Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti

Born in 1961 in Cuba, he graduated in Cinema, Theatre and Drama from the Superior Institute in Arts (ISA) in Havana, Cuba. He has directed several short films, films for television and documentaries (CUANDO YO SEA GRANDE, 1984-87; Y DICE UNA MARIPOSA, 1984-87; DIANA, 1988; OSCUROS RINOCERONTES ENJAULADOS, 1990; LA ÉPOCA, EL ENCANTO Y FIN DE SIGLO, 1999), and NADA+ (2001), a first feature film for the cinema, a fiction in black and white with painted animation scratched directly onto the film. NADA+ was selected at several film festivals, among which the “Directors’ Fortnight” in Cannes 2002. VIVA CUBA is his second feature film.

Director’s statement

“VIVA CUBA is the first Cuban film with children playing the lead parts. There have been animation films, but never a feature film for and with children. Our intention was to make a film for all ages and not only for children. It has been a very long time since the Cuban cinema has produced a film for all ages. Our idea was not to defend only a children’s cinema, but a cinema where adults can see children’s problems, problems that touch them, because they are the guardians of these children. That is why I prefer to say that this is a film for all ages, a film that speaks about the interests of both adults and children”.