For two weeks, the inhabitants of Havana see the Cuban capital being "invaded" by the seventh art. Many of them are trying to save money at this time of year to enter the festival. Movie cinemas are not accessible to all Cubans and this is an opportunity to see the good that is done in Latin America. This event, also known as the "Festival of New Latin American Cinema of Havana" began on December 3, 1979. The president of the first organization was Alfredo Guevara and, in that year, he was able to gather more than 600 Latin American filmmakers. The festival aims to promote films that contribute to the enrichment and reaffirmation of Latin American culture. The prize awarded is the "Gran Premio Coral", which symbolizes the large coral reefs that are found in the Caribbean Sea.
From Cuba to the world Big international names have already participated in the Havana Film Festival. We refer to celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert de Niro, Robert Redford, Danny Glover, among others. In its program, the festival also has a wide selection of modern and international films, providing a cinematographic encounter of different countries around the world.