Latido Films has acquired the international sales rights for Isaki Lacuesta's upcoming film, "Flamenco Sketches," which will be screened as the closing feature in the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section of the San Sebastian Film Festival. This documentary-style film offers a unique exploration of flamenco's history, blending archive footage with a non-linear narrative. The project has been several years in the making and promises a distinctive perspective on the art form's evolution and essence.
Latido Films Secures Rights for Isaki Lacuesta's "Flamenco Sketches" at San Sebastian Festival
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain – On September 20, 2026, Latido Films, a prominent sales company based in Madrid, officially announced its acquisition of the global distribution rights for Isaki Lacuesta's latest feature, "Flamenco Sketches" (also known as "Jaleos"). This significant development occurred during the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival, where the film is scheduled to close the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section, a platform known for showcasing innovative and challenging cinematic works.
Isaki Lacuesta, celebrated for his distinctive artistic vision and previous Golden Shell victories at San Sebastian for "The Double Steps" and "Between Two Waters," delves into the vibrant world of flamenco with this new creation. Antonio Saura, president of Latido Films, lauded Lacuesta as "one of Spain’s most creative and innovative directors," emphasizing that "Flamenco Sketches" offers an unparalleled journey into the realms of art, perception, and pure joy.
The film distinguishes itself by eschewing a conventional historical account. Instead, Lacuesta constructs a narrative that mirrors the organic and improvisational nature of flamenco itself. Stories emerge, evolve, intertwine, and recede, with images, sounds, and concepts intuitively converging. The director masterfully navigates through time, from flamenco's initial appearances in the mid-19th century to its encounters with modernity, such as the advent of trains and standardized time. It also features historical moments like Thomas Edison's early cinematic capture of Spanish dancer Carmencita, and explores the profound connections between flamenco and the artistic avant-garde, including figures like Vicente Escudero, Man Ray, Francis Picabia, Joan Miró, and Marcel Duchamp.
Lacuesta, reflecting on the project in 2024, described it as a "kind of 'One Thousand and One Nights,' a story that explains tales, tales of flamenco." He provocatively questions the common threads linking diverse personalities like Edison, Hitler, Leni Riefenstahl, Quentin Tarantino, and Camarón de la Isla, asserting that flamenco has consistently been a modern art form, deeply intertwined with contemporary history. Alongside co-writers Pedro G. Romero and Luis Parés, Lacuesta examines the inherent paradox of attempting to record and "preserve" a spontaneous and fluid art form. The film continuously probes how flamenco thrives through mutation and contradiction, even amidst efforts to define its "authentic" essence.
The film's voice cast boasts a rich tapestry of contributors from the flamenco world and broader artistic disciplines, including rapper C. Tangana (known for "La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés"), dancer Rocío Molina, artist Pedro G. Romero, and the esteemed French philosopher and art historian Georges Didi-Huberman. "Flamenco Sketches" is a collaborative production, with Tono Folguera of Lastor Media and Guillermo Cascante of Goroka Contents serving as producers, and Lacuesta's La Termita Films as co-producer. BTeam Pictures is handling the distribution within Spain, while Latido Films manages worldwide sales outside of Spain.
The title of the film pays homage to Miles Davis's iconic jazz composition, "Flamenco Sketches." Much like the jazz legend's work, Lacuesta's cinematic "sketchbook" embraces and celebrates inherent contradictions, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on the enduring power and adaptability of flamenco.
Isaki Lacuesta's "Flamenco Sketches" offers a profound meditation on the nature of art, history, and identity. The film challenges conventional storytelling by adopting a fragmented, intuitive approach, much like the improvisational heart of flamenco itself. This narrative style encourages viewers to engage actively with the material, piecing together the vibrant mosaic of flamenco's past and present. The film's exploration of "real" flamenco versus its recorded or curated versions raises pertinent questions about authenticity and preservation in dynamic art forms. It reminds us that true artistry often thrives in flux and contradiction, continually adapting and evolving rather than remaining static. Lacuesta's work is a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of flamenco and its ability to reflect and influence the broader currents of human history and creativity.
