Camila Arteche Pazó

Cuban actress and presenter graduated from the National School of Arts (ENA) with experience in film, theater, radio, television, and cabaret.

From a very young age she was interested in acting and at 17 years old she faced her first professional job in the Cuban telenovela "Aquí Estamos". She has worked in radio, television, film and theater with the groups El Público by Carlos Díaz and Jazz Vila Projects by Jazz Vilá.

She has participated in feature films such as "Sergio and Sergei" and "The Companion". Her character Lisandra in The Companion earned the award from the Association of Entertainment Critics of New York in the category of best supporting actress.

She has also been awarded at the Five Continent International Film Festival in Venezuela and at the International Short Film Festival of Torrelavega awarded by the Union of Actors and Actresses (UA).

Since 2017 she presents, together with actors Marlon Pijuan and Carlos Solar the successful reality show Dancing in Cuba from RTV Comercial.

She is a member of the Society for the Management of Artists and Performers (AISGE) and the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

Her parents are Emilia Pazó Jiménez, a physiotherapist by profession, and Otto Arteche Lage, an industrial engineer. She has Basque ancestry; Arteche is a Basque surname, typical of a large family whose professional line is linked to engineering or teaching, not art.

From her earliest childhood she visited theaters, the circus and attended numerous concerts. At the age of eight, at the Trianón, she was dazzled by the staging of The Crucible by Teatro El Público, which fueled her admiration for the stage.

"Impossible to forget the scene of Jacqueline Arenal on the edge of the stage, lying down, who grabbed a black hen and twisted its head off... It made an impression on me."

She participated in the program Count on Us from radio station COCO and in Good Morning Little Person, from Radio Ciudad de La Habana, which was broadcast live on Sundays at 8 in the morning. Because it was very difficult for her to stay calm and exhaust her energy, her mother also enrolled her in dance classes.

For television, she was part of the children's show Going Around, where she performed acting with hand puppets that told the fable of the lion and the mouse by Aesop, and in an adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. She recited poems on Midday on TV and ventured into theater with the group Eggplant Theater.

She always dreamed of acting, to the point of telling her mother: "If they don't approve me at the ENA [National School of Art], I'll wait a year on the street until I retake the exams, because I have no idea what else to do with my life."

While still a student at the National School of Art (ENA) she plays a small role in an episode of On the Trail directed by Rolando Chiong, and in a teleplay with Marta Recio.

She graduates working with the theater group El Público by Carlos Díaz, and the Polish play The Other Room, performed alongside Yanier Castillo.

She auditions for the telenovela "Here We Are" and is chosen to play Cecilia, the daughter of the character Mirta, played by Alina Rodríguez, due to her physical resemblance. This work marks the beginning of her career as a professional.

"The process of studying and working at the same time seemed very aggressive to me, because school demands tremendous time and effort. Sometimes we would go to bed in the early morning rehearsing, but when you enjoy what you do the fatigue feels less."

Cecilia left an indelible mark on her career because through this novel she is still remembered, and with it she won the sympathy of the public due to the social reality that the character conveyed.

Between 2010 and 2011 she maintains her presence on national television playing characters in the police series On the Trail, episodes Your Price (Dir. Loisy Inclan/2010) and Forest Rangers (Dir. Willy Franco/2010). She was part of the cast of the telenovela "In Their Own Words" by Paco Anca and the telefilm "Two Shots for Roberto" by Magda González. At the same time she was in theater with the Group El Público, in the cast of the works "Tango" (2010), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (2010) and "Twelfth Night" (2011).

In 2012 she premiered "The Man Who Wasn't There" under the direction of Anaysy Gregory, with whom she works again a year later in "Khalil Madoz".

In 2013 she joined the cast of the telenovela "Playa Leonora" by Armando Toledo and played the Haitian Madame Jeanne Bourvil in the Venezuelan biographical film "Bolívar, Man of Difficulties". This feature film is her first experience on the big screen.

Her work in film began to become regular because that year she was also chosen for the American debut feature "Wingless" by Ben Chace, inspired by the poetry of Lezama Lima, and two years later she would have her best opportunities playing Lisandra in "The Companion" (2015) by Pavel Giroud. From this work, the actress keeps one of the most pleasant memories of her career, despite the fact that the interaction with HIV patients was a test of spiritual strength for her.

"The Companion was a film that marked me, precisely because of the story it tells and the preparation I had to undertake."

Her record of service also includes participation in "Dancing with Margot" (Arturo Santana/2015) and the short film "It Happened in Heaven" (Oldren Romero/2016), which has earned her various international recognitions.

In It Happened in Heaven, the Cuban actress plays a steadfast pregnant mother who lives with her family in a humble cabin in the countryside, in an environment charged with passion, drama and pain.

This work led her to win the Julio Núñez Award for best performances at the International Short Film Festival of Torrelavega FICT 2018 awarded by a jury made up of members of the Union of Actors and Actresses (UA) and also won her the Award at the Five Continents Festival in Venezuela.

In 2017 she plays Paula in the film "Sergio and Sergei" directed by Cuban Ernesto Daranas and co-produced by the Mediapro group. For this role she had to learn to sculpt and draw.

"I am a sculptor, a student at the Superior Institute of Art who lives in the 1980s. It's a character that shows the rebelliousness of that era; a girl with very clear ideas and doesn't let anyone take her away from that. A total rebel".

She has balanced her ventures in film and television with a constant presence in theater, recently linked to Jazz Vilá Project by renowned director Jazz Vilá, who is also her manager and friend.

"Jazz is years ahead of everyone. Imagine that I call him Yoda and he tells me Leia. Jazz is a machine. It seems like he's always tormented, because he does many things at the same time, but in the end everything is very well organized".

Television and the world of entertainment are not foreign to her. She has an extensive track record that highlights her hosting of shows at the Cabaret Macumba Habana (2010-2011). Between 2012 and 2016 she was the host of Cabaret Tropicana, Cuba's most famous cabaret and the one with the greatest international recognition.

"It's a school of life. No one imagines how arduous the cabaret world is and how much you learn."

In 2018, in addition to the reality show Dancing in Cuba, she completed the productions "Latin Love" which is a co-production with Holland directed by Kohan Nijhenhuis and "Boxer", by Cuban-American filmmaker Oldren Romero.

Currently she performs in "Show Business", a theatrical production by the Jazz Vilá Project theater group, and is preparing for the next season of Dancing in Cuba. She participated in the Platino Awards (Mexico).

Training
Her beginnings date back to her early childhood, when she enrolled in acting and puppet workshops with professor Leonilo Guerra. She is a graduate of the National School of Art (ENA).

She has complementary training related to dance that includes: Contemporary Dance Workshop (Prof. Isabel Bustos/Dance-Theater Group Retazos) and the Workshop of Popular Dances at the Cuban Television Ballet.

Challenges
Camila understands that not only in Cuba but internationally, film demands telling more female stories. She believes there is less interest in showing interesting women as protagonists than men. Cinema continues to be a male-dominated medium.

Image
Her image has accompanied various campaigns such as the ARTEHABANA Collection and Lauros (2009) and Plastic Artwork "Cecilia" by Golgotha (2010). She collaborates with the CENESEX advertising campaigns.

Filmography
2018 Latin Love Selina Johan Nijhenhuis (Holland-Cuba)
2018 Boxer Oldren Romero (USA-Cuba)
2017 The Night of the Monster The Mother Dir. Renan Braga (Brazil)
2017 Sergio and Sergei Paula Ernesto Daranas (Cuba-Spain)
2016 It Happened in Heaven The Mother Oldren Romero (USA-Cuba)
2015 Dancing with Margot Celeste Arturo Santana (Venezuela-Cuba)
2015 The Companion Lisandra Pavel Giroud (Cuba-France)
2012 Wingless Katrina Ben Chace (USA-Cuba)
2012 Bolívar, Man of Difficulties Madame Jeanne Bourvil Luis Alberto Lamata (Venezuela-Cuba) Film debut.

Television
2017-present Dancing in Cuba (Reality show) Dir. Manuel Ortega Host
2016 Piña Colada (Telefilm) Dir. Magda González
2015 U.N.O. (Police Series) Dir. Alberto Luberta Episode: Sneakers
2013 Playa Leonora (Telenovela) Dir. Armando Toledo Nominated for Caricato Award. Category: Best Actress
2011 On the Trail (Police Series) Episode: Your Price Dir. Loisy Inclan
2011 In Their Own Words (Telenovela) Dir. Paco Anca Learned to scuba dive
2010 On the Trail (Police Series) Case: Forest Rangers Dir. Willy Franco
2010 Two Shots for Roberto (Telefilm) Dir. Magda González
2009 Here We Are (Telenovela) Dir. Rafael González and Hugo Reyes For her role as Cecilia she received the "Adolfo Llauradó" Award / Best Actress
2008 On the Trail (Police Series) Case: Cabaret. Dir. Rolando Chiong
2007 Reasons Abound (Telefilm) Dir. Marta Recio Television drama debut
1998 Going Around (Children's Series)

Theater
2018 Show Business / Dir. Jazz Vilá Sarah the Cuban.
2015 Eclipse / Dir. Jazz Vilá Cristina Work that adapts Miss Julie by August Strindberg.
2015 BRUK, the Last Troll / Dir. Jazz Vilá The Wind
2015 The Sisters-in-Law / Dir. Jennifer Capraru Rosa
2014 Skyscrapers / Dir. Jazz Vilá Monica
2013 Khalil Madoz / Dir. Anaysy Gregory Dana
2012 The Man Who Wasn't There / Dir. Anaysy Gregory Clara
2011 Twelfth Night / Dir. Carlos Díaz Olivia
2010 Tango / Dir. Carlos Díaz Ala
2010 A Midsummer Night's Dream / Dir. Carlos Díaz Hermia
2009 German Cabaret / Dir. Carlos Díaz
2009 The Other Room / Dir. Carlos Díaz She

Radio
2002 -2004 Good Morning Little Person Children's / Radio Ciudad de la Habana
1999 - 2001 Count on Us Children's / Radio C.O.C.O.

Awards and Nominations
2018 'Julio Núñez' Award from the International Short Film Festival of Torrelavega, Spain Best Short Film Actress
It Happened in Heaven by Oldren Romero

WINNER
2018 Award at the Five Continents Festival of Venezuela Best Short Film Actress
It Happened in Heaven by Oldren Romero

WINNER
2017 Award from the Association of Entertainment Critics of New York Best Supporting Actress
The Companion by Pavel Giroud

WINNER
2015 Caricato Awards Best Actress Nominated for Playa Leonora
2015 Popularity Awards "Between You and Me" Nominated for Playa Leonora
2011 Cuban Artistic Representation Agency ACTUAR Recognition
2010 "Adolfo Llauradó" Award Best Actress WINNER for Here We Are
2010 Popularity Award "San Antonio de los Baños" WINNER for Here We Are

Other Artistic Work
2019 - Host of the First Salsa Festival in Mexico.
2018 – Host of Gilberto Santa Rosa's First Concert in Havana, Cuba
2017- Host of the celebration event for the 200th anniversary of Floridita
2017- Host of the Gala "Song to Life", for December 1st in Response to HIV and for Human Rights.
2017- Host of the Gala for the 55th anniversary of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television
2015-2017- Host of the "Havana Café Cabaret" at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel
2015, 2012, 2010: Host of the Gala "ARTEHABANA"
2015-2016: Host of the audiovisual project "PMM"
2012-2016: Host of the "Cabaret Tropicana"
2014: Host gala "Hair Stage" by Davines
2013: Assistant Director of the play "Don't Move"
2012: Host of the Audiovisual Project "Habanando"
2011: Host of the Swedish Audiovisual Project "Doc Manana"
2011: Image of Cabaret Macumba Habana / Havana Fair
2010-2011: Host of Cabaret Macumba Habana
2010-2011: Host Gala of the Lucas Awards
2010: Image of the Plastic Artwork "Cecilia" by Golgotha
2009: Image of the ARTEHABANA Collection and Lauros

Festivals and Galas
2019 - Host of the First Salsa Festival in Mexico
2018- Platino Awards (Mexico)
2017- International Arts Festival of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. (Dominican Republic)
2017- Bogotá International Film Festival (Colombia)
2017- Itinerant Community Film Festival of Granma (Cuba)
2016- Platino Awards. (Uruguay)
2013, 2015 and 2017-Havana International Film Festival. (Cuba)
2015- International Arts Festival of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
2014- National Theater Festival of Cuba, Camagüey. (Cuba)
2012- May Theater Festival. (Cuba)
2011- International Theater Festival of Havana. (Cuba)
2008- Street Dance Festival, Havana City in Movement (Cuba)