In brief
Italian‑Cuban drama "Baracoa," directed by Luis Ernesto Donas, made its national debut at Havana's Yara cinema on Nov. 6 after a successful run at the 41st Ibero‑Latin American Film Festival in Trieste, where it won audience and screenplay honors. The film, a road‑movie about an Italian revolutionary friend of Fidel Castro and his son, was attended by the full cast and crew, including the director, producers, and actors, as announced by the Cuban Film Institute. The premiere was hailed by critics, with Donas praising the film’s emotional purity for its audience connection.
In a vibrant ceremony on Nov. 6, the Italian‑Cuban drama Baracoa premiered at Havana’s Yara cinema, marking its first national screening after a run of award‑winning performances at the 41st Ibero‑Latin American Film Festival in Trieste, Italy.
Prensa Latina reported that the film, directed by Luis Ernesto Donas, follows an Italian revolutionary friend of Fidel Castro, Felipe (Giancarlo Giannini), and his son Pepe (Carlos Luis González) on a transformative road trip from Havana to the easternmost city of Cuba.
The Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) announced that Donas, producers, the production crew, and the cast would attend the screening. The event received a warm audience reception, with the film also having earned the Audience Award and the Best Screenplay Award (co‑written by Donas and Filippo Ascione) at Trieste’s official competition.
During the pre‑screening remarks, Donas told Prensa Latina, "this purity of emotion, which comes across on screen, is what, in a way, manages to connect with audiences."
Radio Angulo added that the dramedy explores themes of love, friendship, and homophobia, and that the journey transforms both father and son. The premiere was witnessed by the director, actors, producers, and crew members in Havana’s Yara theater, signifying a milestone for Cuban cinema’s international collaborations.
