Official Selection: La Salsa Vive (Salsa Lives)

Feel the rhythm, history, and unstoppable energy of Latin America’s defining musical movement in Salsa Lives (La Salsa Vive), a vibrant documentary mapping the cross-continental heartbeat of a genre that refuses to die.

La Salsa Vive Trailer.

Synopsis:

The film explores the explosive birth of salsa in the neighborhoods of New York during the 1970s and its subsequent migration and consolidation as an indelible cultural symbol in Cali, Colombia—the self-proclaimed “world capital of salsa.” Spanning over five decades of stories, anecdotes, and profound societal shifts, the narrative illustrates how a musical movement that gradually lost its commercial strength in its city of origin found a fiercely protective new home in Cali. Tracing the Afro-Cuban roots of the music from lively North American streets straight into the dance schools, crowded nightclubs, local orchestras, and popular barrios of Colombia, the film introduces us to an array of passionate characters keeping the flame alive: dedicated dancers, obsessive record collectors, resilient veterans, and enthusiastic youth.

Featuring invaluable insights from global salsa icons such as Rubén Blades, Henry Fiol, and Willie Rosario, La Salsa Vive stands as an unmissable testament to musical heritage, urban expression, and community joy.

Event Details

• Date: 25th July 2026
• Time: 18:00
• Venue: Cinema Genesis
• Special Guests.
• Restriction: Strictly 15+

ℹ️ Film Details

• • • Language: Spanish (with English Subtitles)
    • Runtime: 101 minutes
    • Director: Juan Carvajal
    • Cast / Featured Legends: Rubén Blades, Henry Fiol, Willie Rosario, Angel Lebron, Johnny Rodriguez, Luis Eduardo Mulato, Samuel Formell, Francia Elena, Yuleissy Montano, Kevin Santiago Quiñones

⚠️ Seats are limited for this special Q&A event. Book your tickets now to guarantee entry.

Short Description: The Official Selection & Festival Context

The Official Selection forms the living pulse of the first edition of the London Colombian Film Festival. Operating in perfect harmony with the festival's overarching general objective, this selection deliberately spotlights uncommon cinematographic narratives that look beyond the superficial, habitual global headlines of violence and drugs. By redirecting international attention toward the underlying magic, deep resilience, immense talent, and creative dreams at the core of Colombian culture, the program uncovers a richer, far more complex portrait of the nation's identity.

This screening perfectly embodies the festival's defining theme: "Celebrating Diversity of Voices." Rather than presenting a cold, academic history, La Salsa Vive utilizes music as an essential living repository of oral history and street-level resistance. It proudly amplifies the diverse voices of peripheral urban communities, working class neighborhoods, and Afro-descendant artists who converted social challenges into a triumphant, globally recognized art form. Furthermore, the film underscores the outstanding aesthetic maturity of contemporary Colombian documentary filmmaking, proving that the national film industry possesses the creative sophistication to capture the sonic, kinetic, and spiritual nuances of cultural preservation on the world stage.

Join us at Genesis Cinema for an extraordinary, foot-stomping evening of cinema that celebrates the rhythm, history, and diverse voices of Colombia!

The London Colombian Film Festival is organised by COL FILMS LIMITED.

Entry is strictly for ages 18+. Management reserves the right to refuse entry.