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Cuba🇨🇺 | festivalsInternational Festival of New Latin American CinemaCine Yara, Coral prizes, documentaries, sidewalk debates | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in International of New Latin American Cinema
🏆 Top pickfestival ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The projector fan hums, a hundred paper fans flap in the dark of the Yara cinema, and then a wave of applause breaks over the first frame. I still hear that sound when I think of Havana in December. The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema runs in Cuba’s capital, with screenings spread across Vedado and Centro Habana theaters near the Malecón. It draws film students, critics and locals who queue for hours, and the mood is communal and loud. Skip the official gala events unless you hold an invitation. Spend your time on the afternoon screenings of documentaries and shorts, which are easier to enter and more interesting. Costs and delays catch people out: accommodation fills early, so book a casa particular months ahead, and carry cash because cards fail often. Buy tickets at the theater box office the day before.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 festival in CubaWhat makes this festival worth celebrating

International Festival of New Latin American Cinema gives backpackers a rare chance to sit among Cubans who treat film as a daily habit, not a luxury. Tickets are priced for locals, so a full day of screenings costs far less than a festival pass elsewhere in the region. The crowd is the draw: after a film at Cine Yara on La Rampa, strangers argue about it on the sidewalk, and a foreigner with halting Spanish gets pulled into the debate within minutes.
The festival also solves a planning problem. It falls in early December, when Havana is dry and cooler, so it fits neatly before a loop west to Viñales or east toward Trinidad. Many travelers use the Hotel Nacional terrace and nearby cafés as an informal meeting point, swapping tips on which theater has the next sold-out title. If you want Cuba … read more 👉
International Festival of New Latin American Cinema gives backpackers a rare chance to sit among Cubans who treat film as a daily habit, not a luxury. Tickets are priced for locals, so a full day of screenings costs far less than a festival pass elsewhere in the region. The crowd is the draw: after a film at Cine Yara on La Rampa, strangers argue about it on the sidewalk, and a foreigner with halting Spanish gets pulled into the debate within minutes.
The festival also solves a planning problem. It falls in early December, when Havana is dry and cooler, so it fits neatly before a loop west to Viñales or east toward Trinidad. Many travelers use the Hotel Nacional terrace and nearby cafés as an informal meeting point, swapping tips on which theater has the next sold-out title. If you want Cuba through its own storytelling rather than its postcards, this is the week.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while celebrating the International of New Latin American Cinema

  1. Cine Yara: The festival’s best-known venue, on La Rampa in Vedado. Its big single screen and loud, appreciative audience make opening-week screenings the one to catch.
  2. Competitive feature films: Fiction entries from across Latin America compete for the Coral prizes. They are the core of the program and often the only chance to see these titles.
  3. Documentary screenings: Documentaries are a long-standing strength of Latin American cinema, and the festival gives them full slots. Daytime sessions are usually easier to enter than evening ones.
  4. Cine Charles Chaplin: A smaller Vedado theater used for festival sessions. Its calmer queues suit travelers who want to avoid the rush at the main venues.
  5. Sidewalk debates after screenings: Audiences linger outside theaters to argue about what they saw. Joining
… read more 👉
  1. Cine Yara: The festival’s best-known venue, on La Rampa in Vedado. Its big single screen and loud, appreciative audience make opening-week screenings the one to catch.
  2. Competitive feature films: Fiction entries from across Latin America compete for the Coral prizes. They are the core of the program and often the only chance to see these titles.
  3. Documentary screenings: Documentaries are a long-standing strength of Latin American cinema, and the festival gives them full slots. Daytime sessions are usually easier to enter than evening ones.
  4. Cine Charles Chaplin: A smaller Vedado theater used for festival sessions. Its calmer queues suit travelers who want to avoid the rush at the main venues.
  5. Sidewalk debates after screenings: Audiences linger outside theaters to argue about what they saw. Joining in is the quickest way to meet Cubans and fellow travelers.
Start at Cine Yara, because it is the festival’s center and its queues and atmosphere set the tone for everything else.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of International Festival of New Latin American Cinema?

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema runs for about ten days in early December, with screenings across Havana, centered on Vedado (Cine Yara, Cine Chaplin, Cine 23 y 12, Teatro Riviera) and the Hotel Nacional.
  • Best days: The opening gala and first weekend bring the premieres and the biggest queues. Midweek afternoons are calmer, and the closing days repeat award winners, so you can catch the best films without the crush.
  • Weather: Expect 20 to 27°C (68 to 81°F), low humidity and little rain. Evenings can dip to 17°C (63°F) after a front, so pack a light jacket, sunscreen and a water bottle for the queues.
  • Booking: Reserve a casa particular four to six weeks ahead. Rooms near Vedado often rise 20 to 40 percent over the festival, and flights in December cost more.
  • Arrival and departure:
… read more 👉
The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema runs for about ten days in early December, with screenings across Havana, centered on Vedado (Cine Yara, Cine Chaplin, Cine 23 y 12, Teatro Riviera) and the Hotel Nacional.
  • Best days: The opening gala and first weekend bring the premieres and the biggest queues. Midweek afternoons are calmer, and the closing days repeat award winners, so you can catch the best films without the crush.
  • Weather: Expect 20 to 27°C (68 to 81°F), low humidity and little rain. Evenings can dip to 17°C (63°F) after a front, so pack a light jacket, sunscreen and a water bottle for the queues.
  • Booking: Reserve a casa particular four to six weeks ahead. Rooms near Vedado often rise 20 to 40 percent over the festival, and flights in December cost more.
  • Arrival and departure: Arrive a day before the opening so you can collect your accreditation without stress. Avoid the final Saturday for road and bus departures, when seats toward Varadero and Viñales fill early.
Buy your pass on the first morning, before the popular screenings sell out.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Vedado is the best place to sleep, because most festival cinemas sit within a 10 to 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride. The grid streets are well lit, busy until late and among the safer parts of Havana for solo travelers.
Casas particulares around Calle 23 (La Rampa), Calle L and Calle 25 give you a private room, a host who knows the screening schedule and breakfast. They are usually a few doors from the cinemas. Many have several rooms, so you meet other backpackers at breakfast, which is the easiest way to find film buddies.
Centro Habana is the cheaper alternative. It is gritty and loud, and … read more 👉
Vedado is the best place to sleep, because most festival cinemas sit within a 10 to 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride. The grid streets are well lit, busy until late and among the safer parts of Havana for solo travelers.
Casas particulares around Calle 23 (La Rampa), Calle L and Calle 25 give you a private room, a host who knows the screening schedule and breakfast. They are usually a few doors from the cinemas. Many have several rooms, so you meet other backpackers at breakfast, which is the easiest way to find film buddies.
Centro Habana is the cheaper alternative. It is gritty and loud, and good for travelers who want local street life, but it is a 20 to 30 minute walk from the main venues, so you will need shared taxis at night.
Old Havana (Habana Vieja) has the densest backpacker scene, with rooftop bars, hostels and easy meetups. Screenings are a short taxi ride away, and the cobbled streets are best avoided alone late at night.
Book early, since festival guests fill the best rooms. Choose a host with hot water and a reliable fan or air conditioning, and ask about airport pickup.
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Best quality hotels in Cuba

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema costs about US$85 a day for an independent traveler in high season, covering a pass, a casa particular and local meals.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$1 to 5 per screening (pass about US$10 to 25 total)Single tickets are cheap at cinema box offices, though accreditation passes for visitors cost more and sell out early.
AccommodationUS$30 to 55 per nightA casa particular room in Vedado rises in December, and you usually pay your host in cash.
Local transportUS$2 to 10Shared taxis cost US$1 to 3 a ride, and private taxis between Vedado and Old Havana are US$5 to 10.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30A paladar meal costs US$8 to 15, and street snacks, coffee and a beer fill the rest.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 10Covers bottled water,
… read more 👉
The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema costs about US$85 a day for an independent traveler in high season, covering a pass, a casa particular and local meals.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$1 to 5 per screening (pass about US$10 to 25 total)Single tickets are cheap at cinema box offices, though accreditation passes for visitors cost more and sell out early.
AccommodationUS$30 to 55 per nightA casa particular room in Vedado rises in December, and you usually pay your host in cash.
Local transportUS$2 to 10Shared taxis cost US$1 to 3 a ride, and private taxis between Vedado and Old Havana are US$5 to 10.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30A paladar meal costs US$8 to 15, and street snacks, coffee and a beer fill the rest.
MiscellaneousUS$3 to 10Covers bottled water, internet data cards (about US$1 to 2 an hour), tips and a program booklet.
Total Daily BudgetUS$51 to 110Per person, per day, in high season.


source: cubatravel.cu
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Festival food is mostly what Havana eats anyway, which suits backpackers. Around the Vedado cinemas, small paladares and state cafeterias sell pizza, sandwiches cubanos, roast pork with rice and beans, and fried plantain chips for a quick bite between films.
The queue itself is a food scene. Vendors and street windows offer croquetas, tamales, peanut cones and coffee in tiny cups. Try a guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice) if you spot a press, and a Cristal or Bucanero beer after the evening show. Cocktail fans should order a mojito or daiquiri at the Hotel Nacional terrace, where the festival crowd gathers.
For authenticity, have a long lunch in a Vedado paladar with ropa vieja and a fresh juice, then eat light at night.
Pay in cash. Cards are unreliable at small stalls, and change is often short, … read more 👉
Festival food is mostly what Havana eats anyway, which suits backpackers. Around the Vedado cinemas, small paladares and state cafeterias sell pizza, sandwiches cubanos, roast pork with rice and beans, and fried plantain chips for a quick bite between films.
The queue itself is a food scene. Vendors and street windows offer croquetas, tamales, peanut cones and coffee in tiny cups. Try a guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice) if you spot a press, and a Cristal or Bucanero beer after the evening show. Cocktail fans should order a mojito or daiquiri at the Hotel Nacional terrace, where the festival crowd gathers.
For authenticity, have a long lunch in a Vedado paladar with ropa vieja and a fresh juice, then eat light at night.
Pay in cash. Cards are unreliable at small stalls, and change is often short, so carry small bills. Portions are generous and easily shared. Menus run out of dishes by evening, so eat before the last screening. Bring your own water bottle and napkins, and expect to wait without complaint, as everyone does.

FAQFrequently asked questions about International of New Latin American Cinema

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema takes place in Havana over about ten days in early December, usually from the first week to around the 10th. The opening gala comes first, and award winners are repeated near the end. Most screenings are in Vedado cinemas such as Yara, Chaplin and Riviera.
Attending the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema costs roughly US$1 to 5 per screening at the box office, or US$10 to 25 for a visitor pass. Add US$30 to 55 a night for a casa particular and US$15 to 30 a day for food. Most travelers spend about US$50 to 110 a day in total.
Tickets for the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema are not strictly required in advance, but popular premieres and the opening night sell out. Buy single tickets at the cinema box office on the morning of the screening, or collect a visitor pass a day before the opening. Queues of 30 to 60 minutes are normal, and cash is the safest payment.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

International Festival of New Latin American Cinema suits film lovers, Spanish speakers and curious travelers who enjoy long queues and animated conversation. If you only want beaches, skip it. I would book a bed early, bring cash, and choose daytime documentaries over the crowded evening galas.

✈️ When did I visit Cuba?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Cuba for 6 weeks in February, March 2016, being extremely lucky that that coincided with the free concert of The Rolling Stones.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Cuba, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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