The popular animated films Adventures of Elpidio Valdés and Elpidio Valdés against the Military Train, featuring the iconic character created by the unforgettable Juan Padrón, have been digitally restored thanks to a joint effort between the Film Heritage Foundation of Colombia and the Cuban Institute of Film Art and Industry (Icaic).
These two works will be screened in the main theaters of the country at the end of November, before the start of the 45th Festival of New Latin American Cinema, according to the state newspaper Granma.
The president of Icaic, Alexis Triana, announced on the social network Facebook that this achievement was possible after months of international collaboration, as the restoration is part of an agreement signed in March with the director of the Foundation, Alexandra Falla, and her team.
Triana also highlighted the support of the Cuban Solidarity Campaign, which organized screenings of Cuban films in London, as well as the collaboration of the family of the late Juan Padrón, represented by Silvia Padrón.
The process not only marks a milestone in the preservation of Cuban film heritage, but also opens the doors to future projects, according to Triana after his visit to the South American country.
The Cuban mambí Elpidio Valdés turned 54 two months ago. His creator brought him to life in August 1970, when he intended to make a comic for the magazine Pioneros and ended up creating the legendary character.
In August of last year, the prominent Cuban filmmaker Ian Padrón, son of the cartoonist Juan, responded to the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel after the use of the figure of Elpidio Valdés in a post on X where the leader congratulated the creation of the cartoon.
"I open the networks and see that today we celebrate the 54th birthday of Elpidio Valdés, colonel of the Liberation Army with whom many generations have grown up. Fiancé of María Silvia, rider of Palmiche, brave mambí with whom we have shouted countless times ¡Viva Cuba Libre! Elpidio is #Cuba," wrote the designated leader.
His words caused an uproar on social media, including the response that Ian made on his YouTube channel.
Dressed in a coat featuring the figure of Elpidio Valdés, he repeated something he has said on other occasions: “I tell you that he is my older brother, the oldest son, meaning my older brother and the oldest son of my father Juan Padrón.”
The filmmaker mentioned that he did not plan to make a program but felt "obliged" to respond to Díaz-Canel, after referring to Elpidio.
Ian lashed out at the Cuban leader, accusing him of using the image of Elpidio "to turn it into propaganda."
He assured that the president knows he is unpopular and uses a cartoon character that is one of the most popular in the country for his messages.
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