Havana Film Festival An audiovisual party again captures the audience

Half a million people enjoyed the 32nd edition of the New Latin American Film Festival of Havana which opened the door to a prolonged visual feast. Lasting 10 days, from December 2 to 12, 515 films were shown of which 122 were in competition.

The thoughtful and intelligent party, as certified by its president, Alfredo Guevara, was tracked by a crowd of movie addicts, who filled the theatres. Attracted not only by films in competition, spectators also had their pick from the parallel exhibition of movies that included the most recent features from France, Italy, the UK, Germany, Norway, Spain and Denmark, as well as a selection of Oscar-winning movies. There was also a selection of experimental cinema and other genres like fantasy and horror.

Among the latter, the presentations by the Canadian National Film Board excelled with 15 cartoons, six documentaries, 12 experimental works and a tribute to the films of Norman McLaren, presented in the island for the first time and that attracting many spectators.

McLaren is considered one of the luminaries of Canada's film and animation industry. His tribute included a retrospective of movies made in the 1940s and 1980s, including Neighbours and Narcissus.

As part of the Industry Sector, the seminar, Ibero-American Films Crossing Borders - a door to European Markets, saw prestigious Canadian filmmaker Jan Miller, director of Strategic Partners, offer a conference on pitching and co-productions.