Oldren Romero

Oldren Romero Leyva Was born in Havana, CUBA He began to show an interest in visual arts at the age of only four and his mother enrolled him in painting classes at the Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center) in Central Havana. Over the next nine years, his outstanding work earned him various national and international recognitions. Among these was First Prize two times in the National Visual Arts "Ahorrar es Crecer" ("To Save is To Grow") Contest. As a result, Oldren had the opportunity to travel around the island of Cuba. In 1992, Oldren graduated from the Havana School of Photography. In 1994, he completed a Photo Journalism course at the Unión de Periodistas y Escritores Cubanos (Cuban Journalists and Writers Union) and a course called, "Dance: Mirror of Man" at the Alejo Carpentier Foundation. In 1997, Oldren Romero graduated as a Cultural Events Promoter and Organizer from the Centro de Desarrollo Cultural (Cultural Development Center). During this period, he also took various cinematography courses at the Centro Cinematográfico de Artes Visuales (Cinematography Center for Visual Arts) in Havana. During his 23 years in Havana, Oldren was among the creators and organizers of the popular gallery Atrapando Espacios (Catching Spaces). He contributed work to many cultural events, including painting and photography exhibitions at Atrapando Espacios. He also helped produce the short fiction film "La Sombra" 1995 ("The Shadow") and played the role of the protagonist. At the Seventeenth International Festival of New Latin American Film in Havana, "La Sombra" was nominated as best short fiction film. In 1995, he worked as a photographer for La Empresa de Carnaval, the company that organizes the Havana Carnivals. Thanks to the United States' visa lottery for Cubans, Oldren emigrated to Massachusetts in 1997, where he continued to work in the visual arts. Highlights include: . Co-Director of an educational video about adolescents and HIV entitled, "Life Goes On," for English High School in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. . Director of a 25-minute educational video for the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. . Photographer for a fundraising event of the Jewish Heritage Center of the North Shore in Lynn, Massachusetts. . Exhibitor of his own photo collection entitled "Calle Habana" ("Havana Street") in various libraries in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2012, he wrote, directed and produced the experimental fiction short, "MALA SUERTE" ("BAD LUCK"). Best Short Competition (WINNER AWARD OF MERIT) this was the first work of fiction produced independently by O Man Productions, an independent film production company created by Oldren Romero. In 2013, he wrote, directed, produced and acted in the fiction short, "UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS" ("A TALE WITH CHRIST AND JESUS"), which was shown in November and December 2014 but was completed in February 2015. "UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS" has been shown and continues to be shown in international festivals such as: . Barcelona Film Festival ( FICGLB) 2014 (Official Selection) . The International Festival of New Latin American Film 2014 - Festival Internacional del Nuevo Latinoamericano. (Official Selection) . International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema MADRID 2015. Nominations: Best Original Screenplay of a Short Film Best Story Best Foreign Language Short (WINNER BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY OF A SHORT FILM) . Accolade Global Film Competition 2015. (WINNER AWARD OF MERIT) . Indie Fest Film Awards 2015 (WINNER AWARD OF MERIT) . Best Shorts Competition 2015 (WINNER AWARD OF MERIT) . Action on Film International Film Festival 2015 Nominations: Best Director - Short Best Editing - Short WINNER Runner up AWARD Best Director Short. . Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival 2015 (Official Selection) . Louisville's International Festival of Film 2015 (Official Selection) . International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema MILAN 2015 Nominations: Best Lead Actor in a Foreign Language Film Best Supporting Actor in a Foreign Language Film Best Cinematography in a Foreign Language Film Best Director of a Short Foreign Language Film WINNER Best Lead Actor in a Foreign Language Film WINNER Best Supporting Actor in a Foreign Language Film . International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema LONDON 2016 Nominations: Jury Award Best Director of a Short Foreign Language Film Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language Film . Roma Cinema DOC 2016 (Official Selection) . Colortape International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection) He is now working in his new short film, "SUCEDIÓ EN EL CIELO" ("IT HAPPENED IN HEAVEN"). Coming soon in 2016 Oldren Romero Leyva lives and works in Massachusetts, USA.