Renowned Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa has publicly voiced his support for filmmakers Enrique “Kiki” Álvarez and Esteban Insausti after the abrupt termination of their contracts by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) without prior warning. The termination was falsely documented as a "voluntary resignation."
García expressed his dismay on Facebook, stating, "I refuse to let this disgrace fade into oblivion amidst the daily barrage of unpleasantness we face." He emphasized his loyalty to friends, principles, and life's work, adding, "Neither Kiki nor Esteban deserve this affront."
The actor, a respected figure in Cuban cinema and television, made his statement amid growing discontent within the artistic community over censorship and exclusion affecting various creators on the island. Enrique “Kiki” Álvarez revealed this week that ICAIC ended his and Insausti’s contracts effective August 1, 2025, with no prior notification or formal explanation.
In a detailed post, Álvarez shared that when he approached the Human Resources office, he was told his termination was due to "personal decision," yet there was no documentation in his file to support this claim. "Goodbye, ICAIC. Our relationship was always strained, marked by my aspiration to transform you into an Institute that upholds filmmakers’ rights to depict the harsh realities we live in," Álvarez wrote in a piece titled "In the Open," marking his definitive break with the state institution.
Growing Outcry Against ICAIC's Actions
Álvarez connected his dismissal to his public criticisms of censorship, his involvement with the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers (ACC), and his denunciations of irregularities in the Cuban Film Fund. Meanwhile, Insausti described the decision as a "bureaucratic act of exclusion," reminding that cultural institutions "belong not to the current officials, but to the artists and the people."
Álvarez’s post triggered a wave of reactions from artists, filmmakers, and critics. Director Orlando Rojas labeled ICAIC as an "Institution of Corrupt Authoritarians and Infamous Commissioners," urging a boycott of the upcoming Havana New Latin American Cinema Festival. Filmmaker Rosa María Rodríguez highlighted it as "another act of exclusion against a creator for thinking differently," while critic Joel del Río praised Álvarez as "one of the filmmakers who has profoundly renewed Cuban cinema narratives," warning, "To ICAIC, he is dispensable, as I surely will be once this post circulates."
Essayist Julio César Guanche described the situation as "a never-ending disgrace," and director Pavel Giroud lamented "the complicit silence of colleagues who see opportunities in mediocrity." So far, ICAIC has remained silent on the allegations of document falsification and arbitrary dismissals. This incident parallels recent instances of censorship and cancellations in the cultural sphere.
Ongoing Cultural Repression in Cuba
This week, the planned tribute by Teatro El Público and the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) to celebrate Celia Cruz's centenary was inexplicably canceled. Performances by the company El Ciervo Encantado were also called off by cultural authorities. The Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers has condemned these actions as part of a systematic pattern of cultural control and repression. "Our culture cannot continue to be directed by the same censors and inquisitors who have enjoyed long-standing impunity," the organization warned in a recent statement.
FAQs on ICAIC and Cultural Censorship in Cuba
What led to the termination of Álvarez and Insausti's contracts with ICAIC?
The contracts were terminated without prior notice and falsely documented as voluntary resignations, likely due to their public criticisms of censorship and involvement with the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers.
How has the artistic community reacted to this incident?
There has been significant backlash from artists, filmmakers, and critics, with calls for boycotts and condemnation of ICAIC's actions as part of a broader pattern of cultural repression.
What other recent instances of cultural censorship have occurred in Cuba?
Recently, a planned tribute to Celia Cruz and performances by El Ciervo Encantado were canceled without explanation by cultural authorities, reflecting ongoing repression.