Havana Glasgow Film Festival (HGFF), born in 2014, showcases Cuban cinema and culture within Havana’s twin city of Glasgow, Scotland.
The festival celebrates local identities and cultures, highlighting the similarities between Havana and Glasgow and the thriving artistic talent that exists within both cities.
Our seventh Havana Glasgow Film Festival, running from 16-21 Nov 2021, will screen the best Cuban documentary, feature, animation and short films , facilitate discussions and host dynamic cultural events, hopefully both in-person and online. We have unique access to Cuban films in the UK through our partnership with the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC).
This year, we will again focus on extraordinary and exemplary practices originating in
Cuba through our theme Extraordinary Cuba with a focus on Sustainability.
Eirene Houston – Festival Director/Curator
What makes the Festival possible is Eirene’s 23+ years commitment to Cuba, her strong relationship with the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) and long term working partnership with Hugo Rivalta.
A screenwriter and director, her debut feature ‘Day of the Flowers’ (shot in Cuba) was screened at Edinburgh Film Festival and Havana’s International Film Festival. Her feature documentary, ‘My Life is Dance’’ is in post production.
Eirene has been invited to be on the documentary panel for HGFF partner festival The International Festival of Gibara (FIC Gibara) where she has also given a presentation about Havana Glasgow Film Festival and screened some of the Scottish shorts previously screened at HGFF. She is also a curation advisor.
Hugo Rivalta – Co-Director/Curator
Based in Havana, Hugo is a top TV writer, filmmaker and journalist. Most recently his series for adolescents ‘Secondary Days’ – 45 episodes – has been shown on Cuban Television. He is also screenwriter of a new horror short film, ‘Rumour’. His original animation feature ‘The Super’, produced by ICAIC, is currently in post production.
Julia Harriman – Coordinator
A freelance Project Manager in the creative industries and nonprofit sector, Julia has over 20 years experience managing festivals, events and global education projects in the UK and Latin America. She is Co-Founder and previous Director of the social enterprise La Choza Chula on the coast of Guatemala.
Dani Acosta – Graphic Designer/Web Developer
Dani Acosta is a graphic designer and web developer. More recently he moved into video editing and production. In 2020 he produced the documentary Cuba & COVID-19: Public Health, Science and Solidarity through DaniFilms.
Dougie Souness – Photographer
Dougie Souness is a Scottish photographer based in Glasgow, with a passion for Cuba and photographing the people and landscapes of the country.
Dougie is also well known for his artist management role at music company No Half Measures, who work with the groups Wet Wet Wet, Hue and Cry, Red Sky July and Anchor Lane. Dougie’s music photography has been used in numerous album releases and publications whilst his underwater, street, and landscape photography has received international recognition.
His images exhibited as part of I See Cuba, HGFF20, a photography collaboration celebrating the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana with Roberto Chile can be viewed and bought here.
