Mario Emigdio Piedra Rodríguez

Journalist and Public Relations specialist. Master's degree in Communication. Professor in the Department of Art History at the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the University of Havana, where he has taught Cuban Cinema since 1982. At this faculty he "left a lasting mark" as an associate full professor since 1982 and head of the Audiovisual discipline.

He worked at ICAIC for thirty-six years; first in the ICAIC Latinoamericano Newsreel and later in the Information Center.

He was editor of the ICAIC Digital bulletin for twelve years. Founder of the National Federation of Film Clubs of Cuba and vice president of the International Federation of Film Clubs for ten years.

He has been awarded several distinctions, among which are the National Prize for Public Relations, Quixote Award from the International Federation of Film Clubs, Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation of Film Clubs, Félix Elmuza Award from UPEC, and José Manuel Valdés Rodríguez Medal from the University of Havana.

His compilation on Cuban cinema is a textbook at the University of Havana, where he continues working at the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Film critic Juan Antonio García Borrero recalled that, above all, Piedra "was a passionate man, who was not afraid to engage in controversy in the public sphere, and defend his points of view with vehemence."

"As always happens, we were left with a lot of things to do. Above all, those linked to the memory of the film clubs, an area where his role was fundamental," García Borrero added.

He was part of the collective of authors of the title En el Corán no hay camellos.