Havana Film Festival New York 2017 Announces Havana Star Prize Winners

The 18th Havana Film Festival NY announced the Havana Star Prize Winners during its Closing Night Ceremony at the New York Directors Guild Theatre in Manhattan. Last Days in Havana by Fernando Perez (Cuba-Spain) won the Havana Star Prize for Best Feature. Best Director went to Dominican helmer Jose Maria Cabral for Woodpeckers (Carpinteros). Best Screenplay went to Daniel Hendler and Alberto Rojas for The Candidate (El Candidato), Best Actor to Cuban Jorge Martinez for Last Days in Havana, and Best Actress to Isabel Santos for Not Like Before (Ya no es antes). Special Jury Mentions went to feature film Jeffrey by Dominican director Yanillys Perez. The jury included directors Martin Rosete, Flavio Florencio, and Cuban actor Carlos Enrique Almirante.

A full house attended the Closing Night Ceremony and Awards Presentation, followed by the New York premiere of the Canadian - Cuban documentary The Forbidden Shore,directed by Ron Chapman and a special presentation.

Detailed information about all festival programs is available at www.hffny.com.

The presenting sponsor of the 18th HFFNY is NBC/Telemundo 47. Additional sponsorship is provided by El Diario/La Prensa, Horns of Havana, The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, Funglode, DGCine, Consulate General of Argentina, Centro de Capacitación Cinematogáfica de México, Aguijón Films. Media sponsors are Bach Media, OnCuba Magazine, Queens Latino, Latinos en Foco, and EnRola TV. HFFNY is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Honorable Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State legislators and supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the City Council.

The Havana Film Festival New York is a project of American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba (AFLFC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization building cultural bridges between the U.S. and Cuba through programs in the arts since the year 2000.