The third edition of the Festival of Queer Literature in Spanish in London – a project that was born from the London-based online bookstore Romancero Books CIC – will take place between Wednesday 22 and Sunday 26 November. In this edition the festival will be a hybrid of online and face-to-face events, happening in different venues across the city; from the Spanish embassy, to the Cervantes Institute in London, Foyles Bookshop in Charing Cross, Poster Hauss in Dalston or The Common Press bookshop in Brick Lane.
The Festival of Queer Literature in Spanish in London – FQLSL is a meeting point for readers, writers, critics, and people interested in LGTBIQ+ culture.
For this third edition of the FQLSL we are going to welcome some of the most outstanding names of queer literature and LGTBIQ+ activism from Spain and Latin America, such as Elizabeth Duval, Art History Dr. Javier Cuevas del Barrio, poet Sara Torres, fashion and queer culture photographers Paco y Manolo, Leticia Ybarra, Alejandro Simón Partal, Natalia Figueroa, Juan de Salas, Las Hijas de Felipe and talks about Nazario, Ocaña and María de Zayas among others.
The programme consists of 7 live events, 2 podcast episodes and 2 online talks.
LIVE EVENTS
Wednesday 22 November
Opening of FQLSL and talk with author and philosopher Elizabeth Duval, Alice Bank, translator and Jorge Garriz – Director of the Festival of Queer Literature in Spanish in London about the book Madrid será la tumba, translated to English as Madrid will be their tomb and published by Fum D’Estampa Press.
Venue: Spanish Embassy – 39 Chesham Pl, London SW1X 8SB, Time: 6.30pm, In English, By invitation only
Thursday 23 November
Breakfast with Lys. Talk with author and philosopher Elizabeth Duval, translator Alice Bank and Jorge Garriz – Director of the Festival of Queer Literature in Spanish in London about the book Madrid será la tumba, translated to English as Madrid will be their tomb and published by Fum D’Estampa Press.
Venue: Romancero Books HQ, Time: 12 a 1.30pm Tickets here, In English
Lecture: Cruising Torremolinos; Bodies, territory, and memory with Art History Dr. Javier Cuevas del Barrio.
Venue: Institute Cervantes London – 15-19 Devereux Ct, Temple, London WC2R 3JJ, Time: 7pm, Tickets here, In English
Friday 24 November
Queer Poetry Reading and book launches evening. Talk with author Millanes Rivas about their book Tan jóvenes y la pena and with Natalia Figueroa about her book Diario de una guardavidas.
The poetry reading will include the following poets: Hasier Larretxea reading from his book Hijos del peligro, Juan de Salas reading from his book Los Reales Sitios, Leticia Ybarra reading from her book Fantasmita eres pegamento, Rodrigo García Marina reading from his book Los Prodigiosos gatos monteses, Alejandro Simón Partal reading from his book Ese de anoche.
Venue: The Common Press – 18 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 6DG, Time: 7 to 9pm, Tickets here, In Spanish and Basque, BYOD
Saturday 25 November
Book launch of Ocaña. The eternal light from the Sol of Cantillana published to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Ocaña’s death. Conversation with editor Carlos Barea and Dos Bigotes Press’s directors Gonzalo Izquierdo and Alberto Rodríguez.
Ocaña. The eternal light from the Sol of Cantillana contents texts from Roberta Marrero, Luis Maura, Ventura Pons, Ernesto Artillo, Alex Ander, Marina among others.
Venue: Foyles Charing Cross – 107 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0DT, Time: 4 to 6pm, Tickets here, In Spanish with English translation.
Launch of KINK39 + Festival’s Official party
Talk with the editors and directors of the zine Kink, Paco y Manolo. The event will be a discussion with their founders about the history of the zine, the relevance and transcendence for the Spanish Queer culture. After the talk, we will host the Official Festival party with DJ’s Jimmy Acid and 2CPERREA.
Venue: Poster Hauss – 182 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7UY, Time: 8.30pm to 1.30am, Tickets here, In Spanish with English translation.
Sunday 26 November
Book launch of Lo que hay with author and poet Sara Torres and visual artist Jaime del Fresno.
Venue: The Common Press – 18 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 6DG, Time: 3 to 5pm, Tickets here, In Spanish, BYOD
ONLINE PROGRAMME
Podcast Nińos Gratis about Nazario, a countercultural and founder of the Spanish queer comic. With Paz Olivares, Weldon Penderton, Rubén Lardín and Juan-Ramón Barbancho Rodríguez.
Available until Sunday 7th January 2024. Tickets here.
Podcast Las Hijas de Felipe about the lesbian desire portraited at Spanish novellas from XVII century. With Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbieta.
Available until Sunday 7th January 2024. Tickets here.
Diversity in the Hispanic World Course
This course aims to present key aspects of the growing diversity of Hispanic culture. Since the Renaissance, it has played a key role in the making of the modern world. The course covers topics that speak of its diversity like: what conforms the Hispanic culture and why it is important historically, the role played by royal women in the patronage of the arts to conform one of the most important art collections in the world, the expressions of queerness in Hispanic literature throughout history, the current influence of music in Spanish due to artists like Bad Bunny and Rosalía or the most common historical misconceptions that circulate due to myths. The result will be a better understanding of the aspects that have contributed to making Hispanic culture a world phenomenon.
Wednesday 22 November
Talk Sex And Sexuality in the Hispanic World by Dr Felipe Esteban Rojas.
This talk is an overview of literary expressions of queerness in the Spanish-speaking world in the Iberian Peninsula, moving to the New World up to the 21st century. While the term ‘homosexuality’ and ‘queer’ did not become markers to denote members of the LGBTQIA+ community until recent history, these words had their predecessors. This class outlines the different avenues Hispanic artists used to communicate the presence of queerness throughout geographical space and time.
In English. 90 minutes via Zoom, Tickets here.
Monday 27 November
Talk From Rosalía to Bad Bunny. The Growing Diversity in Hispanic Music.
This class is an immersion in the worldwide success of music written in Spanish. Artists like Rosalía or Bad Bunny have become powerhouse names in mainstream music. They top the charts in many countries and sell out world tours. Why is everybody listening to music in Spanish? In this class we will delve into the use of Hispanic culture as a vehicle to influence the entertainment industry. This will shed some light into key reasons why this music has become a world phenomenon.
In English. 90 minutes via Zoom, Tickets here.