CUBA AFTER CASTRO

The Island in the Crosshairs
 The first and only American interview with Cuba’s little-known Miguel Díaz-Canel. Cuba After Castro explores the island nation’s lesser-known history and turbulent present, in a revealing portrait of the man tasked with steering its future after Castro.

Cuba After Castro delivers the definitive portrait of Miguel Díaz-Canel, Cuba’s first leader born after the Revolution. Through this unprecedented in-depth interview we see a vision of revolutionary Cuba suppressed in the west: a nation of collective values and defiance in the face of constant threats from the United States.

The film chronicles Diaz-Canel’s formation as an unexpected successor to the Castros — an unassuming organizer molded by the revolutionary process. Confronting a perfect storm of intensified U.S. sanctions, a media war, a devastating pandemic, and historic domestic protests. Díaz-Canel reflects on navigating these existential crises for the nation he has come to lead.

Director biographies

Abby Martin

Is an American journalist and former host of flagships shows on teleSUR and RTAmerica. She is the founder and director of several media organizations, including The Empire Files, an investigative documentary series about US imperialism. Over her career she has interviewed countless heads of state, academics and politicians. In 2019 she released her debut feature film, Gaza Fights For Freedom, which has been called the definitive “crash course” on Palestine.

Her new film Earth’s Greatest Enemy (2025), about the environmental impact of the US military, is on a directors tour now. Her uncompromising style has made her a standard-bearer of advocacy journalism, and one of the most well-known alternative media figures in the country.

Matthew Belen

Is a Dominican documentary filmmaker from New York City. With a strong background in news and documentary post-production, he’s worked as an editor for Vice News, Buzzfeed, Conde Nast, as well as various docu-serieses like The Vow and How To: With John Wilson. In recent years he’s focused his skills on telling stories that highlight movements for social and political justice both past and present. He’s spent the last 5 years helping to build BreakThrough News into a bastion of anti-imperialist and movement-focused media.

His most recent claim to fame was as lead producer for The Encampments (2025), which premiered at CPH:DOX in Coppenhaggen and broke the box office record for highest per-theater-average for a documentary on its opening weekend.

Live screening

Join Us in the Discord!

Join us for an official online screening of Cuba After Castro on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00pm EDT. We’re proud to be hosting this screening in partnership with the film’s official rollout. Enter our Discord to attend, get updates, and watch with the community.

Discord Invite