The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) and the Cinemateca de Cuba have announced the programme for the 9th Summer Film Festival and the fourth edition of the international showcase Orizzonti.
This ninth summer edition will offer a wide variety of national and international films, including special re-releases, alongside family-friendly proposals.
Alexis Triana Hernández, President of ICAIC, highlighted the festival’s coincidence with key anniversaries: the 65th of the Animation Studios and Cinemateca de Cuba, plus the centenary of Alfredo Guevara.
The reactivation of mobile cinema in neighbourhoods was also emphasised – an effort maintained despite the country’s energy challenges. Inflatable screens will enable film screenings across Cuban communities.
Among the novelties is the big-screen return of Juan Padrón’s Vampiros en La Habana (1985), four decades after its premiere. This screening was made possible by recovering an original print preserved in the archives of Spain’s RTVE Corporation in Madrid.
Meanwhile, Esther Hirzel, Director of ICAIC Animation, announced the institution’s anniversary celebration will feature over 30 short film premieres and animation workshops for all ages. The programme includes a tribute to Mario Rivas (86), a renowned director who continues creating characters like the astute Fernanda.
Luciano Castillo, Director of Cinemateca de Cuba, stated the institution continues its film heritage preservation mission. In this context, he announced a screening of the restored, digitised copy of Capablanca (1986), directed by 2022 National Film Award winner Manuel Herrera.
Additionally, cycles dedicated to Indian cinema, an Italian film anthology, and a selection of French cinematography will be presented.
Yanais Gutiérrez, ICAIC Programming Specialist, detailed the Summer Film Festival’s weekly schedule: Tuesdays feature classic Cuban cinema; Wednesdays offer thematic cycles (sports, sci-fi, horror, etc.); Fridays showcase milestones of Cuban cinema; whilst Saturdays and Sundays present morning children’s programming followed by afternoon adult sessions.
Conversely, the Orizzonti: Italy-Cuba Festival (2-13 July at 23 y 12, Chaplin, and Acapulco cinemas) will showcase Italian classics, stated General Coordinator Antonio Urrata. He thanked ICAIC for making this project possible once more.
This year’s Orizzonti equally highlights documentaries honouring iconic figures who left their mark on Italian film history, including Marcello Mastroianni, Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Anna Magnani.
The 9th Summer Film Festival and fourth Orizzonti edition will feature a varied programme of premieres and educational activities, promising a space for celebration and reflection on the seventh art, cementing its status as a key event in the island’s cultural summer.
