About the creator

Author, playwright, poet, and Storyteller. I am a Cuban Canadian artist with 16 years of experience trying to connect with the world through writing and storytelling. I write for young and no so young audiences. My artistic language is clear, communicative, and even humorous, but I never forget that my commitment as a creator is to contribute to human enrichment. Publications: I have published the following books: 2004: Emi Laará: Pequeñas historias para soñar (Emi Laará: Little stories to dream) AfroCuban stories for children and youths, Editorial Matanzas, 2004. 2012: Cosas de un niño grande (Things of a big child) Tales for youth, Editorial El Abra, Cuba, 2012. 2014: El asesino de la Luna (The murderer of the Moon) Fantastic Youth Novel, Editorial Libróptica, Argentina, 2014. 2014: 23 cuentos y una carta desesperada (23 stories and a desperate letter) Youth Short stories, Editorial Libróptica, Argentina, 2014. 2017: La Gran Carrera (The Great Race) Youth Theater, Editorial El Abra, Cuba, 2017. 2019: Emi Laará: Pequeñas historias para soñar (Emi Laará: little stories to dream) AfroCuban stories for children and youths, Editorial Ácana, Cuba, Second Edition, 2019). 2020: Cosas de un niño grande (Things of a big child) Tales for youth, Editorial Primigenios, Miami, Second Edition, 2020. 2022: Emi Laará: Pequeñas historias para soñar (Emi Laará: little stories to dream) AfroCuban stories for children and youths, Editorial Saga Egmont, Third Edition. 2022: El asesino de la Luna (The moon killer) Fantastic Youth Novel, Editorial Saga Egmont, Denmark, Second Edition. 2022: La Gran Carrera (The Great Race) Youth Theater, Editorial Saga Egmont, Denmark, Second Edition. 2022: ¿Cuba qué linda es Cuba? (How beautiful is Cuba?) Tales for adults, Editorial Saga Egmont, Second Edition. Some of my writings also appear in magazines and in more than 20 anthologies from Cuba, Venezuela, Canada, Spain, the United States, Uruguay, Mexico, Germany, Argentina, and other countries. I have also directed the following projects: 2022: Digital Storytelling Project: Love.exe. 2022: Digital Storytelling Project “Emì laarà: Little stories to dream”. 2021: The Great Race. Digital storytelling with comic trends, Co-production Canada- Perú and México. 2021: Digital Storytelling Project “¿Cuba Que Linda es Cuba? Confessions of a fearless Cuban”. 2021: Blue madness (Experimental Short Film with Puppets) 2021: SOS Culture (Experimental Short Film with Puppets) 2021: Mine (Animated Short Film) Prizes and awards: 2022: Winner II International Love Declarations Contest, sponsored by the Delegation of Education, Culture and Tourism of the City Council of Cantillana, Spain. Luis Buñuel Memorial Awards 2022, India. I participated in the Experimental Performing Arts category, with my project: Emí laará: little stories to dream. The piece was recognized as a finalist. Black Swan International Film Festival 2022, India. I participated in the Performing Arts category, with my project: Emí laará: little stories to dream. The piece was recognized as an Award Winner. LA Indies Short Film Festival 2022, The United States. Emi laara: little stories to dream Experimental Short Nominee AltFF Alternative Film Festival 2022, Tor.onto, Canada Sos Culture (Experimental Short Film) Best North American Animation Nominee. Mine (Short Animated Film) Best Animation Nominee. Emi laara: little stories to dream (Poster) Best Poster Nominee. Black Panther International Short Film Festival 2022, India. ¿Cuba Que Linda es Cuba? Confessions of a fearless Cuban”: Best Short Documentary Winner. Best Experimental Short Documentary Winner. Best Director Nominee. Best Screenplay Nominee and Quarterfinalist in Production. Sos Culture (Short film): Semi-finalist in the Comedy Short Film category. Mine (Animated Short Film): Semi-finalist in the Animated Short Film category. MONTREAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2022 I participated with my project " ¿Cuba Que Linda es Cuba? Confessions of a fearless Cuban”. I was recognized as a semi-finalist. SHIVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022, ONTARIO , CANADÁ Mine (Animated Short Film): Finalist in the Animated Short Film category. CANADA SHORT FILMS 2021 I participated with my project " ¿Cuba Que Linda es Cuba? Confessions of a fearless Cuban”. I was recognized with the Award of Merit. CALGARY ART DEVELOPMENTS AUTHORITY GRANTS ¿Cuba Que Linda es Cuba?: Confessions of a fearless Cuban. Digital Storytelling Project. Grantee of the ArtShare 2021. Emi laara: Little stories to dream (Winner of the Project Grant Program - Individuals & Collectives 2021). ICAI (Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation) 2021: Artist of the month of December. Recognition was given by ICAI institution based in Calgary, Alberta. (https://www.icaionline.org/news/archives/12-2021). Affiliation / Membership of Art Organizations SpanicArts, nonprofit organization to support and promote the work of Hispanic artists in Calgary, Canadá. INDAI (International Network of Dance and Art Institutions| Montreal, Canada. CALTAC (CANADIAN COALITION OF LATIN THEATER ARTISTS) Vancouver, Canadá. ASITEJ Cuba International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People | Feb 2019 – Current| Member of Alberta Playwrights' Network, Canada. Member of Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, Calgary, Canada Member of Writers' Guild of Alberta, Canada. Member of Playwrights Guild of Canada. Member of Writers' Guild of Alberta. Member of ICAI (Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation) Member of FAVA (Film and Video Arts Society Alberta). Member of Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society (AMAAS).