He Cuban director and screenwriter Manuel Pérez Paredes, National Film Award winner in 2013, died early this Thursday in Havana, at the age of 85.
The news spread on social networks, where it was confirmed by filmmaker Luis Lacosta and film critic Juan Antonio García Borrero, who has defined him as “one of the key names” of Cuban cinema.
Founder of Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC)Pérez Paredes directed films such as The man from Maisinicú, Black River and Mauritius diary pages.
Born on November 19, 1939, in his youth he joined the Cine Club Visión Cultural Society, from which figures who would later join the ICAIC would emerge. He joined this entity in its beginnings, in 1959, as assistant director of documentaries and feature films.
That same year he was assistant director of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (Titón) in one of the stories in the film Stories of the Revolution and two years later, in 1961, he directed Five Peakshis first documentary.
He made thirty editions of the now famous Noticiero ICAIC Latinoamericano and in 1973 he made his debut in directing feature films with The man from Maisinicúa film considered a classic of the island’s cinematography, which would be followed by other fiction films.
Along with his work as a film director, Pérez Paredes was also a co-writer of films by other filmmakers, such as Blow by Blow, Operation Fangio and The Mafia in Havana. As a documentary filmmaker, his catalog includes titles such as Alligator, The deserter and On the other side of the glass.
In addition, he directed a creation group within the ICAIC for several years and worked in documentary consulting. He also gave courses, seminars and conferences; He collaborated with publications such as the magazine Cuban Cinema; and represented the island at international events and festivals.
Likewise, he was one of the founders of the Committee of Filmmakers of Latin America, in 1974, and was part of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of New Latin American Cinema.
Until the closing of this note, the cause of death was not revealed.
