After almost two months of screening another selection of incredible films the 2026 festival is over.
We are delighted that we have had such positive feedback about the programme, and increased our audience by more than a third over last year in London alone. It once again confirms UK audiences want to see Cuban cinema which is sadly rarely screened here. It also showed that the contemporary film industry in Cuba is thriving, despite the immense difficulties it faces.

This year Screen Cuba had a theme of resistance and love, showing the ground breaking ‘Lucia’, ‘The Last Supper’, ‘Up to a Point’ and ‘House for Swap’ amongst others, all of which had a significant social impact in Cuba. We aimed to expand the reach of the festival. This year in London we had a 1000-strong audience in 12 screenings of 15 films at 4 venues including the Barbican this year. Outside London we increased to 8 screenings of 4 different features in cinemas in Derby, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Pontypridd.

Having already established a fund for projects of the Cuban film institute (ICAIC), such as the restoration and digitisation of classic films, last year, we were proud to help restore several early animated shorts by the renowned director Juan Padrón, and this year, the director of ICAIC has confirmed that the funds we have raised in 2026 for restoration (approx £11,000) will be used to restore and digitise more films by Juan Padrón.

We were very pleased to welcome two Cuban actors: Mirtha Ibarra, who is a household name on the island having starred in many films since ‘Up to a Point’ in 1982; and Joel Angelino, memorable in ‘Strawberry and Chocolate’, alongside Mirtha. Along with Tania Delgado Fernández, director of FINCL (Havana’s International Festival of New Latin American Cinema), these film specialists helped Screen Cuba reach out to new audiences. They participated in events at The Barbican, The Garden Cinema, the ICA, Birkbeck University and BIMI. And we also took the opportunity to help our guests forge more links with the film industry in the UK. Tania was interviewed by The Guardian and by BBC World Service about Cuban cinema during her visit to London. ”We are a very resilient people” Tania told The Guardian.

This success was possible thanks to the relationship we built between Screen Cuba and 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 the audiences. The Garden Cinema, the ICA, the Barbican and Birkbeck University also deserve big thank yous for providing us with great spaces in which to screen the films.

However, right now Cuba’s film industry needs support as the illegal US blockade against the island is tightening. 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 official Festival poster commissioned from Dayron Giro and Roberto Curbelo Perez (Potto), graphic artists in Havana and other merchandise here such as ICAIC screen print film posters, Elpidio Valdes screen print poster, Book about the art of Juan Padron (in Spanish) and ‘Vampires in Havana’ mugs.
We look forward to your continuing support for the future.
Best wishes from Dodie Weppler and Trish Meehan, Festival Coordinators