The festival aims to celebrate the cultures of the twin cities Glasgow and Havana, through their passion for cinema, politics and music across a variety of venues, including the GFT and CCA. HGFF, which is directed by Eirene Houston in Glasgow, and Hugo Rivalta in Havana,, enjoys strong ties with the celebrated Cuban cinema institute ICAIC, giving the festival privileged access to rare films and some of the top names in Cuban cinema.
This year, HGFF and the Scottish Cuban Solidarity Campaign have invited Aleida Guevara, eldest daughter of the iconic architect of the Cuban revolution, Che Guevara, as a guest of the festival. She will be attending a screening of the documentary San Ernesto Born in Higuera to mark the 50th anniversary of her father's assassination.
Another guest who has been announced is Luis Alberto Garcia, one of Cuba's most popular actors, who will be in attendance for the festival. He will present his most recent film Ya No Es Antes, and the closing film, Clandestinos, a classic from the most celebrated contemporary Cuban director (and former festival guest) Fernando Perez. The opening film will be Esteban, an award winning new Cuban film about a ten year old's dream to play the piano, with a score by jazz great, Chucho Valdes.
The festival will be programmed around the theme of ‘Then and Now', and organised thematically into three sections, the first examining young people's struggles, including Habanastation, Esteban and From Ghost Town to Havana. The second strand is concerned with emigration and coming home, including Humberto Solas' classic Honey For Ochun and a recent film starring Luis Alberto Garcia, Ya no es Antes, while the third strand examines the legacy of the Cuban Revolution, including the classic Clandestinos and a documentary Fidel – The Man Behind the Myth.
Eirene Houston, Director of the Havana Glasgow Film Festival said – "Film, music and art are part of the fabric of Cuban society and my love for Cuban cinema is rooted in its human stories about ordinary people's lives. It's also often the type of cinema which independent film makers here in Scotland want to make and audiences want to see. Havana Glasgow Film Festival exists to celebrate and share our common humanity, bringing our worlds closer together through our art."
Hugo Rivalta, our codirector in Cuba, said – "When the cold of November arrives, and the first snow threatens to fall, Havana and Glasgow will unite. A rainbow of culture and friendship will shine in the sky"
See the Festival website at www.hgfilmfest.com for full details and programme and how to book tickets.
Cuba 50 