Filmography of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Other Filmmakers at Semana Titoniana

One of the most prominent figures in Cuban and Latin American cinema, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, will be honored during Semana Titoniana, taking place in Havana from December 4 to 11. The event coincides with the 97th anniversary of his birth and the opening of the 46th Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

The week will also commemorate several milestones, including the 70th anniversary of the documentary El Mégano, first screened on November 9, 1955. Co-directed by Julio García Espinosa, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (Titón), and Alfredo Guevara, the film is considered the most significant precursor to the cinema of the Cuban Revolution.

Another important anniversary is the 45th year since the publication of Dialéctica del espectador, originally released as a mimeographed edition by Titón. The essay won him the National Literary Criticism Award in 1983. In this volume—addressed particularly to younger readers—the author compiles essays on the ever-intriguing subject of cinematic creation.

The 50th anniversary of the documentary Alicia, by Víctor Casaus, and the premiere of the feature film Mella, directed by Enrique Pineda Barnet, will also be celebrated in the first week of December. Alicia incorporates footage from an interview given to filmmaker Eduardo Manet (shot in black and white by Jorge Haydú), as well as color sequences of the renowned choreographic version of the ballet Carmen, immortalized by Casaus on the stage of Havana’s Gran Teatro, again with Haydú as cinematographer.

The life and legacy of student leader Julio Antonio Mella are depicted in the feature film Mella by Enrique Pineda Barnet, chronicling the story of this anti-imperialist activist, founder of Cuba’s first Communist Party, and leader in the struggle against General Gerardo Machado’s dictatorship.

The program will also mark the 65th anniversary of the ICAIC Animation Studios, founded in 1960, with a special tribute to women filmmakers. This anniversary recalls the origins of a true “dream factory,” launched to elevate the imagination in a world filled with reality. Its history is one of passion and conviction—an enduring commitment to bringing children, young people, and adults a slice of happiness through animation, thanks to the dedicated work of countless artisans and creators.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez