Int’l Festival of New Latin American Cinema Inaugurated in Havana

The 31st International Festival of New Latin American Cinema was inaugurated on Thursday night at Havana’s Karl Marx Theater with an artistic gala that included the performance of renowned Cuban pianist Chucho valdes and diva Omara Portuondo.

Chucho and Omara, both Latin Grammy Awards winners during the most recent edition of the event, joined their talents and offered the public several unforgettable pieces of Cuban music.

The welcoming and opening speech was delivered by Alfredo Guevara, president of the Festival, who announced that 105 works from 17 countries are competing on this occasion.

“The Festival’s main goal is to open doors and to build bridges,” he stressed.

Guevara referred to the work of the new generations of filmmakers in Latin America and said they represent unprecedented and enriching interests, styles, searches, and experiences.

The 31st Festival of New Latin American Cinema is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Institute of the Film Industry and Art (ICAIC).

“Fifty years is a long time and there’s a solid work that is not only important to Cuba but also to Latin America,” said the director of the Festival, Ivan Giroud.

The inaugural gala closed with the screening of the Spanish-Argentinean film ‘El secreto de sus ojos’ (The Secret of Her Eyes). The film was nominated for the Oscar and Goya awards and it recently obtained nine Clarin Awards in Argentina.

Source: Cuban News agency