Cuba has announced “Malecón” as its official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. The selection was made concurrent with the San Sebastián International Film Festival, marking the latest stop in the film’s festival circuit that has included screenings in Mar del Plata, Miami, and Havana.
Directed by Carlos Larrazabal, “Malecón” centers on Elvis, a character who returns to his native Havana following a 10-year prison sentence. Upon his return, he reconnects with a childhood romantic interest while becoming entangled in the city’s criminal networks, forcing him to confront difficult choices about his ambitions for escape and the personal sacrifices required to achieve them.
The production was entirely shot in Cuba, with Larrazabal collaborating on the screenplay with Cuban writer Fabián Suárez. The script underwent development through the Sundance Collab initiative. The cast comprises exclusively Cuban performers, led by César Domínguez, Camila Rodhes, Omar Rolando, and Yordanka Ariosa, while the production team also consists of Cuban-based professionals.
Producer Inti Herrera of Cuban production company i4films emphasized the project’s dual objectives of achieving international reach while maintaining the intimate qualities of a locally-rooted narrative. Co-producers include Jorge Perugorría, recognized for his work in Cuban cinema, and producer Flavio Florencio.
Separately, Movistar Plus has secured Spanish streaming rights to the film, with additional release details to be announced at a later date.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI