Ana Rodriguez | Contributing Writer
Eliecer Jiménez Almeida, 42, is a Cuban filmmaker and director who dedicates his life to creating art and films that give a voice to those who rarely have one. Most specifically, the people of Cuba.
Jiménez earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from FIU in 2021, after studying film exclusively in his home country, Cuba, since the 2010s.
For Jiménez, filmmaking is not just an art form but also a form of activism. He describes his perspective on filmmaking as “… a political and ethical act, even if it’s not always militant.”
Jiménez explores topics like censorship, propaganda, and exile in his work. He draws heavily from his personal experiences and uses his platform to speak up about Cuba.
In his latest film, Untitled. Cuba en el ojo de Rick Ray, Jiménez responds to how foreign filmmakers like Rick Ray have portrayed Cuba in the past, often through a romanticized lens.
He chooses to intervene in these conversations, where Cubans rarely get to speak for themselves.
“International media often reduce Cuba to either a postcard or a dystopia, but they rarely show the complexity, contradictions, and everyday forms of resistance of its people,” he said. “I wanted to offer a perspective that acknowledges those nuances and gives agency back to Cubans as active subjects, not just exotic objects.”
Like most artists, Jiménez aims to make his audience uncomfortable and provoke questions, but above all, to generate empathy for marginalized stories and people. “If I can get someone to question their own certainties or approach unfamiliar realities with less prejudice, then film has done its job,” he says.
Jiménez describes his time at FIU as a true foundation for his current work.
Not only did he possess artistic and creative drive, but he also gained the knowledge to dig deeper into his projects and approach them with a critical lens he hadn’t had before.
He credits a specific professor, saying, “None of this would have been possible without [him],” referring to Dr. Santiago Juan-Navarro, a current professor in FIU’s Department of Modern Languages.
Jiménez believes FIU provided him with a solid foundation, particularly in analysis and critical creation. However, like most public universities, it faces challenges in establishing direct connections to the film industry.
But don’t let that discourage you.
As an FIU graduate who also understands the broader film industry, his perspective on the current situation of aspiring filmmakers in Miami, many of whom leave the city and go into debt to attend more “prestigious” film schools, is especially insightful.
His answer is one worth reading:
“Although the top universities still attract the best opportunities, I don’t believe that success depends solely on a school’s prestige. The key is dedication, rigor, and the ability to build networks—which you can definitely do at FIU and other local institutions,” Jiménez said. “In such a connected world, talent and authenticity open more doors than the name of the university on your diploma.”
Jiménez is currently exploring different areas for his future projects.
He continues to center Cuba and Miami in his stories but is also considering exploring other migrant communities and the intersections between language, power, and technology.
Some advice he offers to young Latin American filmmakers who are trying to find their voice is: “Study, make mistakes, and remember that the urge to create can be your greatest ally. And above all, never stop asking yourself who you’re telling stories for, and why.”
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