“La Singla” — Documentary by Paloma Zapata

On Wednesday, April 22nd, the Flamenco Nómada Festival presents the Swiss premiere of Paloma Zapata's film "La Singla" at Cinémas du Grütli.
This documentary tells the story of Antonia Singla, a deaf Romani bailaora from Barcelona who overcame her deafness to become an iconic figure in international flamenco from the age of 17. Through her journey, the film highlights the resilience of women in flamenco, their ability to assert themselves and express their strength, even in difficult and often invisible contexts.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Paloma Zapata and Laura Gabay, mediator and founder of the film production company Écran Mobile, and Rebeca Castilla, translator and director of CIE Flamenco - Genève, offering a moment of reflection on flamenco, cinema, and the empowerment of women artists.

A powerful film that explores collective memory, the expressive power of the body, and the perseverance of women in the art of flamenco through the life of an extraordinary artist.

Location Les Cinémas du Grütli
Date mercredi 22 avril
Time 20H00
Address Rue du Général-Dufour 16, 1204 Genève
Year: 2023
Duration: 95 min (approx.)
Genre: Docufiction / Musical documentary
Language: Spanish (French subtitles)

Awards and Distinctions:

  • Feroz Arrebato Award for Non-Fiction (2024)
  • Audience Award, DocsBarcelona
  • KeenEye Award, Moscow International Festival
  • Special Jury Mention, Krakow International Film Festival
  • Nominations: Best Documentary at the Premios Asecán and Premios Carmen of the Andalusian Film Academy

Full price 15.–
Unemployed 10.–
Pension/Disability (AVS/AI) 8.–
Youth/Student/Child 8.–
20 years/20 francs 5.–
Partners 10.–
Cinépass 10.–
Friends 8.–

  • Laura Gabay

    Laura Gabay (Geneva, 1987) is a Swiss-Andalusian-Uruguayan director, screenwriter and producer. Since 2018, she has been producing within the collective Ecran Mobile and leading film workshops that foster creation and the transmission of audiovisual practices. Her first feature-length film Para No Olvidar (2023, documentary), which explores family history and exile through analogue archives, had its world premiere at Visions du Réel. In 2019, her short film Viento dulce salado (2019) was selected at Visions du Réel and at IDFA, among others. Her short film Enquête 62 (2016, short film) received the Audience Award at the Filmets Festival in Badalona. Laura Gabay’s work is characterised by an intimate and poetic approach to documentary, blending archives with contemporary creation.

  • Paloma Zapata

    Paloma Zapata (Murcia, 1979) is a Spanish director, screenwriter and producer, specialising in musical documentaries and hybrid languages that blend fiction and reality. A graduate in Fine Arts and holder of a Master’s degree in Creative Documentary, she founded the production company La Fábrica Naranja in 2008, distinguishing herself in the creation of music videos and audiovisual projects.

    Among her films: Casamance, la banda sonora de un viaje (2017), Peret: yo soy la rumba (2019), and her most international work, «La Singla» (2023), which tells the story of the deaf bailaora Antonia Singla. This film, acclaimed by critics and awarded the Feroz Arrebato Prize for Non-Fiction, highlights the resilience and strength of women in flamenco.

  • Flamenco Nómada - Artistas - Rebeca Castilla

    Rebeca Castilla is a dancer, choreographer, and cultural promoter, deeply rooted in the flamenco tradition. Trained in classical dance, modern jazz, and music at the Geneva Conservatory, she fully dedicated herself to flamenco after years of study with Bernardo Méndez and later Antonio Perujo, who remains her mentor. She has enriched her training with renowned Spanish and international artists, including Eva la Yerbabuena, Antonio El Pipa, Lola Greco, José Granero, Fuensanta La Moneta, Macarena Mulero, Karen Lugo, Javier Latorre, Concha Jareño, and Chiqui de Jerez, in Seville, Granada, and Geneva.

    Rebeca has performed at prestigious events such as the Geneva International Flamenco Festival, the Flamenco Biennale in Pully, and the Teatro de Carlos V in Madrid. She created her first personal work, “EnSueños”, in 2012, followed by “Flamenco for Chameleons” in 2014. In 2013, she founded the Association for Flamenco Creation & Culture, Flamenco-Genève, an organisation dedicated to promoting flamenco culture through performances, workshops, and community projects.

    Since 2016, Rebeca has been the programmer of Soleil Rouge, Geneva’s must-visit tablao. She also directs the Cie Flamenco-Genève and continues to innovate with projects such as her podcast “Arsa y Toma”, which highlights discussions around flamenco. Rebeca shares her passion by inspiring a wide audience and transmitting the art of flamenco through her performances and teaching.