For ten years, Havana Glasgow Film Festival (HGFF) has proven that 4,500 miles is no match for the power of cinema. What began as a passion project to showcase Cuban film has blossomed into a vital, decade-long exercise in cultural diplomacy, connecting Scotland and Cuba through a shared love of storytelling.
The 2025 edition, running 11 – 16 November, marks the festival’s tenth anniversary by championing its core theme: solidarity and kindness. Founded by the long-term collaborative duo of Eirene Houston in Glasgow and Hugo Rivalta in Cuba, HGFF has built a reputation for curating a boundary-pushing programme that is as politically resonant as it is artistically compelling.
The Festival gives adventurous viewers access to rare films which have evaded the attention of mainstream cinemas and critics.
From treasured classics to powerful new releases and innovative installations, the Havana Glasgow Film Festival’s tenth edition is a vibrant celebration of a decade spent closing the distance between cultures, one film at a time.
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A Focus on International Solidarity: In a major diplomatic and cultural highlight on Saturday 15 November, the festival will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam, who have stood shoulder to shoulder in adversity with Cuba. The event will be attended by the Vietnamese Ambassador and feature recently restored newsreels and documentaries by revolutionary Cuban filmmaker Santiago Álvarez, who risked his life to document the war. His son, Osain, will present his own film about his father’s time in Vietnam. The day will also include Vietnamese food, and an immersive installation tracing the historic friendship between Cuba and Vietnam.
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A Landmark in LGBTQ+ Rights: In partnership with SQIFF Film Festival, HGFF will present the UK screening of ¡Quba! on Sunday 16 November. This powerful documentary chronicles the multigenerational queer activists who paved the way for Cuba's ground-breaking family code, which legalized same-sex marriage and other progressive laws. Director Kim Anno will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
- A Decade of Collaboration: The programme is filled with anniversary celebrations, including the UK premiere of Life is Dance, an award-winning film by the festival’s own founders, an evening with one of Cuba’s most acclaimed actors Mirta Ibarra, two of Tomas Alea’s most famous films and a bicycle-powered screening of bike-related films.
The full 2025 programme and ticket information are available on the Havana Glasgow Film Festival website.
Festival Director Eirene Houston said: “This festival has always been about more than just screening films. It’s about building a lasting bridge between our communities. In a world often defined by division, HGFF is a living, breathing example of how art can foster genuine understanding and friendship.”
More information
Image credits: Still from Journey Cam - Cuba, courtesy of Havana Glasgow FIlm Festival