New South American Directors Present Their Films in Havana

Havana, Dec 14 (Prensa Latina) ''You will never be alone'', by Chilean Alex Anwandter, and ''Francisco Sanctis's Long night'', by Argentineans Andrea Testa and Francisco Márquez, will face each other today in the contest to win the First Work Award at the Havana''s 36th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

Anwandter makes his debut on the Cuban circuit as a screenwriter and composer of a film about the relationship of a father with his homosexual son, especially after a violent attack on the adolescent.

Inspired by a real-life case, in the film, a retreated manager of a mannequin factory, played by Sergio Hernandez, is struggling to fight for a promotion in his work or the payment of medical services for his son, played by Andrew Bargsted, victim of a homophobic aggression.

The picture was included in the Berlinale and several reviews and specialized critics have made the analysis of issues such as incommunication and abandonment, as well as an exceptional soundtrack.

On the other hand, 'Francisco Sanctis's Long night' is the adaptation of homonymous novel by Humberto Constantini, placed in Buenos Aires during 1977, in the middle of the military dictatorship.

An office worker and with a quiet life next to his wife and children, Francisco Sanctis faces a dilemma after contacting an old love who asks his help for two people who would be arrested that same night by the army.

Presented at Cannes, Andrea Testa and Francisco Márquez's first film comes from having won the prize for the best film in the international section at the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (Bafici).

At the Havana festival there are also other films from new directors with excellent references such as 'Los Nadie', by Colombian Juan Sebastián Mesa, awarded in Venice; the Argentina-Chile co-productions, 'Rara' by Pepa San Martín; and Argentina-France's 'El invierno', by Emiliano Torres, both awarded in San Sebastian.