Cuban Film Festival: 373 films being screened at international festival

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Cinema is in focus in Havana this week - as the city hosts its annual international film festival. 373 films from around the world are being screened - with a special emphasis on Latin America. As CGTN's Luis Chirino reports, the event is hugely popular among Cubans.

In an era when movie theaters struggle to stay relevant amid a myriad of technological platforms, film lovers still flock to Havana every December for what's formally called the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

ALEJANDRO MARTIN FILM INDUSTRY WORKER "Despite the fact that people may now watch more films on small screens and PCs, this public, that's educated and able to appreciate the films, continues to visit our movie theaters."

This year, the films come from 40 countries in all, and main attractions include a re-screening of 'Strawberry and Chocolate' by Tomas Gutierrez Alea, a director getting special honors here at the Festival, and 'Sicario, The Day of the Soldier,' introduced at a press conference by one of its stars: the Oscar-winning actor Benicio del Toro.

And the festival's special Coral Honor - was awarded at the opening gala to the Sundance Institute - founded by famed actor and director Robert Redford - for its support of Cuban artists over the years. While the award was received by institute executives Michelle Satter and Paul Federbush, Redford sent a special message of thanks via video.

ROBERT REDFORD SUNDANCE INSTITUTE "So I express my gratitude to you, to Cuba and its artists for your friendship and collaboration over all these years."

Later, I met with Michelle, the founding director of the Sundance Institute's Feature Film Program, at Havana's National Hotel, a side venue of the festival.

MICHELLE SATTER SUNDANCE INSTITUTE "The first filmmaker that we supported as part of our work in Cuba, which has been 30 years, is a filmmaker named Gerardo Chijona, with his film Adorable Lies."

GERARDO CHIJONA CUBAN FILMMAKER "The project of Redford has always been crystal clear in this sense that is, in the case of Cuba they have obviously tried to build bridges."

Gerardo Chijona is a very popular Cuban filmmaker with a long list of film credits - and many awards from national and international movie festivals.

GERARDO CHIJONA CUBAN FILMMAKER "Everyone wants to get the chance of watching the premieres of the films at the festival."

JOSE EVELIO RETIRED WORKER "We Cubans quite enjoy the Film Festival as we can watch many films from Latin America and from other countries and of different genres."

Long lines of people, thirsty for new films from near and far.

LUIS CHIRINO HAVANA "Havana's International Film Festival is marking its 40th year of celebrating films from around the world, and as we can see, it continues to be a big hit with Cuban movie lovers. Luis Chirino, CGTN Havana."