Step into the vibrant, resilient world of Cuban cinema this July, as The New Theatre proudly hosts this year’s three-day film festival celebrating the enduring artistry of the island nation.
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From July 24th to 27th, we invite you to explore the rich tapestry of Cuban storytelling, a testament to the creative spirit that thrives even under the weight of an ongoing embargo.
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For over six decades, the United States has maintained a comprehensive economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. While often framed in economic and diplomatic terms, this blockade has had a profound impact on the island’s artistic and cultural landscape. Access to essential equipment, distribution networks, and even basic materials for filmmaking has been severely curtailed, forcing Cuban artists to innovate, adapt, and rely on an extraordinary wellspring of internal talent and ingenuity.
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Join us as we showcase a curated selection of films, highlighting Cuban artists’ continued accomplishments:
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Friday July 25th 18:00 – Film Screening & Social
- On our opening night we’re delighted to host the Irish premiere of Cuban documentary, La Raiz Del Olivo / The Root of the Olive Tree (2024), which explores the spirit, memory, and culture of the Palestinian people currently marooned in Cuba since the destruction of their homes following Oct 7th.
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Saturday July 26th 13:00 – Film Screening
- Ciudad En Rojo / City in Red (2009), based on the book of the same name, depicts some of the fiercest resistance to the Batista dictatorship in Santiago de Cuba at the beginning of the revolution. The film’s narrative unfolds over 24 hours through several young members of the underground as they confront their own uncertainty about the morality of armed struggle and of severing bonds that had seemed unbreakable.
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Saturday July 26th 16:30 – Film Screening & Social
- El Mundo de Nelsito / The World Of Nelsito (2023) centres a 16-year-old autistic teenager, who, while running away from home, becomes a victim of a car accident. From his stretcher, Nelsito reveals the dark and hidden side of all those around him: perverse children, murderous women and adorable swindling girls in this mind-bending depiction of Cuban youth and imagination.
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Sunday July 27th 14:00 – Film Screening
- Critically acclaimed and one of ‘the most sophisticated films ever to come out of Cuba’, Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) centres a Cuban man who cycles through his opinions and memories as the threat of foreign invasion intensifies and the rest of his family moves to Miami.
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Through film screenings, discussions, and perhaps even a few mojitos, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of Cuba’s cultural wealth and the determination of its artists to share their stories with the world.
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Learn more and book your tickets HERE.
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Proceeds of the screenings will go towards the continued medical aid and cultural support for Cuba.
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Organised by the Dublin Branch of the Communist Party of Ireland. Supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba Ireland and the Cuban Institute of Art and Film Industry (ICAIC).
