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GUESTS: filmmakers Jauretsi Saizarbitoria and Emilia Menocal, filmmakers of East of Havana

“East of Havana” is a new documentary by first time filmmakers Jauretsi Saizarbitoria and Emilia Menocal that explores the Cuban experience through the lens of Hip Hop. The film follows the lives of three Afro-Cuban rappers, Mikki Flow, Magyori, and Soandry of the Cuban Hip Hop collective, “El Cartel,” as they prepare for the annual Cuban Hip Hop Festival. With Hurricane Charley threatening the festival, Mikki, Magyori and Soandry reflect on Cuban Hip Hop and what it means to them as they struggle to get by in everyday life. Soandry deals with the separation from his brother who fled the island ten years ago and has not yet returned. Barry Didcock of Scotland’s Sunday Herald has called East of Havana, “essentially a sort of anti-Buena Vista Social Club. There is a Ferrer in the story but he’s called Soandres not Ibrahim and he prefers over-sized T-shirts and baggy jeans to white caps and natty spats.”

East of Havana will be showing through March 15th at the Laemmle’s Grand 4 Plex, 345 S. Figueroa Street in Downtown LA, Screenings are at 5:45 and 7:45 pm.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/eastofhavana.