Humberto Padrón

Humberto Padrón (Havana, 1967) is a renowned Cuban filmmaker whose initial passion for photography led him to explore the world of cinema. From a young age, the camera was his tool to capture the essence of Cuban life, working as an independent photographer while studying at the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) in Film, Radio, and TV Direction. During this time, he collaborated in photographic projects on the restoration of Old Havana and worked for the record label EGREM, capturing the vibrant Cuban music scene. His most outstanding photographic exhibitions include The Restoration of Havana, exhibited at the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, and Female Faces of Cuban Cinema, presented at the Cinemateca de Cuba, both reflecting their artistic sensitivity and their connection with the culture of their country.

As a filmmaker, Padrón was consolidated with a work that combines bold narrative and social commitment. His first documentaries, such as Y todavía el sueño (1999) and Los zapaticos me aprietan (2000), earned him international recognition for his intimate look at Cuban realities. His leap to fiction came with the medium-length film Video de familia (2001), the Coral Award at the New Latin American Film Festival in Havana, the Best National Film Award by Cuban critics and multiple international awards, such as Best Short Film at the International Latin Film Festival of Los Angeles.

In 2005, Padrón premiered his first feature film, Frutas en el café, at the Gibara Poor Film Festival, a film that explores the complexities of urban life in Havana with a poetic visual style and multifaceted characters, and which marked a milestone in Cuban independent cinema. His ability to address issues such as inequality, identity and social change, without losing the humanity of his stories, has made him an influential figure and has inspired new generations of Cuban filmmakers, being a reference of cinema that defies conventions and reflects the contradictions of his time.