Young producers face the camera and the reality on the streets in an improvised manner, embracing the search for a different way of speaking, of a different language that looks at Cuba today from fresh perspectives. Thus, making use of the scarce means available, young producers play the lead at the ongoing edition of ICAIC’s Young Sample (ICAIC: Cuban Film Institute by its acronym in Spanish).
The Sample began last Tuesday at the Chaplin Movie Theater in Havana city, and it ends today. The most serious and lengthy exhibit of the Cuban audiovisual celebrates its 13th edition. During these years, digital technologies have made shooting and editing more affordable, but there are still obvious difficulties in terms of distribution and exhibition of the pieces, the lack of resources and the complex relation with cultural institutions.
During the 90’s foreign coproduction was the best alternative to make movies in the midst of the Special Period, today it is not necessary to be part of the industry to produce a piece and filmmakers are increasingly betting for independent productions.
Fernando Pérez, who recently made an incursion in this modality with the film “La pared de las palabras”, commented to OnCuba that not recognizing the legitimacy of individual productions is a basic problem for young producers. “The whole production, distribution and exhibition system of the Cuban cinema must be restructured in order to make more dynamic ICAIC’s regulations so far. The system created in the 60’s, has to be updated, transformed and modified.” he noted.
Another unquestionable obstacle is the lack of budget, which is counteracted by private aids from foreign embassies, non-governmental organizations or friends interested in cinema.
Producer and scriptwriter Adolfo Mena, absolute winner in the past Sample, explains that he has financed his short films with the aid provided by the Norwegian embassy, the Ludwig Foundation, as well as with resources from special friends and institutions like the International School of Cinema and Television and the theater company El Publico, where he works as assistant director.
For Mena, who has returned with the short film “Mienteme bien, Jackie Chang” the limited access to internet is another obstacle for young producers. “For enrolling in festivals, obtaining financing by applying to funds, etc. it is crucial to have good internet connection. That’s the only way to make spectacular movies that make people tremble, pee their pants or get excited ordisturbed, and shock them”, he added.
Then, we face the greatest challenge of all young producers: inserting their pieces within the distribution and exhibition circles in the country.
According to Fernando Pérez, “The films produced by these young filmmakers cannot be found in the movies or the television”. They just have a few means for inserting their works in the distribution circles and those are ICAIC’s Young Sample and other events like the Imago Festival of the Faculty of Audiovisual Means of the Higher Institute of the Arts and Gibara’s Low-budget Film Festival.
Apart from these brief spaces, there are not many opportunities for them to screen their works. In fact, with the arrival of digital technologies most people don’t go to the movies. Finally, due to low attendance of public, the pieces are just enjoyed by no more than 50 people.
“Despite all these issues, ICAIC’s Young Sample has become a space for assessing the current state of the young Cuban cinema, as well as a space where producers get together and share ideas”, Fernando Pérez stated.
In the midst of a depressed and insufficient industry, the work by the young producers maintains that restless spirit of contradiction and interrogation, while fighting for continuing within the national cinema.
By Elcira Martínez Adán
