The 20th International Documentary Film Festival “Santiago Alvarez In Memoriam” concluded in this city after five days of screenings, theoretical panels and master classes.

A jury of relevant Cuban and foreign experts on the genre awarded first place and the best direction prize to Marcos Cabotá’s Sonic Fantasy, second place and the best script prize to Natalie Halle’s Nowhere, and third place to Kenia Rodríguez’s Mañana con pentagrama de acero (A morning with a steel stave). The Grand Prize went to Kenia Sainiut's Una manera de existir (A way of existing) for its sensitive approach to a singular life story in the Sierra Maestra mountains with the use of audiovisual language, whereas Palabek, Refugio de Esperanza (Palabek, refuge of hope), by Raúl de la Fuente, won the First Work award for its proper use of narrative and cinematographic resources.

Lázara Herrera, president of the Santiago Álvarez Office, said that the Festival met the expectations of the participants, organizers and local residents and remarked that the program included a master class given by U.S. musicians Boby Sanabria and Antonio Nadal.

U.S. filmmaker Catherine Murphy thanked the organizers for dedicating this edition to independent documentaries from the United States, as it is a tribute to the work of American creators and a way to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the peoples of both nations.