Holy Gibara! The International Film Festival that Dreams are Made Of

Photos and text by Heidi Hollinger

It was a magical week. The 14th Annual Gibara International Film Festival did not stop to amaze, not once. From April 16 to 22, 2017, Jorge Perugorría (Pichi), the Festival President, and Rafael Rosales, the Festival Director, put on a heck of a show.

Gibara the ‘Villa Blanca’ of Cinema

By Mayté Madruga Hernández

“In 2000, during the filming of Miel para Oshún (Honey for Oshún) , under the direction of Humberto Solás, I discovered Gibara. He introduced her as though he were introducing an old flame, a forgotten girlfriend from younger days, from the times of Lucía that cinema put back on his path. From that meeting the Festival was born”…these are the words with which Jorge Perugorría, president of the International Gibara Film Festival, kicked off the 2016 edition.

Eating the Sun, an encounter of cultures

By Mercy Ramos / Photos: José Meriño and Courtesy of the film’s producers

Two cultures that are so different but so close, Cuban and Canadian, will soon be seen on the big screen. In the coming year, filmgoers will be able to enjoy Eating the Sun, a movie thatbegan to shot in the first quarter of 2014 in both countries, directed by the talented and well-known Cuban filmmaker Alfredo Ureta.

A Day in Havana with Benicio del Toro

By: Mireya Castañeda, Photos by Prensa Latina

At precisely the conclusion of Del Toro’s first work as a director, he held a press conference at which attended three of the other filmmakers involved in the film: Argentinean Pablo Trapero, Palestinian Elia Suleimann and Cuban Juan Carlos Tabío. Rounding out the seven involved in making the film are Argentinean Gaspar Noé, Spaniard Julio Médem and Frenchman Laurent Cantet.

Havana Film Festival An audiovisual party again captures the audience

By: Anubis Galardy

Half a million people enjoyed the 32nd edition of the New Latin American Film Festival of Havana which opened the door to a prolonged visual feast. Lasting 10 days, from December 2 to 12, 515 films were shown of which 122 were in competition. The thoughtful and intelligent party, as certified by its president, Alfredo Guevara, was tracked by a crowd of movie addicts, who filled the theatres.

A Famous Cuban Cartoon

Elpidio Valdés first appeared dressed as a Mambí colonel leading a cavalry troop fighting for the freedom of his country against the Spanish enemy. He was created thus by Juan Padrón, a successful cartoonist who gave Elpidio the last name Valdés after the famous Cecilia, symbol of the Cuban spirit. Later he even found Elpidio a girlfriend, but she was not conceived by his rich imagination, as he tells us:

A Passion for Cuban Films

By Egle Procuta

The first time l went to a movie theatre in Cuba was a self-imposed homework assignment. l was studying Spanish at the University of Havana's excellent school for foreigners and working as a freelance reporter for the Canadian Press. My Spanish was getting better day by day, but every bit of practice helped, especially with the Cuban tendency to speak as quickly as their feet move on the dance-floor. No better Way to tune my ear, I told myself, than going to a Cuban film and having to figure out what was going on.

Havana at 24 frames per Second

By Xenia Reloba Photos: Alexis Rodríguez & Paco Bou

There are some events that become traditions. They fill a space so naturally that you cannot help but notice how void that space was before.

The International School of Film and Television

By: Idania Machado Photos: José Tito Meriño

December 1986 brought a special present for a group of young Latin American people: the creation of the International School of Film and Television in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba.

The face of Cuban cinema

By Idania Machado, Photos: Courtesy ICAIC

This revered actress recalls her visit to Montreal in1967 during a tour with a musical review. She would never have imagined that so many years later and in the very same city she would be awarded the Grand Prix Special des Amériques for her work in Cuban cinema.

Daysi Granados, The Face of Cuban Cinema

By Idania Machado, Photos: Courtesy ICAIC

This revered actress recalls her visit to Montreal in 1967 during a tour with a musical review. She would never have imagined that so many years later and in the very same city she would be awarded the Grand Prix Special des Amériques for her work in Cuban cinema.