Film Screening & Discussion

Join director Fabien Pisani together with Professors Marc Perry and Odette Casamayor-Cisneros for a screening and discussion of En la Caliente: Tales of a Reggaeton Warrior, an award-winning documentary that offers a compelling portrait of Cuban youth, music, and social rebellion through the story of Candyman, a pioneer of reggaeton in Cuba.

ABOUT THE FILM

In the mid-1990s, Cuba was seemingly frozen in time, yet undergoing profound transformation. Young Cubans eagerly searched for something new and embraced a musical movement spreading across the island. Its leader was Candyman, and the music was reggaeton.

This film explores Cuban youth through the music and dance of reggaeton—the island's most popular genre, yet barely heard in official media. Thriving in a unique underground scene and promoted through ingenious grassroots strategies, reggaeton emerged as a cultural and commercial phenomenon during a pivotal moment in Cuban history. En la Calientereveals an irreverent generation living its own revolution.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Fabien Pisani (Cuba, 1971) was born and raised in Havana. After studying and working as a musician, he moved to Paris to study literature and philosophy. For the past 20 years, he has worked as an editor, producer, and director between New York and Havana.

In 2011, he developed and produced 7 Days in Havana, which premiered at Cannes (Official Selection – Un Certain Regard, 2012) and the San Sebastián International Film Festival. He is an alumnus of the Berlinale Talent Campus at Guadalajara IFF (2009) and the Screenwriters Lab organized by the Sundance Institute in Oaxaca, Mexico (2007).

His debut feature documentary, En la Caliente: Tales of a Reggaeton Warrior, is currently touring international film festivals and reaching audiences worldwide through academic presentations. Beyond film and television, Fabien has dedicated himself to promoting Cuba's cultural capital and emerging creative economy, founding Zafra Media magazine and the Musicabana International Music Festival.

Award-winning documentary:

• Gabo Award, Colombia (2025)
• Nvision Latino Film & Music Festival (2024)
• Ceará Film Festival, Brazil (2024)
• Punta del Este International Film Festival (2025)