Los Melomanos & The City of Musical Memory

Shot over five years 'Los Melómanos and the City of Musical Memory' is a feature documentary that follows a community of music lovers dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural history of ‘Musica Latina’.

It is about a movement of people who get together to play, discuss and celebrate records and the stories behind them. Through their shared passion for this art form the Melomanos gather at the world’s biggest celebration of Latin music lovers and record collectors: 'El Encuentro de Melómanos y Coleccionistas’.

Our Goal

The production is currently at the stage of early assembly and now needs financial support in reaching the critical stage of rough cut.

To get to this milestone I am seeking the necessary funds to employ an editor to work alongside and help shape the five years of material in to a cohesive and compelling narrative. For a project of this magnitude that encapsulates an ever changing and developing environment, a co-collaborator is vital.

Synopsis

The story arc spans five years and follows the lives of a group of music lovers and the development of the Melómanos movement. It is anchored by the annual ‘Encuentro’ which is a part of Cali’s celebration of the city, known as ‘La Feria de Cali’. Within this context, the Melómanos showcase a vital aspect of Cali’s cultural identity. It is one of the most important events of the Fair and attract’s some of the most important Latin music artists, aficionados, DJ’s & record collectors from across the globe. However every year as the Encuentro grows and the stakes become higher, the complexities increase. The Melómanos community organise the event and we observe not only the internal conflicts and how they struggle to keep the event going, but also the challenges of their personal lives and motivations for becoming a Melomano.

The characters in this film are from a vast array of subgroups, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds and each character has their own musical style and niche within this distinct community. The film tracks their individual journeys of development as Melómanos and how the subgroups intersect to find a common ground amongst their diversity.

The characters in this film are from a vast array of subgroups, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds and each character has their own musical style and niche within this distinct community. The film tracks their individual journeys of development as Melómanos and how the subgroups intersect to find a common ground amongst their diversity.

Directors Statement

I first went to Cali, Colombia in 2013 and was immediately fascinated by the community of Melómanos. I was interested in how this group of people were collecting music and then getting together to tell stories in a way in which I had never experienced before. People would gather at events, known as ‘audiciones’, to present oral histories about their LP’s and share music that in one sense felt like being at a party and in another, an almost academic environment. It was an incredibly unique experience, in which I witnessed a community of people from all walks of life coming together.

I was profoundly touched by the way music brought these people together and as I later came to realise one of the most important aspects of their shared cultural identity and perhaps the only thing that truly connects people. It was an amazing insight to witness this diverse group celebrating a style of music through vinyl that was not only foreign to them but as well over fifty years old and listened to and discussed as if it were modern day classics.

The Melómanos are embraced by Cali and are known as almost quasi-celebrities or cultural gatekeepers. I came to realise that, to be a Melómano was to be someone with cosmopolitan status. To be someone with a collection of music, to have knowledge but above all to be a storyteller.

I filmed this community and watched it develop over five years and during this period, I observed a constant change and reimagining of history. A strong theme of family legacy and the passing down of knowledge and tradition was always present. No more so than at the ‘Encuentro de Melómanos,y coleccionistas’ where people would come from all across the globe to celebrate their love of vinyl and music which would come to identify who they are.

I want to make a film about the lives of ordinary people who are really affected by music and how the love of this truly unique community has come to identify the socio-environment of a city. It is a music documentary where the focus is the fan, the listener, the lover and not the artist.