The Brazilian actor Thiago Lacerda, remembered in Cuba for his character Giuseppe Garibaldi, is in Havana as a judge for the 46th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, according to a note dated December 12, 2025.
His visit included public activities and meetings with media and institutions related to the film event, including an exchange with the press from the Hotel Nacional and appearances on television programs.
During a press conference held this Friday at the Hotel Nacional, Lacerda expressed his joy at being in Cuba and for participating in what he described as a "great celebration of the seventh art" in the region.
In an interview for the government-aligned Prensa Latina, he revealed that it was a trip he had been anticipating for a long time and shared that among other impressions, he was struck by the “lovely” way the Cuban audience connects with cinema.
He also assured that seeing “people in the theaters and on the streets,” interacting with fellow jury members, the films, and Latin American cinema had been “an experience” and “a great moment” in the country.
Consulted by Prensa Latina about how he perceives the dialogue between his television career (soap operas) and his work in film —within the context of a festival that values auteur cinema and regional identity— the actor responded that he finds it "very beautiful" the way characters connect with people.
In that same exchange, he stated that he plans to return with his theater show and that he might come back “at another time” with his family.
He also expressed pride in his work in television and described it as a good way to establish that connection with the audience.
In his statements, Lacerda also spoke about Latin American cinema as a space for cohesion and asserted that art and culture are a powerful tool for “intellectual provocation” and “politics.”
He wished for the festival's continuity and expressed hope that future editions maintain the current level in terms of the quality of films and Latin American cinema.
As a judge, he described himself as a “positive spectator” of his colleagues' work, and stated that evaluating comes easily and pleasantly to him, as well as serving as an exercise to reflect on the paths of other creators.
In that same vein, he defined himself as a "storyteller" and noted that a sense of meaning, surprise, creativity, and originality are essential in this craft; although he stated that he was born to tell stories in front of the camera, he did not rule out the possibility of directing in the future.
In response to the idea of taking a representative object from Cuba to Brazil, she said she would take "the smile of the Cuban people" and their kindness; and when defining Cuba in a single word or phrase, she said: “Cuba beautiful.”
Lacerda also participated this Saturday in the television show "Al Mediodía", with Marino Luzardo. In the program, he had a discussion "full of anecdotes."
Thiago Lacerda became particularly popular in Cuba and other countries for his portrayal of Giuseppe Garibaldi in the miniseries A Casa das Sete Mulheres, a historical figure that solidified his image as a heartthrob and provided him with significant international exposure.
Throughout his career, he has successfully alternated between television drama, film, and theater, working in both commercial productions and projects with greater artistic profile.
In both his personal and professional life, he is recognized for his solid training, interpretative versatility, and for maintaining an active career beyond the stereotype of the television heartthrob that marked his beginnings.
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