Mario García Joya ("Mayito") is without a doubt one the most
influential photographers and cinematographers Cuba has produced. He
studied at the San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy (Havana) and graduated
with a degree in Hispanic Language and Literature -Cuban Studies - at
the University of Havana, 1978.
Since 1966 he has been Director of Photagraphy in more than 90
feature-length films, including "A Cuban Struggle Against the Demons,"
"The Last Supper," "The Survivors," "Up to a Certain Point," "With You
in the Distance," "Letters From The Park," and "Strawberry and
Chocolate," which was nominated for an academy award in 1995. These film
were directed by Tomas Gutierrez Alea and filmed in Cuba and Mexico.
"Tiempo de Morir", directed by Jorge Alí Triana in Colombia; "Milagro
en Roma", in Colombia and Italy directed by Lisandro Duque; "Lejanía",
by Jesús Díaz, in Cuba; "Río Negro", directed by Atahualpa Lichi, in
Venezuela, and "Malabrigo", "Alias La Gringa" and "Coraje" directed by
Alberto Durán, in Perú and Spain.
Since 1995 he has worked in the United States in several films such as
HB0's "Modern Rhapsody," directed by Elly Friedman; "Paradise Lost" by
Herb Freed; Showtime's The Princess & the Barrio Boy," directed by Tony
Planas, Cine Son Production's "Cachao, Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos,"
directed by Andy García; and Cosalinda Entertainment "Tears of the
Soul" - a digital film directed by Yvonne López Arenal.
Mayito has been presented at workshops and guest speaker at the New
York School Visual Art, International Center of Photography, Irvine
University, Santa Monica College and CALART in California among others.
Also in the Cineteca in Mexico City and The Escuela Internacional de
Cine en San Antonio de los Baños in Cuba. His works has been recognized
by the Encyclopedia of Photography USA, Art Forum, Art in America and
Aperture magazines and exhibited in museums of major cities, Georges
Pompidou in Paris; Festival de Arles in France; Kunthaus en Zurich,
Ledel Gallery and The New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York;
International Center of Photography in New York, Museo de Arte
Contemporáneo in Madrid, Spain; el Museo de Arte Alvar y Carmen T. de
Carrillo Gil, el Museo de Arte Moderno and El Palacio de Bellas Artes
in México; The Australian Centre for Photography in Australia, el
Centro Cultural of Sao Paulo, Brasil; el Centro Cultural of Buenos
Aires in Argentina, el Museo Nacional, Palacio de Bellas Artes in
Havana and the 41st Venice Bienal and others.
He has received numerous awards for his work as a photographer and
cinematographer, including Premio Coral for best Cinematographer,
Festival Internacional de Cine in Havana Cuba, the Premio a la mejor
Cinematografia at the Bogota International Festival; The premio Casa de
Fotografia, at Casa de Las Americas in Havana, Cuba. Jose Tabio Award
at the First Bienal of Havana and The Revolution and Culture Award at
the Second Bienal in Havana, Cuba and The First Salón Internacional of
Budapest Hungría Award, among others. In 2002 the John Simon Guggenheim
Memorial Foundation honorees his works with its prestigious fellowship.
Since 1997 until the present time, Mayito has been one of the Directors
of the Cuban American Cultural Institute, a non-profit organization
located in Los Angeles, California, founded to preserving and promoting
the values of the Latin American culture.
