26th Havana Film Festival NY Havana Star Prize Winners – Ana Cristina Barragan’s ‘The Ivy (Hiedra)’ Wins Best Film

At the closing ceremony, the 26th Havana Film Festival NY honored the winning films with the Havana Star Prize, awarding Best Film to The Ivy (Hiedra) by Ana Cristina Barragán (Ecuador).

The award for Best Director went to Álvaro Torrico, for La Hija Cóndor (Bolivia); the Best Actor prize went to Julio Hervis López, for El Regresado (Cuba); the Best Actress prize went to Valentina Shen Wu from Under the Same Sun (Dominican Republic); and the Best Screenplay went to Daniel Hendler for Un Cabo Suelto (Uruguay-Argentina). A Special Mention from the Jury was given to The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego Céspedes (Chile).

“For its masterful presentation of the art of storytelling in film, with superb direction of actors, an original mise-en-scène, and excellent cinematography—and, more importantly, for its critical and lyrical approach to the devastating reality of sexual abuse in Latin America. For all these reasons, Ana Cristina Barragán’s Hiedra (The Ivy) takes home the award for Best Film at HFFNY,” said the jury.

The jury in the Fiction category was composed of Rafi Mercado, the Puerto Rican film director and production designer; Margaret Frohlich, professor of film and Latin American studies at Dickinson College; and Breixo Viejo, professor at the Herbert School of Communications at Hofstra University, specializing in film history.

The Havana Star Prize for Best Documentary went to Para Vivir: El implacable tiempo de Pablo Milanés by Fabien Pisani (Cuba). A Special Mention from the jury was given to Vidas en la Orilla by Lucía Gajá (Mexico).

“For its profound exploration of the global impact and enduring significance of the Canción protesta genre, alongside a nuanced portrayal of paternity and a compelling depiction of the artistic and personal trajectory of Pablo Milanés,” the jury stated when presenting the award to Para Vivir. The jury in the Documentary category was composed of Ana María Hernández, professor of Latin American Studies at LaGuardia Community College; journalist and podcaster Felipe Aguilera; and Álvaro Baquero-Pecino, professor at CUNY’s College of Staten Island.

“These films offered a rich spectrum of voices and perspectives, exploring social, political, and artistic themes with creativity and depth,” said Diana Vargas, HFFNY Artistic Director.

HAVANA STAR PRIZE WINNERS – 2026

BEST FICTION FILM
HIEDRA – directed by Ana Cristina Barragán
The Fiction jury recognized Hiedra for its masterful presentation of the art of storytelling in film, with superb direction of actors, an original mise-en-scène, and outstanding cinematography. The film was further honored for its critical and lyrical approach to the devastating reality of sexual abuse in Latin America.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
PARA VIVIR: EL IMPLACABLE TIEMPO DE PABLO MILANÉS – directed by Fabien Pisani
The Documentary jury awarded the film for its focus on the global impact and cultural relevance of Canción Protesta, as well as for its historical depth and nuanced portrayal of Pablo Milanés’ personal and emotional evolution, including reflections on paternity and human relationships.

BEST DIRECTOR
Álvaro Olmos Torrico – LA HIJA CÓNDOR

BEST SCREENPLAY
Daniel Hendler – UN CABO SUELTO

BEST ACTRESS
Valentina Shen Wu – BAJO EL MISMO SOL

BEST ACTOR
Julio Hervis López – EL REGRESADO

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
FICTION: LA MISTERIOSA MIRADA DEL FLAMENCO – Diego Céspedes
DOCUMENTARY: VIDAS EN LA ORILLA – Lucía Gajá