Mijaín Documentary Featured at BRICS Film Festival in Russia

The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) today congratulated the crew behind the documentary Mijaín on its selection for the BRICS+ International Film Festival, held in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

Directed by Cuban filmmakers Rolando Almirante, Ángel Alderete, and Héctor Villar, the production will compete in the official selection of the event, which takes place starting October 30.

The feature-length documentary, running one hour and 20 minutes, follows the life of five-time Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic champion Mijaín López Núñez, a native of the town of Herradura in the western province of Pinar del Río.

The film delves into his human dimension beyond his athletic achievements, employing a non-chronological narrative that combines real-time footage with the reactions of the Cuban public.

"We hope that Mijaín continues to move audiences. May the applause reach all the way to Saint Petersburg!" stated ICAIC President Alexis Triana on social media, expressing the institution’s congratulations to the production team.

Furthermore, Triana attached a message from the festival director, Victoria Lukina, who conveyed her congratulations to Almirante regarding the film's participation in both the competition and the showcase of the event. The festival brings together filmmakers from BRICS member and partner nations with the goal of fostering cinematic and cultural cooperation.

The documentary—a co-production between ICAIC and D’Alma Films—has already been screened in Paris, France, and Rome, Italy, with its international distribution significantly enhancing its visibility beyond Cuban borders.