Santiago Álvarez (August 11, 1919 – May 20, 1998) was a Cuban documentary filmmaker and political activist. His most celebrated works are considered milestones in the history of documentary film.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Álvarez was the son of a lawyer. He attended Havana University and graduated with a degree in law. During his university years, he developed an interest in film, and began making his own films in 1944.
In 1956, he joined the Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), where he became a major figure in the Cuban cinema. He was a proponent of the Cuban Revolution and made films that reflected his political views.
In 1958, he made his first major film, Now. It was a documentary short that depicted the early days of the Cuban Revolution. It was a critical and commercial success, and established Álvarez as an important figure in the Cuban Cinema.
In 1960, he released his second film, the groundbreaking documentary Cuba, a Revolution in Progress. This film documented the effects of the Cuban Revolution on the Cuban people. It was an international success, and helped to spread the message of the revolution to a wider audience.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Álvarez continued to make films about the Cuban Revolution and its effects. He also made several internationally acclaimed films about the Vietnam War.
In 1978, Álvarez was appointed director of the ICAIC, and remained in this position until his death in 1998. During his tenure, he helped to shape the Cuban film industry and develop a unique Cuban style.
Throughout his life, Álvarez was a passionate advocate of the Cuban Revolution. He used his films to spread the message of the revolution, and to inspire people to fight for what they believed in.
His works are still highly regarded today, and his legacy lives on in the Cuban Cinema. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in Cuban film.
