Andalusian filmmaker Remedios Malvárez presents Fandango, a musical documentary that traces the history, essence, and future of one of the most ancient and essential flamenco styles. From Huelva’s peñas to international festivals, this film is a visual and sonic tribute to the fandango as a living cultural identity.
A journey through time to the rhythm of fandango
Premiered at the 50th Ibero-American Film Festival of Huelva and winner of the Audience Award and the Juan Ramón Jiménez Award for Best Andalusian Direction, Fandango stands out as one of the most compelling recent flamenco documentaries. Directed by Remedios Malvárez and Arturo Andújar, and co-written with Miguel Ángel Parra, the film maps the emotional and cultural landscape of fandango, from its uncertain origins to its forward-looking legacy.
Huelva: epicenter of jondo expression
Often overlooked within flamenco, fandango takes center stage here, revealing its musical richness, popular legacy, and influence on generations of artists. Through live performances, daily-life scenes, and artist conversations, Fandango offers a vivid portrayal of the flamenco form that most deeply defines Huelva.
High-quality visual and sound narrative
Shot in black and white in a 17:9 format, the film embraces a sober visual language that enhances the expressive power of flamenco singing, guitar and dance. Over 30% of the footage features live musical performances—many of them original—with artists like Rocío Márquez, Arcángel, Argentina, Jeromo Segura, Cristian de Moret, and Rafael Estévez.
A gendered lens on memory and tradition
A key aspect of the documentary is its gender perspective. The role of women in preserving and evolving the fandango—both historically and today—is treated with sensitivity and depth. Malvárez highlights voices and spaces where women have played, and continue to play, an essential part in flamenco.
Interview with Remedios Malvárez (COMING SOON)
ALL FLAMENCO has sent the director an exclusive interview to explore the origins of this project and her vision for fandango’s future. Her answers will be published soon.
Recommended on ALL FLAMENCO
For those interested in exploring Remedios Malvárez’s documentary universe further, we recommend three of her titles available on our channel:
- MENESE : a portrait of cantaor José Menese and his political and artistic fight through flamenco.
- ALALÁ: flamenco and education in Seville’s Tres Mil Viviendas neighborhood.
- SILENCIO : an intimate take on silence as a creative space.