Cuban Animation Classic Vampires in Havana Returns to the Big Screen in the Capital

As part of the 9th Summer Film Festival currently taking place in theaters and public spaces across Havana, the Charles Chaplin Cinema will begin screening the Cuban animated classic Vampires in Havana this weekend.

This Friday, the big screen at the Chaplin theater will light up with vibrant colors, humor, and an unmistakable Cuban spirit through this national cinematic gem by renowned director Juan Padrón, according to a post shared on the official Cubacine ICAIC Facebook page.

Vampires in Havana is Padrón’s second animated feature film (he is also the creator of the beloved character Elpidio Valdés). Released in 1985, it was co-produced by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), Radio Televisión Española, and Durniock Producciones.

In February 2009, the film ranked 50th in the first global poll of the 100 Best Ibero-American Films, conducted by Noticine.com, a cinema-focused news portal. Notably, it was the only animated film included on the list.

The plot centers on a conspiracy between two powerful vampire cartels—Capa Nostra in the United States and Grupo Vampiro in Europe—both racing to seize a formula that allows vampires to withstand sunlight.

The film’s cult status eventually led to the release of a sequel in 2003, titled More Vampires in Havana.

The 9th Summer Film Festival in Cuba is generating considerable excitement this year, not only for its lineup of beloved titles, but also for its special screenings of restored classics.