Documentary Filmmaker Gianni Minà presents "Pope Francis, Cuba and Fidel" in Toronto

Gianni Minà and Cristiano de Florentiis

Update February 2, 2017
It's recently been announced that documentary filmmaker Gianni Minà will receive an honorary Nastro d'Argento award for career achievement. Read the full story on Ansa Italian news.

The World Premiere of “Pope Francis, Cuba and Fidel,” directed by Gianni Minà and presented by ICFF and AMBI screened in Toronto in occasion of the TIFF, Toronto International Film Festival, was met with standing ovation and appreciation from Canadian critics.

ICFF Artistic Director Cristiano de Florentiis awarded Gianni Minà with the ICFF Award of Excellence for addressing themes of historical, economic, social and cultural development with insight, nuance, professionalism and personal commitment.

Minà’s documentary explores the recent story of Cuba and its undisputed leader, Fidel Castro, through the lens of last year’s visit of Pope Francis to the Caribbean island. Fidel appears onscreen at age 89, his body marked by his venerable age, but also by a consistently determined spirit; he emphasizes the value of the revolution that he began over sixty years ago in Cuba.

“Fidel Castro was the only one to lead both a revolution and a country, Cuba, which - despite the long suffering - has never known defeat,” said Minà at the conclusion of the Q&A to the audience.

The protagonists of Minà’s film are, in addition to Castro, Castro’s brother Raul, President Barack Obama, and many other witnesses of the long Cuban epopee. Above all, the inimitable figure of Pope Francis, considered one of the leading protagonists in the ‘thawing’ of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, gives the film its title and lasting impact.

The screening of the documentary was presented jointly by the Italian Contemporary Film Fesitval (ICFF) and AMBI Pictures, founded by producers Andrea Iervolino and Lady Monika Bacardi. ICFF is an official partner of the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

AMBI is also currently present in the official selection of TIFF 2016 with the feature film In Dubious Battle, directed by James Franco, as well as the latest production from director Philippe Falardeau, The Bleeder. The documentary ‘Pope Francis, Cuba and Fidel’ is produced by GME Production and distributed by RAI.Com and AMBI Distribution.

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