# 2021 National Film Prize for Mario Balmaseda

**Date:** 03/13/2021

The renowned Cuban actor Mario Balmaseda (Havana, 1941) was recognized today with the National Film Award 2021, for his versatility and exceptional trajectory, which have also earned him the National Awards for Theater (2006) and Television (2019).

According to the Cubacine portal, of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry, screenwriter Senel Paz (National Film Award 2020) presided over the jury, which was made up of actress Paula Alí, producer Lourdes García, cinematographer Raúl Rodríguez (National Film Award 2017), musician Ulises Hernández, director Enrique Álvarez, and film critic Carlos Galiano.

Mario Balmaseda has done much for Cuban culture in general, since he is not only an excellent film actor, but also a theater and television actor.

We should all congratulate ourselves for having made this choice, said actress Paula Alí, according to the Cubacine report.

Balmaseda studied Dramaturgy at the National Theater of Cuba and in the then German Democratic Republic.

As an actor he has a long and prolific career, with an extensive filmography that includes titles such as El hombre de Maisinicú (Manuel Pérez Paredes, 1973), De cierta manera (Sara Gómez, 1974), El brigadista (Octavio Cortázar, 1977), Se permuta (Juan Carlos Tabío, 1984) and En tres y dos (Rolando Díaz, 1985).

The public has been able to enjoy his versatility and talent in films such as Baraguá (José Massip, 1986), in a masterful interpretation of the Titan of Bronze, Antonio Maceo; La inútil muerte de mi socio Manolo (Julio García Espinosa, 1990); Entre ciclones (Enrique Colina, 2002) and La obra del siglo (Carlos M. Quintela, 2015).

The National Film Award, the most important cinematographic award granted in Cuba, was established in 2003 and has recognized figures such as Alfredo Guevara, Julio García Espinosa, Humberto Solás, Enrique Pineda Barnet, Daisy Granados and Eslinda Núñez.