Paper Days / Los días de papel 

Jorge Silva / Colombia / 1964

Colombia Presente! 2025 brings a very special evening: a silent film with live music, in tribute to Jorge Silva (1941–1987), one of Colombia’s most important cinematographers and the sentimental and creative partner of filmmaker Marta Rodríguez. We will screen Paper Days (1964), Silva’s only fictional film, a jewel of Colombian cinema. With its beautiful photography and delicate visual language, the film reflects on social class in the outskirts of Bogotá, through the simple but powerful image of children flying a kite.

📅 30th October, 19:00

📍 Leith Dockers Club, Academy St, Edinburgh EH6 7EF

Accessibility: The hall is wheelchair accessible as it is all on one level, however Leith dockers club does not have specific disabled toilets. A wheelchair can fit into the toilets but not the toilet cubicles and all cubicles have grabrails.

This screening will be accompanied by live music by Toby Shippey. 

Los días de papel (Paper Days, 1964) presents a record of a childhood marked by abandonment, loneliness,
exclusion, and cold in the corridors of the children’s home where Jorge Silva was forced to grow up.

Completing just three years at primary school, Jorge began working as a bricklayer
to help his mother. After many years of studying in libraries and learning at cine-
clubes he created his first work as a powerful testimony of his childhood.

Toby Shippey

Toby is a trumpet player, drummer / percussionist, singer songwriter and composer. After studying architecture at Glasgow Art School and then experimental music and contemporary art at Brighton Art School he continued with a career in music in everything from folk, avant guard composition, hip-hop, soul and salsa. Running clubs such as the legendary Lizzard Lounge and playing gigs all over the world for over 30 years with bands such as Salsa Celtica, Grupo Magnetico and others.

Jorge Silva

Jorge Silva (1941–1987) was a Colombian cinematographer, director, and photographer, best known for his long-standing creative and sentimental partnership with filmmaker Marta Rodríguez. Together they made some of the most powerful films in Colombian documentary history, portraying the struggles and dignity of Indigenous and peasant communities. His work is recognised for its deep social commitment, visual strength, and poetic realism. Paper Days (1964), his only fictional film, remains a rare gem in his career.

Accessibility:

The hall is wheelchair accessible as it is all on one level, however Leith dockers club not have specific disabled toilets. A wheelchair can fit into the toilets but not the toilet cubicles and all cubicles have grabrails.