(West Coast Premiere) LHAAFF is deeply proud and honored to partner with Cine Seattle-producers of the Seattle Latino International Film Festival to bring “Celia the Queen”.  Legendary Afro Cuban diva Celia Cruz was a woman whose voice symbolized the soul of a nation. Her reign as the queen of salsa, surrounded her with some of the most important 1970s-era figures of the genre. Her trademark cry ¡Azúcar! became known across Latin America. When she fled Castro’s Cuba in 1960 and eventually arrived in the United States, she started a second, even more successful career fueled by her partnerships with salsa greats Tito Puente, Willie Colon and Johnny Pacheco. Ironically, while she became known as the voice of Cuba around the world, her once beloved music was banned in her home country. Directors Joe Cardona and Mario de Varona use archival footage of both Celia and her loving husband, Pedro Knight, to tell the inspiring story of a little girl from Havana who became an international diva. Interviews with David Byrne, Gloria Estefan, Andy Garcia, Wyclef Jean, Quincy Jones, and others who knew her, loved her and have been influenced by her, paint an intimate portrait of the life, times and music of salsa’s indisputable queen. Director Joe Cardona in attendance. Reception follows.

Erupting onto the Cuban music scene as the frontwoman for La Sonosa Mantancera, Celia Cruz broke down all the barriers of racism and sexism. With the powerful weapon of her voice and the warm tolerance of her heart, Celia soon became all things to all people. This film will show the diversity of the people whose lives she touched, from the big stars of music, literature and film like Quincy Jones, Andy Garcia and Wyclef Jean to ordinary people all over the world.

Through her 25 year long relationship with Fania records, her audience grew. From the stages of glamorous nightclubs in New York to the radios listened to in secret from the ghetto of Havana, Celia’s voice traveled the distance. The story traces Celia’s exile from her beloved Cuba up until her tragic death in 2003. In a career that spanned over half a century, Celia both witnessed and participated in many revolutions of music, politics and style. Celia the Queen gives insight into not only Celia the performer, but Celia the loving wife, Celia the hero, Celia the symbol of political exile. Even in death, Celia Cruz represents life.