Ethan Hawke is among other film celebrities including Tim Robbins attending the 37th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana this December 3-13.
According to event organizers, requests from US participants overwhelmed the event forcing the restriction of passes given to US citizens.
The Festival promotes and awards those works whose significance and artistic values contributes to enriching and reaffirming Latin American and Caribbean cultural identity.
Each year the Festival calls for competitive entries in: Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Opera Prima, Unproduced Script, Poster as well as the Competition for the ALBA Cultural’s Postproduction Award, “Our America First Copy”. The program includes a showcase of contemporary world cinema, the Industry Sector initiatives as well as meetings and seminars on issues of cultural interest, especially cinema.
In the past, other Hollywood stars have been drawn by the cinematic festival. Renowned figures including Matt Dillon and Benicio del Toro have attended. This year sees the return of Geraldine Chaplin, president of the fiction film judging panel.
Producer Christine Vachon and various executives from the Sundance Institute and HBO channel will also attend the festival representing the US.
Also confirmed are Chilean filmmaker and author Miguel Littín, Italian director and script writer Marco Bellochio and Danny Glover.
During a recent press conference, Ivan Giroud, President of the festival, revealed that 23 productions will be competing in the category of feature length film; 22 medium length and shorts; 21 debut works; 36 documentaries; 33 animations; and 24 unedited scripts, as well as 24 posters.
