-Yuli

Director: Icíar Bollaín (Spain, Cuba, UK, Germany, 2018)
Certification: 15  | 1h 55 min | Drama, Biography, Music | Language: Spanish with English subtitles

The film follows Carlos Acosta – nicknamed Yuli by his father – from growing up on the streets of his native Cuba, through his time at the country’s National Dance School, to performing at London’s prestigious Royal Ballet. Acosta, is a legend in the dance world and the first black dancer to perform some of the most famous ballet roles. A dancer who did not want to dance. 
This is the ninth feature film of Spanish director Icíar Bollaín (“Rosa’s Wedding”, “Even the Rain”, “The Olive Tree”, “Take my Eyes”…) who in interviews has mentioned her interest telling the story of a Cuban dancer, grandson of a black slave, who ended dancing in the London’s Royal Ballet.

Paul Laverty wrote the screenplay with Carlos Acosta based on his 2007 UK bestseller autobiography No Way Home. Acosta also stars as himself in the film, with two younger actors playing him as a child.

“Yuli” has been around International Film Festivals where it has been awarded as Best Feature Film (Audience Award) in Nantes Spanish Film Festival and Minsk International Film Festival. In San Sebastian won Best Screenplay and it was nominated to five Spanish Goya Awards in 2019. In the UK it premiered at Glasgow Film Festival.

★★★★ “Crafted with passion, integrity and determination, much like Acosta himself” – Little White Lies
★★★★ “Part doc, part dance-based recreation, this biopic… is an artistic experiment that comes off” – Time Out
“Unflinching biopic of a ballet superstar” – The Guardian
“A beautiful, moving film” – Forbes

With support from the BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) awarding funds from The National Lottery.

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