Festival president Iván Giroud commented in his opening remarks that the event occurs this year in a different environment, at a time when the world is facing new challenges, threats and uncertainty, in which organizers have as their first priority protecting Latin American cinema, implementing policies of promotion, preservation and development.
“The Festival has among its challenges that of capturing new audiences and helping to train new creators. Thus the Industry Sector will once again present an ambitious program of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and master classes, with a team of professors and lecturers of the highest rank,” Giroud said.
The inauguration included a short concert by the Advanced Institute of Art youth orchestra, and the Argentine film El clan was presented by its director Pablo Trapero.
Another high point was the presentation of a Coral Prize for a Female Performance – awarded last year – to British actress Geraldine Chaplin, for her role in Dólares de arena, which she accepted from Cuban actress Daisy Granados.
Some 450 films will be shown during the Festival’s ten days, including retrospectives of Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, and Brazilian Ruy Guerra, Coral honoree this year; poster expositions; and special presentations to delight all movie lovers.
(Granma)