It was an evening of intense emotions, as happens when the beauty of art is combined with the power of conviction. Indeed, resistance, loyalty to the founders, the honor of keeping an epic alive, and faith in dreams were alluded to several times at the opening of the 46th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, held at the Charles Chaplin cinema.
Tania Delgado Fernández, director of the Festival, described the region's cinema as honest, open, sometimes stark, and always poetic. Cuba embraces you at this difficult time for the island and for the world, she said, referring to the threats of war coming from the North and how art is a focus of resistance.
As part of this year's program, 283 films from 42 countries will be screened until December 14. She highlighted the tribute, on its centenary, to Alfredo Guevara, "a reference point for those of us who continue to defend the richness of our culture and our cinema; and to the 40th anniversary of the New Latin American Cinema Foundation, a vital institution in the continued existence of cinema committed to reality.
Delgado Fernández reaffirmed the Festival's solidarity with the Palestinian people and its willingness to denounce genocide, for which several productions highlighting their culture, history, and resistance will be screened.
In thanking the Cuban state for its decisive support, he agreed with Alexis Triana, president of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry, who underscored the challenge of reviving the national film industry, for which the presence of 34 Cuban productions at the event is an encouraging sign.
At the opening ceremony, attended by party and government officials, the Coral de Honor was awarded to Estudios Churubusco, one of the oldest film studios in Mexico and Latin America, and maestro José María Vitier and the group Espirales shared their music.
The video clip of the song Corazón de un país, performed by Nelson Valdés and produced by Roly Peña and Alejandro Pérez, became a testimony to the value of an island, which is also that of the continent. The Argentine film Belén, from 2025, was chosen for the opening.
