The documentary titled "Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara: We're Connected", directed by Cuban filmmaker Ernesto Fundora Hernández, is set to premiere this Wednesday on CiberCuba. This biographical film delves into the life, activism, and artistic journey of Cuban artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, co-founder of the San Isidro Movement.
Spanning one hour and 38 minutes, the documentary blends archival footage, interviews, and exclusive images captured between Cuba and Mexico from 2016 to 2021. The final cut was completed in Mexico City in November 2025, produced by Video Vueltas Productions.
The film had its world premiere on February 7, 2026, at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in Miami, followed by additional screenings in Little Havana and a broadcast on N+ Univision Miami.
Prominent figures featured in the documentary include Yanelys Núñez, Amaury Pacheco, and Iris Ruiz, who are close collaborators of Otero Alcántara within the San Isidro Movement.
The Creative Team Behind the Documentary
Cinematography was led by Carmelo Raneri and Fundora himself, with editing and post-production by Josafat Hernández. The music score includes contributions from Omar Sosa and Armando Gola.
Portraying the San Isidro Movement
The documentary captures the emergence of the San Isidro Movement in 2018, a cultural and civic platform formed in response to Decree 349, which criminalized independent art in Cuba. It narrates acts of resistance that have made Otero Alcántara an international symbol for freedom of expression.
The artist asserts, "When a government assumes the right to dictate cultural production, society is lost. From that point on, society has no future."
The premiere coincides with heightened international attention on his case. Otero Alcántara is currently detained in Guanajay maximum-security prison in Artemisa. He was arrested on July 11, 2021, during the historic 11J protests and sentenced in June 2022 to five years for "insulting national symbols, disrespect, and public disorder."
Between March 30 and April 6, 2026, he carried out an eight-day hunger strike to protest death threats from the State Security's Department 21 agents.
On April 24, he published an essay in The New York Times from prison, communicated externally through 10-minute phone calls with the help of artist Coco Fusco.
Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience, and in 2024, he received the Rafto Prize for Human Rights, awarded by the Rafto Foundation in Norway.
The People's Supreme Court reaffirmed in April 2026 that his sentence concludes on July 9, 2026, dismissing a habeas corpus petition filed by Cubalex, placing the documentary's release just weeks before his anticipated release.
In the film, Otero Alcántara succinctly encapsulates his struggle.
"I call on everyone to support us. I urge everyone to unite. I invite all to witness the true Cuban reality and not be swayed by the media narrative crafted by the Cuban government."
Understanding the Impact of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara's Activism
Who is Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a Cuban artist and political activist known for co-founding the San Isidro Movement, which challenges the Cuban government's censorship of independent art.
What is the San Isidro Movement?
The San Isidro Movement is a cultural and civic platform established in 2018 in response to Cuba's Decree 349, which sought to penalize independent artistic expression.
Why is Otero Alcántara considered a prisoner of conscience?
Amnesty International regards Otero Alcántara as a prisoner of conscience because he has been jailed due to his political beliefs and advocacy for freedom of expression, not for any internationally recognized crime.