French Film Festival Kicks Off in a Havana Crumbling with Decay

Havana, a city grappling with crumbling buildings and litter-filled streets, hosted the commencement of the 27th French Film Festival on Thursday. The opening took place at the Yara Cinema, attracting diplomats, cultural officials, and local audiences, as reported by the state-run Cuban News Agency.

The event began with the screening of "Los niños de la resistencia" (2026), directed by French filmmaker Christophe Barratier. This film is an adaptation of the popular comic series by Vincent Dugomier and Benoît Ers, depicting three children—François, Eusèbe, and Lisa—engaging in covert operations during the Nazi occupation of France in World War II.

The unintended parallel between the film's narrative and Havana's actual state was striking: while on screen, children fight to preserve their city, outside, Havana sees around 1,000 building collapses annually. By the end of 2025, tens of thousands of structures were in disrepair, with a significant number needing major renovations.

A City in Ruins

The deterioration isn't just in numbers. In September, two elderly individuals were crushed to death when the porch of their home collapsed in Lawton, a neighborhood in the Diez de Octubre municipality. A Cuban architect likened the city to "a bombed city." The housing deficit across the island exceeds 800,000 homes.

Amidst this decay, the Yara Cinema—one of the few functioning public venues—reopened its doors for the festival. Attendees included Alexis Triana, head of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), and Raphaël Trannoy, the French ambassador to Cuba, according to ACN.

Continuing Cultural Bridges

Triana described the festival as "one of the most anticipated events by the Cuban public," praising French cinema for its diversity and captivating stories, which have garnered significant interest. Luciano Castillo, director of the Cuban Cinematheque, highlighted Barratier's contributions and noted that the director co-founded the festival with Nouredine Essadi, the current cultural attaché at the French Embassy in Cuba. "It's a privilege to have him here," Castillo remarked, emphasizing the festival's impact on Cuban audiences over the years.

The French ambassador, Raphaël Trannoy, expressed gratitude to both the audience and organizers, describing the festival as "a bridge offering a select showcase of contemporary French cinema, demonstrating the diversity and renewal of French productions."

Film Festival Amidst Crisis

This edition of the festival features 17 films, including four animated movies, to be screened at the Yara and Charles Chaplin cinemas until November 4. Despite the ongoing crisis, audiences continue to seek an escape in the darkened theaters, whenever transport shortages and frequent power outages allow.

Triana also announced that the 27th edition of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema will take place from December 3 to 13 in Havana. This internationally recognized event is set to arrive in a city where urban infrastructure continues to deteriorate, with streets littered with public dumps, as the regime fails to provide real solutions for its citizens.