In a new series, Alborada curates a selection of socially-conscious and radical short films focused on a specific Latin American country, all of which are freely available and can be watched here.

This new series focuses on short films from different Latin American countries to present a broad picture of the people, movements and struggles, past and present, that define each one. This article focuses on Cuba.

1) Si No Se Puede Bailar, Esta No Es Mi Revolución (Lillah Halla)

Cubans film themselves in their own homes dancing to the song that most encapsulates that moment of their lives. In the absence of audio, the songs play in the dancers’ minds. An intimate and revealing short film that benefits from its ‘Do It Yourself’ motif that anyone can follow.

2) El Abuelo de Macondo (Hugo Prado Villegas, Maíra Silva Conde and Vladimir Castillo)

The Grandfather of Macondo is almost 105 years old and still struts around town puffing on a cigar and telling stories. Much has happened in Cuba during his lifetime and he sees much more ahead.

3) Noval: Photographer of the Revolution (Orrin Luc)



Liborio Noval is a Cuban photographer who has been on hand to witness the Revolution through to the present day. He talks about his iconic shots of Fidel and Che, and the symbolic resonance of revolutionary photography.

4) Charlie (Kadri Koop)

Charlie Hill fled from the United States to Cuba in 1971 after being accused of murdering a policeman. He was part of a black liberation movement which sought to establish an independent state within existing US territory. The thawing of diplomatic relations under the Obama regime casts uncertainty over his future.

5) Cuban Colors / Grito, Luego Existo (Jesús Canchola Sánchez)

Cuba recently incorporated LGBT rights into its constitution. Here, three LGBT people discuss their experiences as shifting attitudes have redefined their roles in Cuba’s multiplural society. Pride parades are a highly visible and celebrated aspect of island society.

6) Madera (Daniel Kvitko)

‘Many Cubans live to 120, and I am one of them’: an elderly campesino couple dwell on the Revolution in its former and current guises. The natural environment in which they live sustains, occupies and comforts them.

7) The Doctor’s Revolution (Michael Tynan)

Despite the illegal US blockade which has hampered Cuba’s development for over fifty years and deprived the island of billions of dollars, the remarkable healthcare system is the best in the world. Cuba’s focus on international solidarity sees it export thousands of doctors to other poor countries. This film explores how Cuba achieved and maintains such high levels of healthcare.