Juan Padron Wins Cuba’s 2008 Film Award

The jury of the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) selected Padron for his
prolific and successful work as a cartoonist, producer, illustrator,
comic strip writer, scriptwriter and director. He was chosen from a list
of 14 nominees that included Leo Brouwer, Manuel Perez Paredes, Eslinda
Nuñez, Lissette Vila, Jorge Luis Sanchez, Arturo Sotto and Pavel Giroud.

Padron’s most recent creation, "Mas vampiros en La Habana" (More
Vampires in Havana), was just presented at the Cuba 2008 International
Book Fair underway in the country through March 9. The film is a part
two of his famous Vampiros en la Havana (1985), a funny parody on
gangster movies with elements of other genres such as musicals, horror
and suspense.

Padron is well remembered by Cubans of all ages for his Elpidio Valdes
(1979), a heroic "Mambi" soldier who helped Cuba win its independence
from Spain; and later for his Filminutos, a very successful and
internationally recognized series of "gags" that are still being
produced to this day.

As customary, the prize will be granted during the celebrations for the
anniversary of the Cuban Film Institute that takes place annually in
March. ICAIC was the first cultural institution founded after the
triumph of the Revolution in 1959.