{{Infobox film director | name = Miguel Coyula | image = Miguel Coyula, 2014.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1977|03|31}} | birth_place = [[Havana]], Cuba | citizenship = Cuban | occupation = Film director, writer, and editor | education = [[International School of Film and Television|International Film School of San Antonio de los Baños]], [[Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute]] | years_active = 1999–present | notable_works = | awards = {{plainlist| * [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] * Best Director, Biznaga de Plata, [[Málaga Film Festival]], Latin American Territory (''Memories of Overdevelopment'', 2010) * HFPA Best Ibero-American Film, Jorge Cámara Award, [[Guadalajara International Film Festival]] (''Blue Heart'', 2021) * Best Film, Envision Competition, [[International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam]] * Special Jury Prize in the Vanguard and Genre Competition at the [[Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival]] * [Best Latin American Documentary of the Year Award, [[Cinema Tropical]] (''Chronicles of the Absurd'', 2024) }} | father = [[Mario Coyula Cowley]] | partner = [[Lynn Cruz]] }}
'''Miguel Coyula Aquino''' (born March 31, 1977), professionally known as '''Miguel Coyula''', is a Cuban film director, writer, cinematographer and editor. His work moves between fiction and documentary filmmaking, often noted for its radical approach in both form and content. He developed a personal production methodology in which limitations and obstacles become part of the creative process.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cineaste.com/summer2021/home | title = Miguel Coyula Aquino: Revolutionary Witness | website = Cineaste | last = Roe | first = Matthew David }}</ref> Working with a multi-disciplinary approach, his films usually take several years to complete. He has been described by critics as a virtuoso<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.80grados.net/otros-modos-de-hacer-cine-conversacion-con-miguel-coyula-en-la-habana/?__cf_chl_tk=_tqKLR4VA3QReL98aPPkzrHdDwBxW78BzX7H2G8YpzE-1678913804-0-gaNycGzNCXs|title=Otros modos de hacer cine|date=2013-03-01|website=80 Grados|last=Ramos|first=Julio}}</ref> and an innovator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cadal.org/articulos/?id=13286|title=Intertextualidad, alienación y desarraigo en Memorias del Desarrollo|accessdate=November 5, 2020|date=2020-03-01|website=Cadal|last=Caride|first=Jorge Luis Lanza}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Matar el realismo: un libro para indagar en el pensamiento y en el misterio de Miguel Coyula |url=https://rialta.org/matar-el-realismo-un-libro-para-indagar-en-el-pensamiento-y-en-el-misterio-de-miguel-coyula/ |website=Rialta |date=14 October 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> The multi-layered narratives of his films often deal with alienation, containing graphic depictions of sexuality, and frontal criticism of both society and politicians. The controversial nature of his work has resulted in the banning of his work in Cuba, although it has also suffered censorship in Argentina,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diariodecuba.com/cultura/1551880161_44999.html|title=El Ministerio de relaciones exteriores cancela proyección de Nadie|accessdate=October 1, 2021|date=2021-08-01|website=Diario de Cuba|last=Cuenca|first=Waldo Fernández}}</ref> Belarus, Morocco, and Beirut.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.creatividadinternacional.com/profiles/blogs/cuba-imita-a-ir-n-en-la-censura-de-cineastas|title=Cuba imita a Iran en la censura de cineastas|accessdate=October 1, 2021|date=2021-08-01|website=Creatividad Internacional|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113131747/https://www.creatividadinternacional.com/profiles/blogs/cuba-imita-a-ir-n-en-la-censura-de-cineastas|archive-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> The press has often referred to him as the enfant terrible of Cuban Cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thefilmverdict.com/blue-heart/|title=Blue Heart|accessdate=October 1, 2021|date=2021-08-01|website=The Film Verdict|last=Boero|first=Patricia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Moscow International Film Festival Programme (PDF) |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/upfile/file/347.pdf |website=Moscow International Film Festival |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Miguel Coyula presenta “Matar el realismo” (Latinoamericana interview) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf8UbzpyiAQ |website=YouTube |publisher=Latinoamericana |access-date=22 May 2026 |quote=Miguel Coyula: Enfant terrible of Cuban Cinema by Franco Avicolli during the discussion of Coyula’s book work and independent filmmaking practice.}}</ref>
== Career ==
At age 17, he made his first short with a VHS camcorder, which led to his admittance to [[Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television]] (The International Film and Television School) of [[San Antonio de los Baños]], [[Cuba]]. His work spans fiction and documentary cinema. In 2001, he received a scholarship at the [[Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute]]. While attending the Strasberg Institute, Coyula made his first feature, ''[[Red Cockroaches]]'' (2003), for less than $2000 over a two-year period. The film was described by ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' as ''"a triumph of technology in the hands of a visionary with know-how..."''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/red-cockroaches-1200532915/|title=Red Cockroaches|accessdate=June 8, 2004|date=2004-08-05|website=Variety}}</ref> The film won over twenty awards in film festivals around the world.
In 2009, Coyula was awarded the [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] by The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for developing his second feature, the film ''[[Memories of Overdevelopment]]'' (2010), a follow-up to the Cuban classic ''[[Memorias del Subdesarrollo]]'' (1968), based on the novel by Cuban writer [[Edmundo Desnoes]]. After its world premiere at the ''[[Sundance Film Festival]]'', the film garnered several awards and honors. The International Film Guide described it as one of the best films Cuba has produced.<ref name="apb">{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalfilmguide.com/docs/2011/01/Cuba.pdf|title=Best Cuban Films of the year|accessdate=2011-01-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006151710/http://www.internationalfilmguide.com/docs/2011/01/Cuba.pdf|archivedate=2011-10-06}}</ref> In 2013 La Pereza Ediciones published his first novel Mar Rojo, Mal Azul. From 2015 to the 2016 he produced the web Series Rafael Alcides and the documentary feature ''[[Nobody (2017 film)|Nobody]]'' (2017) which won the Best Documentary award at the Global Film Festival in Santo Domingo. His latest feature ''[[Blue Heart (film)|Blue Heart]]'' (2021), was filmed over ten years in Havana, premiered at the ''[[Moscow International Film Festival]]'' and won the ''[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]'' award at the ''[[Guadalajara International Film Festival]]''. ''[[Cineaste (magazine)|Cineaste]]'' described the film as ''"...the culminating point of Coyula's artistic growth. It stands as his most visceral experience..."''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roe |first=Matthew David |date=2021 |title=Miguel Coyula Aquino: REVOLUTIONARY WITNESS |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27087896 |journal=Cinéaste |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=16–21 |issn=0009-7004}}</ref>
His second novel, La Isla Vertical was published in 2022 by Ediciones Deslinde, and in 2024 his essay book, Matar el Realismo by Hurón Azul Ediciones, both in Madrid.
In 2024, his documentary [[Chronicles of the Absurd]] won the Envision Competition Award for Best Film at the [[International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Cuba's Miguel Coyula wins IDFA Envision Competition |website=Cinema Tropical |date=2024-11-21 | url=https://www.cinematropical.com/cinema-tropical/cubas-miguel-coyula-wins-idfa-envision-competition-with-chronicles-of-the-absurd | accessdate=November 21, 2024}}</ref>
==Filmography==
* ''Pirámide'' (1996) * ''Válvula de luz'' (1997) * ''Detalles'' (1998) * ''Idea'' (1998) * ''Buena Onda'' (''Nice Going'') (1999) * ''Bailar sobre agujas'' (''Dancing on Needles'') (1999) * ''[[Clase Z "Tropical"]]'' (2000) * ''El Tenedor plástico'' (''The Plastic Fork'') (2001) * ''[[Red Cockroaches]]'' (2003) * ''Memorias del Desarrollo'' (aka ''[[Memories of Overdevelopment]]'') (2010) * ''Nadie'' (''Nobody'') (2017) * ''Corazon Azul'' (aka ''[[Blue Heart (film)|Blue Heart]]'') (2021) * ''Crónicas del Absurdo'' (aka ''[[Chronicles of the Absurd]]'') (2024)
==Books==
* ''Mar rojo, mal azul'' (2013) * ''La isla vertical'' (2022) * ''Matar el Realismo'' (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Matar el realismo: un libro para indagar en el pensamiento y en el misterio de Miguel Coyula |url=https://rialta.org/matar-el-realismo-un-libro-para-indagar-en-el-pensamiento-y-en-el-misterio-de-miguel-coyula/ |website=Rialta |date=14 October 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>
==Awards and nominations==
===''Chronicles of the Absurd''=== * Envision Competition Award for Best Film, IDFA, The Netherlands, 2024<ref name=":0" /> * Special Jury Prize, BAFICI, Argentina, 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Bafici 2025: Laura Casabe's Sundance Hit 'The Virgin of the Quarry Lake' Takes Top Honors as Bafici Wraps 26th Edition |website=Variety |date=2025-04-14 | url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/bafici-laura-casabe-virgin-of-the-quarry-lake-1236368807/ | accessdate=April 17, 2025|last=Jones|first=Holly}}</ref> * Best Non-Fiction film, Cinema Tropical, United States, 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinema Tropical 16 Awards |website=Cinema Tropical |date=2025-04-14 | url=https://www.cinematropical.com/awards16 | accessdate=January 8, 2026}}</ref>
===''Blue Heart''=== * Special Mention, The Latino & Iberian Film Festival at Yale, USA, 2022 * Award for audacity, Minsk International Film Festival, Belarus, 2021 * HFPA Jorge Camara Award for Best Latinamerican Film, Guadalajara International Film Festival, Mexico, 2021 * Nominated for the Golden St.George Award, Moscow International Film Festival, Russia, 2021
===''Memories of Overdevelopment''=== ''Memorias del Desarrollo'' has won 20 awards, including: * Audience award for Best Foreign Film, Mostra Principal, Arraial CineFest, Brasil, 2012 * Best Director of Latinamerican Section, [[Málaga Film Festival]], Spain 2011 * Best Film, Muestra Nacional de Nuevos Realizadores, Cuba, 2011 * Special Award, Premios ACE, USA, 2011 * Cine Latino Award, Washington [[DC Independent Film Festival]], USA, 2011 * Most Innovative, Cero Latitud Film Festival, Ecuador, 2010 * Best Narrative Feature, Dallas Video Fest, USA, 2010 * Best Feature, [[New Media Film Festival]], USA 2010 * Special Mention, Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, USA, 2010 * Best Film, [[Havana Film Festival New York]], USA, 2010
===''Red Cockroaches''=== ''[[Red Cockroaches]]'' has won 23 awards, including: * Best Editing, Fearless Tales Genre Festival, USA, 2005 * GreenCine Online Film Festival, New Media Film Festival, USA, 2005 * Best Film, Microcinema Festival, USA, 2004 * Special Jury Award, Muestra de Jóvenes Realizadores, Cuba, 2004 * Gran Premio Plaza, Festival Cineplaza, Cuba 2004. * Special Mention for Visual Concept, [[Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre]], Argentina, 2004 * Best Editing, Encuentro Nacional de Video, Cuba, 2004 * Special Mention, Festival Internazionale de la Fantascienza, Italy, 2004. * Best Feature, Festival Almacén de la Imagen, Cuba, 2003
==See also== {{Portal|Cuba}} *[[Cinema of Cuba]] *[[Independent film]] *[[Art film]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikiquote}} * {{IMDb name|id=1472334|name=Miguel Coyula}} * {{Cite web |date=1 January 2005 |title=Fade to Black: Miguel Coyula, Director |url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_fade_black_34/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311070747/http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_fade_black_34/index.html |archive-date=2007-03-11 |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Milimeter Magazine |via=digitalcontentproducer.com}} * [https://thefilmverdict.com/blue-heart/ Review of Blue Heart at The Film Verdict] * [https://www.jstor.org/stable/27087896/ Miguel Coyula's profile at Cineaste Magazine]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coyula, Miguel}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Mass media people from Havana]] [[Category:Cuban film directors]] [[Category:Cuban writers]] [[Category:21st-century Cuban writers]]