Cuba Pays Tribute to Filmmaker Santiago Alvarez CUBA, March 19, 2009. Cuba celebrated the 90th birthday of its late renowned documentary director Santiago Alvarez with a screening of four films from his vast production. The homage ran by the film library of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Arts and Industry included Historia de una plaza, Biografia de un carnaval, Tiempo libre a la roca and L.B.J. The celebration involved the ambassadors of Congo, Qatar, Vietnam and the Mexican cultural attache in Cuba plus film directors honored at the Santiago Alvarez in Memoriam Documentary Festivals. Alvarez’ widow Lazara Herrera, president of the festival, said Casa America of Madrid will display 20 documentaries and posters and will hold talks as part of the homage in Spain in May. The event will show the brilliant director of Now, considered the first video clip due to its technical and aesthetic concepts. Eric Corvalan Pelle, director and scriptwriter of Raza, winner of the 2009 Documentary Festival, noted Alvarez' influence in the new directors through his ground breaking, futuristic photography and sound innovations. Santiago Alvarez' over-30-year production for ICAIC included the Noticiero Latinoamericano that addressed such historic events like the US-led war in Vietnam and frustrated mercenary invasion of Cuba in 1961.(Cubaminrex- PL) |