From the beginning of the Revolution a new genre of poster art was created, not just to offer soundbites or push passive consumption but out of necessity to communicate with the Cuban people (many of whom were illiterate). The Cuban film institute ICAIC, established in March 1959, had its own poster graphics department and produced posters for films which invited the viewer to explore multiple layers of information or visual codes. The posters were artworks in themselves, reflective of the ideas in the film, rather than vehicles for promoting movie stars Hollywood-style.

Cuban cinema posters produced by hand screen printing are now internationally recognised for their creativity and effective communication.

In 2018 the Cuban government recognised its cinema posters as ‘Cultural Heritage of the Cuban Nation’. In May 2023 UNESCO finally recognised the collection of posters of Cuban cinema: 1960-1980 as part of the ‘Memory of the World’ Programme. This refers to the world’s ‘Documentary Heritage’ which needs to be preserved and constitutes the “collective memory of humanity.”

Anne Lemaistre, Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, praised the immense talent of Cuban designers who, with few means, had the ability to encapsulate the essence of both national and foreign films. “These movie posters can inspire new generations of designers.”

ICAIC poster sales
CSC has a limited number of film posters direct from Cuba and available to buy to raise funds for ICAIC restoration projects. The original ICAIC designs are screen printed in Havana on paper (50cm x 71cm) £50 + £3.50p&p.
buy online via Cuba Solidarity Campaign

Retrato de Teresa / Portrait of Teresa
(1979, dir. Pastor Vega, Cuba) designer Servando Cabrera Moreno

Clandestinos
(1987, dir. Fernando Pérez, Cuba) designer Julio Eloy

Fresa y chocolate / Strawberry and Chocolate
(1993, dir. Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabío, Cuba) designer Ernesto Ferrand

Cuba Libre
(2015, dir. Jorge Luis Sánchez, Cuba) designer Pepe Menéndez