Only 83 days after the revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959, on March 24, the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) was founded. This was an autonomous organization dedicated to the promotion of the film industry in Cuba. Law 169 of the Council of Ministers marked the founding of this institution. This law defines the character, strategy and purposes that would characterize the future revolutionary cinema, under the precept that the cinema is an art.
The purpose of the Institute was precisely to organize, establish and develop the film industry, as well as Cuban or co-production films. It also had to administer the studios, laboratories, equipment, workshops and offices, as well as to promote the art according to the cultural tradition of the country and the objectives of the Revolution. Its founder president was Alfredo Guevara. Almost 60 years have passed and the ICAIC stands as an authority, if it is about cinema. Throughout these years there have been many short films, documentaries and animations directed by famous directors of Cuban cinema. Among them Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (Titón), Humberto Solás, Santiago Álvarez, Octavio Cortázar and Juan Padrón. The Cinemateca de Cuba, the Grupo de Experimentación Sonora, with exponents of the Nueva Trova, the Festivals of the New Latin American Cinema and the Animation Studios have prestigized the institute; In addition to valuable films such as Lucia, Fresa y Chocolate, Se Permuta, Plaff, Habanastation, Conducta and many others.
Although Cuban cinema has gone through several periods, the efforts of directors, actors and filmmakers made it possible for ICAIC to be a world-renowned institution. With it, the dreams of many precursors and filmmakers that over the years battled to achieve the foundation and development of a Cuban film industry materialized. The challenge for the new generations lies in the selection of scripts that truly show the Cuban reality and quality films. It is then necessary to maintain the legacy. I believe that Cuban film production should continue.
