CubaPLUS Magazine

Approximately 30 countries will be represented at the 5th International Educational Film Exhibition (MICE), scheduled to take place from May 4 to 9 in Havana. The event features a series of initiatives dedicated to children and youth, organizers announced this Tuesday.

The exhibition fosters audiovisual literacy among children, adolescents, and young adults through a comprehensive program that includes film screenings and creative workshops. These workshops are designed to provide participants with the essential tools to develop future cinematographic projects.

MICE is structured into three stages. The first began this Monday across various institutions, focusing on the screening of productions created by the young participants themselves.

Luis Emilio Aybar, Director of the Juan Marinello Cuban Institute for Cultural Research, detailed the event's progress during a press briefing held at the Héctor García Mesa Hall of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC).

This year, approximately 100 entries from 21 countries are in competition. The winning materials—selected by student vote—will be announced during the closing ceremony on May 9 at the National Theater.

The second phase, scheduled for May 5 to 8, will see the Yara and La Rampa cinemas, as well as the Foundation for New Latin American Cinema, host screenings of 20 films by professional directors whose work is centered on younger generations.

According to Master Josep Arbiol, founding president of MICE, the program features a wide variety of feature films representing Cuba, Mexico, Spain, South Africa, Germany, Colombia, Russia, and China.

In this regard, he highlighted films such as Leo&Lou (Spain, 2025), which will open the event at La Rampa; Doble Play (Cuba, 2026); A Costume for Nicholas (Mexico, 2020); Bird Boy (South Africa, 2025); and The Little Witch (Switzerland-Germany, 2018), among many others.

The program is complemented by audiovisual appreciation and creation workshops. These sessions involve children, teachers, and art instructors, providing the necessary framework for a deeper engagement with film projects.