Friday, Apr. 28, 2017 – Saturday, Apr. 29, 2017

Presented by writer-director Carlos Lechuga

Set in eastern Cuba in 1983, Carlos Lechuga's second feature tells the story of the unlikely friendship that arises between a dissident gay novelist and a young woman dedicated to the Cuban revolutionary government’s political beliefs. The Cuban government sends Santa to watch over writer Andrés to ensure he will not cause a stir at an upcoming political event. Santa travels to the writer’s isolated cabin to watch him all day. At first she is wary of him, convinced that he is burdened with “ideological problems,” as she’s been told. But soon, the absurdity of the situation begins to sink in and a bond develops that neither expected.

Gorgeously shot and delicately narrated, Santa & Andrés is an astute observation on the nature of philosophical divides and a gentle reminder that what makes people similar is much more profound than what sets us apart.

Friday, April 28, 2017: 9:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 29, 2017: 7 p.m.–8:45 p.m.

About the Filmmaker
Carlos Lechuga trained as a director at the Higher Institute of Arts in Cuba and at the International Film and Television School, where he specialized in screenwriting. As a director he has made several award-winning shorts, including Los bañistas (2010) and Cuca y el pollo (2006). As a screenwriter, Lechuga participated in films such as El Eden perdido and Penumbras, which won the Best Film Award at the 2013 Puerto Rico International Film Festival.Melaza, his first feature film as a writer-director, premiered at the 2013 International Film Festival Rotterdam and won several international awards, including Best Latin American Film at the Málaga Film Festival and Newcomer of the Year at the 2013 International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg. He has recently received the SGAE Julio Alejandro Screenplay Award, which is the most important award for scriptwriters in Latin America and Spain. In 2016 he created his second feature, Santa & Andrés.