Argentinian journalist Carolina "Carola" Amoroso from TN and Canal 13 entered Cuba using a tourist visa to covertly film the documentary 'Cuba, the Island That Fades Away,' successfully bypassing the Cuban regime's tight control over foreign press.
The documentary preview was showcased this Sunday at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair. During the event, Amoroso shared the reasons for her clandestine approach: "The bureaucracy involved in awaiting a visa and the risk of having a monitored coverage did not seem appropriate for this situation," she explained to the audience.
The decision to enter as a tourist was intentional and had the backing of Ricardo Ravanelli, the news director at Artear, the parent company of TN and Canal 13. "Entering Cuba was a goal for us at the channel and for our news director for some time. We felt it was urgent to gain access to the island," Amoroso stated.
The footage captures the unfiltered daily life of Cubans, free from government oversight. In one scene from the preview, Amoroso uses her cellphone flashlight as the "only way" to see in a Havana neighborhood left in darkness due to power outages.
The documentary narrates Cuba as "a nation amidst its most severe economic and social crisis in decades," characterized by "daily blackouts, accumulated garbage, shortages, and crumbling buildings."
Amoroso returned from the island deeply moved by what she documented. "I came back very affected by that beautiful people, and of course, with much sorrow for what they are enduring at this moment," she expressed during the presentation.
The Cuban regime mandates official accreditation for foreign journalists, effectively resulting in supervised and censored coverage. This restriction makes independent journalism nearly impossible for international media in the country, which spurred Amoroso's strategy.
Since 2024, Cuba is experiencing its worst energy crisis in decades, with power cuts lasting up to twenty hours daily, a collapsing national electrical system, and severe shortages of food and medicine.
The full documentary will air on TN, the Telenoche newscast on Canal 13, and on Aura, the group's new streaming platform.
Amoroso is no stranger to high-risk reporting; in 2022, she covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine and produced the documentary Darién, the Jungle of Hell about migration through the Darién Gap, which earned her the Fopea Award for In-Depth Journalism.
The journalist emphasized that her work goes beyond the media outlet she represents: "It's for the people leading these causes who often feel isolated or are crying out in silence or in the wilderness. Venezuela and Cuba are not alone."
Regarding the chosen title, Amoroso wanted to convey a clear message: "'Cuba, the Island That Fades Away,' but the hope of its people does not fade, and I want to highlight that through the title."
Insights on Cuba's Current Challenges
Why did Carolina Amoroso choose to enter Cuba as a tourist?
Amoroso opted to enter as a tourist to avoid the Cuban regime's bureaucratic hurdles and supervised coverage, which would not have allowed for the independent journalism she intended to conduct.
What does the documentary 'Cuba, the Island That Fades Away' depict?
The documentary portrays the unvarnished reality of Cuban life amid a severe economic and social crisis, with daily blackouts, shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure.
What are the key challenges currently faced by Cuba?
Cuba is dealing with its worst energy crisis in decades, with prolonged power outages, a failing electrical system, and acute shortages of essential goods like food and medicine.