This week sees the start of this
year’s Havana Glasgow Film Festival (HGFF), on 11 Nov, and guests have already
started to arrive from Cuba and other parts of the globe. On Tuesday the Cuban
screenwriter and HGFF co-director, Hugo Rivalta arrived from Havana. He
will be introducing two films in the 9-day festival, and also running a master
class at the GFT – Cuban Cinema’s place
in the Revolution – on Friday 18 Nov.
Hugo said, “It's a privilege to be
back for the second HGFF. I am very content, as I’ve just finished talking
to a group of writing students about my work process. These Glasgow
students make me feel very appreciated. I couldn't believe the programme
Eirene and Barbara have prepared, it's so interesting and huge.
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| Hugo Rivalta |
“I am looking forward to talking more and meeting lots of
people and am especially pleased to welcome Arturo Santana, one of
the most prestigious directors of video clips in Cuba to talk
about his highly anticipated first feature film Bailando Con Margot. He arrives next Tuesday and I’m sure he’ll be
welcomed as I was.”
Eirene Houston, the Festival
Director, is especially pleased that we will be welcoming the Cuban ambassador
– Her Excellency Teresita Vicente Sotolongo to the festival on Saturday (12). “
Her visit is a symbol of the support from the Cubans for this festival and I'm
very happy that she is coming with her husband and another friend, to take
part and enjoy our films.” Eirene says. “She’s coming in particular to see
Amor Cronico the popular 2012
road movie by actor and director Jorge Perrugoria (star of Fresa y Chocolate, and new director of
the Cine Pobre film festival).”
Other visitors include Anita Curbelo
from Cine Pobre and from closer to home – Director of Where you’re meant to be – Paul Fegan. He will talk about his film
featuring Aidan Moffat and folk legend Sheila Stewart. Alejandro Valera (from
Cuba but currently living in Glasgow) will tell us stories about the
making of Amor Cronico.
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| First Minister adds her support |
And while she won’t be visiting
officially, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP has welcomed the festival’s
second year, She told the festival she was ‘sure it would bring even more
energy, colour and passion to Glasgow and its people.”
The Festival runs from the 11th-19th
November across a number of venues in the Glasgow School of Art, the Centre for
Contemporary Art and the Glasgow Film Theatre, finishing at Kelvingrove Art
Gallery.
In addition to the screenings above, other
noteworthy events are – a lecture on the role of parody and satire in Cuban
culture – from renowned Cuban specialist Dr Stephen Wilkinson. This will be
Friday 11 at the GFT starting sharp at 11.00am. The first film of the festival
will be La Rumba Me Llama that same evening at 7.30 in the GSA’s Vic café bar.
On Saturday an event on Local Cultures and Local Identities takes place in the GSA’s Reid
Building. Short films from TV Serrana – a community-based broadcaster from the
Cuban Sierra Maestre will be complemented with short films from Scotland and
followed by a panel discussion. The day will also feature a screening of Amor Cronico, (Everlasting Love). A
‘road’ movie with a difference!
On Sunday too, the day is given over to a
significant feature of Cuban film – Cine Pobre. Translating as ‘Low-Budget
Film’ this is film shot with no or minimal resources, and has its own festival
in Cuba. Eirene Houston was a juror this year, and has brought back the cream
of the crop! Also part of the day is a documentary of the life of Humberto
Solas, founder of Cine Pobre and a famous filmmaker. Also showing is El Tren de la Linea Norte (the Northern
Line Train) Marcelo Martin’s journey from Moron to Punta Alegre through an area
of ‘forgotten Cuba’. The day finishes with a screening of the American film
that won the overall Cine Pobre festival, Tangerine.
A day off on Monday, allows us to gird our loins
for the rest of the festival, and Tuesday brings
Paddy Breathnac’s Viva, an Irish film made in Cuba about Havana’s
underground drag scene. What, trans sex workers and drag queens in a Cuban Film
Festival? Who knew?
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| Hector Medina in VIVA |
That’s it for part one, tune back here at the
beginning of next week for a summary of what’s to come at the end of the week,
including the visit of Arturo Santana.
In addition to support from partner
Glasgow School of Art, sponsorship from Unite, and other TUs, the Festival
is supported by the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC), and Glasgow City Council. The
Usheru Cinema app is also providing ticket sales support.
The programme is available on the
Havana Glasgow Film Festival website - http://www.hgfilmfest.com/
programme
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