Film Screening & Panel: Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen National Park

4400 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest,Washington DC 20016

23 September, 2022

Description

We invite you to the U.S. premiere of a brand new documentary about Cuba's Gardens of the Queen National Park (Los Jardines de la Reina) on September 23 from 6:00 to 9:30 pm at the MCK 201 Malsi Doyle Forman Theater, The McKinley Building at the School of Communication on American University's campus. The film explores the breathtaking underwater world of Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen and the scientists who are leading efforts to protect the park. Following the film, we will facilitate a panel session about the film and US-Cuba collaboration on the environment, featuring special guest Jorge Perugorría, a world renowned Cuban actor who is the film's director and producer. We will close the event with a happy hour to socialize and enjoy hors d'oeuvres. Agenda: 6:00 - 6:10pm Opening Remarks 6:10 - 6:50pm Screening of Los Jardines de la Reina 6:50 - 7:45pm Panel Session 7:45 - 9:30pm Networking and hors d'oeuvres Panelists: Jorge Perugorría – Film Director and Producer of “Los Jardines de la Reina. ”Known as “Pichi”, he is one of Latin America’s great actors and directors, starring in over 50 films and series in Cuba and abroad. Tamara Figueredo – Featured in the film, Tamara is an environmental economist with Avalon, a pioneering tourism operator that supports the protection of the national park. Yociel Marrero – Program Director for the Cuban Environmental NGO, the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Humankind and Nature, Yociel is an environmental engineer who leads the Foundation’s work on Responsible Economics and Consumption. Daniel Whittle – Senior Attorney and Senior Director of Caribbean Initiatives at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Dan plays a leading role in projects to promote sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, and community-based clean energy and climate justice. Dan co-founded EDF’s Cuba Program and has been especially active in promoting scientific exchange and environmental cooperation between the U.S. and Cuba. Fernando Bretos – Program Officer, Wider Caribbean Region, The Ocean Foundation. Fernando is a Cuban-American conservation scientist who studies marine migratory species and specializes in restoring mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs in the Caribbean region. He has worked in Cuba since 1998 and directs the Trinational Initiative for Marine Science and Conservation in the Western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico since 2007 and is cofounder of the Gulf of Mexico Marine Protected Area (RedGolfo)Julio Maaz – Technical Coordinator for Sustainable Fisheries at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Belize. Julio is a biologist and expert in marine conservation whose work helps protect the Belize Barrier Reef and supports conservation efforts across Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, including collaborations with Cuba. María José Espinosa – Executive Director, Center for Democracy in the Americas. María José has developed advocacy, program, and communication strategies that drive transformative action in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean on issues including Cuba, regional migration, and protections for refugees and migrants.Dr. Philip Brenner – Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at American University. Dr. Brenner has led extensive research and writing on U.S.-Cuba relations, U.S.-Latin American relations, and contemporary U.S. foreign policy. His most recent book is Cuba Libre: A 500-Year Quest for Independence.This event is hosted by American University School of Communication (AU SOC) and co-sponsored by SOC's Center for Media and Social Impact, along with Environmental Defense Fund, The Ocean Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Center for Democracy in the Americas & the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Humankind and Nature. American University requires all students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated. Right now, masks are optional but that could change depending on COVID rates. Here is the link to the university's COVID policy. Register to here to attend!