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GSTAADFILM in URUGUAY
After the resounding success of our tour of Ireland and the UK, we at Gstaadfilm decided to take our festival to Montevideo - the capital of Uruguay. Always striving to allow more and more participants and viewers, to enjoy our gem in the mountains of Switzerland and noticing the growing entries from the America's - it led us to Uruguay - a place of natural beauty, stability, culturally rich and accessible from neighbouring countries. The 2017 Gstaadfilm festival took place at Centro Cultural Terminal Goes on the 16/17/18 November 2017. The Golden Cow set off on it's travels, from the Mountains of Switzerland, eventually won by Insectarium by Andreea Dobre. 
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Well, here we are preparing for the festival... little did we know that less than 40 minutes away, a torrential downpour was to land with hailstones the size of marbles.
Here giving the opening speech is Swiss Ambassador to Uruguay and Paraguay - Martin Strub, Director, Marc Rome of Gstaadfilm (left) and Diana Veneziano (right), organiser at Centro Cultural Terminal Goes. Furthest right in pink shirt - Shane Finan European & South American manager - Gstaadfilm. |
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Archive: Montevideo
We found a lovely bar full of old filmmaking equipment and owned by one Javier Riveiro - called La Hacienda
Annie Holland our festival photographer, convinced or rather cajoled them into re-enacting a photograph, from a scene of the original
premises of which Javier's uncle used to frequent. We did our best on the night!!
Annie Holland our festival photographer, convinced or rather cajoled them into re-enacting a photograph, from a scene of the original
premises of which Javier's uncle used to frequent. We did our best on the night!!
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Further along the coast towards Brazil..
Whilst organising another viewing of Gstaadfilm - we stayed at a place called Punta Rubia, Rocha. There after attending a bar close by and getting to know the owner, one Juan Figari, we found out that he is the great-grandson of the famous Uruguyan painter, philosopher and educator - Pedro Figari.
As well as leaving Uruguay in his sixth decade to commit full time to painting in Argentina, he also ended up in Paris and became friends with famous artists of the 1930's, such as Corbusier (included here a signed copy to Pedro). He also appears on the 200 Peso note. Juan has a beautiful bar called IRSIS and you can stay there too, as he has 4 rooms available. If you ever manage to arrive to this part of the world, then you will not be disappointed by its stunning beaches, ocean and sunshine aplenty. (Click to view as slide show)
As well as leaving Uruguay in his sixth decade to commit full time to painting in Argentina, he also ended up in Paris and became friends with famous artists of the 1930's, such as Corbusier (included here a signed copy to Pedro). He also appears on the 200 Peso note. Juan has a beautiful bar called IRSIS and you can stay there too, as he has 4 rooms available. If you ever manage to arrive to this part of the world, then you will not be disappointed by its stunning beaches, ocean and sunshine aplenty. (Click to view as slide show)
