AGP Executive Report

Cuban Filmmakers’ Assembly: The ACC issued a statement defending Anna Bensi and her mother after they were sentenced to two years of restricted freedom for recording and sharing a MININT agent’s visit—calling it “filming the pain” turned into a crime and denouncing double standards. Havana Protester Update: Ariel Limias Leyva, who climbed the Capitol steps with an anti-dictatorship banner, was transferred to Villa Marista after detention and interrogation, according to his wife. Sanctions Hit Retail: Spanish food group Vima removed its Havana store signage and scaled back operations amid tightening U.S. sanctions tied to GAESA. Cultural Life on the Street: A Centro Habana vendor salvages 90s-era fashion magazines from trash on Reina Street, giving them a second life as Cuba’s everyday precarity shapes what art and style can be. Everyday Costs, Up Close: A Havana post comparing an onion’s 610 CUP price to the monthly minimum wage sparked fresh debate about food inflation. Music & Identity: Miami-based Baby Lores says Cuban authorities blocked him from entering to see his ill mother, linking the ban to his public criticism.

Cuban Arts & Culture: Cuban décima poet Irán Caballero published a new poem dedicated to Anna Bensi after her sentencing to two years of restricted freedom, framing her as a symbol of resistance and invoking independence heroine Mariana Grajales. Cuban Arts & Culture: Havana’s court also convicted Christian content creator for calling Cuba a “dictatorship,” underscoring how online expression is being targeted. Human Rights & Protest: Ariel Limias Leyva, who protested at Havana’s Capitol with an anti-dictatorship banner, was transferred to Villa Marista after detention and interrogation. Public Health: Cuba faces a severe virus surge, with authorities warning about dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses amid water and power failures. Arts & Entertainment (International): Filmmaker Asghar Farhadi criticized Hollywood’s “white savior” portrayals, calling out Argo and questioning why Americans “save” others in stories about Cuba and Iran. Music: Karol G kicked off her Miami run at Hard Rock Stadium with a large-scale, multi-act production built around Tropicoqueta. Film/Media: NBC6 South Florida covered Anna Bensi’s case, helping spark fresh outrage in the U.S. Sports: Adrian Morejón is highlighted as the Padres’ most valuable reliever in a wild-card performance.

Cuban Culture & Film: ICAIC and French Galo Films signed a distribution contract for the sports documentary Mijaín, following Mijaín López’s road to Olympic glory and premiering at the Milan International Festival of Sports Cinema and Television, with plans for a global festival run. Cuban Politics & Public Life: Cuba’s official podcast Desde la Presidencia returned after a 15-month pause, with Díaz-Canel and PM Marrero Cruz discussing progress on the 176 economic and social transformations—yet many viewers mocked the promises amid deep crisis and low trust. Human Rights & Justice: A Havana protester identified as Ariel Limias Leyva was detained after climbing the National Assembly with a sign criticizing “political discrimination,” while independent reporting links the timing to the sentencing of Anna Bensi and her mother. Everyday Crisis: On Isla de la Juventud, an elderly man died after waiting about eight hours for an ambulance from SIUM, highlighting gaps in emergency response during blackouts. International Spotlight: The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a Cuba-bound ship carrying illegal fuel, while the UN released $160M in emergency aid that includes Cuba among 12 humanitarian priorities.

Cuban Culture Under Pressure: Cuba’s Prosecutor’s Office is pushing for long prison terms for independent creators behind El4tico, with Holguín ordering an oral trial after requests of eight and ten years for Medina and Zayas Pérez. Cuban Arts & Media: The same crackdown wave hits Anna Bensi and her mother, sentenced to two years of restricted freedom after a recorded MININT visit—while U.S. officials denounce the case as censorship. Film & International Reach: ICAIC says France has signed a distribution deal for Cuban documentary Mijain, following Mijain López’s road to Olympic gold. Music & Community Moments: A viral TikTok shows a son surprising his mother with a live performance by Cuban singer Tania Pantoja—another reminder of how music keeps family stories alive. Arts Beyond Cuba: Miami’s Latin Music Week returns Oct. 19–22 at Faena Forum, with major industry panels and performances. Cuban Daily Life: A Cuban man reunited with his father after seven years abroad, sharing an emotional airport embrace that reflects the island’s ongoing strain.

Cuban Court & Free Speech: Havana’s People’s Municipal Court sentenced Christian content creator Anna Bensi and her mother to two years of “restriction of liberty” after they recorded and posted a video of a MININT agent visiting their home, with the defense and supporters calling it retaliation and a “circus,” while the case hinges on Cuba’s “personal and family privacy” charge and limits on witness access. Cuban Arts & Identity: Cuban-born artist Anthony Hernandez is using color, childhood memories, and museum-fueled inspiration to preserve his heritage through art in South Florida. Music & Culture Beyond Cuba: AMC+’s new thriller “Kill Jackie” stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as an art-dealing antihero, while Havana Club unveiled Icónica Unión, the latest ultra-premium rum blending four aged Cuban rums. Sports Spotlight: Aroldis Chapman made Cuban baseball history by becoming the first island-born player to reach 10 MLB postseason games.

Cuban Arts & Culture in the U.S.: The Tony- and Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club musical arrives in South Florida, with the Adrienne Arsht Center hosting Sept. 29–Oct. 4 and a follow-up at the Broward Center Oct. 13–18, plus a free week of Cuban music and community programming called “Rhythm & Roots.” Cuban Arts & Culture in Cuba: Holguín’s Provincial Center for Visual Arts opened the two-person exhibition “Moros y Cristianos” by José Emilio Leyva Azze and Rosa Leticia Leyva Azze, exploring identity, family, faith, and national symbolism, with music performances included. Music & Community Events: Orillia Jazz Festival spotlights Jane Bunnett and Maqueque (Afro-Cuban batá + contemporary jazz) on Oct. 17, while a separate Oct. 16 opening features new music from Art of Anthem Ensemble. Cuban Media/Expression: Cuba’s Minint says recording with a phone isn’t a crime, but publishing images without consent can violate personal and family privacy. Policy Pressure: The U.S. tightens Cuba sanctions and expands financial/travel restrictions, including new OFAC rules affecting Cuban private entrepreneurs and limiting certain travel authorizations. Local Arts Spotlight: A Cuban influencer, Anna Bensi, and her mother were convicted over a video showing a plainclothes Interior Ministry officer delivering a State Security summons.

Cuban Film & Oscars: Cuba selected Spanish director Carlos Larrazábal’s debut Malecón as its entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature, a Havana-set story about a man returning after prison and getting pulled into the city’s underground economy. Cuban Arts & Culture: Holguín’s Raúl Gómez García Elementary Art School is training 300+ students in music, dance, and vocal studies, with a focus on creativity, decolonizing pedagogy, and family involvement. Cuban Arts Under Pressure: A partial ceiling collapse in Centro Habana (Águila 368/San Miguel) left more than 300 residents alarmed, with residents citing deterioration and lack of repairs. Music & Performance: Buena Vista Social Club lands in Miami on its national tour, bringing the Cuban musicians’ reunion story to South Florida stages. Legal/Trial Watch: Activists say a judge assigned to the Anna Bensi case has links to earlier 11-J protest proceedings as her trial approaches. International Spotlight: Kristen Stewart reunites with Olivier Assayas for Spiritual World, a new haunted-visions film.

Cuban Arts Education: Holguín’s Raúl Gómez García Elementary Art School is training 300+ students in music, dance, and vocal studies, with a pedagogy that links art to identity, creativity, and active student ownership, plus close communication with families. Cuban Media Under Pressure: The Trump administration is demanding the release of independent Cuban journalist Henry Constantín Ferreiro, detained since mid-September, as U.S. officials cite “unjust” detention tied to independent reporting. Cuban Culture Abroad: Otto Sirgo Haller, the Cuban-born actor who became a fixture in Mexican soap operas, has died at 79, remembered for decades of TV and theater work. Arts & Community (Diaspora): Tampa’s Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition “Colors, Threads, and Stories” brought together paintings, photos, and 18 traditional dresses to celebrate shared roots through art. Music Spotlight: Faena’s jazz series returns for a ninth season, including an Afro-Cuban night featuring Cuban vocalist Aymée Nuviola. Broadway for Cuban Stories: Xolo Maridueña will join “Buena Vista Social Club” on Broadway as Juan de Marcos starting Nov. 17.

US Sanctions & Tourism: Cuba’s tourism sector is said to be nearing collapse as tighter U.S. sanctions and renewed restrictions disrupt revenue streams. Diplomatic Pressure: Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, points to polling showing many Americans oppose “maximum pressure,” including limits on force and support for diplomacy. Economic Reform Debate: Cuba reports 89% of 176 economic reforms are underway, while critics warn liberalization stays limited without political change. Cultural Life Under Strain: Las Tunas’ Radio Victoria has been off the air for over a month, threatening coverage of the National Baseball Series. Arts & Heritage: Holguín’s Iberoarte fair returns with Mexico as guest of honor, spotlighting crafts and a new visual-arts hall. Music Spotlight: Eliades Ochoa marks his 80th with a major birthday show, bringing Buena Vista Social Club roots to new stages. Freemasonry Leadership: Ángel Santiesteban Prats is elected Sovereign Grand Commander of Cuban Freemasonry. Sports & Chess: Cuba finishes as the top Caribbean performer at the Chess Olympiad, placing 31st in the women’s section.

Cuban Economy Debate: Cuba says 89% of 176 economic reforms approved in June are being implemented, but economist Pedro Monreal warns liberalization stays limited while the state controls licenses, foreign currency, and key inputs. Healthcare Crisis: The death of 26-year-old Aniari Barrientos Vázquez in Santiago de Cuba spotlights alleged failures in care and communication, with her family demanding clarity after disturbing claims. Daily Life Under Strain: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez blames U.S. pressure for worsening conditions as Marco Rubio labels the island a “failed state,” reigniting the blockade-versus-reform argument. Arts & Culture: Cuban-American duo Pututi & Nesty sign with Warner Music Latina, while Cuban film Baracoa heads to Italy’s Lucca Film Festival. Ballet Under Blackouts: Despite months of night blackouts and shortages, Cuba’s National Ballet School keeps training young dancers, including 14-year-old Roxana Pérez de La Mora. Music on Stage: Greenville’s Centre Stage readies workshop performances of La Zafra, a new musical rooted in immigrant experience and featuring Cuban-American composer Iliana Rose. Food Fraud Case: Two people in Granma were arrested for allegedly selling a water-and-additives mixture as cooking oil.

Cuban Arts & Culture: Cuba’s National Ballet School keeps training young dancers through daily blackouts and shortages, with students like 14-year-old Roxana Pérez de La Mora commuting long distances to chase a prima ballerina dream. Music & Community: The free “Feel the Rhythm of the Drums” International Festival returns Oct. 3 at Music Box Village, spotlighting African diaspora drumming and dance, with Cuban group Okan y Miel among more than 100 performers from over 10 countries. Diaspora Spotlight: Cuban actress Darlyn Morales reunites with family in Spain, sharing how time in Cuba feels increasingly limited. Protest & Art: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara stages “Libres x Derecho 2: Voices of 11J” in New York, updating his “Where is Mella?” performance to directly ask about political prisoners. Pop Culture: Oniel Bebeshito drops “La Bebé,” a music video about breaking free from domestic violence, starring Rachel Arderi and Cuban actor Carlos Enrique Almirante. Censorship Debate: Broadcaster Laritza Camacho challenges Cuba’s image-censorship logic, arguing that hiding photos doesn’t erase the crises they document.

Immigration & Money Laundering: A federal jury in Florida convicted Cuban national Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, 28, tied to an alien smuggling ring using a travel agency front, filing hundreds of visa-waiver applications and laundering over $20 million. Hispanic Heritage Spotlight: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino is moving into the historic Arts and Industries Building as debates grow over whether Latino stories can be told fully amid immigration and political scrutiny. Cuban Culture in Miami: “A Night in Havana” returns as a fundraiser for Beth El Center’s 100th anniversary, featuring Cuban-born percussionist Tomasito Cruz, Cuban cuisine, dancing, and humanitarian relief for Cuba. Film Buzz: Olivier Assayas’ next movie “Spiritual World” stars Kristen Stewart and includes Riley Keough and Wagner Moura, shooting in France and Germany. Music Trend: Cuban singer Bebeshito is set to spotlight reparto’s next wave at Billboard Latin Music Week. Diplomacy & Solidarity: Ghana renewed solidarity with Cuba at the UN, calling for unconditional lifting of sanctions. Health & Security: Canadian experts are urging an independent probe into Havana Syndrome cases tied to Ottawa’s embassy in Cuba.

Cuban Health Watch: Cuba’s public health ministry says infections are worsening, citing breakdowns in sanitation, water treatment, and waste collection—more respiratory illness, diarrhea, hepatitis, and arboviruses like dengue and chikungunya. Campgrounds in Crisis: Jibacoa’s Los Cocos and Las Caletas are left with only a few usable rooms and cabins as overgrowth, ruins, and fuel shortages push popular vacation spots toward abandonment. CDR Under Fire: Matanzas activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández calls the CDR a “gigantic and ineffective bureaucratic structure,” pointing to violence and social strain despite official celebrations. Blackouts and Grief: Activist Lara Crofs says funeral services in Cuba have hit a breaking point, with dignified burials tied to money, connections, and bribes—amid long blackouts and telecom gaps. Culture & Music: Donald Vega’s “Play It Forward” spotlights his roots and heroes through Latin jazz, with tributes to Afro-Cuban percussion and jazz legends. Fashion (Global, but fun): Autumn-winter 2026 boot trends range from slouchy and fitted sock-like styles to knee-high riding and quieter western looks. Sports: Cuban second baseman César Prieto gets his first extra-base hit in MLB with a triple, ending a long wait. International Arts/Politics: At the UNGA, 77 countries walked out during Netanyahu’s speech, including Cuba among the Latin American and Caribbean delegations.

Cuban Music & Culture: Los Van Van asked for applause for Pedrito Calvo after the veteran singer revealed he’s seriously ill, with the band confirming a “delicate health situation.” Public Life & Daily Struggles: A video shows the Morón–Camagüey train interior in deteriorated condition after service resumed, sparking outrage over the 1,500 CUP ticket price versus what passengers are seeing. Arts & Community: Cuban table tennis coach Liván Martínez wrapped up a high-performance stint in Guyana, working with the national program and boosting technical and tactical training. Politics & International Pressure: At the UN General Assembly, Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez condemned the U.S. blockade as “collective punishment,” arguing it amounts to an energy blockade that Cuba says is effectively a naval blockade under international law. Health & Solidarity: A Havana family is urgently seeking O positive blood donors for a 24-year-old facing liver transplant rejection at Hermanos Ameijeiras. Safety & Crime: In Havana’s La Lisa, a daughter is appealing for witnesses after her father died in a hit-and-run; in Las Tunas’ Aurora, a camera captured a man climbing to tamper with an LED light fixture amid theft accusations.

US-Cuba Pressure & Dialogue: Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez denounced a “total oil siege” at the UN, calling U.S. fuel restrictions a de facto naval blockade, while the Cuban government reiterates it’s open to dialogue with Washington “without interference or preconditions.” Sanctions’ Human Cost: Cuba’s health system is straining under sanctions, as Minsap reports rising respiratory, diarrheal, hepatitis and arboviral illnesses amid sanitation and water-treatment limits. Electricity Crisis in Caibarién: Residents in Caibarién say they’ve endured 12 days without power after a transformer failure, with basic aid limited to poor-quality “soup” and no promised water truck. CDR & Youth Mobilization: Díaz-Canel met with cederistas ahead of the CDR anniversary, but social media pushback framed the organization as outdated; meanwhile UJC leadership urged youth mobilization amid worsening daily power cuts. Culture & Music: Stratford Music Festival marks its 30th anniversary with Cuban Omar Puente’s “One Night in Havana” plus a full week of jazz and classical events. Sports (Cuban link): BKFC 94 in Manchester saw Cuban Yoel Romero lose to Darren Till by unanimous decision, while another fighter’s brutal injury led a doctor to stop the bout.

Cuba–U.S. Diplomacy: Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez pushed back on Washington’s claim that Cuba is a “threat,” saying the U.S. uses the label to justify the blockade and pressure. U.S. Politics & Cuba: Donald Trump said he expects a U.S.-Cuba agreement and doesn’t think military action will be needed, while Cuba remains open to dialogue and business ties. Havana Violence: Gunmen attacked a Havana micro, small, or medium enterprise in San Miguel del Padrón, injuring a worker and leaving the owner partially blind after being sprayed. Community & Culture: “Bridge of Island Rhythms” brought Canary Islands and Cuban performers together in a new musical encounter at the Timple House-Museum of Teguise. Human Stories: A Nuevitas girl, 11, is seeking help after her grandparents’ severe illnesses left her in extreme poverty. Sports & Talent: Cuban table tennis coach Liván Martínez wrapped up a high-performance stint with Guyana, urging year-round discipline and tougher training culture.