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The young Cuban filmmaker Orlando Mora Cabrera was arrested this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. by three agents from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and was supposedly taken to the police station at Zapata and C, in El Vedado.
The Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers (ACC) reported in a Facebook post that the artist is currently missing. After several attempts to make contact, it was confirmed that he is not at that station, and so far, his whereabouts and the reasons for his arrest remain unknown, the statement noted.
"We denounce this irregularity and express our solidarity with Orlando Mora," stated the group of representatives from the ACC in the statement released on social media.
The detention of Mora Cabrera occurred shortly after his public complaint regarding an alleged act of institutional censorship during the 45th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana, where his short film "Matar a un hombre" was excluded from the official program.
The filmmaker noted that their work was removed without clear explanations, following a series of cancellations attributed to alleged "electrical issues."
Mora Cabrera deemed these actions as a homophobic response and a retaliation against the critical content of his film, which addresses themes of violence and domination, including the undercover homosexuality of a member of the Revolutionary National Police.
The film is inspired by a true story. In just 12 minutes, it addresses the issue of the undercover homosexuality of a PNR agent, which has shocked the regime.
This case is not isolated. During the same festival, actress and activist Kiriam Gutiérrez, co-star of Matar a un hombre, was placed under house arrest to prevent her participation in the screening of the film at the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba.
"Censorship and repression against independent artists and filmmakers in Cuba remains a reality. It is time for us to set aside indifference and confront these injustices," stated actor and filmmaker Walter Cordero, producer of Pura Vida Company.
Frequently Asked Questions about Censorship and Repression in Cuban Cinema
Why was filmmaker Orlando Mora Cabrera arrested in Havana?
Orlando Mora Cabrera was detained after reporting an act of censorship during the 45th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana. His short film "Killing a Man" was excluded from the official program, which he attributed to homophobic reasons and retaliation due to the critical content of his film directed at the Cuban regime.
What themes are addressed in the short film "Killing a Man"?
The short film "To Kill a Man," directed by Orlando Mora Cabrera, addresses themes of violence and domination, including the undercover homosexuality of a member of the National Revolutionary Police. The film was censored due to its critical content regarding the regime and its focus on topics considered taboo in Cuban society.
How has the artistic community reacted to the detention of Orlando Mora Cabrera?
The Cuban Filmmakers Assembly (ACC) denounced the arrest of Orlando Mora Cabrera as an irregularity and expressed its solidarity with the filmmaker. Artists and filmmakers have criticized the censorship and repression faced by independent creators in Cuba, urging action against these injustices and advocating for artistic freedom.
Are there precedents of censorship at the Havana Film Festival?
Yes, the Havana Film Festival has been the setting for several acts of censorship. Works that tackle uncomfortable topics for the regime, such as the crisis in Cuba or the invasion of Ukraine, have been excluded in previous editions. This pattern of censorship reflects the Cuban government's repression of freedom of expression and thematic diversity in art.
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