Projects receiving financial support within this year's GO CUBA! programme have been announced.
To support independent Cuban film talent, World Cinema Amsterdam launched the incentive scheme GO CUBA! in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2015. In the past nine years, the fund has supported more than 75 film projects (short as well as long films, documentaries and feature films) and has become well known among young Cuban filmmakers. Many of the supported films have been screened at various international film festivals.
In 2019, Cuba plunged into a serious crisis that is continuing to this day. In 2022, Cuba experienced one of the toughest years in its recent history, leading to massive emigration, especially to the United States. Last year alone, more than 250,000 mainly young Cubans left their country in search of a better future. Cubans who cannot leave face increasing economic malaise, censorship and oppression. Against this background it is more important than ever that GO CUBA! is able to support eight projects by young, independent filmmakers.
This year we received a striking number of applications for documentary projects zooming in on the situation in present-day Cuba, in the big cities as well as in rural areas. Several projects focus on people who have left Cuba for political, social or economic reasons. By funding these applications, GO CUBA! aims to support documentaries that shine a light on the current situation. In the feature department, funds will go to several films, among them the second feature by Armando Capó Ramos, whose GO CUBA! supported debut film Agosto had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The following eight projects will receive funding:
Short:
La Historia se escribe de noche – Alejandro Alonso Estrella
Caminar con Lola – Ariagna Fajardo Nuviola
Dani Elliot – Lisa Maria Velazquez Serrano
Agua y Acero – Grethel Nuez Curbelo
Bonsai o imagenes de una historia mal contada – Frank Lahera O'Callaghan
Long:
Familia Isla – Abraham Jiménez Enoa & Claudia Calviño de la Torre
El regresado – Armando Capó Ramos
Gente de color o una definición estúpida – Yasmani Castro Caballero
Completed projects from the most recent GO CUBA! rounds will be screened within a special World Cinema Amsterdam programme at Rialto De Pijp on a date to be determined.
