Speaking to Prensa Latina, the 2017 National Film Prize winner highlighted "the work of ICAIC in the preservation of classic films in Cuba and its role in creating an impressive archive."
He also recognized the work carried out by ICAIC (Cuba's national cinema institute) in restoring several films through agreements with countries such as the United States and France.
"Thanks to this initiative, we have recovered feature films and most of the editions of the Latin American ICAIC Newsreels. Our cinema was formed in an analogue era and preserving it has been very difficult, but we are working to prevent the loss of important materials", he said.
"ICAIC has been fundamental and outstanding for Cuban culture and has faced challenges such as the continuity of film production in the current economic climate and adaptation to new technologies", he added.
"We have the work by outstanding directors such as Tomas Gutierrez Alea, Fernando Perez, Enrique Pineda Barnet and Manuel Perez. New filmmakers are now emerging with many ideas and projects, so the forecast for the sector shows a very positive outlook", he said.
With a varied programme of activities, Havana is celebrating this year the 120th anniversary of the arrival of cinema in Cuba and the 58th anniversary of the foundation of ICAIC, on March 24, 1959.
These celebrations started on March 1 with the screening of the film 'Ya no es antes', by Lester Hamlet, and includes the official award of the 2017 National Film Prize to Rodriguez, in recognition of career spanning more than 5 decades.
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