- Following its international premiere in January 2022, the evocative short film ‘Proud Roma’ is being released online with Spanish and Catalan subtitles on 1 March
- Communicating messages of Roma pride and inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’, Spanish-Romani director Pablo Vega wrote and directed the short film
- The film is released in the framework of the Proud Roma Free Europe transnational campaign
- Facebook event
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture – ERIAC is pleased to release the short film ‘Proud Roma’ to Spanish- and Catalan-speaking audiences. Written and directed by award-winning Spanish-Romani filmmaker Pablo Vega, the film stars Alina Serban and contemporary dancer Tony Gabarry.
Inspired by the 1940 film ‘The Great Dictator’ – created by and starring Charlie Chaplin, who unbeknownst to many was of Roma origin – ‘Proud Roma’ reflects the richness and diversity of the Roma nation. The film challenges dominant historical narratives and negative stereotypes of Roma – Europe’s largest ethnic minority and a nation without borders – while recalling the many cultural and historical contributions Roma have made to Europe over the centuries. ‘Proud Roma’ is a contemporary Roma manifesto and a tribute to Roma pride and cultural heritage.
Following the successful international premiere in January 2022, the film’s Spanish and Catalan versions are being released on 1 March, Zero Discrimination Day with the clear purpose of amplifying the film’s messages of love and solidarity, and “promoting inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change”.[1]
Launched earlier this year by ERIAC with the support of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office (RIO), and run in partnership with a coalition of international, national and grassroots Romani organizations, the Proud Roma Free Europe campaign seeks to inspire pride in Roma identity and encourage Roma civic participation.
[1] https://www.unaids.org/en/zero-discrimination-day
