Cuban filmmakers Meeting in assembly this Thursday in Havana criticized the “successive errors” of the island’s cultural institutions regarding the exhibition of the documentary Fito’s Havanaby director Juan Pin Vilar.
In a statement published on social networks, a large group of filmmakers considers that the decisions made by these institutions about the documentary “have revealed the irresponsible way in which the officials involved in these acts act.”
The more than fifty signatories to the declaration include renowned figures such as directors Fernando Pérez, Manuel Pérez, Ernesto Daranas, Rebeca Chávez and Magda González Grau; the actors Luis Alberto García and Jorge Perugorría, the screenwriters Arturo Arango and Amilcar Salatti, and the critics and researchers Gustavo Arcos and Juan Antonio García Borrero.
The statement indicates that “beyond the criteria that may arise from the appreciation” of the documentary, “successive errors” have been made, such as the suspension of the projection of this and two other works based on the theater group El Ciervo Encantado on the past 29 April, as well as presenting an unfinished copy on television “ignoring the refusal of its director and its producer, and with the explicit purpose of discrediting them.”
He also criticizes the publication of statements that “manipulate what happened”, which, in his opinion, “offer false interpretations of the Copyright Law”, among other weighty arguments.
The filmmakers affirm that “the actions of these cultural authorities have repeatedly violated ethical principles that should be the support of any respectful and constructive dialogue” and they assure that they will initiate “a set of work actions to try to solve these problems”. .
In the same way, they leave open the possibility that other colleagues who so wish can join their statement.
Fito’s Havana is a documentary from last year, directed by Juan Pin Vilar and produced by Ricardo Figueredo. Shows the relationship between the famous Argentine musician Fito Páez and Havana through interviews, testimonies and archive images, in accordance with the Digital Encyclopedia of Cuban Audiovisual.
Since his exhibition at El Ciervo Encantado was canceled —together with existby the filmmakers Fernando Fraguela and Yulier Rodríguez, and The one in chargeby Ricardo Figueredo— the controversy surrounding the work has grown, which was revived after its screening on the program critical viewer without the consent of its makers and the criticism received there.
From social networks and various publications, the documentary and its director have received both praise and criticism for their focus and approach to the figure of Fito Paez, while they have obtained the support of colleagues and the general public after the events, now also criticized by the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers.
Next, OnCuba reproduces the text of his statement:
STATEMENT OF CUBAN FILMMAKERS
June 15, 2023
Place: Cinema 23 and 12.
Havana. Cuba
The decisions taken by cultural institutions regarding the exhibition of the documentary Fito’s Havana, Directed by Juan Pin Vilar and produced by Ricardo Figueredo, they have revealed the irresponsible way in which the officials involved in these acts act.
Beyond the criteria that may arise from the appreciation of this work, successive mistakes have been made.
In our opinion, among others:
- suspend projection (next to existby Fernando Fraguela and Yulier Rodríguez, and The one in chargeby Ricardo Figueredo) scheduled for the headquarters of the theater group El Ciervo Encantado on April 29;
- not offer public and satisfactory information about this decision;
- presenting an unfinished copy of the documentary on a Cuban television program, ignoring the refusal of its director and producer, and with the explicit purpose of discrediting them;
- Two vice presidents of UNEAC participated in said program, an institution whose first function should be the defense of the interests of Cuban creators.
- posting on the networks statements where they manipulate what happened, offer false interpretations of the Copyright Law, a document that these officials, as representatives of public institutions, are obliged to protect.
The most serious thing is that similar procedures have become systematic, especially in relation to the cinema. The actions of these cultural authorities have repeatedly violated ethical principles that should be the support of any respectful and constructive dialogue.
Based on this declaration, the Filmmakers Assembly begins a set of work actions to try to solve these problems.
Fernando Pérez / Director and Screenwriter
Rebeca Chávez /Director and Screenwriter
Luis Alberto García/ Actor, Director and Producer
Magda González Grau / Director and Screenwriter
Kiki Álvarez / Director and Screenwriter
Iván Giroud Garate / Curator
Ernesto Daranas Serrano / Director and screenwriter
Jorge Luis Sánchez González/ Director and scriptwriter
Marilyn Solaya / Director, Actress and Screenwriter
Manuel Perez Paredes / Director
Juan Antonio Leyva / Musician and Composer
Magda R Galván / Musician and composer
Jorge Perugorría Rodríguez / Actor, Director and Screenwriter
Gustavo Arcos Fernández-Brito / Film critic and researcher
Hamlet Paredes Grau / Actor
Armando Capó Ramos / Director
Jorge Molina Enríquez / Director, Actor and Screenwriter
Carlos Urdanivia Hurtado / Art Director
Rafael Rosales Salas / Assistant Director and Director
Rosa María Rodríguez / Director, Producer and Actress
Yamila Marrero Montero / Producer and Art Historian
Manuel A. Rodríguez Yong / Producer and Director
Deymi D´Atri / Director of Photography and Director
René Arencibia Dávila / Director
Denise Guerra Ribas / Director of Photography
Marcos E. Lowit Ramos / Director
Yasser Expósito Cárdena / Camera Technician
Michel Caballero Acosta / Sound Engineer
Frank Conrado Garces Terrero / Editor
Frank Lahera O’ callagan / Director and Screenwriter
Yamislaidys Carballo Rodríguez/ Actress, Director and Screenwriter
Jesus Dario Acosta / Editor
Emmanuel Pena /Editor
Ariagna Abreu Rodríguez / Producer
Marcos Yglesias / Sound Engineer
Carlos Orlando Perez / Editor
Marian Quintana / Editor
Lilmara Cruz Pavón / Editor
Glenda Martínez Cabrera / Sound Engineer
Irina Carballosa Socarrás / Sound Engineer
Gloria María Cossío Castro / Casting Director
Annabel Novo / Actress and Photographer
Maikel Rodríguez Remedio / Producer
Yony Llanes Rodriguez / Producer
Vladimir García Herrera / Animation Director and Producer
Jesús Rubio Molina / Animation Director
Sheyla Pool Pastor / Sound Engineer, Writer and Director
Lola Amores / Actress
Frank Fernández Carvajal / Producer and Director
Aileen Reyes Herrera / Director
Juan Antonio García Borrero / Film Critic and Researcher
Amilcar Salatti / Screenwriter and Director
Raydel Araoz / Screenwriter and Director
Evelio León / Producer and Screenwriter
Jimmy Ochoa / Producer and Director
Anabel Ramírez Hidalgo / Producer
Katherine T. Gavilán / Director, Screenwriter and Actress
Arturo Arango/ Screenwriter
*THOSE WHO WISH TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS STATEMENT MAY SEND THEIR NAME TO
