael, Carmen and Dolores Chaplin, who are preparing a
film about Charlie Chaplin's Rom origins. A teaser of said film will be
shown at the festival firsthand.
TIME OF THE GYPSIES
by Emir Kusturica,
1988
Presented by the director
Presented by Leonor Teles:
DOGS BARKING AT BIRDS
by Leonor Teles, 2019
BATRACHIAN'S BALLAD
by Leonor Teles,
2016
GYPSI EYES
by Leonor Teles, 2012
TARAF, TRÊS CONTOS E UMA BALADA
by Luciana Fina e Olga Ramos, 2003
THE COUNTRY DOCTOR
by Katariina Lillqvist, 1996
THE ROMANY MIRROR
by Katariina Lillqvist,
2001
ME, MY GIPSY FAMILY AND WOODY ALLEN
by Laura Halilovic, 2009
Presented by the director
LOS TARANTOS
by Francisco Rovira Beleta, 1963
I EVEN MET HAPPY GYPSIES
by Aleksandar Petrovic,
1967
ROSE TINTED DREAMS
by Dusan Hanák, 1977
TRIANA PURA Y PURA
by Ricardo Pachón, 2013
Followed by a debate
EAT YOUR BONES
by Jean-Charles Hue,
2014
AFERIM!
by Radu Jude, 2015
BEING GIPSY
by Peter Nestler,
1970
BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT
by Emir Kusturica, 1998