15 FILMS COMPETE FOR THE HAVANA STAR PRIZE
April 16-23, 2010 with special events April 7 & 9
New York City, March 26, 2010. The
Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) launches its second decade, April 16-23, with a program of award-winning films, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with noted international filmmakers, actors and producers.
Since its inception, HFFNY has recognized and celebrated some of the most illustrious Latin American filmmakers in the industry. Continuing this tradition, HFFNY 2010 honors renowned Cuban writer, director, poet, actor and dramatist
Enrique Pineda Barnet, who has given the public more than 4 decades of unforgettable cinema. HFFNY pays him tribute with screenings of
Cosmorama, considered the precursor to the contemporary video art movement, and today is part of the permanent collection at the Centro Reina Sofia de España (Queen Sofia of Spain Center);
La Bella de la Alhambra, Best Picture winner of the prestigious Goya award; and
La Anunciación, his most recent film about the reunion of state-side Cubans and their families.
As the festival enters its second decade, HFFNY established the
Havana Star Prize to recognize the work of outstanding filmmakers in the categories of
Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. The first Havana Star prizes
will be awarded at the
Closing Night Ceremony on
April 23rd at 7 pm at the
New York Directors Guild Theatre. Internationally renowned Cuban artist, Yoan Capote, designed the
Havana Star Prize especially for HFFNY. The recipients will be chosen by three prominent members of the film industry, producers Michael Hausman (
Gangs of New York, Brokeback Mountain, The People vs. Larry Flynt), and Sandy Lieberson (
The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus, Stardust) and director Louis Perego (President of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) NY Chapter, owner of Skyline Features, a bilingual (English and Spanish) multimedia and educational production company.
The fifteen films competing for the first
Havana Star Prize are:
- Los Dioses Rotos (Broken Gods) – a love triangle within the modern day Cuban underworld recalls the life of famous politician and pimp Alberto Yarini.Director Ernesto Daranas, Cuba
- Dawson Isla 10 (Dawson Island) – the harrowing ordeal of deposed President Allende’s cabinet after the 1973 coup who are determined to survive political imprisonment. Director Miguel Littin, Chile
- La Pasión de Gabriel (Gabriel’s Passion) –a young priest, caught in the middle of a civil war he doesn’t understand, struggles with his love for the church and a young lady. Director Luis Alberto Restrepo, Colombia
- Hermafrodita – a touching story about a young girl’s struggle in the 60’s to keep her dual sexuality a secret. Director Albert Xavier, Dominican Republic
- La Bodega (The Warehouse)– a young man and his best friend seek to avenge his sister’s brutal assault. Director Ray Figueroa, Guatemala
- Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile
- La Tigra, Chaco – a sweet and touching story of a young man who, while visiting his father, finds love with an old childhood friend. Directors Federico Godfrid and Juan Sasiaín, Argentina
- Memories of Overdevelopment – the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea’s classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, Cuba-U.S
- Miente (Lie) – an edgy, visually stunning psychological thriller told through the eyes of a young artist. Director Rafi Mercado, Puerto Rico
- Castro – based on a Samuel Beckett novel, a woman searches for her wayward husband with the help of three hapless men. Director Alejo Moguillansky, Argentina
- Veronica – the story of an elementary school teacher who while escorting one of her students home, discovers his slain parents and they are forced to go on the run to try to save themselves. Director Mauricio Farias, Brazil
- El Premio Flaco (The “Booby” Prize) – a comedy about how to laugh at despair when a woman is lifted out of poverty after winning a lottery. Directors Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti, Cuba
- CrónicasChilangas (Chilango Chronicles) – the intersecting lives of three people in Mexico City - an honest retired teacher, a young man who believes in extraterrestrials and a woman addicted to porn. Director Carlos Enderle, Mexico
- Libertador Morales, El Justiciero – an honest motorcycle-taxi driver and law-abiding citizen, Libertador Morales becomes El Justiciero, an avenging hero who foils the crime spree of a local Caracas street gang. Director Efterpi Charalambidis, Venezuela
- Historias Extraordinarias (Extraordinary Stories) – a visually stunning and award-winning film that weaves together three separate and seemingly unconnected stories. Director Mariano Llinas, Argentina.
Pictures from the award ceremony.
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| Special Jury Mention Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile |
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| BEST FILM - Memories of Overdevelopment – the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea’s classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, Cuba-U.S |
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| BEST FILM - Memories of Overdevelopment – the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea’s classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, Cuba-U.S | |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| Brazilian Film at the Havana Film Festival New York - BEYOND THE LIGHT is a documentary film about six blind Brazilians, who expose their difficulties, joys, dreams and emotions. Ivy Goulart, the director, connects past and present by exploring the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the powerful reading and writing system, which allows the visually impaired access to education and integration into a seeing world. |
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| BEST FILM - Memories of Overdevelopment – the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea’s classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, Cuba-U.S |
I was fortunate enough to attend the award ceremony at the Directors Guild Theater and experience the celebration of the people who were honored and then watch one of the most interesting documentaries i have seen in a while about the music band Van Van. What an amazing and talented group. one has to see it to really get the full grasp of the experience.
ESO QUE ANDA
VAN VAN FEVER
North American Premiere
Ian Padron. 2009. Cuba. Documentary. 70 min.
Awards: Best Film, Best Editing, Best Sound Design at 2010 Festival Internacional de Documentales Santiago Álvarez, Cuba
DIRECTORS GUILD THEATER 4/23 @ 7:00 PM
Director and Los Van Van’s Music Director present for Q&A
Los Van Van has been the most popular band in Cuba for more than 40 years. The documentary follows their most recent tour in Cuba, attended by more than 1 million people. The band’s history and future plans are also included.
Los Van Van ha sido la banda más popular en Cuba durante más de 40 años. El documental sigue a su más reciente gira por Cuba, a la que asistieron más de un millón de personas. La historia de la banda y los planes futuros también están incluidos.
