With the valued support of the British Film Institute, this special event invites Oxford audiences to discover two compelling works that reflect the richness, complexity, and evolving voices of contemporary Cuban cinema.

The evening will open with the short film 'Primera Enseñanza (Primary Education, 2025, 14 minutes) directed by Aria Sánchez and Marina Meira.

Set within the intimate yet charged environment of a classroom, 'Primera Enseñanza' explores childhood, silence, and subtle power dynamics among young girls. Through an unsettling and poetic lens, the film reflects on how authority, exclusion, and social hierarchies are rehearsed from an early age, offering a sharp and original perspective on girlhood and collective behaviour.

The screening will be followed by the feature film 'Cuentos de un Día Más' (Tales of Another Day, 2021, 1 hour 30 minutes), coordinated by the renowned Cuban filmmaker Fernando Pérez.

Composed of six interwoven stories directed by emerging Cuban filmmakers, the film portrays everyday life in Havana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving between solitude and solidarity, humour and uncertainty, the narrative forms a mosaic of contemporary Cuban society—capturing resilience, emotional survival, and the quiet strength of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.

Following the screening, Ketty Rodriguez, actress, producer and director of the London Latino Film Festival, with Lorena Briscoe and Nick Hagan will host a moderated discussion, inviting audiences to reflect on themes of childhood, community, social structures, and the shifting realities of life in Cuba today.

Voices of the Island is more than a screening—it is a cultural encounter. The programme highlights the depth and diversity of Cuban cinema, foregrounding new creative voices while engaging with pressing social realities. By fostering dialogue and reflection, ZonaSur Cinema Club creates a welcoming space for film lovers, students, academics, and the wider community to connect through cinema.