Miguel Coyula
Encyclopedia
Miguel Coyula Aquino is a Cuba
n filmmaker. At age 17, he made his first short with a VHS camcorder, which led to his admittance to the International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños
, Cuba
(EICTV). Since then he has won awards in his country with his short films Bailar Sobre Agujas (1999), Buena Onda, (1999), and Clase Z "Tropical" (2000).
In 2000, he traveled to the United States
on an invitation from the Providence
Latino Film Festival. While visiting New York
, he met Anna Strasberg of the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and after screening his thesis film was offered a scholarship. While attending the Strasberg Institute Coyula made his first feature, Red Cockroaches
(2003), for less than $2000 over a two year period. The film was described by Variety
as "a triumph of technology in the hands of a visionary with know-how..." The film won over twenty awards in Film Festivals around the world.
In 2009 Coyula was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship
by The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for developing his second feature, the film Memories of Overdevelopment
, a follow-up to the Cuban classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo
(1968), based on the novel by Cuban writer Edmundo Desnoes
. After its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the film went to gather several awards and honors.
Memories of Overdevelopment
Memorias del Desarrollo has won 18 prizes, including:
Red Cockroaches
Red Cockroaches has won 23 awards, including:
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n filmmaker. At age 17, he made his first short with a VHS camcorder, which led to his admittance to the International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(EICTV). Since then he has won awards in his country with his short films Bailar Sobre Agujas (1999), Buena Onda, (1999), and Clase Z "Tropical" (2000).
In 2000, he traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on an invitation from the Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
Latino Film Festival. While visiting New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he met Anna Strasberg of the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and after screening his thesis film was offered a scholarship. While attending the Strasberg Institute Coyula made his first feature, Red Cockroaches
Red Cockroaches
Red Cockroaches is a Cuban film released in 2003. This feature film was the debut production of Miguel Coyula and was the result of a two-year effort on a tiny budget of $2,000. Shot entirely using a portable digital camcorder and edited on a home computer, Red Cockroaches is an example of DIY...
(2003), for less than $2000 over a two year period. The film was described by Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
as "a triumph of technology in the hands of a visionary with know-how..." The film won over twenty awards in Film Festivals around the world.
In 2009 Coyula was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
by The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for developing his second feature, the film Memories of Overdevelopment
Memories of Overdevelopment
Memories of Overdevelopment is a 2010 Cuban film. Written and directed by Miguel Coyula, the story is based on a novel by Edmundo Desnoes, also the author of the 1968 classic Memories of Underdevelopment. The film was produced by David Leitner and features Cuban actor, Ron Blair as the lead...
, a follow-up to the Cuban classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo
Memorias del Subdesarrollo
Memories of Underdevelopment is a seminal 1968 Latin American film from Cuba. Directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, the story is based on a novel by Edmundo Desnoes. It was Alea's fifth film, and probably his most famous worldwide...
(1968), based on the novel by Cuban writer Edmundo Desnoes
Edmundo Desnoes
Edmundo Desnoes , is a renowned Cuban writer, author of the novel Memorias del subdesarrollo , a complex story depicting the alienation of a Cuban bourgeois struggling to adapt to the process of the Revolution. He originally called the work Inconsolable Memories in the first English edition...
. After its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the film went to gather several awards and honors.
Filmography
- Pirámide (1996)
- Válvula de luz (1997)
- Detalles (1998)
- Idea (1998)
- Buena Onda (Nice Going) (1999)
- Bailar sobre agujas (Dancing on Needles) (1999)
- Clase Z "Tropical" (2000)
- El Tenedor plástico (The Plastic Fork) (2001)
- Cucarachas rojas (Red CockroachesRed CockroachesRed Cockroaches is a Cuban film released in 2003. This feature film was the debut production of Miguel Coyula and was the result of a two-year effort on a tiny budget of $2,000. Shot entirely using a portable digital camcorder and edited on a home computer, Red Cockroaches is an example of DIY...
) (2003) - Memorias del Desarrollo (aka Memories of OverdevelopmentMemories of OverdevelopmentMemories of Overdevelopment is a 2010 Cuban film. Written and directed by Miguel Coyula, the story is based on a novel by Edmundo Desnoes, also the author of the 1968 classic Memories of Underdevelopment. The film was produced by David Leitner and features Cuban actor, Ron Blair as the lead...
) (2010) - Blue Road (in pre-production)
Memories of OverdevelopmentMemories of OverdevelopmentMemories of Overdevelopment is a 2010 Cuban film. Written and directed by Miguel Coyula, the story is based on a novel by Edmundo Desnoes, also the author of the 1968 classic Memories of Underdevelopment. The film was produced by David Leitner and features Cuban actor, Ron Blair as the lead...
Memorias del Desarrollo has won 18 prizes, including:
- Best Director of Latinamerican Section, Málaga Film Festival, Spain 2011
- Best Film, Muestra Nacional de Nuevos Realizadores, Cuba, 2011
- Special Award, Premios ACE, USA, 2011
- Cine Latino Award, Washington DC Independent Film Festival, USA, 2011
- Most Innovative, Cero Latitud Film Festival, Ecuador, 2010
- Best Narrative Feature, Dallas Video Fest, USA, 2010
- Best Feature, New Media Film Festival, USA 2010
- Special Mention, Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, USA, 2010
- Best Film, Havana Film Festival New York, USA, 2010
Red CockroachesRed CockroachesRed Cockroaches is a Cuban film released in 2003. This feature film was the debut production of Miguel Coyula and was the result of a two-year effort on a tiny budget of $2,000. Shot entirely using a portable digital camcorder and edited on a home computer, Red Cockroaches is an example of DIY...
Red Cockroaches has won 23 awards, including:
- Best Editing, Fearless Tales Genre Festival, USA, 2005
- GreenCine Online Film Festival, New Media Film Festival, USA, 2005
- Best Film, Microcinema Festival, USA, 2004
- Special Jury Award, Muestra de Jóvenes Realizadores, Cuba, 2004
- Gran Premio Plaza, Festival Cineplaza, Cuba 2004.
- Special Mention for Visual Concept, Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre, Argentina, 2004
- Best Editing, Encuentro Nacional de Video, Cuba, 2004
- Special Mention, Festival Internazionale de la Fantascienza, Italy, 2004.
- Best Feature, Festival Almacén de la Imagen, Cuba, 2003
Clase Z "Tropical"
Clase Z "Tropical" is a short has won 9 awards, including:- Best Experimental Video, Encuentro Nacional de Video, Cuba 2001
- FIPRESCI Award, Festival Almacén de la Imagen, Cuba 2000