Minnesota Cuban Film Festival

04/08/2026

The closing event of the 17th annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival marked a long history of collaboration between the Minnesota Cuba Committee, ICAIC, and the Minneapolis/St Paul Film Society. Showing Cuban films from emerging directors and featuring Cuban locations and actors to a growing audience of Minnesotans who now want to travel to Cuba was a bridge crossed with the help of this festival. The honorary guest of that night was her excellency Cuba's ambassador to the US, Lianys Torrez Rivera. The ambassador was in Minnesota on a 3-day tour to meet with local government officials, academic and scientific faculty, students, farmers, churches and solidarity organizations. Special guests of the film festival were Gloria "La Niña" Rivera and Sus Trio performing "Songs of My Parents" following the screening of The Mystery of Cuban Music: La Clave. Gloria is the daughter of the famous Cuban percussionist and song writer "El Nino" Rivera. The event was a thrilling success with over 200 in the Main Cinema's largest theater and standing room only in the aisles. The ambassador commented that the event and the tour of Minnesota were a big success, and we are so glad we finally made the trip to Minnesota and see the solidarity with Cuba that is here. In the photo with the ambassador is the husband of the ambassador Carlos Amores Balvin and 2nd Secretary David Ramirez Alvarez.

04/04/2026

As we look ahead to 2027, we invite you to help shape the future of the festival by completing our short survey — your feedback means the world to us.

We would love to hear your thoughts or feedback on how we can improve your experience!

04/04/2026

Thank You for Making the 17th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival a Success!
We are deeply grateful to our audience, partners, sponsors, and volunteers for making the 17th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival a wonderful celebration of Cuban cinema and culture. A special thank you to performer Gloria Echevarria for her incredible live music, and to the first woman Cuban Ambassador, Lianys Torres Rivera, and her team for honoring us with their presence. We were thrilled by the overwhelming response to our closing night screening of The Mystery of Música Cubana: La Clave — the event sold out even after being moved to a larger theater, and we were humbled by the many people who came out despite us having to turn some away. A heartfelt thank you to MSP Film Society and the theater staff for their flexibility and dedication in making that night possible. Your support is what makes this festival possible year after year. As we look ahead to 2027, we invite you to subscribe to our email list below. We can't wait to share more great films with you!https://www.mncubacommittee.org/mcff

We can't wait to share more great films with you!
- Minnesota Cuba Committee

04/01/2026

Wednesday, April 1 at 7:00pm
The Mystery of Musica Cubana: La Clave
The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main Street

Dir. Kurt Hartel
89 min
This is a passionate documentary about the fascinating musical soul of a country where Africa and European roots unite. An inspiring look at the diversity of the Caribbean Island.

After the film a special live music performance by Cuban singer Gloria “La Niña” Rivera. She is a well-known singer performing with Salsa del Soul.

After the film a special live music performance by Gloria "La Niña" Rivera. She was born in Havana, the daughter of famed music legend “El Niño” Rivera. She is a long-time resident of Minnesota and is a well-known Cuban singer performing with the Salsa del Soul Orchestra.

Cuba is a country plenteous of diverse styles of music, especially Havana is like a pan bubbling with musical and rhythmical creativity. The enormous musical...

03/29/2026

Thank you to POWER 104.7 FM and writer Binta Kanteh for shining a light on the Minnesota Cuban Film Festival and our closing night film, The Mystery of Musica Cubana: La Clave! 🎬🎶 We’re grateful for your support in sharing our mission to preserve Cuban culture 🇨🇺

Hosted at the Main Cinema in Minneapolis, the aim of the festival is to showcase Cuban culture and cinema and also call attention to the impacts of the U.S. blockade of the island nation, which the Minnesota Cuba Committee says is an economic and commercial war on the country.

03/24/2026

Oceans are the Real Continents
Dir. Tomasso Santoambrogio
120 min
17th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival

Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00pm
Discussion follows the screening.

ABOUT THE FILM
Three stories of migration, exile and memory develop in the Cuban town of San Antonio de los Baños, a place that time forgot. Alex and Edith, a young couple in their thirties, build their lives upon small gestures, reminisces and a deep connection amidst the nation's ruins. Milagros survives selling peanut cones on the street, spending her days listening to the radio and reading old letters. Nine-year-old best friends Frank and Alain go to school and dream of emigrating to the U.S. to become baseball players.

A “beautifully realized” and “exquisite” (The Hollywood Reporter), OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS brilliantly captures the complexity of life in Cuba today. With striking cinematography and a remarkable cast of first-time actors, this debut feature from writer/director Tommaso Santambrogio is a “wistful and poetic journey sure to linger on in memory” (InReview Online).

Film and event descriptions provided by our partners.

$12 General Admission (+$2 online fee. No fee at the box office)

$10 MSP Film Members (Sign in to access the Member price)

$8 Students (available at the box office)

17th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00pmDiscussion follows the screening. ABOUT THE FILM Three stories of migration, exile and memory develop in the Cuban town of San Antonio de los Baños, a place that time forgot. Alex and Edith, a young couple in their thirties, build thei...

03/11/2026

Get your tix!

17th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00pmDiscussion follows the screening. ABOUT THE FILM A choral story where characters of different statuses and generations cross paths in an attempt to find happiness and alleviate the loneliness that crushes some of them. In a 12-storey bu...