The 45th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana, a historic symbol of cinematic culture in the region, has been severely impacted by the ongoing blackouts affecting the Cuban capital. One of the most anticipated films of the event, "Matar a un hombre," directed by Orlando Mora Cabrera, could not be screened due to power supply failures, resulting in a wave of criticism on social media and among attendees.
The director expressed his frustration over the lack of suitable conditions for the festival, which has faced organizational and technical difficulties. Despite the organizers' promises of rescheduling, the audience, including international guests, has expressed their dissatisfaction with the precarious situation surrounding one of the country's most prominent cultural events.
Actress and filmmaker Kiriam Gutiérrez, a member of the team, expressed her outrage over the cancellation of two screenings of the film due to power outages, describing the festival as a "shameful display of organization."
We need to look into the eyes of many Cuban and foreign filmmakers at this shadowy festival.
In a passionate social media post, Gutiérrez stated: “Why do they insist on holding an international film festival without the basic conditions, such as electrical service, cinemas, and appropriate equipment and facilities? The stage, the kiosks, and the portable restrooms placed right on 23rd Avenue at the doors of ICAIC are truly a slap in the face to the festival we had. The stench of urine and feces mixed with the smell of fried chicken reached the doors of the dimly lit cinema 23 and 12.”
The filmmaker also mentioned that part of the movie's crew, trained at the International School of Film and Television (EICTV), traveled from various countries for the premiere, which heightens the sense of frustration: “That is still our dream, the dream of many filmmakers—that our homeland enjoys cinema. This film has already premiered at the International Lisbon Festival and the International Guatemala Festival, but Havana and Cuba have derailed our cinema. Shame on the festival, shame on the organization, shame on the institution. They still wonder why we don't remain silent. Because cinema hurts us, because art hurts us, because Cuba hurts us.”
In contrast, the premiere of the first two episodes of the series "One Hundred Years of Solitude," based on the work of Gabriel García Márquez and produced by Netflix, successfully took place at the Yara cinema, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. However, this successful event stands in stark contrast to the logistical and technical challenges that have affected many other productions at the festival.
The blackouts, confirmed by the Electric Union, are due to a deficit in energy generation, which has affected not only the daily lives of Habaneros but also significant cultural events, such as the festival. News about gas leaks and power cuts in housing complexes in Havana illustrates the precarious situation in which many families must also survive.
The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, which for decades was a symbol of cultural pride and a platform for Latin American cinema, seems to have met the same fate as many other things in Cuba: deterioration, precariousness, and a lack of resources.
What was once an international benchmark is now struggling to maintain its relevance amidst conditions that do not reflect its history or legacy. Meanwhile, artists and filmmakers are raising their voices to remind us of what this festival meant and what it could still signify if art and culture were prioritized as a means to revitalize hope in a Cuba marked by crisis.
Filed under: