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The documentary “En la caliente – Stories of a Reggaeton Warrior,” focused on the life of the Cuban musical pioneer Candyman, was awarded this Saturday with the Gabo Award 2025 in the Image category, a recognition of its powerful audiovisual narrative about censorship, identity, and cultural resistance in Cuba.
Directed by the Cuban Fabien Pisani and produced between Cuba and the United States by The Cuban Joint, Zafra Media, Cacha Films, and Caffeine Post, the film reconstructs the rise of reggaeton on the island in the 1990s through Candyman, one of its founders, who was marginalized for years by official institutions.
"A brilliant and authentic story about expression through reggaeton in Cuba," the jury remarked, as reported by the official page of the Gabo Foundation. "Its balanced narration is particularly noteworthy, as it assertively relies on music as a resource to explore authoritarianism, freedom, and censorship."
Beyond the beat and infectious rhythm, “En la caliente” demonstrates how urban music has become a means of survival on an island marked by crisis and repression. Candyman, with his irreverent style and uncomfortable lyrics for those in power, is portrayed as a symbol of resilience that challenged the limits imposed by the Cuban regime.
For the Colombian journalist María Alejandra Villamizar, the artist represents “that silent struggle that characterizes many Cubans: what they do is survive, and they always find ways. In this case, the composition became a very powerful way to build identity.”
The Chilean journalist Daniel Matamala, a member of the jury, stated that the work "is a great demonstration of journalism," in which each character is "dignifiedly presented" and provides a clear perspective on the Cuban context, where authoritarianism and censorship continue to shape daily life.
A portrait of Cuba in its most difficult hour
During the Gala of the Gabo Festival in Bogotá, Pisani dedicated the award to Candyman and the Movement of Independent Cinema and Journalism in Cuba, which, as he stated, “has managed to find a voice and a space to tell, inform, and engage with the Cuban people,” reports the agency EFE.
Recognized for his work as a producer on projects like “7 Days in Havana” and “To Live: The Relentless Time of Pablo Milanés”, Pisani warned that telling stories like that of Candyman is a way to shed light on the darkness that permeates the country.
"I want to believe that sharing these stories, which can be difficult and uncomfortable, is essential for envisioning a different future," she expressed.
Although rooted in a distinctly Cuban reality, "En la caliente" connects with universal themes: repression, the quest for freedom, and cultural creation from the margins. The documentary's aesthetic rigor and the richness of its voices allow for an understanding of "multiple layers of Cuba's political, social, and cultural context," according to Brazilian producer Mariana Oliva.
The work was selected among two other finalists: A Raposa, from BBC News Brasil, and Os olhos da revolução, from Rádio e Televisão of Portugal. With this recognition, Cuba once again holds a prominent place in Ibero-American narrative journalism, thanks to a story told from the ground up, with music, dignity, and courage.
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