As a female student from Germany, 20 years of age, I would
be interested in studying Film or similar in Cuba! What I`d
like to know is wether anybody can recommend or dissuade
from this idea??! Which possibilities are there for living
in Cuba as a foreign student, would this be affordable,
would I be accepted, how could I earn money (as a woman),
how do students live in Cuba, etc...
I`d be grateful for every advice I can get!
[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Tue 11 May, 5:44]
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Kat,
Cuba has a film school in San Antonio de los Banos. It is
about thirty to fourty minutes outside of Habana. It is
highly rated, especially for students in Latin America. The
problem is that they dont have access to the most modern
equipment. You wont find any Avid non-linear systems or
35mm Arriflex sinc sound cameras. If you speak fluent
spanish and are interested in the creative aspects of
filmmaking, this program may be for you. You must register
with the University of Habana. You cant even walk into the
highly guarded gate of the film school until you have a
written letter from an official in Habana. The other
problem is that the school is out in the middle of no where.
It sits atop a hill isolated from everything. If your a
real city dweller, this place may be too laid back for you.
Anyway, the film school is highly rated. You would get to
learn from the best Cuba has to offer and participate in the
Habana International Film Festival. It comes to Cuba every
January.
Good luc,
FEJ
Hi, To add to the information above..
You have to speak fluent Spanish to attend the school
referred to above. Also, for foreigners it costs several
thousand dollars a year. Very few, if any Europeans
attend as the school is geared to the need for a
professional film school for the Latin American community.
All film schools places are very competitive for Cubans.
Only a handful get accepted each year. Film is lacking and
even excellent directors do not get to work. Censorship is
another large iss
Hi, Kat again!
Thanks to you, guys. It`s very interesting what you write,
maybe you`ve got even more info? Seems like you`re in the
topic... I don`t speak any Spanish yet, but I`m good at
learning languages and I`m going to start learning it SOON.
The 1000$ a year would be a problem, though...going to Cuba
would already cost a lot from Europe! Living there even
more, and studying...Do you think scholarships would be
possible? What about Cuban students - studying is free,
isn`t it(just interested-I`m from EastGermany, and in
former-socialist-times that`s the way it was)?
Regarding the limited numbers of students at the film
school: It`s just the same in Germany and everywhere else,
I think! Film students are elite, in a way.
P.S.:Jane, was there something cut off your posting?
Speaking spanish is NOT a prerquisite for going to the
International Film School. I have a friend from Trinidad &
Tobago, who speaks almost no spanish.....yet attends the
school. I would suggest going there, talking to some
people, and exploring the idea further. Otherwise, you may
get mis-information and make an un-informed decision. Good
luck.
KAT,
I urge you to call the University of Habana and ask them if
Spanish is required. I disagree with the above post from
Diago. I have personally visited the school and know for a
fact that fluent spanish is needed. It may not be a
pre-requisit, but it is certainly needed. As far as
scholorships go, I would dought it. But again, call and
ask. The reason they let foreigners go to the school is for
hard currency. 10 years ago, you could have probally gone
for free. Since your country no longer exist, I dont
Germany or Cuba would subsidize you. Sorry. My best advsie
would be to call and talk with someone there. Have them
give you a german speaking reference.
Luck,
Camillo