MIAMI, May 8, 2026 — The Cuban Cinema Series, presented by Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Film Festival, will premiere Naranjo, the latest documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Jorge Soliño, on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. at MDC’s Koubek Center.
The documentary will be screened in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free, but RSVP is required.
The film revisits and rediscovers the work of self-taught painter Orlando González Naranjo, born in Calabazar de Sagua, Las Villas, in 1937, about whom writer Reinaldo Arenas once said, “A painting by Naranjo is an invitation that entices.”
It is a story of exile, human fragility and the power of art as one’s only homeland when other incentives in life have been lost.
Orlando González Naranjo emigrated to the United States in 1984, convinced that artistic success would allow him to travel the world and, someday, return to his homeland.
His body of work — imbued with nostalgia, color and pain — serves as a refuge where the faces of his lost land emerge: peasant women with large, unfathomable eyes; rural landscapes; national symbols; and deeply expressive visages that speak of uprootedness and survival.
Orlando Naranjo’s art has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions, where he has shared space with renowned masters such as Wifredo Lam, Amelia Peláez, Mario Carreño and Gina Pellón, among others. His paintings are also part of private collections in Poland, Spain, the United States and Venezuela.
The documentary’s score was composed by Omar Hernández, with animation by Mario García-Montes. Post-production was handled by Rafael Hernández, and images of Calabazar de Sagua were captured by photographer Raúl “El Yuca” Gutiérrez.
Following the screening, director Jorge Soliño and artist Orlando G. Naranjo will participate in a conversation with the audience.
WHAT: Miami Film Festival’s Cuban Cinema Series Presents Naranjo
WHEN: Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m.
RSVP for free tickets: https://miamifilmfestival.com/program/event/naranjo/
Download images here Photo credit: Jorge Soliño
WHERE: Koubek Center, 2705 SW 3rd St. Free parking available
About the Cuban Cinema Series
Founded and directed in 1993 by renowned film critic and author Alejandro Ríos, the Cuban Cinema Series celebrates the vibrant and diverse world of Cuban cinema. Presented by MDC’s Miami Film Festival at the Koubek Center, the series features free screenings throughout the year, offering the public an exclusive opportunity to experience the richness of Cuban filmmaking. Special screenings are accompanied by appearances from filmmakers and talent, making the program a unique and engaging cultural event. The Cuban Cinema Series receives support from ArtesMiami.