The president and founder of the festival, Alfredo Guevara, talked with
the press about his friendship with Matta, who donated two sketches to be
used during these festivals.

Guevara explained that in previous events they had already promoted one of
these sketches and they believed that Matta’s 100th birth anniversary
would be a good opportunity to pay him tribute by using the second sketch
as the main image of this year’s edition.

According to Granma newspaper, La Casa de las Americas will open an
exhibit with some of his paintings in parallel with the festival.

Guevara also referred to his friendship bonds with Gabo and commented on
his fondness with the cinema industry as he worked as screenwriter and
contributed with it with his literary works, but one of his most
significant contributions was the creation of the Foundation of New Latin
American Cinema and the International Film and Television School in San
Antonio de los Baños.

“La mala hora” (In Evil Hour), by Brazilian Ruy Guerra; “La viuda de
Montiel”, by Chilean Miguel Littin; “Cartas del Parque”, by Cuban Tomas
Gutierrez Alea; “Edipo Alcalde”, by Colombian Jorge Ali Triana; “El
coronel no tiene quien le escriba” (No one writes to the Colonel), by
Mexican Arturo Ripstein; and “Del Amor y otros Demonios” (Of Love and
Other Demons) by Costa Rican Hilda Hidalgo, are some pieces based on
Gabo’s novels and writings to be exhibited.

The president of the festival affirmed that Solas, along with Titon
(Gutierrez Alea), became a symbol of the Cuban cinema and they both are
history.

Guevara announced that, on the occasion of Solas’ 70 th birth anniversary,
the Cuban cinema will fully premier his trilogy on “El siglo de las luces”
(The century of lights) based on the famous novel by Alejo Carpentier.

The 33rd Havana’s International Festival of New Latin American Cinema will
exhibit 21 full-length fiction films, 21 operas prima, 26 documentaries,
and 32 animation movies.

This festival will have the world premiere of “Siete días en La Habana”
(Seven Days in Havana), with the attendance of four of its directors,
Puerto Rican Benicio del Toro, Cuban Juan Carlos Tabio, French Laurent
Cantet, and Palestinian Elia Souleiman.

According to Granma the national premier of the documentary “Canta tu
canción” (Sing your song) by Susanne Rostock on the life of Harry
Belafonte is also scheduled within the program of the event.