Cuban News Agency

Mailan Heredia, director of the Provincial Center of Cinema in Holguin,
told ACN that more than 100 movies from Latin America, Asia and Europe
will be competing in the festival while nearly fifty others will also be
screened out of competition.

Heredia announced that a film called ‘Gibaras’, based on stories compiled
during the cinema event, will be shot on this occasion.

She added that this year’s festival will be dedicated to women and youths
and that a special tribute will be paid to Cuban actress Isabel Santos and
to Dominican Tanya Valette, general director of the International School
of Cinema and Television of San Antonio de los Baños.

The specialist announced that renowned Cuban bands and singers will be
performing during the event. The list includes X Alfonso, David Blanco,
Intercativo, Haila, and Osdalgia.

The Festival, created in 2002 on the initiative of late Cuban filmmaker
Humberto Solas, brings together producers from several parts of the world,
with the purpose of sharing reflections and points of view on aesthetics
and styles, away from commercial pressures imposed by big industries,
screening circuits and international festivals.

Lester Hamlet, the current director of the event, announced the premiere
in Cuba of ‘Año bisiesto’ (Leap Year), by Michael Rowe, for the inaugural
evening.