Mario Piedra Rodríguez, Professor and Journalist, Passes Away in Havana

January 21, 2024

Cuban professor and journalist Mario Piedra Rodríguez passed away this Friday in Havana at the age of 76.

He was a member of the faculty of the Department of Art History of the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the University of Havana, where he taught Cuban Cinema since 1982, according to the Digital Encyclopedia of Cuban Audiovisual (Endac).

Piedra worked at the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (Icaic) for thirty-six years; first at the ICAIC Latin American Newsreel, and later at the Information Center.

On Facebook, Cubacine ICAIC shared the message from the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the University of Havana regarding his death.

In it, Piedra's teaching dedication is highlighted, specifically in the Department of Art History, where he "left a lasting mark" as associate professor since 1982 and head of the Audiovisual discipline.

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

"As always happens, we're left with a lot of things left undone. Especially those linked to the memory of film clubs, an area where his role was fundamental," added García Borrero.

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

Mario Piedra (with the microphone) speaks at the 13th National Film Criticism Workshop in Camagüey. To his left, critic Frank Padrón. Photo: Endac.

According to Endac, Piedra received distinctions on numerous occasions, among which are the National Prize for Public Relations, the Quixote Distinction from the International Federation of Film Clubs, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation of Film Clubs. Likewise, he received the Félix Elmuza Distinction from the Union of Journalists of Cuba and the José Manuel Valdés Rodríguez Medal from the University of Havana.

He was born in Matanzas on September 18, 1947. His legacy includes a compilation on Cuban cinema, which became a textbook at the University of Havana.