OVERVIEW

SI CUBANZ FILMZ has facilitated a cultural exchange between New Zealand and Cuba to increase understanding between the peoples of the two countries through the medium of film.
The first event, Muestra de Cine de Nueva Zelandia took place in Havana and Matanzas in February 2004. Si! Cuba! was the second event, and took place in New Zealand in October 2004.

Si! Cubanas! was the third event, which kicked-off on 27 September 2006 in Auckland, and continued in Hamilton and Wellington.

NZ 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.

In 2006, esteemed Cuban director Gloria Rolando accepted an invitation to attend the Si Cubanas Festival in New Zealand. She launched the Festival with her film Roots of My Heart, took part in a panel discussion during the event, and introduced screenings of her films.

Past festivals were supported by the following organisations and sponsors:
SI CUBANZ FILMZ, Instituto Cubano para Armistad con los Pueblos (ICAP), Instituto Cubano des Artes y Industrias Cinemategraficas (ICAIC), Cuba Ministry of External Relations (MINREX), New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), New Zealand Film Archive (NZFA)’ New Zealand International Film Festival Trust.
Sponsors: NZ Milk/Fonterra, NZ Film Commission’ Americas Division of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (ADNZMFAT)’ Wyndham Orlando and New Zealand International Film Festival Trust

CUBAN FILM FESTIVAL 2006

Si! Cubanas!
The theme had a focus on women directors, screening over 20 films.

Venues
Si! Cubanas! opened at the Rialto Cinema in Auckland and ran for two nights – 27/28 September, then move to Descarga Cubana for further screenings (twice-daily screenings – a programme of lunchtime films, an evening programme, and a weekly Spanish-only screening.)
A one-week Wellington programme followed, and one week in Hamilton.

Organisations and sponsors
SI CUBANZ FILMZ, Instituto Cubano des Artes y Industrias Cinemategraficas (ICAIC), Descarga Cubana, Rialto Cinema, NZ Screen Directors Guild, Pernod Ricard, Latin American Committee (LAC), Havana Bar.

CONTENT

Films With English Subtitles:
30 mins or longer

Director, Title    
Sara Gomez, De Cierta Manera  
En la Otra Isla   
Belkis Vega Belmonte,  Vivienda al Limite    
Consuelo Elba Alvarez,  Mujeres de la Guerilla    
Gloria Rolando,  Los Hijos del Baragua; Oggun: An Eternal Presence;   
Raices de mi Corazon; The Eyes of the Rainbow; The Jazz in Us   
Lourdes de Santo,  De Mi Alma Recuerdo   
Maira Vilasis,  Cuendas de mi Ciudad  
Lizette Vila,   Sexualidad, Un Derecho a la Vida   

Under 30 mins
Tamara Morales   Dos Hermanos   
Marina Ochoa   Blanco es mi Pelo, Negro mi Piel   
Niurka Perez   Mujeres Diferente   
Gloria Rolando   El Alacran    

Spanish Language Only
Gloria Rolando   Los Marqueses   
Marina Ochoa   Julieta Busca Romeo   
Marina Ochoa   Porque Es Vivir Un Testimonio Raro   
Lourdes de Santo  Servando    
Lourdes de Santo  Ivette     
Lourdes de Santo  Juego el Trecero   
Tamara Morales   Cualquier Mujer   
Rebeca Chávez   Con Todo Mi Amor,  Rita

For more information on the Si Cubanas festival contact the organisers Julie Webb-Pullman or Descarga Cubana.

Click here to download the 2006 festival programme