The first Cuban film was made in 1897, later on, during the Republican period, more than eighty fiction movies were filmed, but it was not until the revolution triumphed that the basis for a cinematographic industry were set to develop the national cinema. In 1959 the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) was founded, this was essential for the moving-image makers. In 1960 the "Cuban Cine" magazine was founded, sponsored by the ICAIC. This magazine promoted the creative and theoretic actions in the film industry. In that same year Tomas Gutierrez Alea presented his Histories of the Revolution, first fiction film and Julio Garcia Espinosa his Cuba Dances. At this first stage, called by the critics "the golden decade of Cuban cinema", the most outstanding films shown were: Death of a Bureaucrat (1966) and Memories of Underdevelopment (1968), both directed by Tomas Gutierrez Alea; Lucia (1968), by Humberto Solas and The first carga al machete (1969), by Manuel Octavio Gomez. Santiago Alvarez carried out an exceptional work in documentary films, revealing his peculiar gift throughout almost forty years of continued celluloid creations. He directed important films such as, Cyclone (1963), Hanoi, Tuesday 13th (1967) and 79 Springs (1969). During the 70's the following films were made: The Last Supper (1976) and Survivors (1978), by Tomas Gutierrez Alea; You have the floor (1973), by Manuel Octavio Gomez; The man from Maisinicu (1973), by Manuel Perez; In a certain way (1974), by Sara Gomez; El Brigadista (1976), by Octavio Cortazar; Teresa's portrait (1979), by Pastor Vega and November Day (1972) by Humberto Solas. The 80ies were years of restating. During this period there was a will of considering and restating problems that spread to all forms of art. From this decade are great films like: Secondary roles (1989) and Clandestine (1987), by Orlando Rojas; The beauty of the Alhambra (1989), by Enrique Pineda Barnet; Cecilia (1981) and A successful man (1985), by Humberto Solas; A girlfriend for David (1987), by Fernando Perez and Plaff (1989), by Juan Carlos Tabio. The full-length animated film Vampires in Havana (1985), directed by Frank Padron, was a celebrated success. The nineties came with such noteworthy titles as: Hello Hemingway (1990), by Fernando Perez; Alice in Wonder town (1990), by Daniel Diaz Torres, Maria Antonia (1990), Sergio Giral; The century of lights (1992), by Humberto Solas; Lovely lies (1991), by Gerardo Chijona; Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), produced by Tomas Gutierrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tavio written by Senal Paz; The wave (1996), by Enrique Alvarez; Put your thought on me (1993) and Upright love (1996), by Arturo Soto. The most successful film in Cuba's movie history is Strawberry and Chocolate, which was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film and introduced Cuba to the world film market. Most recent Cuban films are Life is to Whistle, by Fernando Perez, this was awarded the first prize at the Latin American Film Festival in Havana. The latest creation (2000) is Lista De Espera or Waiting List, which is a light comedy about Cuban life set entirely in a provincial bus station. Many of the films mentioned here were awarded different prizes, throughout these decades in national and international festivals.

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