Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Cuban Film Season for Auckland and Wellington
Si! Cuba!
Cuban Film Season for Auckland and Wellington
Si! Cuba! a season of ten films celebrating forty years of film production in Cuba will be presented
in Auckland and Wellington commencing late next month. The season is the second event in a New
Zealand-Cuba Film Exchange that began in February this year with extensive New Zealand film
programmes in Havana and Matanzas.
"The primary intention of the inaugural
New Zealand-Cuba Film Exchange is to
increase
understanding between the peoples of the two countries through the medium of film spanning the
last 50 years," says organiser Julie Webb-Pullman. "New Zealand and Cuba are both island
nations with histories of colonisation, and bigger neighbours against whom they frequently
struggle to assert and maintain their independent identities. Despite their small sizes and limited
resources, both countries have created and sustained world-class film industries, producing
international award-winning films, yet maintaining their unique cultural identities."
The
Cuban films have been selected by the organisers of the New
Zealand Film Festival who will
also assist with the administration of the season. "ICAIC, the Cuba’s film institute, opened their
vaults to us and we have selected ten films to illustrate the strength, diversity and changes that
have taken place in filmmaking during the Castro era," says Film Festival director, Bill Gosden.
"We’ll be showing such classics as the historical epic Lucia to the recent hit Life is to Whistle, a
lyrical drama of life in contemporary Havana.
Si! Cuba! will take place at the
Academy, Auckland between September 30 and October 13 and
at
the Paramount, Wellington from October 7 to 20. Programme details will be posted on the Film
Festival website from Friday (a list of titles is attached).
Dates
Auckland : Academy Cinema Auckland – September 30 to October 13
Wellington : Paramount Wellington – October 7 to 20
Films : List of
films is attached.
Printed programmes available from September 9
Braden Currie: Sets Sights On The Ironman North American Championships In Texas
Whanganui Regional Museum: Historic Wedding Dress Unveiled, A Piece Of Marton’s Heritage
Donovan Ryan: Local Runner Takes Out Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon
University of Auckland: Tributes Flow For Much Loved Pacific Leader Melegalenu’u Ah Sam
NZEI: Ministry Of Education Cuts Will Disproportionately Affect Pasifika
Day One Hapai te Haeata: Call To Action For Young Filmmakers Against The Backdrop Of Funding Cuts