Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, the International Buenos Aires Festival (Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires -FIBA), will take place between October 5th and 18th, 2009. This year the festival features a program that combines theatrical plays and shows from Argentina and other from cities around the world, such as: Ajaccio (France), Asunción del Paraguay (Paraguay), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cochabamba/La Paz (Bolivia), Córdoba (Argentina), Gante (Belgium) Helsinki (Finland), Hong Kong (China), Maputo (Mozambique), México DF (México), Montevideo (Uruguay), Palermo (Italy), París (France), Poznan (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Rosario (Argentina), San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina), Santiago de Chile (Chile), Seoul (Korea) and Wroclaw (Poland).

FIBA takes place every two years, featuring diverse artistic expressions through theater, dance and musical theater. This year the international program will be composed of 22 shows, and the national program will include 28 plays. The festival is complemented with a series of cultural activities:

Cámara Hamlet. A movie series, between thursday 8 and Sunday 18 at Harrods. Films that will be projected: Hamlet (1920), Germany; Hamlet (1948), Great Britain; Gamlet (1964), USSR; Hamlet (1964), USA; Quella sporca storia nell west (1968), Italy; Hamlet (1969), Great Britain; A herança (1970), Brazi; Intikam Melegi - Kadin Hamlet (1977), Turkey; Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1980), Great Britain; Hamlet (1990), USA; Hamlet, ciganki princ (2007), Serbia; Hamlet (2007), Great Britain.

Babel, la biblioteca (Babel, the libray). This series presents the spectator with a direct experience with different languages, and an opportunity of integration and exchange with the different communities that live in the city. The following works will be read in their original language: Anoite vai coma un río, by Álvaro Cunqueiro (Galician); Az ember tregédiája, by Imre Madách (Hungarian); Badago ala ez dago?, by Yolanda Arrieta Malaxetxebarria (Vasque); Den Starkare, by August Strindberg (Swedish); Dvaja, by Július Barč-Ivan (Slovakian), Enrico IV, by Luigi Pirandello (Italian); Frumoasa călătorie a urşilor panda povestită de un saxofonist care avea o iubită la Frankfurt, by Matei Visniec (Romanian); Gengangere, by Henrik Ibsen (Norwegain); Güzel Gören Güzel DüŞünür, by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (Turquish); Jasidiana, (Hebrew), Keiler Schtub, by Itzjoc Leibush Peretz (Yidisch); Land ohne Worte, by Dea Loher (German); Martin Krpan, by Joža Vombergar (Slovakian); Masref al Taslif, by Mohamad Yamel (Arabic); Pierwszy raz, by Michal Walczak (Polish); Vampiros, by Darko Lukic (Croatian); Vestido de Noiva, by Nelson Rodrigues (Portuguese); Volem ana al Tibidabo, by Cristina Clemente (Catalonian); Zahradní slavnost, by Václav Havel (Czech); ΝΟΣΤΑΛΓΟΣ, by Alexandros Papadiamantis (Greek).

Coloquios. Talks and round tables focused on "The public theaters".

Meeting points at Harrods. Every afternoon between 5 pm and 7 pm, free entrance meetings , or Happy Hours, with artists. Translators will be available for the exchange with the public. It will also feature a permanent exhibit about the history of Argentine theater in the XXth century.

Pequeña Música Nocturna, a space to close every journey with music related to theater, dance and movies, with artists like Samy Abadi, Ulises Conti, Diego Vainer, Bárbara Togander, Federico Marrale, Pablo Bronzini, Cheny Wa Gune, Sebastián Schachtel, Sergio Vainicoff, Pablo Agri, Jorge Haro, Gustavo García Mendy and Alejandro González Novoa.

Workshops. 19 workshops hosted by artists from the companies participating in FIBA.

Tickets for the shows will be on sale from September 14, 2009 at Casa de la Cultura, Av. de Mayo 575, Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm.
The price of tickets for the national plays is $ 3 Argentine Pesos and for the International shows $ 40 Pesos. The rest of the activities are free of charge.

For more information on locations, and day by day program, visit FIBA 2009 official website (in Spanish only)

NOTICE: The match had to be suspended for the second time due to bad weather conditions. Check for updates on new date.

On Sunday, October 11th, 2009, and for the third time in the history of Polo in Argentina, the perfect 80-goal match will be played, this time at the Jockey Club in San Isidro. The two participating teams ("Patricios" and "Granaderos"), with 40 goals of handicap each, will bring together some of the best polo players in the world. The tams will form as follows:

Patricios: Facundo Pieres, Lucas Monteverde, Mariano Aguerre and Marcos Heguy.

Granaderos: Agustín Merlos, Juan Martín Nero, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Bartolomé Castagnola.

The previous 80-goal match in Argentina took place on April 2008, at Centauros Polo Club.

The money raised by the sale of the entrance tickets will be donated to charity organizations. A unique opportunity to attend one of the most outstanding polo events worldwide.

Date: Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Location: Jockey Club San Isidro. Av. Marquez 2302.

Entry tickets: AR$ 30 and AR$ 50. On sale through: www.tuentrada.com

Don´t miss the opportunity of attending this world class event. Contact me if you want to  arrange for transportation.

The Salón Nacional de Artes Visuales, which takes place every year at Palais de Glace, is the most important contest in Argentina in the field of fine arts, covering painting, sculpture, engraving, drawing, photography, ceramics, textile art, and new supports and installations.

This competition started in 1911 as an annual painting and sculpture exhibition hall sponsored by the Fine Arts National Commission. Since 1932, Palais de Glace is the permanent venue for the Salon Nacional de Artes Visuales.

From September 24, 2009 to October 18, 2009, the awarded works from all the disciplines and all the selected works for the "Painting" category will be exhibited to the public.

Location: Palais de Glace. Posadas 1725.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 12 noon to 8 PM. Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 8 PM.

Free entrance.

Personal Fest, one of the most important international music festivals in Argentina, presents its 6th edition at Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Av. Libertador & Crisologo Larralde), on September 25th and October 16th and 17th, 2009.
Personal Fest 09 will feature a two-day top level program with international bands and national artists. The main invited bands this year are Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: Opening of the Festival
MYSTERY JETS at La Trastienda Club. Balcarce 450 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16:
PET SHOP BOYS
The greatest pop duo, composed of Neil Francis Tennant and Christopher Sean, present this show in Buenos Aires as part of its Pandemonium Tour.

Line up: Nile Rodgers & Chic, Cuentos Borgeanos, Leo Garcia, Zero 7, Tahiti 80 (France), Plastilina Mosh (Mexico) David Lebon, Super Ratones, Hana, Pat Coria, Los Susceptibles, Paid (Warp - UK), Prefuse 73 (Warp - USA), Tim Exile (Warp - UK), Victoria Mil, Alfi Martins, Wapaq, Ximena Sariñana (Mexico), Nicolas Ibarburu (Uruguay), Loli Molina, Ambulancia, Walter Dominguez, Zolvein Vixen, Datura, Venome.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17:
DEPECHE MODE
The British band will offer their second show in Argentina, presenting their album "Sounds of the Universe".

Line up: Justin Robertson (warm up DJ set), Banda de Turistas, Bicicletas, Volador G, Café Tacuba, Spanish Bombs (honoring The Clash), La Portuatia, Estelares, No Lo Soporto, Panico Ramirez, Tony 70, Hercoles $ Love Affair (DJ set), Poncho (with Justin Robertson), Adicta, Indica, Rock Hudson (Chile), Gusz, Tom Ze (Brazil), Rosal, DDC, Fantasmagoria, Kausal, Genitales Argentinos, Indignos, LAyFe.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketek Argentina: www.ticketek.com.ar

Need help getting tickets? Contact me!