In the vibrant New York City scene, the life of the gay-assured Raul takes an unexpected turn when he is captivated by Ella’s karaoke performance. Attracted to her as never before, he is faced with a choice: embrace this new connection and risk his secure identity, or engage in a tempting threesome with two other men.
A huge blackout has plunged Cuba into darkness. In the streets, the inhabitants try to escape the gloom while the bonfires seem to announce the end of an era. Taking refuge inside our house, my mother tells me about a vision that has been tormenting her for years.
After a hard day at work, father and son go out. They haven’t lived together in a while so they need to catch up. But communication for the deaf son and his stubborn father is still a long road ahead.
Graduated in Audiovisual Communication. He has made several works as director, producer and photographer highlighting, “Tundra” (2021, short fiction film, selected in SUNDANCE, Curta Cinema, Locarno, Best Short Film Award at New York City Independent Film Festival 2022, Best Photography Award at International Film Festival of Merida and Yucatan), “La sed humana” ( 2017, short fiction film, 17th edition of the Muestra Joven ICAIC: Audience Award, best cinematography, best art direction and mention for best short fiction film. Best Fiction and Best Cinematography at Almacén de la Imagen 2018. Selected in 40th edition of Havana International Film Festival, World Cinema Amsterdam , Latino & Iberian Film Festival at Yale University), “Autómatas” (2016, short fiction film, Best Short Film at United Latino Film Festival in Cleveland, Honorable Mention at NAU Festival de Cinema e Artes de Expressao Ibérica de Portugal,Official Selection at Américas Film Festival in New York, Hendaia Film Festival in France, 12 Months Films Festival Los Angeles), “El Condor” (2016, Official Selection Los Angeles Cinefest, 16th edition of Muestra Joven ICAIC). He currently completed his short film “El espacio roto” and is part of the creative group Estudio ST.
JAZZ MARTINEZ-GAMBOA, b. 1983.
After his training as an actor in Havana, Jazz obtained his M.A. (Gold Degree) in Theatre Directing at The London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMDA) 2016.
He began his professional career in theater in Havana, opening his own company La Montaña Teatro.
In 2021 he co-wrote and directed the short film Santos, an exploration of his debut feature film with the same title, which is currently in development. In 2022 he was selected to participate in La Petit Fabrique / Clermont Ferrand Festival with his second short film Mancha, which he also co-wrote and directed. Jazz is also developing his second feature film, Ilham and Denize.
José Manuel García Casado. Havana, 1993. Cuban filmmaker. Graduated from the Faculty of Audiovisual Media Arts in 2019, specializing in Photography. In 2015 he completed a Semester of Film Studies at the Ecole Cantonal d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) in Switzerland. He has participated on numerous occasions in the Muestra Joven ICAIC as well as in the Havana Film Festival. His filmography includes short fiction and documentary films, including “La Otra Isla” (2022), “Tesis” (2020), “Nadia en ninguna parte” (2016), “Un film de Jony” (2016), “Carpe Diem” (2015), “Agencia de Viajes” (2013, Grand Prix Jameson en Corto 2013), and “Marcha contra el viento” (2011, Collateral Prize of the International School of Geneva at the 11th Muestra Joven ICAIC).
Graduated in Film Directing at the International School of Film and TV in San Antonio de los Baños (2002), he is currently a Professor of Screenwriting, Staging and Acting Direction. His works include “Gallo”, a short fiction film that is part of the Cuban film “Cuentos de un día más” (2021), with general direction by Fernando Pérez, winner of the award for best film at the Havana Film Festival in New York. Screenwriter of the film “Esther en alguna parte” (2013) – Gerardo Chijona, Award for Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay at the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival, “La Maldita Circunstancia” (2002)- First Prize for Best Fiction Short Film at the Jibara Poor Film Festival. Director’s Award, Screenplay and Grand Prize for Best Fiction Short at the Film and Video Festival, Santa Fe. Grand Prize at the Film and Video Festival, Cine Plaza 2002. Directing and Screenplay Award, Film and Video Festival, Cine Plaza 2002.
Graduated in 2011 from the Professional Academy of Visual Arts “Leopoldo Romañach” of Santa Clara in the specialty of painting. Graduated in Audiovisual Communication at the University of Arts (ISA) in Havana, Cuba. He has ventured over the years in animation, experimental cinema (documentary or fiction), always maintaining a preference for free creation and a handmade approach to filmmaking, making use of limited resources and doing more with less.
Master’s degree in Documentary Film (Paris Diderot University, Paris, 2013) and Bachelor’s Degree in Audiovisual Media Direction ( Higher Institut of Arts, Havana, 2011). Her documentaries have been selected by several international festivals. El Último País, her first feature documentary had its premiere at the Malaga International Film Festival, and was selected in competition at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, 2018. She has collaborated as editor and director for four years ( 2014-2018 ) with the audiovisual production company Geração 80 Produções, in Luanda, Angola, and has produced audiovisual materials for Mosaiko, a civil organization for human rights in Angola. Her latest documentary “Lava Roads”, about racism un Cuba, is in its distribution phase and has been supported by the Go Cuba fund of the World Cinema Amsterdam Festival and by the Hanna Arendt Institute of Activism fund.
