On its opening night, FICCI is placing its bet on Colombian cinema with the global premiere of a musical romantic comedy co-produced by 64-A Films (Colombia) and Film Fatal (Spain), directed by the Spanish three times Goya awards’ nominated Chus Gutiérrez.
Starring Carolina Ramírez, Cauca Valley dancer and actress renown for her performance in soap operas such as La hija del Mariachiand La Pola and Spaniard Julián Villagrán, winner of a Goya for his performance in Grupo 7, Ciudad delirio also features Colombian actors of such caliber as Vicky Hernández, Jorge Herrera, Margarita Ortega and John Alex Castillo.
One of FICCI’s main goals is supporting the development of Colombian cinema. With that in mind, the festival will open with Ciudad delirio, inviting the audience to get to know Cali, a center of creative development for Colombia’s cinema, splendidly and authentically presented through the passion and flavor of salsa. FICCI is once again betting on the kind of cinema that speaks locally and globally, cinema that invites, seduces and embraces all kinds of audiences.
Thanks to a world-class team lead by Spanish dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Blanca Li, who has worked for The Berlin State Ballet, Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé and Daft Punk, and by multiple time Salsa World Champion Viviana Vargas, Cartagena will get to experience the madness of one of the most sensual dances on earth.
Ciudad delirio was produced by Diego F. Ramírez, head of 64-A Films in Colombia, which has produced such films as Perro come perro, Todos tus muertos, Dr. Alemán, En coma, and 180 segundos and Spaniard Elena Manrique, founder of Film Fatal and renown for her production of movies such as El laberinto del fauno, El orfanato and Transsiberiano, to name just a few.
In Ciudad delirio, Javier, a shy, reserved Spanish doctor, attends a medical conference in Cali, Colombia. There, through a chance meeting, he shares a magical night with Angie, a dancer and choreographer who dreams of being part of the world’s most famous salsa show, Delirio, if only she can pass the audition. Javier and Angie begin an impossible romance full of obstacles, surrounded by salsa, and accompanied by a cast of characters that are as authentic as they are hilarious.
For seven weeks during the making of Ciudad delirio 45 locations in Cali (Colombia) and Madrid (Spain) were overrun by salsa. More than 3,200 extras from Cauca Valley helped to tell this love story that revolves around the show Delirio, a long-standing cultural tradition in sultana del valle.
