It’s (almost) a wrap! After two weeks of screening an amazing selection of brilliant films the 2024 festival is almost over.

[Also showing ‘Death of a Bureaucrat’ in Newport (17 April) and Norwich (23 April), and ‘Strawberry & Chocolate’ in Oxford (18 April).]

We are delighted that film after film in London sold out as it confirms our view that there is an audience for Cuban cinema which is rarely screened in the UK.  It also showed that the film industry in Cuba is alive and well today, despite the immense difficulties it faces.  

When Screen Cuba was first launched, we had two goals.  First, to showcase some of the most important works of the island’s filmmakers which explore the achievements and challenges of the Cuban people. Secondly, we committed ourselves to establishing a special fund for projects of the Cuban film institute ICAIC, such as the restoration and digitalisation of classic films, the improvement in the distribution of films domestically and beyond, and other projects. Both goals were fulfilled.

We were very pleased to welcome two guests from Cuba – Tania Delgado Fernandez, the director of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana, also known as the Havana Film Festival; and Gladys Gonzalez Martinez, the Vice President of the Cuban film institute, ICAIC. Both of these film specialists helped Screen Cuba reach out to new and young audiences, also participating in two successful events at Birkbeck University. And we also took the opportunity to help ICAIC establish, or re-establish, links with the film industry in the UK by arranging a number of meetings with key players in the UK. 

Our success was possible thanks to relationship we built between Screen Cuba collaborators; the support we received from our patrons, as well as from our main sponsors and organisations, individuals, and volunteers, who promoted the Festival or contributed to its costs; and above all, to our amazing audiences who, day after day, expressed their appreciation for the festival programme.  The Garden Cinema also deserves a big thank you for providing us with a wonderful environment in which to screen the films.

However, we still have lots to accomplish. The most urgent is ICAIC’s need for funds as the illegal US blockade against the island continues to tighten. That’s why we are inviting you to donate to our special fund to support ICAIC projects to preserve their cinematic heritage at bit.ly/ICAICdonate.

You can also help ICAIC by ordering our beautiful official Festival poster commissioned from Emilio Cruañas Pérez, a graphic artist in Havana (in the pic below), and our colourful cotton bag.

ORDER THE POSTER £5+£3.50p&p

ORDER THE BAG £5+£1.50p&p

We think the future of Cuban cinema in the UK looks bright.  And we look forward to your continuing support so that together we can now consolidate the success of the first edition of Screen Cuba.

Best wishes from Dodie Weppler and Trish Meehan, Festival Coordinators