diariodecuba.com
The Director of the Image Museum Accused of Violating Labor Discipline for Programming Filmmaker Documentaries
Demian Rabilero is accused of violating the Constitution and other laws, negligence, among other issues.
Demian Rabilero del Castillo, director of the Museo de la Imagen y el Sonido Bernabé Muñiz Guibernau, has been accused of negligence, violation of labor discipline, among other issues, for programming materials from the Asamblea Nacional de Cineastas, an organization not recognized by the Cuban state whose members are accused by cultural authorities of “holding positions contrary to the Government.”
In an official document published by Rabilero on his social media, he is accused of programming a series of documentaries by members of the mentioned group during the III Audiovisual Week, held between April 8 and 13, 2024.
A fragment of the text reads:
“During this week, documentaries are screened, curated by comrade Demian, featuring the Asamblea de Cineastas Cubanos with a dedicated day on Saturday, April 13, showcasing documentaries that do not align with our country’s cultural policy.”
The document accuses the Museum director of failing to “communicate any incidents” to the Provincial Heritage Center.
The case is aggravated as this Association made a donation of books to the Museum, and the comrade made a promotional video for the week, showing the donation and personally thanking the Association, which he uploaded on his Facebook profile with its corresponding implications,” the document added.
According to the text, Rabilero del Castillo violated “labor discipline as per Article 29.1 of Decree Law 13/2020 by: a) failing to comply with the Constitution, laws, regulations, or any other legal norm or guiding document; i) being negligent in his duties; j) exceeding the limits of his authority or misusing it; n) failing to follow superior orders; m) damaging the prestige, image, or other values of the entity; o) violating the incompatibilities established for the position or activity.”
The Museo de la Imagen, unique on the Island, is located in the Vista Alegre neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba. It features four permanent exhibition rooms covering the history of photography, cinema, radio, and television, along with a protocol room, a cinema and video room, and a film vault with various 16 mm materials.
“Nothing to regret, nothing wrong was done, and I would do it again. We have lived and seen too much to know that the hand that rocks the cradle today can honor yesterday’s ostracized, but its ineptitude and poetry are terrible,”
Rabilero said, although he did not specify the sanction imposed.
The director of the Museo de la Imagen, a Santiago de Cuba Culture Directorate dependent institution, received numerous expressions of solidarity.
For Kiki Álvarez,
“the Cuban fight against the demons of dogmatism and exclusion is alive and bleeding. Acts like this are a sign of the lack of love and commitment for a Cuba for all and for the common good.”
Professor Gustavo Arcos wrote:
“Well done, Demian Rabilero. Shame on those who exclude and sanction. This ruling clearly shows where the evil and impunity lie. Punishing someone for screening movies, receiving books and film posters, and promoting debate through images generated by Cuban filmmakers is another example (yet again!!) of the pathetic actions of certain authorities. Support for you.”
According to theater director Atilio Caballero,
“it is exactly the same rhetoric and the same messed-up mentality from 40 years ago.”
Read the full article in English on diariodecuba.com, using Google Translate.
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