"Influencer" Documentary About Alexander Otaola Premieres in Miami

June 16, 2023

Cuban communicator Alexander Otaola expressed feeling "very happy" following Wednesday's premiere of the documentary "Influencer," which summarizes in just over two hours his life, from his arrival on social media to the announcement of his candidacy for mayor of Miami-Dade.

"I am very happy, very happy, now we wait for the results," he said in statements to Martí Noticias. According to a report this Thursday, the screening of the material took place as a sold-out evening reserved for special guests and press.

When asked about some people's opinions on the "egocentric" nature of his work, Otaola responded to the aforementioned publication: "Everyone has the right to have an opinion, I have mine and people have theirs."

Alejandro González, from the popular comedy duo Los Pichy Boys, said he had attended the presentation to "celebrate Otaola and applaud the good things he is doing."

The story spans from the emergence of his program Hola Ota-Ola! on social media in 2016, to the announcement last April of his candidacy for the position of mayor of Miami-Dade County, a post currently held by American Daniela Levine Cava.

Otaola, who also serves as executive producer of the film, stated that he is making arrangements with the distribution company to include the documentary in international festivals and on North American platforms such as HBO and Netflix.

The feature film, directed by filmmaker Javier Labrador, was produced by Huracan Films & Media, together with the platform Cubanos por el Mundo.

"I really liked the documentary. It's always impressive to see in a film what has been accomplished in recent years… and at the center of that whirlwind has been Alex Otaola and his program. It was very special to see Sapirain, Luis, Yordan and especially Yoanis come out from behind the scenes and put a face to that magic and style that they created. In short, one person's success is the success of all of us pushing in the same direction," said activist Eliecer Ávila Cicilia.

Hola Ota-Ola! is defined as an informative and satirical program that covers entertainment, news, and politics for approximately three hours. Otaola is characterized by his incisive tone against the communist regime in Havana and its supporters, with a segment dedicated in particular to the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel.