Film about Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta will compete in San Sebastián

July 24, 2018

The film Yuli, inspired by the life of Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta and directed by Spanish filmmaker Iciar Bollaín, will compete at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

A statement from the company specifies that the 66th edition of the event will feature among its highlights the world premiere of the feature film whose artistic cast is headed by Acosta himself, along with Laura De la Uz, Santiago Alfonso, Yerlín Pérez, Carlos Enrique Almirante and Andrea Doimeadiós, among others.

The Acosta Danza company also participates in the film, which was made based on a screenplay by Scottish writer Paul Laverty, a two-time winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes and a regular screenwriter for Ken Loach's films.

For this particular feature film, Laverty based his work on the dancer's autobiographical book, Sin mirar atrás (No Way Home), although the film does not aim to present a biopic.

The film is structured around the relationship between Carlos and his father, which was very strong, very special; it will reflect the life of the dancer but the central axis will be the relationship between a father and a son, Bollaín advanced a few months ago to Prensa Latina.

A prediction came true in Acosta's life, one made by his father, because as a child he did not want to study ballet and, later, when he discovered his passion for dance, he never imagined that he would become one of the best dancers in the world.

With the premonition that one day his son would become an important figure, Pedro Acosta christened Carlos with the nickname Yuli, because he considered him a direct descendant of Ogún, an African god, a warrior.

The cinematography direction of the film was in charge of Álex Catalán and the soundtrack by Alberto Iglesias, while María Rovira created the choreography for the work that will compete for the Golden Conch at the Spanish festival scheduled to take place from September 21 to 30.

Yuli will give Bollaín the opportunity to compete for the third time in San Sebastián, where in 2003, the main characters of her film Te doy mis ojos, Lai Marull and Luis Tosar, won Silver Conchs.

In addition to Yuli, the 66th edition of the festival will feature the feature films El reino, by Rodrigo Sorogoyen; Entre dos aguas, by Isaki Lacuesta; Tiempo después, by José Luis Cuerda; and Rojo, by Argentine filmmaker Benjamin Naishat, to mention only a few titles.

The San Sebastián Festival is classified as one of the most prestigious cultural events in Spain and in Spanish-speaking countries in general. Its more than half a century of history showcases events such as the premiere of Vertigo and Dial M for Murder, by British-born American director Alfred Hitchcock.

Source: CubaSi