A Stage for Latin American Cinema
Each December, Havana becomes the beating heart of Latin American cinema during the Havana Film Festival, officially the Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano. Since its founding in 1979, the festival has celebrated the creativity and identity of Latin American filmmakers, showcasing stories that reflect the culture, struggles, and dreams of the region.
History of a Movement
The inaugural edition in 1979 brought together more than 600 filmmakers. Colombian Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez presided over the jury for fiction, while Cuban filmmaker Santiago Álvarez headed the documentary and animation juries. From the very beginning, the festival wasn’t just about screening films—it was about giving Latin America a voice, a screen, and a shared space to tell its stories.
Through decades of change, the festival has remained true to its founding mission: to promote films that enrich the artistic culture of the region and to bring them to an international audience. Categories include fiction, documentaries, animation, and short films, with a special focus on Cuban cinema.
More Than Films
Screenings take place across Havana’s iconic theaters, from the historic Cine Yara and Cine Chaplin to the Riviera and La Rampa. Beyond the films, there are panels, workshops, exhibitions, and the celebrated Coral Awards, recognizing the finest achievements in Latin American cinema.
The atmosphere is electric—lines of excited viewers wind around blocks, conversations spill into Havana’s plazas, and the city itself feels transformed into one enormous cinema.
Cigar and Travel Notes
For many, Havana’s theaters are only part of the experience. Between screenings, a walk down the Malecón or a café stop in Vedado makes the festival as much about Havana as it is about cinema. My ritual? After an evening film at the Cine Chaplin, I step out into the humid Havana night, light a Cohiba Siglo VI, and let the smooth, creamy smoke carry the weight of the story I’ve just watched. It is a way of reflecting—pairing art on the screen with the artistry of a fine Habano.
Travelers can easily pair the festival with explorations of Old Havana’s UNESCO-listed streets, visits to local cigar shops, and even day trips to Viñales or Matanzas. The festival becomes not just a cinematic journey, but also a cultural immersion into the rhythm of Cuban life.
Why Go?
The Havana Film Festival is more than an event for cinephiles—it is a gathering of ideas, identities, and visions of Latin America. It’s where art becomes community, where stories become bridges, and where every screening feels like history in the making.
