The Low-Budget Film Festival 2008 is being held in its already traditional venue in the Cuban eastern city of Gibara, with the participation of actors, filmmakers and producers from 16 nations.

For seven days, the 38 thousand residents of Gibara, located 800 kilometers east of Havana, will be able to enjoy independent film productions by filmmakers from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Nigeria, India, Iraq, Rumania, Italy and Brazil, among others.

The works in competition include diverse genres and languages. There are e 11 feature films in competition.

The jury in the fiction category is made up of Canadian Hervé Fischer, Cuban Enrique Pineda Barnet and German Till Hastreiter.

The festival pays tribute to late Cuban documentary maker Octavio Cortázar with the showing of his documentary 'Por primera vez (For the First Time), shot in 1967.

The opening gala included the screening of 'Personal belongings (Efectos personales), first work by Cuban director Alejandro Brugués that won the prize for best fiction film at last years event.

The events program also includes an exhibit of works by prestigious Cuban artists, among them Agustín Bejarano, Cosme Proenza, Nelson Domínguez, Alicia Leal, Aziyadee Ruiz and Osneldo García.

Every night, there will be a special concert by renowned Cuban musicians, including Haydée Milanés, David Blanco, Raúl Paz, Harold López Nussa and Polito Ibáñez, among others.

Founded in 2001, the festival, just as Solás affirms, 'has nothing to do with the profit-oriented productions of the major film companies.

(Cubarte)