The lobby of the Cine Jibá in Gibara was the setting for the launch of "A Mass for Solás," a book by journalist Lorena Massip that offers an unprecedented portrait of Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solás (1941-2008), presented as part of the theoretical program of the twentieth edition of the International Festival of Poor Cinema.
The work, which was released last Tuesday the 15th, was conceived as the author's academic graduation thesis. According to La Luz Centro de Comunicación Cultural, she "wanted to learn more about the man who was Humberto Solás."
To achieve this, Massip conducted 30 interviews with actors and filmmakers who worked alongside the director, thus creating a collective narrative that highlights anecdotes, contradictions, and moments of dedication from the filmmaker, moving away from a technical analysis of his filmography.
The volume is prefaced by the critic and writer Rafael Grillo, who emphasized the testimonial value of the publication and considered it a necessary perspective for understanding the complexity of an essential artist in Cuban culture.
In the same event, Sergio Benvenuto Solás, nephew of Humberto Solás and director of the competition, presented an exhibition of screen-printed posters inspired by unproduced scripts that the filmmaker never had the chance to film.
The evening brought together filmmakers, critics, and the audience around a publication that, far from the solemnity of myth, reveals the man behind the public figure who founded this festival in April 2003 with the conviction that cinema could be "poor in resources, but rich in ideas."
Solás joined the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) in 1959, at the age of 17, and throughout his career, he made around twenty films. His most recognized work, "Lucía" (1968), is considered one of the most important films in Ibero-American cinema. He passed away in September 2008, three years after receiving the National Film Award of Cuba.
A significant fact that highlights the urgency of initiatives like this book is that, according to a report from April 2025, only "Lucía" has been digitally restored; the rest of Solás' extensive body of work remains at risk of disappearing due to the physical deterioration of the originals and the lack of digitization.
The twentieth edition of the festival, which takes place from July 14 to this Saturday, July 18, 2026, is being held in the context of a severe energy crisis on the island, with power outages lasting more than 50 consecutive hours in the province of Holguín. This forced the organizers to ensure the screenings with their own generators and outdoor screens. The event, which gathered creators from nearly 20 countries, was moved from its usual date in April due to this fuel and energy crisis, although it maintained its spirit of reflection and memory, with Solás at the center of the entire programming.
Related videos:
Filed under: