Interview with Greg Klave director Second Annual Cuban Film Festival (CFF) Twin Cities, Minneapolis

While many filmgoers in the Twin Cities look forward to the annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), taking place in six weeks, there are a few other film festivals upcoming, including the Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival and the Italian Film Festival, which both start at the end of March. At the present time, the Second Annual Cuban Film Festival (CFF) is taking place at St. Anthony Main Theatre, for the next five Thursdays (the first screening was last Thursday).
Greg Klave, the festival curator, has brought six Cuban films to the Twin Cities. I wanted to ask Greg a few questions about the Cuban Film Festival, how to get involved, support from the Twin Cities, and why most Americans are not allowed to travel to Cuba.

This is the second year of the CFF. How was the turnout last year?
The first year we had a surprising response from the community, with two of the shows sold out and many turned away. Two of the others were close to sell-outs, and the others had a respectable turnout, with over half the theater seats filled. Our discussion groups after the films about the movie and the history of U.S./Cuban relations were also well-attended, and people enjoyed them immensely. We get so much propaganda from

Film of the week “Ticket to Paradise” by Gerardo Chijona

Director Gerardo Chijona Valdes guides the actors to realistic performances, though the Cuban drama’s last third begins to feel contrived.
Based on actual events following the dissolution of the USSR and ensuing economic chaos in Cuba, Gerardo Chijona Valdes’ feature Ticket to Paradise is anything but, depicting the often harrowing struggles of neglected teens trying to survive on the streets amidst of a faltering economy. A perceptive and sensitive portrayal of a runaway country girl’s coming of age, the film will find a home with

Cuban filmmakers at the Traverse City Film Festival

El Cuerno de la Abundancia

A Cuban delegation of filmmakers traveled to the United States to participate in the Traverse City Film Festival founded by American documentary director Michael Moore.
During the inauguration of the event, Michael Moore exhorted the public to watch the Cuban films included in the program of the event and introduced actress Mirtha Ibarra and director Ian Padrón, and gave them the Key to the City in recognition of their work and career. Also in Michigan was another prestigious Cuban movie director, Juan Carlos Cremata, whose full-length film Viva Cuba, co-directed with Iraida Malberti, was also included in the program of the Festival.
Other Cuban films to be screened include El Cuerno de la abundancia (The Horn of Plenty), by Juan Carlos Tabío; Fuera de Liga (Out of the League), by Ian Padrón; and Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate), by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío. Furthermore, all members of the island’s delegation will participate in a panel entitled ‘We Live in Cuba and We Make Films’.

Film of the week: Apaporis

APAPORIS: In search of one river (documentary) from FUNDACIÓN IMAGEN LATINA on Vimeo.

A Fundacion Imagen Latina production. Produced by Alberto Dorado. Directed, written by Antonio Dorado Z.
With: Wade Davis, Antonio Dorado, Gustavo Rojas Pachacuari, Rondon Tanimuca.
(English, Spanish, Cubeo dialogue)
Colombian helmer Antonio Dorado Z. ventures forth to retrace the 1942 journey of famed American botanist Richard Schultes“Apaporis.” through the Amazon

Cuban producer Juan Carlos Cremata move the audience at the Film Festival of Traverse City

Viva Cuba

Participants in a talk about Cuban cinema convened by the Film Festival of Traverse City, in the US state of Michigan, were moved after knowing that the United States protects two confessed terrorists, who enjoy freedom in Florida.
While speaking at the colloquium, Juan Carlos Cremata, who brought to this city his film Viva Cuba (Long Live Cuba),

For What Are We Cubans Prepared?

The Future is ours. Photo: Kate Forrester

Recently I had the privilege of attending a special presentation and discussion on the film “Memories of Development,” by a Cuban director who lives in the United States, Miguel Coyula.  This presentation of this film, inspired by Edmundo Desnoes’s novel of the same name, was carried out within the discussion forum “Seeing Is Believing,” sponsored by the Cinema, Radio and Television Association of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.
The discussion was conducted in the presence of the director as well as

El actor cubano Jorge Perugorría dirige en Cuba una película musical

El actor cubano Jorge Perugorría dirige en Cuba una película musical protagonizada por la cantante Cucu Diamantes, a propósito de la primera gira que realiza la artista por la isla y que finalizará este domingo con un concierto en La Habana.

Perugorría, que debutó tras las cámaras en 2009 con el filme ‘Afinidades‘, aún por estrenar, anunció a medios oficiales cubanos que su nueva cinta es “un sueño hecho realidad” y un “homenaje” al cine cubano, aprovechando los conciertos de su compatriota por todo el país.

“Primero pensamos hacer un documental, pero después surgió la idea de filmar una historia de ficción paralela al viaje de ellos, donde la protagonista es la música de Cucu y su viaje por la isla”, indicó el actor, que saltó a la fama con la película cubana ‘Fresa y chocolate‘ (1994), de Tomás Gutiérrez Alea.

La producción, que se titula ‘Amor Crónico‘, está enmarcada en el género musical y contará una historia diferente ubicada en cada una de las provincias donde ha actuado Cucu Diamantes desde que inició su tour por Cuba, el pasado 28 de abril, con el espectáculo “Bienvenidos a Cuculand“.

Residente en Estados Unidos desde 1991, la cantautora cubana se dio a conocer en ese país como vocalista del grupo Yerba Buena, pero solo saltó a la fama en la isla tras su participación en el concierto Paz sin Fronteras que lideró el colombiano Juanes en la Plaza de la Revolución de La Habana, en septiembre pasado.

La artista lanzó en 2009 “Cuculand“, su primer álbum en solitario, en el que fusiona ritmos como conga, cumbia, tango, hip hop, son, flamenco, samba y rock.

Su gira por la isla ha incluido conciertos en las ciudades de Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, Gibara, Camagüey, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos y Matanzas, y está previsto que finalice en el Teatro Nacional de La Habana.

Festival Internacional de Cine Pobre Humberto Solás en Cuba

Centenares de películas de lugares tan distintos como Argentina, Israel, Malasia o Azerbaiján llegarán a Gibara, un pequeño poblado del oriente cubano, para participar del Festival del Cine Pobre, un espacio donde se premia la calidad y lo alternativo aunque tenga bajo presupuesto.

“Gibara 2010, tendremos un gran festival, muy intenso”, dijo durante una rueda de prensa su director Sergio Benvenuto.

Los organizadores de esta 8va edición que se desarrollará del 19 al 24 de abril recibieron cerca de un millar de cintas de las cuales 300 fueron escogidas para ser exhibidas incluyendo las que estarán en competencia.

Benvenuto definió así la esencia de las producciones que se pondrán en pantalla: “modestia de recursos y mucha calidad”.

Además de los típicos premios al mejor largometraje de ficción o cortometraje; documentales o videoarte, las cintas competirán por el galardón a la mejor maqueta (película en proceso) que está dotado de 70.000 dólares, una cifra estimable para cualquier cineasta armando su obra.

Junto al concurso habrá varias muestras paralelas de las más disímiles cinematografías desde flamenca, árabe, caribeña o de cultura pop alemana.

Benvenuto consideró que el evento se realiza en un momento “muy especial” para el mundo audiovisual, pues el avance y el abaratamiento de la tecnología hace al “cineasta parecerse al artista plástico” pues pone la capacidad de creación al alcance de los sectores medios de una sociedad.

Oficialmente el encuentro se llama Festival Internacional de Cine Pobre Humberto Solás (1941-2008), en honor al destacado y fallecido director cubano que tuvo la idea inicial de crear este tipo de foro.

Obras y gente del mundo audiovisual provenientes Chile, Bolivia, Estados Unidos, Brasil, Marruecos, España, China o Finlandia, entre otros, viajarán a la pequeña localidad holguinera de Gibara, a unos 800 kilómetros al este de la capital.

También habrá foros de debate como uno de dramaturgia o uno técnico de animación, así como encuentros con productores o directores, además conciertos y exposiciones, se informó.

Sourced from: denverpost.com

EVENT IN LONDON: Cine Cuba 12th April

Cuba Mia : Portrait of an All-Woman Orchestra, Directed by Cecilia Domeyko

The ‘Square Pig’ pub 30-32, Procter Street, London, WC1X 8TJ (2 mins from Holborn Tube)

Monday 12 April 2010 @ 7.30pm

Cuba Mia tells the story of the musicians of an all woman orchestra combining fiery performances with an insight into life behind the scenes. This inspiring film demonstrates the power of music to cross boundaries of nation, gender and time. The orchestra is lead by Zenaida Romeu, one of the world’s few women conductors. The film portrays a slice of Cuban life rarely seen on the screen. (Running time 86 minutes)

Free Entry (Donation optional)

Organised by North London Cuba Solidarity Campaign (NLCSC), Cine Cuba is a monthly film club dedicated to showing films from and about Cuba. We aim to present a range of films – both documentary and drama – covering a variety of topics which will give the viewer an insight into the Cuban revolution, society, history, politics and culture.

Future films include : El Brigadista ; Fidel – The Untold Story ; Cecilia.

We hope that viewers will stay at the end of the film and participate in the relaxed but lively post-film drink and discussion.

NLCSC is a local Group affiliated to the National Cuba Solidarity Campaign. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm at the Islington Arts Factory, 2 Parkhurst Rd, N7. Nearest tube Holloway Road on the Piccadilly line. All welcome.

Presentacion del Film Cubano “Chamaco” en Miami

Presentacion de la pelicula cubana “Chamaco” en Miami:

Presentan Film Cubano “Chamaco” en Miami