The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is underway

More than 2,000 films were submitted to the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, one of Cuba’s most important cultural events, which began in Havana on Thursday.

The official selection of films includes 222 works, 114 of which will compete in various categories, representing 42 countries from around the world. Cuban cinema is represented by 34 films, a selection that Tania Delgado Fernández, president of the festival, described as “broad and varied.”

On the eve of this 46th edition, which runs through December 14, organizers called on the international filmmaking community to join in supporting the eastern regions of Cuba, recently hit by Hurricane Melissa.

In regions of the country that are recovering from the storm, mobile cinema screenings and other initiatives will be held as part of the Festival to bring this art to these communities.

At a press conference, Delgado Fernández emphasized that this year’s motto, “Rodando cine” (Rolling film), goes beyond a simple phrase: “It implies moving around, and doing so to all the places where it’s necessary.”

This year’s edition is dedicated to the centenary of Alfredo Guevara, a key figure in the history of Cuban cinema. The festival’s president told Granma newspaper that “Cuban cinema owes Alfredo a significant part of the creation of its great classics.” She highlighted his long-term vision and his commitment to the development of cinema in the region: “He was very clear from the beginning that we couldn’t, we shouldn’t, detach ourselves from our region.”

With more than 45 years of history, the festival begins a new stage with the consolidation of projects such as the Juan Padrón In Memoriam Latin American and Caribbean Animation Forum, as well as a special program dedicated to the BRICS countries and a film showcase to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Churubusco Studios.

Churubusco Studios will receive one of the Coral Honorary Awards, and in collaboration with the Mexican Film Institute, a tribute to Mexican cinema will be paid with screenings scheduled on television during the festival.

In addition, the Isla Abierta Latin American Film Market will return as a key space for bringing together national and international producers.