Cuban Cinematheque Turns 57

Havana, Feb 6 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Cinematheque is turning 57th anniversary of founding today with the screening of some classics of its collection restored in accordance with internationally recognized standards.

'Memorias del subdesarrollo' (Memories of Underdevelopment), 'Una pelea cubana contra los demonios' (A Cuban Struggle Against the Demons), 'Los sobrevivientes' (Survivors) and 'Retrato de Teresa' (Portrait of Teresa), are the feature films shown this month at Havana's 23 y 12 movie theater.

The films were restored thanks to agreements by the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) with foreign institutions such as the laboratory of the Cinemateque of Bologna, in Italy, among others with the technologies required to rescue and preserve according to contemporary patterns.

The Havana's 23 y 12 movie theater will also stage, on February 8th, a tribute to the Cuban Cinematheque that includes a concert by the Chamber Orchestra of Havana and the screening of the documentary 'La primera función'.

The work compiles the short films originally screened in the first world cinema projection, occurred on December 28th, 1895, in Paris, France.

According to Luciano Castillo, director of the Cuban Cinematheque, the film pretends to recall the arrival of the Lumiere brothers' cinematographer to Cuba because January 24th marked 120 years of having been capable of enjoying the invention here.

To close the gala, the definitive copy of the classics 'The Kid', by Charles Chaplin, will be screened, after being restored by the Cinematheque of Bologna.