26th Havana Film Festival NY Announces the Winners

The 26th Havana Film Festival NY announced the winners of the Havana Star Prize during its Closing Ceremony at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan. The awards in this category were the Havana Star Prize for Best Film, awarded to Hiedra by Ana Cristina Barragán (Ecuador); Best Director: Álvaro Torrico, for La Hija Cóndor (Bolivia); Best Actor to Julio Hervis López, El Regresado (Cuba); Best Actress to Valentina Shen Wu from Under the Same Sun (Dominican Republic); and Best Screenplay for Daniel Hendler for Un Cabo Suelto (Uruguay-Argentina). A Special Mention from the Jury was given to The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego Céspedes (Chile).

The jury in the Fiction category was composed of Rafi Mercado, the Puerto Rican film director and production designer; Margaret Frohlich, professor of film and Latin American studies at Dickinson College; and Breixo Viejo, professor at the Herbert School of Communications at Hofstra University, specializing in film history. In the justification for the award, the jury expressed: “For its masterful presentation of the art of storytelling in film, with superb direction of actors, an original mise-en-scène, and excellent cinematography—and, more importantly, for its critical and lyrical approach to the devastating reality of sexual abuse in Latin America. For all these reasons, Ana Cristina Barragán’s Hiedra (The Ivy) takes home the award for Best Film at HFFNY.”

The jury in the Documentary category was composed of Ana María Hernández, professor of Latin American Studies at LaGuardia Community College; journalist and podcaster Felipe Aguilera; and Álvaro Baquero-Pecino, professor at CUNY’s College of Staten Island. The Havana Star Prize for Best Documentary went to Para Vivir: El implacable tiempo de Pablo Milanés by Fabien Pisani (Cuba). A Special Mention from the jury was given to Vidas en la Orilla by Lucía Gajá (Mexico). “For its profound exploration of the global impact and enduring significance of the Canción protesta genre, alongside a nuanced portrayal of paternity and a compelling depiction of the artistic and personal trajectory of Pablo Milanés,” the jury stated when presenting the award to Para Vivir. The nineteen competing films offered a captivating range of experiences, from satirical comedies critiquing bureaucratic policies to poignant dramas challenging societal perceptions of the female experience, as well as insightful documentaries that unveil truths and confront norms, demanding attention and pushing boundaries. “These films offered a rich spectrum of voices and perspectives, exploring social, political, and artistic themes with creativity and depth,” said Diana Vargas, HFFNY Artistic Director. The competition featured films from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Uruguay, and Latino-American communities, with many making their World, U.S., and New York premieres.

Fabien Pissani, Dir. Para Vivir

HAVANA STAR PRIZE WINNERS – 2026

BEST FICTION FILM

HIEDRA – directed by Ana Cristina Barragán

The Fiction jury recognized Hiedra for its masterful presentation of the art of storytelling in film, with superb direction of actors, an original mise-en-scène, and outstanding cinematography. The film was further honored for its critical and lyrical approach to the devastating reality of sexual abuse in Latin America.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

PARA VIVIR: EL IMPLACABLE TIEMPO DE PABLO MILANÉS – directed by Fabien Pisani

The Documentary jury awarded the film for its focus on the global impact and cultural relevance of Canción Protesta, as well as for its historical depth and nuanced portrayal of Pablo Milanés’ personal and emotional evolution, including reflections on paternity and human relationships.

BEST DIRECTOR

Álvaro Olmos Torrico – LA HIJA CÓNDOR

BEST SCREENPLAY

Daniel Hendler – UN CABO SUELTO

BEST ACTRESS

Valentina Shen Wu – BAJO EL MISMO SOL

BEST ACTOR

Julio Hervis López – EL REGRESADO

SPECIAL JURY MENTION

FICTION: LA MISTERIOSA MIRADA DEL FLAMENCO – Diego Céspedes

DOCUMENTARY: VIDAS EN LA ORILLA – Lucía Gajá

The Havana Star Prize, established in 2010, continues to recognize excellence in Latin American filmmaking, celebrating both emerging and established voices across the region. The 26th edition of HFFNY reaffirms its commitment to cinema as a space for cultural dialogue, artistic innovation, and social reflection.