Students from the International School of Cinema report censorship of graduation short films

A group of students from the International School of Cinema and TV in San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV) reported the censorship of the exhibition of their graduation short films.

The exhibition, which was set to take place on Saturday, July 12, at 2:00 PM, at the Cine Acapulco in Havana, "was canceled without coherent explanations," which represents “an unprecedented event in the history of our school,” reads a statement on social media from the 30th generation of the EICTV.

The students reported that "two buses arrived from the school [to Acapulco] full of students, family members, teachers, friends, and crew from the films. No officials from EICTV were present, only workers who announced 'technical problems'."

"They claim, 'The movie posters were never put up. Cine Acapulco remained closed, and access was never permitted, demonstrating that there was no intention to show the films.'"

They also reported that when inquiring about the matter with the school's administration, the director of the EICTV, Susana Molina, hung up on a student representative.

The students have attempted to hold the exhibition, which is traditionally organized by graduates each year, but they have encountered obstacles and absurd explanations.

They believe it to be a retaliation as “since June, the students have expressed their dissatisfaction with the poor conditions of the basic services and the facilities of the school.”

“These protests led to the intervention of Fernando Rojas, former Deputy Minister of Culture and current advisor to the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso, highlighting that the EICTV operates under the direct dependency of the Ministry of Culture, without the historical mediation of the Foundation of New Latin American Cinema,” they explain.

In this way, the students demand "public explanations from the Ministry of Culture and the management of the EICTV; guarantees that the theses will be screened without restrictions; and respect for the academic and artistic autonomy of the school."

Her demand has been supported by the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers, who argue that the incident refers to systematic episodes of censorship.

In June, the students of the EICTV reported what they referred to as “a health, food, and institutional governance crisis that directly affects the quality of life and the educational process at the center”

In a statement released on social media, the students claimed that the lack of attention, commitment, and communication from the current administration has resulted in unsanitary conditions, food shortages, and the deterioration of basic infrastructure.

"We find ourselves in a critical situation of unsanitary conditions and lack of hygiene due to the absence of water in the rooms. The quality of the food has declined, and there is no access to drinking water once the dining hall is closed," the document reported.

They also warned about the situation of the workers at the center, many of whom have not received their salaries for several months, creating an oppressive work environment that also affects the daily functioning of the school.

Despite acknowledging the difficult economic reality of Cuba, the student body emphasized that this situation cannot justify institutional abandonment, especially when there are available resources and an international support network willing to contribute to the sustainability of the project

Frequently Asked Questions about Censorship at the International School of Film and TV of Cuba