At the National Museum Collezione Salce, an exhibition is taking place: "CIAK! CUBA. Cinema in Cuban posters from the Bardellotto Collection", from October 20, 2024, to March 31, 2025. This exhibition, realized in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso-Belluno, celebrates the Cuban film posters, recently awarded the prestigious "Memory of the World" recognition by UNESCO, from the Bardellotto Collection.

Since 1959, shortly after the revolution, the ICAIC (Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry) came to life, transforming cinema into a fundamental tool to express and promote the new Cuban cultural identity. Cubans, known for their passion for cinema, witnessed the emergence of a vibrant local production, alongside the best films from around the world, gradually replacing North American films.
Alongside this institution, the cartel de cine took shape, entrusted to local graphic designers, many of whom were self-taught. Despite economic challenges, these artists demonstrated extraordinary creativity, earning international recognition. Names like Eduardo Muñoz Bachs, Rafael Morante, Antonio Reboiro, René Azcuy, Antonio Pérez González (Ñiko), and Alfredo Rostgaard brought to life unique works, all handmade and screen-printed, to support the island's film landscape.

There was a particular focus on creating a new cinema that would differentiate itself in every way from the Hollywood commercial model. It was decided that even the movie posters should be reimagined, avoiding established canons (big star faces, key scenes, suggestive slogans) of traditional film posters. The new carteles (produced in serigraphy technique 51 x 76 cm) were thus freed from their advertising function, allowing graphic designers full interpretative freedom of the film, contributing to a true visual and conceptual revolution in the cinema audience. El cartel de cine would effectively become an artwork displayed in the streets.
The Carteles are a unique graphic phenomenon (still present in Cuba today), of exceptional quality and artistic creativity, a crossroads of different styles and expressive forms, a happy island of freedom in a country where every form of visual communication is under strict control.