ÉLEFAN (2022) is a documentary short film (27 min) that explores the relationship between space and identity among London's Latin American community in the years leading up to the demolition of Elephant & Castle shopping centre.
The UK is home to 250,000 Latin Americans; some estimates put the true figure at over 1 million. London’s Elephant and Castle shopping centre has been the community’s primary hub for decades. After more than ten years of uncertainty, controversial plans to demolish the shopping centre finally moved ahead in 2021.
The project includes a photography series of local traders and collaborators from the film, by London-based photographer Mike Excell. This photography exhibition is a companion piece to the documentary film.
This project was supported by Latin Elephant, a local non-profit promoting the inclusion of migrant and ethnic communities in urban regeneration.
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
Friday, February 9, 2024
NYU: Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies
New York, NY (USA)
Sunday, September 12, 2022
Festival de Cine Latino Americano de Texas
Denton, TX (USA)
Saturday, September 24, 2022
Celebrating the Elephant: Community Screening + Photography Exhibition
London (UK)
Friday, October 28, 2022
University of Pittsburgh Latinx Connect Conference: Virtual Screening + Panel Discussion
Virtual (USA)
Friday, February 24, 2023
Santander Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente (SANFICI)
Bucaramanga (Colombia)
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
San Francisco Urban Film Fest: Screening + Panel Discussion
San Francisco, CA (USA)
Friday, March 10, 2023
Watsonville Film Festival: Screening + Q&A
Watsonville, CA + Virtual (USA)
→ IN-PERSON SCREENING POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBD
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
Winner: Best Local Film (Northern California)
Morgan Hill, CA (USA)
April 13-28, 2023
Latino & Native American Film Festival (LANAFF), Southern Connecticut State University
Winner: Cultural / Linguistic Heritage & Identity Award
Virtual (USA)
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Tate Modern: Richard Bell’s Embassy exhibition
London (UK)
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Des Moines Latino Film Festival
Des Moines, IA (USA)
Friday, June 30, 2023
Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
Philadelphia, PA (USA)
Friday, July 14, 2023
Barbican Centre: London Feeds Itself shorts program + panel
London (UK)
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Peoples Pavilion Festival: Housing Diasporas
London (UK)
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Seattle Latino Film Festival: Beacon Cinema
Seattle, WA (USA)
PAST SCREENINGS
CREDITS
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Latin Elephant, Patria Román-Velázquez, Santiago Peluffo, Natalia Perez
Lucy, Lenin, Felipe, Sebastian, Cesar, Anna, Cali Swing Dance School
DIRECTED BY
Daniel Díaz
PRODUCED BY
Ryan Keane, Daniel Díaz
EDITED BY
Ryan Keane
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Rich Felgate
ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Susy Peña
MUSIC
Jose Rebimbas
SOUND EDITOR & RE-RECORDING MIXER
Yanina Mora Casa
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Mike Excell
ARTWORK
Yu Sato
COLOURIST
Filipe Fernandes
STORY CONSULTANT
Susy Peña
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Lucero Reyes, Samy Mansour
TRANSCRIPTION & TRANSLATION
Victor Padilla, Carlos Castillo, María Julieta Pallero, Rebeca Pazos Bethencourt, Nashua Diaz
TITLE DESIGN
Habib Placencia Adissi
SONGS
Written & Performed by Jose Reb:
“Ahi amor yo que te quise tanto”
“Te tengo a ti me tienes tu”
“Pregón del ausente”
Courtesy of Jose Rebimbas
Written by Jose Reb / Performed by Cielito Drive:
“Maleza (Instrumental)”
“Hoy (Latin Pop - Instrumental)”
“Esperanza”
Courtesy of Jose Rebimbas
RESEARCH SOURCES
“Narratives of Migration, Relocation and Belonging: Latin Americans in London” (2020) London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Dr Patria Román-Velázques and Dr Jessica Retis