CDMX, Mexico. – The life of Ana Hurtado can be divided into two: before and after the protests of July 11, 2021. Prior to the massive demonstrations that shook the Island, the Spanish woman was practically unknown in the country. Although she had traveled to Cuba a few years earlier to film a documentary, there was no mention of her or the audiovisual in the Cuban media. They hadn’t even displayed it. But after 9/11 everything changed.
On the 13th of that month, in the midst of international condemnation of the repressive attitude of the communist government against the protesters, Ana decided to place a frame of Fidel Castro to his Facebook profile photo which read “Cuba is respected.” He later described the protests as “destabilizing actions”, blamed the United States and pointed out “the manipulation” of the international press in this regard.
The young woman was tracing one by one the words of the official speech and that, of course, the authorities of the regime liked. Hurtado immediately appeared with a photo and an interview on Latin Press Y Granma. The Ministry of Culture quoted her and mentioned her documentary for the first time.
The media, which until then had been unaware of her existence, presented her as a filmmaker and journalist. She was, according to the bombastic notes, quite an institution to listen to.
In those days the Cuban government needed more than ever to clean up its image and she appeared willing to help. Graduated in Journalism from the University of Seville, Ana Hurtado works for the production company Mallerich Films, with which she made her first and only documentary. There isn’t much more information about her on the web. Neither do journalistic materials or articles by her appear under her signature, except for those she has published. in cubadebate.
The young woman is quite irrelevant when it comes to numbers and reach on social networks, but she openly sympathizes with the regime and has made an effort to amplify its agenda. That was enough for her to become (or were) a local celebrity.
It must be said that although she has thrown herself completely into disseminating official Cuban propaganda over the last year, her greatest success may be her ability to anger the nationals. Hurtado has become famous for her controversial and disrespectful statements, and also for the answers that he has received from the Cubans.
In the last offensive episode in which he starred, he tried to defame the singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés by calling him a “worm” and a “counterrevolutionary”, while the musician was convalescing in a Madrid hospital, where he finally died. This angered the followers of the troubadour, who, unlike her, is the author of a monumental work.
Beyond the national bubble, Hurtado does not have the slightest impact as an agent of influence. With less than 3,000 followers on Facebook (mostly anonymous pro-regime profiles) his reach is minimal.
Ana Hurtado, the ally of these times
After July 2021, Hurtado’s profile changed the typical selfies and travel photos that he uploaded until then for images of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and notes from the official Cuban press. He even deleted or made private of her some photos of her dining on lobster and other seafood in Iberian restaurants. She understands herself, because that was not very consistent with the austerity discourse that she was beginning to promote. Now, more than luxurious meals, the time had come to publish endless photos of the late Cuban dictator. His fascination with Fidel Castro is obvious. She has him as the cover background in his accounts and evokes him in every interview he gives. She has said that her admiration for Fidel brought her to Cuba.
But Hurtado is not limited to “working” from social networks, where he places an essential stage for “defend Cuba”. In the last year the journalist was linked to “solidarity groups” in Spain. There, in a democracy, they defend the Cuban regime in ways that Castroism punishes with jail on the island: they take to the streets and hold demonstrations.
For its part, the Cuban government has spared no expense in entertaining its new ally. CubaNet tracked down more than 20 notes about her published on Cuban sites. Since the MINREX even Radio Bayamo talks about it. Outside the Island, however, nothing has been published about the young woman.
In a year, Hurtado went from being an anonymous Spaniard to being praised by Lis Cuesta, the not-first-lady, who described her on Twitter as “pretty, good and strong.” In Cuba, Hurtado now wears T-shirts bearing the ranks of commander and has incorporated a beret similar to Che’s into her style. She besides her receive it spokesmen for the dictatorship with cakes and celebrations.
Not in vain the girl draws Cuba as paradise. In what country would a common person, like her, be received by the president, invited to congresses, sent to Paris for political activities and interviewed over and over again? In addition, she has a great time in Cuba: Varadero, rum and cigars.
There was a time when the revolutionary epic captivated renowned artists and intellectuals who were fascinated (some longer than others) with the sketch that was being presented to the world. Think of Gabriel García Márquez, Oscar Chávez, Jorge Castañeda, Antonio Gades, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Pablo González Casanova, Julio Cortázar, Pablo Neruda, Carlos Fuentes and José Saramago. But 63 years later, the artists avoid being associated with a dictatorship. In fact, they even cancel performances at festivals. In the eyes of the world, it is not well seen to be associated with a regime that violates human rights, be it in Doha or Havana. So, Ana Hurtado is what remains.
She, so unknown in Spain, found her moment of fame in Cuba. The “local politicians” have built a character for her and have given her the relevance that she does not have of her. Her work can be summarized in the documentary Inheritanceabout Cuban music, where he romanticizes the poverty that Barcelona does not suffer from.
This material, which was not exhibited in any fairly well-known show, was barely screened in Cuba at the Casa de las Américas when the order to give it visibility was given. But the Cuban media say that the reason for ostracizing his material is not because it is inconsequential, but because he has not had distributors on his side.
If you search for Ana Hurtado on Google, many notes loaded with praise will appear on web portals with a .cu domain. Outside of there, there is nothing.
Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through WhatsApp. Send us a message with the word “CUBA” on the phone +525545038831, You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter by giving click here.
