In brief
The first fiction film from director Luis Ernesto Donas, “Baracoa,” debuted at the Yara cinema in Havana on Nov. 6, 2026. The road‑dramedy, starring Giancarlo Giannini and Carlos Luis González, earned the Audience Award and Best Screenplay Award in Trieste, Italy, before returning to Cuba. The Cuban Film Institute confirmed that the director, crew and cast will attend the screening.
Italian‑Cuban film "Baracoa" premiered at Havana’s Yara theater on Nov. 6, 2026 after winning the Audience Award and Best Screenplay Award at the 41st Ibero‑Latin American Film Festival in Trieste, Italy, according to Prensa Latina.
The 90‑minute dramedy tells the story of Felipe, played by Giancarlo Giannini, an Italian revolutionary friend of Fidel Castro, and his son Pepe, portrayed by Carlos Luis González. After Felipe’s death, Pepe and a doctor named Jimmy, played by Yadier Fernandez, drive from Havana to the island’s easternmost city, Baracoa, and together they confront the prejudices they face.
Director Luis Ernesto Donas said the film explores themes of love, friendship and “good‑heartedness,” adding that the purity of emotion on screen is what connects with audiences, according to a statement offered to Prensa Latina.
The Cuban Film Institute (Icaic) announced that the director, producers, production crew and cast will attend the screening, a fact confirmed by both Prensa Latina and Radio Angulo.
