The emerging Cuban filmmaker, Orlando Mora Cabrera, was apprehended this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. by three officers from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and was reportedly taken to the police station at Zapata and C, located in El Vedado. However, the Cuban Filmmakers Assembly (ACC) announced through a Facebook post that the artist's whereabouts remain unknown. Despite several attempts to locate him, it has been confirmed that he is not held at this station, and the reasons for his arrest remain undisclosed.
"We denounce this irregularity and express our solidarity with Orlando Mora," stated the ACC representatives in a public declaration on social media. Mora Cabrera's arrest follows closely after he publicly criticized an alleged act of institutional censorship during the 45th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana, where his short film, Matar a un hombre, was excluded from the official lineup.
The filmmaker highlighted that his piece was removed without any clear justification, following a series of cancellations attributed to supposed "electrical issues." Mora Cabrera described these actions as homophobic and retaliatory against the critical content of his film, which addresses themes of violence and domination, including the covert homosexuality of a National Revolutionary Police officer.
Inspired by a true event, the 12-minute film effectively explores the hidden homosexuality of a National Revolutionary Police agent, a subject that has evidently scandalized the regime. This incident is not isolated. During the festival, actress and activist Kiriam Gutiérrez, who co-stars in Matar a un hombre, was placed under house arrest to prevent her from attending the film's screening at the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba.
"The censorship and repression against independent artists and filmmakers in Cuba persist as a harsh reality. It's time we set aside complacency and confront these injustices," declared actor and filmmaker Walter Cordero, producer at Pura Vida Company.
Understanding Censorship and Repression in Cuban Cinema
Why was Orlando Mora Cabrera arrested?
The exact reasons for Orlando Mora Cabrera's arrest remain unclear. His detention came shortly after he publicly denounced an alleged act of censorship at a Havana film festival.
What themes does Mora Cabrera's film address?
Mora Cabrera's short film Matar a un hombre explores themes of violence, domination, and the hidden homosexuality of a police officer, which has caused controversy in Cuba.
How does the Cuban government respond to independent filmmakers?
The Cuban government is known for censorship and repression against independent filmmakers, as seen in Mora Cabrera's case and similar incidents involving other artists.