The cover of "Cine Cubano" Year 3, Number 9 features a dramatic black and white film still showing a figure in traditional dress performing what appears to be a folk dance, rendered in high contrast photography that emphasizes movement and cultural authenticity. Holbein's clean layout design frames the image with minimal geometric elements in blue, allowing the photographic content to dominate while maintaining the magazine's commitment to modernist typography and layout principles. This aesthetic approach reflects the revolutionary government's emphasis on documenting and celebrating popular culture while maintaining sophisticated visual presentation standards.
This historically significant issue centers on the "Informe y Saludo ante el Primer Congreso Nacional de Cultura" (Report and Greeting for the First National Congress of Culture), marking a crucial moment in revolutionary Cuba's cultural policy development. The First National Congress of Culture, held in early 1962, established foundational principles for Cuban cultural production under socialism and defined the relationship between artists, intellectuals, and revolutionary society. The magazine's coverage demonstrates ICAIC's central role in implementing new cultural policies while maintaining artistic quality and international engagement.
Published by the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos under Alfredo Guevara's direction, this issue includes comprehensive coverage of Polish Cinema Week, discussions with renowned director Andrzeju Wajda, analysis of "Los bandidos de Orgosolo," coverage of Leipzig's Documentary and Short Film Festival, and interviews with Jorge Raydu about Cuban cinema's development. Contributors including Héctor García Mesa, Diana Irigaray, Eduardo Manet, Abraham Salzman, Enrique Pineda Barnet, and Michelangelo Antonioni provide diverse perspectives on cinema's role in cultural transformation. The editorial offices at Calle 23 no. 1155, apartado 55, Habana, and subscription information (1.20 pesos annually in Cuba, 2.75 for subscriptions, 5.00 international) maintained the magazine's accessibility during this foundational period of Cuban cultural policy when cinema became a crucial tool for revolutionary education and international dialogue.