¡Viva! at 20

With its swinging ’60s soundtrack and laid-back vibes, Days of Vinyl (7, 9 & 19 March) is a gentle opener for Cornerhouse’s 20th celebration of Spanish and Latin American film. Director Gabriel Nesci will appear in person at the opening gala (7 March) to introduce a comedy in which records, women and guitars feature prominently, and where there are more retro feel-good vibes than cha-cha⁠-⁠cha.

The opening film may show the lighter side of Spanish and Latin American cinema, but over the last two decades ¡Viva! has never shied away from presenting the challenging issues facing the Spanish-speaking world. Bad Hair (8 March), for example, is a poignant portrait of the relationship between a young Venezuelan boy and his single mother, which succeeds not just in sensitively portraying a difficult situation, but also in offering a thoughtful take on big issues like race, identity and sexuality. Another Latin American highlight is The Golden Dream (15 March), where tension builds as the bonds forged between a group of teenagers in adverse circumstances are tested not only by a treacherous journey from Guatemala into Mexico towards the promised land of the USA, but also a charged racial subtext (read our interview with the film’s director, Diego Quemada-Díez). The Passion of Michelangelo (21 & 22 March) tells another tale of vulnerable youth, travelling back in time to visit a country looking for a miracle, Pinochet’s Chile in 1973.

The language is Spanish and the weather is sunnier, but the mundane realities of workplace life and the daily struggle to survive, find meaning and come out smiling are all too familiar in Temporary (12 & 20 March), a black comedy in which the everyday existence of the unhappy workers of a Madrid temping agency is brought to life amid a backdrop of economic decline. Intelligent documentary Bertsolari (13 & 16 March), meanwhile, introduces bertsolari, improvisers of Basque verse who find a mass audience in the Basque Country with a unique musical culture that is little-known in the UK. At the other end of the scale, if it’s surreal comedy you're after, Witching and Bitching (15 & 21 March) is likely to be the zaniest film of the festival, pitting women against men in a Basque witches’ coven.

For those who develop a taste for Latin culture throughout the festival, there are plenty of opportunities to find out more, aimed at Spanish speakers and newcomers alike, including talks, discussions and even a Spanish language walking tour around Manchester (9 March).

¡Viva! at 20

With its swinging ’60s soundtrack and laid-back vibes, Days of Vinyl (7, 9 & 19 March) is a gentle opener for Cornerhouse’s 20th celebration of Spanish and Latin American film. Director Gabriel Nesci will appear in person at the opening gala (7 March) to introduce a comedy in which records, women and guitars feature prominently, and where there are more retro feel-good vibes than cha-cha⁠-⁠cha.

The opening film may show the lighter side of Spanish and Latin American cinema, but over the last two decades ¡Viva! has never shied away from presenting the challenging issues facing the Spanish-speaking world. Bad Hair (8 March), for example, is a poignant portrait of the relationship between a young Venezuelan boy and his single mother, which succeeds not just in sensitively portraying a difficult situation, but also in offering a thoughtful take on big issues like race, identity and sexuality. Another Latin American highlight is The Golden Dream (15 March), where tension builds as the bonds forged between a group of teenagers in adverse circumstances are tested not only by a treacherous journey from Guatemala into Mexico towards the promised land of the USA, but also a charged racial subtext (read our interview with the film’s director, Diego Quemada-Díez). The Passion of Michelangelo (21 & 22 March) tells another tale of vulnerable youth, travelling back in time to visit a country looking for a miracle, Pinochet’s Chile in 1973.

The language is Spanish and the weather is sunnier, but the mundane realities of workplace life and the daily struggle to survive, find meaning and come out smiling are all too familiar in Temporary (12 & 20 March), a black comedy in which the everyday existence of the unhappy workers of a Madrid temping agency is brought to life amid a backdrop of economic decline. Intelligent documentary Bertsolari (13 & 16 March), meanwhile, introduces bertsolari, improvisers of Basque verse who find a mass audience in the Basque Country with a unique musical culture that is little-known in the UK. At the other end of the scale, if it’s surreal comedy you're after, Witching and Bitching (15 & 21 March) is likely to be the zaniest film of the festival, pitting women against men in a Basque witches’ coven.

For those who develop a taste for Latin culture throughout the festival, there are plenty of opportunities to find out more, aimed at Spanish speakers and newcomers alike, including talks, discussions and even a Spanish language walking tour around Manchester (9 March).