Santiago García Galván: I Love the People of Cuba

Santiago García is a Mexican film producer who has worked on nearly a hundred films across more than fifteen countries. In Cuba, he produced Nido de Mantis, Fátima o el Parque de la Fraternidad, and, most recently, Neurótica Anónima, which was also directed by his dear friend Jorge Perugorría. Additionally, he headed the Havana production units for Fast & Furious 8 and Transformers: The Last Knight.

Santiago's relationship with Havana includes feature films, Coral Awards, and even receiving the Distinction for National Culture, but above all, a proven and professed love:

"I love Cuba, I love the people of Cuba, I love Cuban cinema. For me, Cuban cinema is one of the most interesting and important contemporary expressions of film culture. They truly perform miracles, and for me, it is an honor, a pleasure, and a genuinely beautiful experience to collaborate with great Cuban artists—people I have considered family for a very long time," he stated regarding his involvement in Neurótica Anónima, adding:

"Mirta (Ibarra) and I talked about this script for a very long time until Pichy (Jorge Perugorría) joined, and he came in with full force. It has truly been a wonderful experience for which I am deeply grateful, moved, and honored to be part of this great film, this modern Cuban satire that has all the comedic and dramatic tones that make a movie meant to be enjoyed in the theater as it should be."

Santiago García has also supported the restoration process of iconic works of Cuban film history in Bologna, Italy:

"Cinema is memory, it is expression, and a voice that must be restored, preserved, and kept historically so that future generations can enjoy the creations of a specific time that not only portray a reality, but also portray ideas, concepts, and emotions. For me, cinema is so important that it is worth dedicating one's life to it. So here we are—we are making movies, we keep making movies, and we will continue to make movies between Mexico, Spain, and Cuba."

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff