Juan Manuel Padrón Blanco

Successful and distinguished creator of Cuban animation. Cartoonist, animator, illustrator, comic strip artist and screenwriter. Bachelor's degree in Art History in 1978 from the University of Havana. Among his most notable works are: Elpidio Valdés, Vampires in Havana and Filminutes.

He was born in Carlos Rojas, Jovellanos, Matanzas on January 29, 1947. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Art History from the University of Havana.

In 1963 he began his artistic career as a cartoonist for humorous comic strips for the student supplement "Mella". He worked as a camera operator in the animation department of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).

Starting in 1974 he works at the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) as an animation film director. He is the creator of the popular "Elpidio Valdés", a charismatic character that obtained enthusiastic approval from both children and adult audiences.

In 1980, after a dozen shorts and a feature film, he decides to take a momentary rest from his most popular creation and the "Filminutes" emerge, series of animated jokes. Filminute 1 is considered the first masterpiece of Cuban animation.

The international prestige achieved by Juan Padrón as a first-rate filmmaker motivated two foreign companies, T.V.E. and Durnick Productions to co-produce with ICAIC his third feature film "Vampires in Havana" with which Padrón achieved a masterful satire of horror cinema, a work considered a classic of the genre.

In 1985 he begins his collaboration with Argentine humorist Joaquin Lavado (Quino), creator of the popular character "Mafalda" whose result is the series "Quinoscopios". Its quality allows them to be included among the classics of contemporary animation cinema.

Juan Padrón also has a career as a graphic humorist, publishing his comic strips in various newspapers and publications from different countries. In fact, Elpidio Valdés was born in 1970 in the weekly "Pionero".

In 2008 he received the National Film Award for his career and in 2012 the Provincial Culture Board of Havana granted him the Tropical Gypsy Distinction.

In March 2015 he was a special guest at the 15th edition of the Monstra Festival in Lisbon, Portugal, one of the 10 most important festivals in Europe, this event is dedicated to Animation, the Portuguese public who had the opportunity to enjoy on Saturday, March 14 the screening of Vampires in Havana, one of the most recognized Cuban animated films and from the Ibero-American world and the most commercially distributed production internationally by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC).

Filmography by Decades

Adventures of Elpidio Valdés
1970s
1974
Elpidio Valdés Against the Military Train 8.10 min. Juan Padrón and José Reyes.
An Adventure of Elpidio Valdés 6.40 min. Juan Padrón and Noel Lima
Horologium, which means clock 6.23 min. Juan Padrón
The Chair 5.11 min. Juan Padrón
Velocipedia 6.00 min. Juan Padrón
My Scarf 6.00 min. Juan Padrón and Erasmo Juliaca
1975

The Machete 6.49 min. Juan Padrón
The Dirty Little Dwarf 5.15 min. Juan Padrón
Tabey 7.15 min. Juan Padrón
Aerodynamics 6.20 min. Juan Padrón
1976
Elpidio Valdés Attacks the Convoy 8.02 min. Juan Padrón
Clarín Mambí 8.06 min. Juan Padrón
Zip Xerep 5.15 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés Against New York Police 7.06 min. Juan Padrón
The Hands 5.07 min. Juan Padrón
1977

Elpidio Valdés
Elpidio Valdés Is Surrounded 8.00 min. Juan Padrón
The Brave Ones 7.00 min. Juan Padrón
April Tales 7.29 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés Meets Palmiche 7.26 min. Juan Padrón
1978
Titi's Dream 5.02 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés Against the Little Striped Ones 7.44 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés Forces the Path 8.40 min. Juan Padrón
1979
Elpidio Valdés (feature film) 70.00 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés and the Rifle 6.20 min. Juan Padrón
1980s
1980
Elpidio Valdés Against the Gunboat 8.40 min. Juan Padrón
Filminute No.1 6.13 min. Juan Padrón
Battle Against Agent 1080 7.06 min. Juan Padrón
Filminute No. 2 6.00 min. Juan Padrón
The Question 8.11 min. Juan Padrón
1981
Filminute No.3 6.00 min. Juan Padrón
N'vula 9.26 min. Juan Padrón
1982
¡Viva Papi! 5.34 min. Juan Padrón
1983
Elpidio Valdés Against Dollar and Cannon (feature) 80.00 min. Juan Padrón
Celedonio 7.30 min. Juan Padrón

Vampires in Havana
1985
¡Vampires in Havana! (feature film) 75.00 min. Juan Padrón
Quinoscope 1 6.40 min. Juan Padrón
1986
Quinoscope 2 6.15 min. Juan Padrón
1987
Quinoscope 3 6.15 min. Juan Padrón
Kolia 7.43 min. Juan Padrón
Quinoscope 4 6.20 min. Juan Padrón
Quinoscope 5 6.00 min. Juan Padrón
Quinoscope 6 6.10 min. Juan Padrón
1988
Elpidio Valdés in Summer Campaign 8.40 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Elpidio Valdés Attacks Jutía Dulce 8.47 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Elpidio Valdés Captured! 8.20 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.15 5.28 min. Juan Padrón
Filminute No.16 6.00 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.17 5.25 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.18 5.30 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Elpidio Valdés and the 5th Hunters 9.28 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
1989
Elpidio Valdés and Weyler's Grandmother 9.40 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Elpidio Valdés and Palmiche Against the Lancers 10.06 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.19 5.47 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
1990s
1990
Filminute No.20 6.15 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.21 5.20 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
Filminute No.22 5.30 min. J. Padrón. M.Rivas. T. Raggi
The Party of the Mushrooms 6.45 min. Juan Padrón and Mario García Montes
1991
Elpidio Valdés Gets Married 8.35 min. J.Padrón. M.Rivas. T.Raggi
1992

More Vampires in Havana
Elpidio Valdés Meets Fito 7.10 min. Juan Padrón
Elpidio Valdés and the Inventors 8.22 min. Juan Padrón
1994
Mafalda (feature film) 80.00 min. Juan Padrón
1995
More Was Lost in Cuba (TV series for Spanish TV) 156.00 min. Juan Padrón
1996

Against the Eagle and the Lion (feature film) 78.00 min. Juan Padrón
2000s
2003
More Vampires in Havana (feature film) 80.00 min. Juan Padrón.

Illustration by Juan Padrón
Awards and Mentions
Filmographies
An Adventure of Elpidio Valdés
Selected among the best animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1974
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.1975
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. Elpidio Valdés Against the Military Train 1989
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
The Chair
Villa de Gijón Award. International Film Festival for Children. Gijón, Spain.1975
My Scarf
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1975
The Dirty Little Dwarf
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1976
The Machete
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Clarín Mambí
Second Prize awarded by the Specialized Jury. Crocodile XX Children's Animation Film Festival. Havana, Cuba. 1981
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Elpidio Valdés Attacks the Convoy
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Elpidio Valdés Against New York Police
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
The Hands
Silver Medal, Animated Films Category. International Film Festival of Socialist Countries on Work Protection. Havana, Cuba. 1976
Didactic Thematic Award. International Animation Film Festival. Espinho, Portugal. 1977
Xip Xerep
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic, Havana, Cuba. 1976
Elpidio Valdés Meets Palmiche
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1978
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.1989
Elpidio Valdés Is Surrounded
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1977
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Elpidio Valdés Against the Little Striped Ones
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés Forces the Path
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés series
Special Jury Prize. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.

Elpidio Valdés
Elpidio Valdés
Selected as the most significant among animated films exhibited during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1979
Caracol Prize for the best animated film. Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba.
Grand Coral Prize, animation category. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Diploma from the Children's Jury. Children's Film Competition. International Film Festival of Moscow. USSR. Recommended for distribution by the Jury of the International Festival of Cinema for Childhood and Youth. Gijón, Spain.
Elpidio Valdés Against the Gunboat
Caracol Prize for the most outstanding animated film. Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba. 1980
The Golden Age Prize, from the Organization of Pioneers José Martí. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1980
Grand Prize awarded by the Specialized Jury. Crocodile XX Children's Animation Film Festival. Havana, Cuba. 1981
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba 1989.
The Question
Prize awarded by the pioneers of the radio program Rapilisto Correspondent from Radio Progreso. Children's Animation Film Festival Crocodile XX. Havana, Cuba. 1981
N'Vula
First Prize at the Pioneer 25 Film, Radio and Television Festival. Havana, Cuba. 1986
¡Viva Papi!
Mentions for directing; animation. Award for animation work. Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba. 1982
Second Coral Prize for animation. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1982
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1983
Celedonio
Third Prize. Pioneer 25 Film, Radio and Television Festival. Havana, Cuba. 1986

Elpidio Valdés Against Dollar and Cannon
Elpidio Valdés Against Dollar and Cannon
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1983
Sunflower Prize for popularity awarded by Opina Magazine. Havana, Cuba. 1983
Second Coral Prize. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1983
Caracol Prizes for best film; best screenplay. Animation mention. Editing mention. National UNEAC Festival of Film, Radio and Television. Havana, Cuba. 1984
Honorable Mention. Children's Film Festival. Quito, Ecuador. 1985
Second Silver Torch Prize. Non-Aligned Countries Film Festival. Pyongyang, DPRK. 1987
Quinoscope 1
Second Coral Prize for animation. FICC Mention. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1985
Most outstanding animation film of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana Cuba. 1986
Caracol Prize for screenplay; directing. National UNEAC Festival of Film, Radio and Television. Havana, Cuba.
Honorable Mention. International Animation Film Festival of Spinho. Portugal.
Special Mention for fantasy and technique. Ibero-American Film Festival. Huelva. Spain.
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Vampires in Havana
Third Coral Prize for animation. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Brassens Medal. Film Festival of the House of Culture of Largnan. Cuban Culture Festival. France.
First Prize for animation. Cuban Culture Festival in Bordeaux and Leognan. France.
Quinoscope 2
Second Coral Prize. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Special Animation Mention (ex-aequo). National UNEAC Festival of Film, Radio and Television. Havana, Cuba.
Selected among the most outstanding animation films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Award for best short film (ex-aequo). International Festival of Imagination and Fiction Cinema. Madrid, Spain.
Kolia
Directing Mention. Pioneers Prize. National UNEAC Festival of Film, Radio and Television. Havana, Cuba. 1987
Quinoscope 3
Special animation mention (ex-aequo). UNEAC Film, Radio and Television Festival. Havana, Cuba. 1987
Selected among the most outstanding animation films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic, Havana, Cuba. 1987
Award for best short film (ex-aequo). International Festival of Imagination and Fiction Cinema. Madrid, Spain.
Quinoscope 5
Third Coral Prize for animation. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1987
Quinoscope 6
Honorable Jury Mention. International Festival of Documentaries and Short Films. Leipzig, GDR. 1988
Pitirre Award. International Film Festival San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1990
Elpidio Valdés Attacks Jutía Dulce
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year.
Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Selected among the most outstanding animation films exhibited during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1988
Elpidio Valdés Captured!!
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés Against the 5th Hunters
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic., Havana, Cuba.
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés in Summer Campaign
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés and Weyler's Grandmother
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Elpidio Valdés and Palmiche Against the Lancers
Selected among the best animated films of the Elpidio Valdés series premiered during the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1989
Special Jury Prize for the Elpidio Valdés series. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
The Party of the Mushrooms
Second Coral Prize for animation. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1991
Pioneers Prize. Film, Radio and TV Festival. UNEAC. 1992
Grand Prize. III Children's Film Festival. Ciudad Guayana. Venezuela, 1993.
Award for Best Cinematographic Direction. III Children's Film Festival of Ciudad Guayana. Venezuela, 1993.
More Was Lost in Cuba
Award for best cinematographic screenplay awarded to artist Juan Padrón. Special Contest Art and Historical Memory convened by the Association of Radio, Film and TV. UNEAC, 1989.
Paint Your Lips, María
Four Lucas Awards at the National Video Festival. Havana, Cuba, 2000.

Caricature by Joaquin Lavado (Quino) and Juan Padrón
Super B: The Musicians
Award for Best Creative Group, in the category: Fight Against the Blockade. Crystal Image Festival. Havana, Cuba, 2005
Mafalda
Pitirre Award for best animated film. San Juan Film Festival. Puerto Rico, 1994
Body of Work
CIFEG Award given by this institution to Juan Padrón's body of work as recognition for the work carried out by the artist for so many years dedicated to children's creation. XI International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana. Cuba, 1989.
National Film Award 2008 for his career, 2008.
Filminutes
Filminute No.1

Selected as the most outstanding among animation films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1980
First Caracol Prize for animation (ex-aequo). Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba. 1980
Selected as a notable film of the year. International London Film Festival. England. 1982
Best animation film (ex-aequo) Bucaramanga, Colombia. 1983
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No.2

First Caracol Prize for animation (ex-aequo). Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba. 1980
Selected among the most significant animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba. 1981
Award for best animated film (ex-aequo). Bucaramanga, Colombia. 1983
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No. 3

Award for animated film directing. Competition of the Film, Radio and Television Section of UNEAC. Havana, Cuba.
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain.
Filminute No.15

Selected among the most outstanding animated films of the year. Annual Selection of the Critic. Havana, Cuba.
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain.
Filminute No.16

Coral Prize for animation. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba.
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain.
Filminute No.17

Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No.18

Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No.19

Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No.20

Award for the animation group for screenplay. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, Cuba. 1990
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain. 1998
Filminute No.21

Award for the animation group for screenplay. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, Havana, Cuba.
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain.
Filminute No.22

Award for the animation group for screenplay. International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana,
Nominated as Best Animation Group in the Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Market MIDEA. Madrid, Spain.