Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti (born November 18, 1961, Havana
, Cuba
) is a Cuba
n Film Director. He started his career as an author and actor for children’s TV shows, made for the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television
from 1981 to 1987. He is above all famous for his movie Viva Cuba
, which received the Best Children’s Film award at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2005.
district, with his mother Iraida Malberti Cabrera, a choreographer and film director who used to work in children’s television. He obtained his Dramatic Arts degree in 1986 from the Havana’s Superior Institute of Art. He then went on to study at and graduate from the International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños
in 1990, having already created his classic Oscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados
, an experimental short film that went around the world gathering awards in several film festivals.
. In 1996, he became a Guggenheim fellow
and spent a year in New York City
. Then, in 1998, he was invited to participate in a film-writing workshop at the Sundance Institute
in Utah
.
Cremata Malberti's first commercial film was the documentary La época, El encanto y Fin de siglo made in 2000.
His first feature film was Nada in 2001. This film was noted within the Cuban film industry for its innovative mise en scène
. The movie tells the story of Carla, a woman living in Havana, who gets a visa to go to the United States but suddenly realizes that happiness may not be where she thinks it is. This first film features autobiographical details, including the film's setting in Havana’s Vedado district.
Nada was supposed to have been followed by Nadie (Nobody) and Nunca (Never), but Cremata Malberti didn’t get the financing for his trilogy project.
Fame came to Juan Carlos Cremata when Viva Cuba
was released in 2005, and won more than 30 national and international awards. It was the first Cuban film ever to be awarded, “Grand Prix Écrans Juniors” for children’s cinema at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival.
His latest film, El Premio Flaco, adapted from Cuban writer Hector Quintero’s play, tells the story of a woman whose luck changes drastically when she wins a contest sponsored by a ham company. This low-budget film received a hearty welcome for his premiere at the Havana Film Festival
.
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) is a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Film Director. He started his career as an author and actor for children’s TV shows, made for the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television
Cuban Institute of Radio and Television
The Cuban Institute of Radio and Television is the organization responsible for the control of radio and television broadcasters in Cuba.- History :Cuba was one of the first countries in the Americas to have radio and television services...
from 1981 to 1987. He is above all famous for his movie Viva Cuba
Viva Cuba
Viva Cuba is a 2005 Cuban film, directed by Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti Cabrera, and written by Cremata and Manolito Rodriguez...
, which received the Best Children’s Film award at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2005.
Childhood
Cremata Malberti grew up in Havana’s VedadoVedado
Vedado is the downtown and a vibrant neighboorhood in the city of Havana, Cuba. Bordered on the east by Central Havana, and on the west by the Miramar/Playa district. The main street running east to west is Calle 23, also known as 'La Rampa'...
district, with his mother Iraida Malberti Cabrera, a choreographer and film director who used to work in children’s television. He obtained his Dramatic Arts degree in 1986 from the Havana’s Superior Institute of Art. He then went on to study at and graduate from the International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
in 1990, having already created his classic Oscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados
Oscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados
Oscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados is a 1990 short Cuban film.-Description:Using a broad range of experimental techniques this film takes on some of the giants of absurdist and surreal filmmaking...
, an experimental short film that went around the world gathering awards in several film festivals.
Teaching Experience
Between 1994 and 1995, Cremata Malberti taught editing and directing in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. In 1996, he became a Guggenheim fellow
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and spent a year in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Then, in 1998, he was invited to participate in a film-writing workshop at the Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981 that actively advances the work of filmmakers and storytellers worldwide...
in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Film Making
After writing and acting for children’s TV shows for 6 years, Cremata Malberti dedicated his career to feature-length films. His specialty is bittersweet comedies, depicting the Cuban society, its roots and its daily life.Cremata Malberti's first commercial film was the documentary La época, El encanto y Fin de siglo made in 2000.
His first feature film was Nada in 2001. This film was noted within the Cuban film industry for its innovative mise en scène
Mise en scène
Mise-en-scène is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means "visual theme" or "telling a story"—both in visually artful ways through storyboarding, cinematography and stage design, and in poetically artful ways through direction...
. The movie tells the story of Carla, a woman living in Havana, who gets a visa to go to the United States but suddenly realizes that happiness may not be where she thinks it is. This first film features autobiographical details, including the film's setting in Havana’s Vedado district.
Nada was supposed to have been followed by Nadie (Nobody) and Nunca (Never), but Cremata Malberti didn’t get the financing for his trilogy project.
Fame came to Juan Carlos Cremata when Viva Cuba
Viva Cuba
Viva Cuba is a 2005 Cuban film, directed by Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti Cabrera, and written by Cremata and Manolito Rodriguez...
was released in 2005, and won more than 30 national and international awards. It was the first Cuban film ever to be awarded, “Grand Prix Écrans Juniors” for children’s cinema at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival.
His latest film, El Premio Flaco, adapted from Cuban writer Hector Quintero’s play, tells the story of a woman whose luck changes drastically when she wins a contest sponsored by a ham company. This low-budget film received a hearty welcome for his premiere at the Havana Film Festival
Havana Film Festival
The Havana Film Festival is a Cuban festival that focuses on the promotion of Spanish-language filmmakers. It is also known in Spanish as Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana, and in English as Festival of New Latinamerican Cinema of La Havana.The festival takes place...
.
Viva Cuba
Viva Cuba has won 34 prizes, including- Grand Prix Ecrans Juniors, Cannes, 2005
- Best Film award at the International Children Cinema and Television Festival in Taiwan.
- Special Mention, Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturale. Giffoni International Film Festival, Italia, 2005.
- Premio a la Mejor Edición. VIII Festival de Cine Infantil. Guayana, Venezuela, 2005.
- Reconocimiento Especial de la Agencia Internacional de Noticias Prensa Latina. 27 Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano. La Habana, Cuba, 2005.
Nada
Nada has won 19 prizes, including- Premio Coral de Opera prima at the 23rd Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, La Havana, Cuba, 2001.
- Best edition prize at the 14th Cinemafest San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Caracol UNEAC prize for best director, 2002.
- Shortlisted for "la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs” at Cannes International Film Festival, 2002.
- Best feature-length film at the International Festival of Miami, United States, 2003.
Oscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados
- Gran Premio "El Chicuelo". IV Festival de Cine Joven, La Habana, Cuba
- Premio "Saúl Yelín" de la Federación Nacional de Cine Clubes de Cuba. 1990.
- Premio "Yara". Centro Cinematográfico. La Habana, 1990.
- Grand Prize EISENSTEIN at the Wilhemshaven International Film Festival, Germany, 1992.
- Archived at Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1996.
Filmography
- 1984-1987
- Cuando yo sea grande (30 episodes): Children's TV series for Cuban television
- Y dice una mariposa... (25 episodes): Children's TV series for Cuban television
- Diana (short film)
- 1991: Oscuros Rinocerontes EnjauladosOscuros Rinocerontes EnjauladosOscuros Rinocerontes Enjaulados is a 1990 short Cuban film.-Description:Using a broad range of experimental techniques this film takes on some of the giants of absurdist and surreal filmmaking...
(short film) - 1999: La época, el encanto y fin de siglo (documentary)
- 2002: Nada (feature)
- 2005: Viva CubaViva CubaViva Cuba is a 2005 Cuban film, directed by Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti Cabrera, and written by Cremata and Manolito Rodriguez...
(feature) - 2009: El premio Flaco (feature)