The Cuban Film Institute –ICAIC- announced Wednesday the first call for the Cuban Film Promotion Fund (FFCC) with the aim of promoting the development of national cinema.

A statement from ICAIC explains that in the midst of the complex circumstances the country is going through, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s been decided to launch the Development Fund after days of study and discussion about its cultural significance and financial feasibility. Hence, adds the statement, ICAIC complies with the provisions of Agreement 8613 of the Council of Ministers dating from June 14, 2019, as well as the policy approved by Decree Law 373/2019 of the Independent Audiovisual and Film Creator. The Cuban government supports the process, which opens new opportunities for the construction of Cuban movies and strengthens the relationship of institutions with creators, the statement continues.

According to the announcement, the Development Fund opens its first call within the category of feature films in three modalities: script writing, development and post-production of fiction, documentary and animation feature film projects. As planned by ICAIC with the support of the Culture Ministry, as soon as conditions enable to do so, a second call for production modalities will be opened this year.

The creators registered in the Audiovisual and Film or Literary Creator Registry as well as the recognized Audiovisual and Film Creation Teams may apply to the Development Fund, in accordance with the provisions of their bases for each modality. The rules of the Development Fund as well as complementary registration documents are available on the website www.cubacine.cult.cu. From June 8 to July 10, the required documents will be received, only digitally, and the delivery must be made to specific email addresses, according to the modality to which people would like to apply.

Cuba’s Official Gazette published in June 2019 the new decree-law that recognizes and regulates the working condition of the independent audiovisual and film creator. The instrument approved by the State Council turns the creator of these fields into economic entities with the possibility of being hired and of hiring Cuban and foreign legal entities to carry out their work. At the same time, it allows them to open bank accounts by providing it with a legal representation, recognized by the Labor and Social Security Ministry, all the central government entities, mainly the Cuban Central Bank.