This is the second edition of the festival, which runs in the United Kingdom until March 29, expanding its reach to more cities and prestigious movie theaters in London, such as Garden Cinema, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and Birkbeck University.
It is also expanding to other British cities such as Wales, Oxford, and Nottingham.
Organized by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and the Cuban Music Fund, the event also raises funds for the restoration and preservation of Cuban film heritage and the acquisition of essential equipment for film distribution on the island.
Thanks to this effort, the restoration of two animated short films by Juan Padrón has already been funded and will be presented in 2025, contributing to the preservation of Cuban cinematographic heritage, according to the source.
Screen Cuba will feature two special guests: Gladys González Martínez, vice president of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), and Silvia Padrón Durán, a specialist in Cuban cinema and daughter of Juan Padrón, creator of the iconic character Elpidio Valdés.
Both will present films and exchange views with attendees, enriching the festival experience.
Among the titles that British audiences will be able to enjoy for the first time are ¨Memories of Underdevelopment¨ (1968), ¨Nelsito’s World¨ (2023), ¨The People of Documentary¨ (2022), and ¨A Night with the Rolling Stones¨ (2023).
In addition, visitors will be able to enjoy classics such as ¨Clandestinos¨ (1987), ¨Guantanamera¨ (1995), and ¨Retrato de Teresa¨ (1979).
Sara Gómez’s documentary trilogy on youth re-education will also be screened, as well as animated short films by Elpidio Valdés and iconic documentaries such as Ciclón (1963), El funeral de Benny Moré (1963), and Cerro Pelado (1963).
In addition to the screenings, the festival offers parallel activities such as talks with university students at Birkbeck University and dialogues with the public, as well as exchanges with British specialists, fostering a closer understanding of Cuban culture and its cinema.
These initiatives seek to strengthen cultural ties between Cuba and the United Kingdom, promoting a deeper understanding of the island’s identity and history through the seventh art.
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