TICKETS have gone on sale for the first Havana Glasgow Film Festival which gets under way next month.

A multi - venue series of events of Dramas, Documentaries, Exhibitions, a Political Debate, a Book Launch and late night Festival Club at Mango, will turn Glaswegians into Cuban cultural passionados and inspire Glasgow to dance the doldrums right out of November.

Eirene Houston, Festival Director and drama writer, renowned for her work on ‘This Life’, ‘Eastenders’ and ‘Monarch of the Glen’, has had a twenty year love affair with Cuba. Culminating in her own Cuban drama, ‘Day of the Flowers’ with Carlos Acosta – world renowned dancer and star, released last year.

Eirene said: "Havana Glasgow Film Festival is a great way to celebrate our Twin City status and to give people of Glasgow the opportunity to experience Cuban Cinema first hand. The Film Festival will include two exclusive UK premieres at the Glasgow Film Theatre; ‘La Pared de Las Palabras’ (Wall of Words) and ‘Conducta’ (Behaviour) the biggest, internationally acclaimed film to come out of Cuba since ‘Strawberries and Chocolate’ more than 20 years ago.”

An outstanding programme of events includes three Cuban Film Makers who will talk about their own work, giving rare insights into their country.

Hugo Rivalta, Television Writer, and Film Maker, who amongst other projects, works with Mariela Castro on television plays and cartoons, primarily aimed at sexual education for adolescents, will be present for the duration of the festival and will present a master class on writing for Cuban TV, as well as a history of Cuban Cinema.

Director Alejandro Valera who has recently made Glasgow his home, will present two of his many Los Van Van videos, the most recent of which, has just been nominated for a Grammy. He is also the editor of the closing film Boccaccerias.

Director Ferndando Perez who will be doing a Q & A Sessions after showing La Pared de Las Palabras’ (Wall of Words) and ‘Conducta’ (Behaviour)

Complementing the Film Festival there is also:

An Exhibition, organized by Glasgow School of Art will show the work of three major Cuban Video Artists in the Reid Building from the October 26 to 31.

A book launch of ‘To Defend the Revolution is to Defend Culture’ by Rebecca Gordon Nesbitt which the circumstances which led to the arts being embraced at the heart of the Cuban Revolution!

Eirene added: “It is this love of the Arts that Havana Glasgow Film Festival wants to celebrate! Dance and music will also play its part, as will a wee tot of whisky and trajo of Havana Club and some passionate political debates no doubt.”

Tickets are available at www.hgfilmfest.com