This summer, films on the big screen in Gibara

The city of Gibara, in the province of Holguin, will host the Gibara International Film Festival from July 31 to August 5. This is one of the main events of the summer cultural circuit in Cuba.

As novelty, this year the Lucía de Honor Award will be presented to the Cuban producer and filmmaker Jorge Perugorría at the closing ceremony of the event. Perugorría has been the leading face of event from 2016 to 2022.

From now on, Perugorría becomes the Honorary President of the event. He has been a key figure in the relaunch and reanimation of the Festival, especially in 2019, during the sanitary emergency caused by COVID-19.

The gender issues will gain prominence in this Film Festival and it will transcend filmography, as this topic will be addressed at the theoretical event, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and other activities.

According to organizers, outdoors screening will be retaken at the so-called Villa Blanca de Cuba (Cuba’s White Town), sign of the historical link between that community and cinema. In two nightly sessions, films that are part of the official programme will be screened thanks to a giant screen provided by the Havana Film Festival and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Following closure of activities, musical shows — a common activity that is retaken to guarantee the interaction between Gibara’s neighbors and the attending pubic— will be held and a special tribute will be paid to the Nueva Trova movement.

As expected, a special tribute to filmmaker Humerto Solás, founding father of a festival firstly devoted to Cine Pobre (Poor Cinema) will be paid, and has now focused on other urgent issues in cinema.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff