Coralita Veloz Presents "Las Polacas" at the Houston Latino Film Festival

March 22, 2023

Renowned Cuban actress Coralita Veloz is currently in Texas to participate in the Houston Latino Film Festival, where she will present the short film "Las polacas" by Cuban director Carlos Barba Salva.

"Las polacas", a 25-minute short film released in 2021, tells the story of a mother and daughter who embark on a journey in an old Fiat Polski, known in Cuba as "Polaquito". The plot follows Bertha and Margot, played by Coralia Veloz and Thaimi Alvariño, who are mother and daughter in real life. The short film won the Coral and Cybervote awards at the 42nd Havana Film Festival.

Carlos Barba Salva, director of "Las polacas", holds a degree in Arts from the University of Oriente in Santiago de Cuba. He has worked as assistant director to Humberto Solás on films such as "Barrio Cuba" and "Adela", as well as on "Strawberry and Chocolate" by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea.

Coralia Veloz is a pillar of Cuban culture, with an extensive career in film, television, radio and theater. Her daughter Thaimi Alvariño has also actively participated in these fields.

The Houston Latino Film Festival, which took place from March 15-19, also featured the short film "Tundra" by director, critic and curator José Luis Aparicio, as well as "Bertie the Brilliant" by Cuban-American filmmaker Gabriela García Medina.

Additionally, the festival was the venue for the American production "Los Hermanos", which narrates the relationship between Cuban jazz musician brothers Ilmar and Aldo López Gavilán, who grew up apart and shared the stage for the first time in the U.S. as adults. The film is directed by Ken Schneider.

According to the event's website, the Houston Latino Film Festival aims to promote Latino culture both among Latinos and other communities through the presentation of diverse works of art and films in the Houston area. In its seventh edition, audiovisual works from throughout Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States were screened.