On Thursday, March 11, it was announced that the 2021 National Film Award goes to actor Mario Balmaseda (Havana, 1941), who stands out for his versatility and trajectory in the seventh art, theater and television.

Balmaseda studied drama 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), En tres y dos (Rolando Díaz, 1985), Baraguá (José Massip, 1986), 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).

In addition, the versatile histrion won the National Theater Award in 2006 and the National Television Award in 2019.

The jury was chaired by screenwriter Senel Paz (National Film Award 2020) and integrated by actress Paula Alí, producer Lourdes García, cinematographer Raúl Rodríguez (National Film Award 2017), musician Ulises Hernández, director Enrique "Kiki" Álvarez and film critic Carlos Galiano.

"Mario Balmaseda has done a lot for Cuban culture in general, as he is not only an excellent film actor, but also a theater and television actor as well.. We should all congratulate ourselves for having made this choice," said Paula Alí.

The most important film award granted in Cuba was instituted in 2003 and has recognized figures such as Alfredo Guevara, Julio García Espinosa, Humberto Solás, Enrique Pineda Barnet, Daisy Granados and Eslinda Núñez.

(Taken from Cubacine

English version Hdez Oropesa