Feel the heat! Tonight is a night to shake your booty in the best seats in town as we combine a live set of exhilarating Cuban music with a rediscovered 90s barnstormer of a movie starring Latin heartthrobs Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas alongside the likes of Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.
The Julio Avila Cuban Band is a powerhouse ensemble bringing the infectious rhythms and rich traditions of Cuban music to the West Coast. Led by bassist, vocalist, and composer Julio Avila, the group combines musical excellence with deep cultural authenticity. Each member, most of whom hail from Cuba, contributes world-class talent on vocals, horns, percussion, and keys, creating a vibrant, rich sound.
Together, they perform a dynamic mix of salsa, son, merengue, cumbia, and bachata, captivating audiences with irresistible energy and rhythm. Formed in Vancouver in 2015, the band quickly became a local favourite, celebrated for electrifying live performances and a strong commitment to preserving and sharing Cuban musical heritage. Whether performing at festivals, concerts, or community events, the Julio Avila Cuban Band delivers an unforgettable experience that gets people dancing and fills hearts with joy. This is Cuban music at its finest – alive, passionate, and deeply soulful.
About the film: The Mambo Kings (Arne Glimcher, 1992, 104 min)
Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas (in his American movie debut) play brothers, Cuban musicians exiled in the 1950s New York City, trying to get their lives back on track. Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, by Oscar Hijuelos.
Band Members
Julio Avila – bass, vocals
Ernesto Benitez – keyboards
Hector Ramos – congas
Julio Orlando Avila – saxophone, clarinet, flute
Isidora Basanovic – vocals, minor percussion
Hamilton Feraud – vocals, minor percussion
Reinaldo Burgues – vocals, minor percussion
Filled with energy, passion, and heedless vitality… glows with sensuality… the soundtrack is terrific… energizing to watch.
Roger Ebert
A stunner… extravagantly sexy and witty… suffused with romantic longing.
Rolling Stone
Fills the screen with gaudy life… In Armand Assante it boasts a mesmerizing actor working near the top of his form.
Kenneth Turan, LA Times
Co-Presented with
Media Partner
Julio Avila Cuban Band
Jun 27
7:00 pm
VIFF Centre, VIFF Cinema
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Film Credits
Screenwriter
Cynthia Cidre
Cinematography
Michael Ballhaus
Editor
Claire Simpson
Original Music
Carlos Franzetti, Robert Kraft
Production Design
Stuart Wurtzel
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