“Colombia Comes Closer to Berlin” An Evening of Colombian Art & Culture, Chaired by Santiago Gomez Rojas, Director of the Spanisches Film Fest Berlin

(Berlin, ICD House; May 16th, 2013)

The "Spanisches Filmfest Berlin", in collaboration with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy_ and The Colombia Carnaval association, organized a Colombian event at the ICD House on Thursday, May 16 th, 2013.The event, chaired by Santiago Gomez Rojas, director of the Spanisches Film Fest Berlin, aimed to promote a deeper understanding of Spanish and Latin American culture through the mediums of dance, music, art and food. Participants included members of the Spanish and Latin American communities in Berlin, the ICD interns and students, as well as attendees interested in discovering more about Colombian culture.

Santiago Gomez Rojas opened the event with a speech explaining the foundations of “Spanisches Filmfest Berlin” and how the project was launched, saying “the idea of a Spanish film festival comes from the increasing presence of Spanish and Latin-Americans in Berlin. Their culture enriches Berlin as capital and we cannot consider the city landscape without it anymore. The interest of Germans in Spain as a holiday destination remains unbroken, however the knowledge of Spain and its social, political and cultural reality is often limited.” These words emphasize the importance of strengthening cultural relations and appreciation between Germany and Spain, two countries which are so close and yet whose citizens are sometimes unaware of many aspects of the other’s culture.

After the introductory speech there was a screening of the Colombian film Los Viajes del Viento. Having been presented at the Festival de Cannes in the category “un certain regard” in 2009, this movie will be part of the upcoming Spanisches Filmfest Berlin. The film tells the story of a musician named Ignacio Carrillo, who travelled during his life throughout the villages and regions of northern Colombia, playing traditional songs on his accordion, a legendary instrument that in Colombian culture is said to be cursed.

The screening was followed by a reception organized by the Colombia Carnaval association. Each year, the association represents Colombia in the Karnaval Der Kulturen in Berlin by displaying a number of varied performances, showcasing the diverse array of traditional Colombian dances including Cumbia, Gaita and Bullerengue. Their participation in this annual event is an important initiative in the efforts to encourage an increased awareness of Columbian culture, as well as the cultures of other Spanish speaking nations, among the German public.

Following the film, there was a social reception where drinks and culinary specialties as empanadas, tortillas and fried bananas were provided while the band Juglares de la Bahia played traditional and contemporary music. Dancers from the Colombia Carnaval association also performed a dancing piece for the participants. Overall, the event brought people from Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal and France among other countries together to celebrate Colombian, Latin American and Spanish culture in an evening of arts and entertainment.