New York Times Talks in Aviles

For those who might have feared that the cultural highlight of  life in Northern Spain would be limited to dancing the night away to a local pop ‘orquesta’ at the annual fiestas, the Centro Niemeyer is doing a fine job of truly exploding this myth once and for all by bringing internationally important cultural figures and events to Aviles, and, indeed to Europe.

This weekend (September 16th-18th) it’s hosting ‘TimesTalks: Intimate discussions with New York Times journalists and today’s top talents and thinkers’.  This is TimesTalks’ first venture into Spain where they will be talking with such luminaries Rufus Wainwright, Isabel Coixet, Shlomo Ben Ami, Marc Otte, Alber Elbaz and Javier Sierra.  Rufus Wainwright will also be performing some of his own compositions at the end of his talk.

On Friday night there will be a screening of the documentary Page One: Inside the New York Times and on Sunday night the winner of the Sundance Festival, Martha Marcy May Marlene will be shown, with the director and scriptwriter Sean Durkin in attendance.

For more details:

http://www.centroniemeyer.org/noticias_ficha.php?id_noticia=129

Gijon International Film Festival

Teatro Jovellanos

Last Thursday 20th November saw the opening of the 46th Edition of the Gijon International Film Festival with the movie Choke. Based on the Chuck Palahnuik book of the same name the film is a perfect mix of intelligent drama and dark but laugh-out-loud comedy and provided a fitting kick-off to the proceedings.

The programme of this year’s festival, which closes next Saturday 29th, is wonderfully eclectic and filled to bursting. You can download full details from the official website at www.gijonfilmfestival.com and daily screening information is published in the El Comercio newspaper.

Several cinemas and theatres across the city are hosting the event (including the beautiful Teatro Jovellanos) and local bars and clubs are the scene for the many shows and gigs that complement the serious cinematic programme.

A great opportunity to see some cutting-edge, version original cinema and also to put your questions to directors and cast in some of the post screening sessions.