In 2017, when the all-female Cuban quartet Vocal Vidas travel to Los Angeles after Grand Performances books them three performances, they get invited to an additional performance at LACMA, on a radio show and to a studio, and bring their lively beautiful music to receptive audiences who cheer and dance. Flashing back to 2015 to their hometown of Santiago de Cuba, the Vocal Vidas sing regularly at the historic El Morro Castle as the culture and economics of Cuba is explored. Set during an explosive time in US politics when the Trump administration formally ends people-to-people visas between Cuba and the United States, Soy Cubana shows the importance of music, supporting other cultures, and having an open travel policy for creatives so they can share their music and culture.

Directors Jeremy Ungar and Ivaylo Getov deliver a fantastically entertaining music documentary that really captures the Vocal Vidas’ beautiful voices, as well as the culture and socio-economic issues of Cuba. Beginning as a documentary short that premiered at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the short played over fifty festivals winning at least ten awards. Soy Cubana the feature took home the Audience Award at SXSW Film Festival this year and currently holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. – Judd Taylor