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National Film Board of Canada closes first TV licence deal with Cuban state broadcaster for Havana International Book Fair

PRESS RELEASE
06/02/2017

February 6, 2017 – Vancouver – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Nine Canadian films will soon be broadcast on Cuban state television.

This is the first television licence between the National Film Board of Canada and a Cuban broadcaster. The nine NFB films—a selection of documentaries, animated shorts, and one drama—will be broadcast in Spanish-language versions. Negotiations were carried out in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada.

The broadcast coincides with Canada’s participation at the Havana International Book Fair. As part of the celebration of Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation, Canada accepted Cuba’s invitation to be the guest country of honour at the book fair—considered to be Cuba’s premier cultural event at this time of the year, with more than 600,000 attendees—from February 9 to 19, 2017.

The nine films are:

BONE WIND FIRE, directed by Jill Sharpe (2011)

FLAMENCO AT 5:15, directed by Cynthia Scott (1983)

HIGGLETY PIGGLETY POP! OR THERE MUST BE MORE TO LIFE, directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (2010)

MOLLY IN SPRINGTIME, directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon (2009)

MON ONCLE ANTOINE, directed by Claude Jutra (1971)

MY VILLAGE IN NUNAVIK, directed by Bobby Kenuajuak (1999)

POPPETY IN THE FALL, directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon and Antoine Lanciaux (2012)

RIVER OF LIFE, directed by Werner Walcher (2007)

ROSE & VIOLET, directed by Claude Grosch and Luc Otter (2011)

“Canada is taking a big role in every way as a welcoming society open to other cultures,” said NFB sales agent Oscar Rangel. “With this agreement, Canada is once again affirming its long-time influence and collaboration in Cuba.”

The National Film Board of Canada will be part of the Fair, showcasing 20 films on site.

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Associated Links

Havana International Book Fair

Media Relations

  • About the NFB

    For more than 80 years, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has produced, distributed and preserved those stories, which now form a vast audiovisual collection—an important part of our cultural heritage that represents all Canadians.

    To tell these stories, the NFB works with filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds, from across the country. It harnesses their creativity to produce relevant and groundbreaking content for curious, engaged and diverse audiences. The NFB also collaborates with industry experts to foster innovation in every aspect of storytelling, from formats to distribution models.

    Every year, another 50 or so powerful new animated and documentary films are added to the NFB’s extensive collection of more than 14,000 titles, half of which are available to watch for free on nfb.ca.

    Through its mandate, its stature and its productions, the NFB contributes to Canada’s cultural identity and is helping to build the Canada of tomorrow.