Miami Film Festival: The Long Cuban Night World Premiere + Q&A with Director
Miami, Florida
Saturday April, 11 | 5:45 PM
Miami Film Festival
Silverspot Cinema
Theater 13
300 SE 3rd St #100
Miami, FL 33131
ARC – Artists at Risk Connection is proud to present the world premiere of The Long Cuban Night (Cuba y la Noche), a gripping documentary chronicling the San Isidro Movement—Cuba’s bold and courageous wave of artistic resistance preceding the July 11, 2021, rebellion. The film captures the experiences of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Denis Solís, Maykel Osorbo, and other artists and activists as they confront repression by police and paramilitary forces, documented through cell phone footage and firsthand testimony. This intimate portrait of youth striving for freedom offers a powerful vision of Cuba’s cultural and political future.
Movie description adapted from the Miami Film Festival.
Following the screening, join a conversation with Director and Sound Designer Sergio Fernández Borrás. Gain insight into the creative and technical process behind documenting a movement under repression, and explore the challenges of amplifying Cuban artists’ voices on a global stage.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a multidisciplinary Cuban artist whose work merges activism and art. From his early performances in Havana to the creation of the Museo de la Disidencia and the formation of the San Isidro Movement, Luis Manuel has consistently challenged state repression while advocating for artistic freedom. Despite imprisonment since 2021, he continues to create through projects like Fé de Vida, proving the resilience of art in the face of adversity. ARC has closely supported Luis Manuel, amplifying his work and standing in solidarity with Cuban artists navigating censorship and repression. Please check out our Voces Presas campaign demanding his and his fellow Cuban artists’ release.
Maykel Castillo Pérez
Maykel Castillo Pérez, known as “Osorbo,” is a Cuban rapper and co-founder of the San Isidro Movement whose music has become a defining voice of resistance. As co-author of the Grammy-winning anthem “Patria y Vida,” his work challenges censorship and calls for freedom and dignity in Cuba. For his art and activism, Maykel has faced repeated harassment, arbitrary detention, and, since 2021, unjust imprisonment. Despite ongoing reports of abuse in prison, his voice continues to resonate globally as a symbol of artistic defiance. ARC actively supports efforts to amplify his case and advocate for his freedom. Please check out our Voces Presas campaign demanding his and his fellow Cuban artists’ release.
Denis Solís González
Denis Solís González is a Cuban rapper and member of the San Isidro Movement whose arrest in November 2020 became a catalyst for a broader wave of artistic protest on the island. Detained without a warrant and sentenced in a summary trial without access to legal defense, his case drew international attention to the repression of independent artists in Cuba. His imprisonment sparked demonstrations and hunger strikes led by fellow artists and activists, marking a critical moment in the movement for freedom of expression. ARC and its partners have continued to advocate for Denis and others facing similar violations of their rights.
Filmmaker
Sergio Fernández Borrás
Sergio Fernández Borrás studied at the Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA) in Cuba and graduated from the Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV (EICTV) in San Antonio de los Baños, specializing in sound. His work has been featured at festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Amsterdam, IDFA, and Sevilla, and he has taught sound workshops in Spain, Portugal, and Berlin. Currently based in Madrid, he is a member of the Asociación de Profesionales de Sonido Audiovisual (APSA) and the Asociación de Cine Documental.
