Considered the most international and recognized Cuban actor for his unforgettable Diego in Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), Jorge Perugorría is a versatile artist who has tested his strength in the world of visual art and is now starting to feel comfortable in the director's chair.

'Leave to Remain' is the debut album by Wara, the young revolutionaries of the UK's Latin music scene, and follows their critically acclaimed self-titled EP (Movimientos Records, 2011). The genre-defying 'Leave to Remain', released 1 July 2013 on Movimientos Records, sees the band take their trademark sound to higher grounds, effortlessly combining Cuba's most danceable rhythms and styles – timba ("Cuban salsa"), songo, cha-cha-cha, rumba – with contemporary urban elements such as reggae, soul, hip-hop and jazz. The songs are threaded with bilingual, conscious lyrics that inject social and political commentary into their music in a variety of ways: there are songs that directly touch upon the topics of migration, identity and displacement ("Somewhereland", "Leave to Remain"); "Run for Cover's" London-riot-fuelled policeman theatrics followed by an acoustic remake of "Flesh and Bone" that goes straight to the soul, and finally a delusional tirade by whining party scene divas in "Caprichoso".

There is little interest in zombies in Cuban culture – fans of the paranormal tell tales of vampires, demonic possessions and ghostly hauntings, but the shambling creatures so popularised in Western horror movies remain in the shadows. Juan of The Dead, however, brings the zombie into the Havana sunlight in glossy, wisecracking gore.

Since Buena Vista Social Club's 1997 album is the best-selling World Music album of all time, it's not surprising that tourists who come to Cuba (mostly Spaniards, Italians, and Canadians) expect to hear traditional son and boleros like "Dos Gardenias" when they visit. As a result, if you walk down Calle Obispo in Old Havana, you are assaulted by the sounds of live son groups on every block.

Cubadisco is the annual fair dedicated to the Cuban music recording industry and each year consists of performances, events and awards to artists, both Cubans living on thr island and artists living outside of Cuba.

"Pablo", the first feature film directed by Yosmani Camagüey Acosta, won two awards at the New York International Film Festival 2013 recently.

Acosta won the award for Best Director, while actor Omar Franco won hands down in the category of Best Supporting Actor, said Bobby Estany, producer of the film.

With rigorous dedication, Manolito Simonet listened to the chords of several instrumentalists in the Havana studios of Abdala. He perfected every detail of the "Violinada", the show where the violin was the main protagonist, presented at Cubadisco 2013. Simonet explained that this project gave praise to a key instrument in popular music. "It has been basic, fundamental and many interesting things have been done", commented the leader of the Trabuco, as Simonet's group is called.

Over 11 thousand Cubans have accessed Internet services since June 4 when the Cuban Telecommunications Company, ETECSA, announced the opening of 118 new Internet navigation rooms.

The bonds of prominent Cuban filmmaker Manuel Pérez Paredes (Havana, 1939) with the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC), since its founding up to the present day, have allowed him to witness several of the events that have marked the artistic and cultural activity of the Caribbean nation.

Virtue and experience distinguish the work of this creator, who has recently been awarded the 2013 National Film Prize, the highest distinction awarded by the Cuban film industry.

In an assembly with the filmmakers, specialists and workers of the Animation Studios of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industries (ICAIC) held last Friday, May 10, the presidency of that institution set out the main targets to be fulfilled by the reorganization project of the institution ruling the Island's cinematographic activity, which will result in the achievement of a better setting for the development of Cuban cinema.

Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban president Raul Castro and niece of former president Fidel Castro, received a US award for her pro gay rights advocacy last week.

Castro is credited with improving conditions for LGBT Cubans as well as working to introduce marriage equality in Cuba.

The Cuban writer Senel Paz, who wrote the screenplay for the film Fresa y Chocolate, discounted any talk of a sequel, despite the insistent proposals from various producers.

"I would never force a sequel to Fresa y Chocolate just to try to repeat its success. Something new would need to be said and until now I havent felt the story," Paz assured Prensa Latina.

The singer, composer and instrumentalist Bobby Carcasses received last Tuesday the 2012 National Music Award, recognition granted to personalities like Leo Brouwer, Chucho Valdes and Juan Formell.

Are you looking for a holiday with a difference? Three weeks working alongside Cuban farmers during the day plus many opportunities to engage first hand with Cubans from all walks of life and relaxing at night with a cool Mojito.

Wara, the young revolutionaries of the UK's Latin music scene, will be releasing their debut album, the genre-defying 'Leave To Remain', on 3 June on Movimientos Records, as well as taking the hot London-Havana soundclash on the road during a UK spring tour, presented by La Linea, in association with Movimientos and Global Local, supported by the Arts Council of England. For details of UK tour click here.