London, 24 September 2026.— Cuban cinema will take centre stage at the first edition of the London Latino Film Festival (LoLaFF), to be held in London from 2 to 6 October 2026, with a programme dedicated to celebrating the diversity, richness and creative power of Latin American cinema.
Cuba’s contribution will be showcased both through key works from its film industry and through the presence of renowned Cuban artists, in an exhibition that will enable the British public to explore different eras, perspectives and forms of expression in the island’s filmmaking.
An image with a Cuban flavour
One of the standout features of this first edition of the festival will be its visual identity, created by the renowned Cuban graphic designer and illustrator Nelson Ponce.
Ponce, a leading figure in Cuban design and illustration, is widely recognised for his work in the field of film posters, including the iconic poster for Vampires in Havana. His participation in LoLaFF links the Cuban tradition of design and film posters with this new venue dedicated to Latin American cinema in the United Kingdom.
Renowned Cuban artists in London
The programme will also feature the renowned Cuban actor Jorge Perugorría, who will be in attendance at a special screening of Fresa y Chocolate, a film directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío and regarded as a seminal work of Cuban cinema.
The film, starring Perugorría, is one of the most internationally acclaimed Cuban films and offers an insight into Cuban society through themes such as friendship, identity, diversity and coexistence.
Another guest will be the renowned Cuban dancer and choreographer Carlos Acosta, whose international career will be showcased in Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story, directed by Icíar Bollaín. The film traces the artist’s journey from his childhood in Havana to his rise to prominence on the world’s leading ballet stages.
The presence of both artists will help to introduce the British public to two important forms of Cuban culture – cinema and dance – as well as to the personal and collective stories that run through them.
From the classics to contemporary art
The Cuban presence at LoLaFF will include a selection of films spanning different periods in the country’s cinematic history.
The programme includes classics such as Memories of Underdevelopment by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and In a Certain Way by Sara Gómez, two films that are essential for understanding the aesthetic and thematic evolution of Cuban cinema and its engagement with the social transformations of its time.
In addition to these are contemporary productions relating to Cuba, including Baracoa, Life is Dance, ¡Quba! and Ana y la Distancia, which broaden our understanding of Cuban life and its cultural expressions from a variety of perspectives.
The selection thus fosters a dialogue between different generations of filmmakers and creators, highlighting the continuity of a cinematic tradition characterised by its thematic diversity, its artistic exploration and its ability to address Cuban reality from multiple perspectives.
Cuba takes part in the celebration of Latin American cinema
Cuba’s participation in the first edition of the London Latino Film Festival provides an opportunity to strengthen cultural exchange between Cuba and the United Kingdom and to introduce the British public to the richness of the island’s cinema.
From the great classics to contemporary productions, Cuban programming offers a journey through the stories, identities and experiences that form part of Cuba’s cultural and audiovisual heritage.
With this presence, Cuba is joining in the celebration of Latin American cinema in London, reaffirming the value of culture and artistic exchange as forums for bringing peoples together.
From 2 to 6 October, London will host this new festival, and Cuban cinema will be there to share its stories, its images, and the talent of its filmmakers.