Cuban cinema has long been a lens into the country’s revolution, culture, and identity. This legacy will be brought to London by “Films to change the world”, showcasing rarely screened Cuban classics, bold contemporary films, and thought-provoking documentaries that capture Cuba’s changing social landscape and current artistic movements.
Harry Allen
London will host the Screen Cuba: Films to Change the World festival, a celebration of Cuban cinema that brings together classic and contemporary films, documentaries, and expert discussions.
The festival provides a unique opportunity for audiences to explore Cuba’s cinematic heritage, often overshadowed in mainstream global film culture. With limited opportunities to see Cuban films in the UK, this event offers a rare insight into a country whose film industry has long played a crucial role in shaping its cultural and political narrative.
Cuban cinema has always been deeply intertwined with the nation’s history. Following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, film became a tool for storytelling, education, and political expression in a strict cold-war atmosphere.
The Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) was established the same year to promote national cinema, producing some of the most politically engaged and artistically bold films in Latin America.
From revolutionary documentaries to socially conscious dramas, Cuban filmmakers have consistently used the medium to explore issues of identity, struggle, and change.
The festival will showcase a diverse selection of films spanning different eras of Cuban cinema. Among the highlights is Tomás Gutiérrez Alea’s “Memories of underdevelopment”, a landmark film that reflects on the uncertainty and alienation of post-revolutionary Cuba.
Another standout is Humberto Solás’s “Portrait of Teresa”, a feminist film tackling gender roles in Cuban society.
More recent films include the critically acclaimed “Behaviour” (Conducta), which portrays a troubled young boy navigating Cuba’s social challenges, and Fernando Pérez’s “The world of Nelsito”, a surreal drama that brings an imaginative perspective to contemporary Cuban life.
The festival will also highlight Santiago Álvarez’s groundbreaking documentaries, known for their clear-cut editing and political urgency. Álvarez’s work, produced throughout the 1960s and 1970s, remains a cornerstone of Cuban documentary filmmaking, offering a unique window into global struggles, from the Vietnam War to civil rights movements.
Beyond the screenings, audiences will have the chance to engage with Cuban film specialists in Q&A sessions, gaining deeper insight into the history and themes of the films.
The festival’s Gala Reception on Tuesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the ICA London will feature a screening of “Guantanamera”, a classical satirical comedy by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío, followed by discussions and a live performance by Omar Puente and Cubanía.
The festival is a non-commercial initiative supporting the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC), raising funds for the restoration of classic Cuban films. Organised in collaboration with the Music Fund for Cuba UK charity, the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, and the Cuban Embassy in the UK, it aims to preserve and promote Cuban cinema internationally.
The event will run from March 16 to 29, 2025. For the full programme, venue details, and ticket information, click here.
(Photos: Pixabay)
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