Fandango at the Wall: Bridging Borders through Music

HBO is set to premiere the captivating music documentary, “Fandango at the Wall,” on September 25, 2020, showcasing the extraordinary journey of Grammy-winning musician Arturo O’Farrill and Grammy-winning producer Kabir Sehgal. This joint production between Tiger Turn Productions and Sony Music Latin, directed by Varda Bar-Kar and executive produced by Quincy Jones, Andrew Young, and Carlos Santana, takes viewers on a musical odyssey to Veracruz, Mexico.

The film centers around the annual “Fandango Fronterizo” music festival, spanning both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border. Founder Jorge Francisco Castillo extends an invitation to Sehgal and O’Farrill to Veracruz, where they explore the rich heritage of son jarocho, a 300-year-old folk music amalgamating indigenous, Spanish, and African traditions. The documentary beautifully captures their scenic journey through Veracruz, recruiting master musicians for a live album recording at the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Variety praises the film’s “remarkable and dynamic music” that blends quintessential son jarocho with lush big band jazz arrangements, while Billboard hails it as a “heartfelt music documentary.” The festival becomes a symbol of unity as musicians on both sides of the border transform the divisive wall into a celebration of friendship and harmony.

Notable son jarocho legends featured include Andrés Vega, Martha Vega, Ramón Gutiérrez, Wendy Cao Romero, Tacho Utrera, Fernando Guadarrama, and Patricio Hidalgo. The documentary also boasts special appearances by Regina Carter, Douglas Brinkley, Mandy Gonzalez, The Villalobos Brothers, Rahim AlHaj, and Sahba Motallebi.

“Fandango at the Wall” has already made waves, premiering at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta and receiving acclaim at the Atlanta Film Festival. The film is set to be featured at virtual film festivals, including Cinequest, the Calgary International Film Fest, San Diego Latino Film Festival, and Port Townsend Film Festival, among others.

As a free spirit with a passion for change, this documentary aligns with your principles of humanism, showcasing the power of music to break down barriers and foster unity. Stay tuned for an unforgettable musical experience that transcends borders and inspires positive change.

For more information, visit fandangowall.com and follow the journey on Facebook and Instagram at @FandangoAtTheWall.