Nelson Rodríguez, 2007 National Film Prize Winner, Dies in Miami

February 14, 2020

The renowned editor, screenwriter and professor Nelson Rodríguez passed away this Wednesday at the age of 82.

The film work of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) has been carried out by artists and intellectuals of extraordinary value to our culture. It almost always happens that directors take the lion's share of the glory, leaving fame for the actors and, rarely is the work of the technical team mentioned.

But Nelson Rodríguez, born in 1938, could be one of the most notable exceptions. He managed to transcend the art of editing and become one of the most active creators of Cuban cinema. Merely mentioning his work as editor in the films Memories of Underdevelopment (Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, 1968), The First Charge with the Machete (Manuel Octavio Gómez, 1969) and Lucia (Humberto Solás, 1968) would suffice; but Nelson went further and managed to extend his art to other Latin American nations.

For years he was a professor of Film Editing at the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV). In his specialty he taught workshops and master classes in several countries in Latin America and Europe.

In 2007, Nelson received the National Film Prize, in recognition of his long and fruitful career as editor, screenwriter and filmmaker.

The ICAIC deeply regrets the passing of this creator of Cuban cinema.

RELATED NEWS