From October 13 to 16, Las Tunas hosts the 32nd edition of the Cinemazul Film Appreciation Festival, which is dedicated to the role of women in cinema and American actress Marilyn Monroe, in honor of her centenary.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Eight film club members —one from Holguín and the rest from the host city— are competing in this year’s edition. They will provide in-depth analyses of the films Hidden Figures, The Infiltrator, Insumisa, Thelma & Louise, Suffragette, The Piano, Volver, and *Precious*, focusing on elements inherent to cinematographic language.
A key feature of the festival is its outreach to various communities via a mobile cinema (using an inflatable screen). Additionally, the event will showcase works by filmmakers from Las Tunas, with support from the provincial branch of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).
The agenda also includes a lecture titled "Women, Gender, and Cinema: Thinking About Art Through the Lens of Equity," presented by Gledymis Fernández Pérez, who holds a degree in Art History and a PhD in Pedagogical Sciences. The Los Mil Elpidios children’s workshop also returns, featuring an award ceremony for the My Favorite Cuban Cartoon Contest, as well as a special, inclusive contribution from the Laberinto de Luces Workshop (Labyrinth of Lights), organized by the Nicolás Guillén Foundation.
The festival will bring screenings to various institutions, including nursing homes, maternity homes, and shelters for children without parental care. Programming will also be presented in schools and other organizations —both within the provincial capital and other municipalities— with Puerto Padre and Majibacoa serving as satellite locations for the event.
Participating film club members compete for the Ola Prize, which honors the best film analysis. Other recognitions include a participation award and various collateral prizes, as well as any additional mentions the jury —comprising experts in the world of cinema, including the winner from the previous edition— deems appropriate.
As part of the Cuban Culture Days program, the "Cinemazul" seeks to uphold the finest cinema values, while fostering the learning and debate that keep the magic of the darkened theater alive.
