Oldren con sombrero y yo con Zika, pero felices por el reencuentro en La Habana de 2017.
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”). 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 completed in 2014-2015.
“UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS” has been shown and continues to be shown in international festivals such as:
• The Barcelona International LGBT Film Festival 2014 (Official Selection)
• Marche du Film Festival de Cannes 2014 (Presentation)
• The International Festival of New Latin American Film 2014 (Official Selection)
• The Madrid International Film Festival 2015.
Nominations:
Best Original Screenplay of a Short Film. Oldren Romero, Ariel Barrios, Ihosvany Hernandez
Best Story. Oldren Romero
Best Foreign Language Short
(Winner Best Original Screenplay of Short Film 2015) Oldren Romero, Ariel Barrios, Ihosvany Hernandez
• Accolade Global Film Competition 2015
(Winner Award of Merit) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Indie Fest Film Awards 2015
(Winner Award of Merit) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Best Shorts Competition 2015
(Winner Award of Merit) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Action on Film International Film Festival 2015
Nominations:
Best Director – Short Oldren Romero
Best Editing – Short Daniel Diez Jr
(Winner Runner up Best Director – Short) Oldren Romero
• Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival 2015 (Official Selection)
• Louisville’s International Festival of Film 2015 (Official Selection)
• Indie Film Festival 2015 Switzerland (Official Selection)
• International Film Competition Festival 2015 (Official Selection)
• International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema MILAN 2015
Nominations:
Best Lead Actor in a Foreign Language Film. Hector Medina
Best Supporting Actor in a Foreign Language Film. Dayron Moreno
Best Cinematography in a Foreign Language Film. Alexander Gonzalez
Best Director of a Short Foreign Language Film. Oldren Romero
(Winner Best Lead Actor in a Foreign Language Film) Hector Medina
(Winner Best Supporting Actor in a Foreign Language Film) Dayron Moreno
• Boston Latino International Film Festival 2015 (Official Selection)
• International Film Competition Festival 2015
(Winner International Gold Award) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• London International Film Festival 2016.
Nominations
Jury Award
Best Director of a Short Foreign Language Film. Oldren Romero
Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language Film. Oldren Romero, Ariel Barrios, Ihosvany Hernandez
• Roma Cinema DOC 2016 (Official Selection)
• ColorTape International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
(Nominated Best Debut top 100 film Award) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• MIAMI Independent Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Los Angeles Cine Fest 2016 (Official Selection)
• ACCESS CODE Short Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Texas Ultimate Shorts 2016
Nominations:
Best International LGBT Short
(Winner Best International LGBT Short) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• NYC Independent Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• The Alhambra Theatre Film Festival 2016
Nominations:
Best Foreign Film Nomine
(Winner Best Foreign Film) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema NICE 2016
Nominations:
Best Film
Best Cinematography in a short Film. Alexander Gonzalez
Best Editing in a short Film. Daniel Diez Jr
• Sunscreen Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• International Film Festival North Hollywood 2016
Nominations:
Best Actor. Hector Medina
• World Music & Independent Film Festival 2016
Nominations:
First Director. Oldren Romero
Best Director in a Short Film International. Oldren Romero
Best Screenplay in a Short Film International. Oldren Romero, Ariel Barrios, Ihosvany Hernandez
Best Actor in a Short film international. Hector Medina
Best Supporting Actor in a Short film international. Dayron Moreno
Best Original Sound. Raymel Casamayor Bello
(Winner Best Director in a Short film International) Oldren Romero
• The Springfield MA – LGBT Film Festival 2016
Nominations:
Jury award
• The Atlanta LGBT Film & Music Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Garden City International Film Festival Bengaluru 2016 (Official Selection)
• Kashish Mumbai international queer Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Indiepossible International Film Festival and Screenplay Competition 2016 (Official Selection)
• My True Colors Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Mexico International Film Festival 2016
(Winner Bronze Palm Award Narrative Short Competition) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Moving Pictures Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• United Latino International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
(Winner Honorable Mention Award) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Swedish International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
(Winner Best International Short film) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Premios Latino 2016
(Winner Best Cuban Short film) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• FOG Movie Fest (FOGV) in Silicon Valley, San Francisco 2016 (Official Selection)
• Tenerife International Film Festival in Berlin 2016 (Official Selection)
• International Film Festival of World Cinema Berlin 2016 (Official Selection)
Nominations:
Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language Film. Oldren Romero, Ariel Barrios, Ihosvany Hernandez
Best Director of a Foreign Language Film. Oldren Romero
Best Lead Actor of a Foreign Language Film. Hector Medina
• Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona/ Paris/ NYC 2016 (Official Selection)
• Providence Latin American Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Maverick Movie Award 2016
Nominations:
Best Cinematography. Alexander Gonzalez
Best Editing. Daniel Diez Jr
Best Actor. Hector Medina
• Great Lakes International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• IndieWise Free Virtual Festival (Official Selection)
• Direct Monthly Online Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
(Winner of the Month October 2016 Best Film of the Month) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Direct Short Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
(Winner of the Month November 2016 Best Film of the Month) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
(Winner of the Month November 2016 Best LGBT Film of the Month) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• I Filmmaker International Film Festival 2016
(Finalist) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• The International indie Short Film Festival and Screenplay Contest “A Word” 2016 (Official Selection)
• International Film Festival Golden Anteaters 2016 (Official Selection)
• Equality Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Canada Short – Canadian & International Short Film 2016 (Official Selection)
(Merit Award) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• FreeNetWorld 2016 (Official Selection)
• StoneFair International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
• Calcuta International Cult Film Festival 2016
(Winner of the Month December 2016 Best LGBT Film of the Month) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Lake View International Film Festival 2017
(Winner of the Month January 2017 Best LGBT Film) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Film Fest 52 2017 (Official Selection)
• The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards 2017 (Official Selection)
Nominations:
Best Actor of the Season Dayron Moreno
Best Short Film “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
Best Writing of the Season Oldren Romero
(Winner Best Writing of the season) Oldren Romero’s writing of “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• RapidLion – The South African International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• UK Screen One International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• UK Monthly Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• FIFF – Filmstrip International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
Nominations:
Best Actor Hector Medina
(Finalist Best Actor) Hector Medina
• The New Classic Cinema Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
Nominations:
Best long Short “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• International Ramdon Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• Cutting Room Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• Gold Movie Awards Goddess Nike (Official Selection)
• Move Me Productions Belgium – Short Film Festival 2017(Official selection)
• Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
(Semi Finalist)
• CaribbeanLens International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• Glitter Oklahoma LGBT Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• Five Continents International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
(Winner Best lead Actor Short Film) Hector Medina “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
(Winner Best Supporting Actor Short Film) Alejandro Bosh “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
(Winner Special Mention team performance Short Film) Hector Medina, Dayron Moreno, Laura de la Uz, Alejandro Bosh & team “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival 2017 ((Official Selection) Semi Finalist
• Sanbar International Film Award 2017
(Winner Best LGBT Film) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
• Latino Film Market 2017 (Official Selection)
• Whatashort Independent International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• Perth International Queer Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• The European Independent Film Awards 2017 (Official Selection)
• Indian Peacock International Film Festival 2017 (Official Selection)
• BLOW-UP international Arthouse Film Fest Chicago 2017 (Official Selection)
• Reel Erotic Art Film Festival 20017 (Official Selection)
• Calcuta International Cult Film Festival 2016
(GOLDEN FOX AWARD WINNER Best LGBT Film of the Year) “UNA HISTORIA CON CRISTO Y JESUS”
In 2015 Oldren became part of the theater group “Escena Latina” in Massachusetts. As an actor was presented with the classical work of Lorca: “Bodas de Sangre” / “Blood Wedding” and 2016 “Cumbia de mi Corazon” / “Cumbia of my Heart”
December 2015 worked as Cinematographer for an independent short film “Plan ZomB”.
January 2016 worked as Cinematographer for a video clip for Veronica Robles Cultural Center in Boston Massachusetts.
Oldren is now producing the Short Film “Añoranza” / “Yearnings” Directed by Damian Cordero his Assistant Director, at the same time he is doing the Post production of his new upcoming short film, “SUCEDIÓ EN EL CIELO” (“IT COMES FROM THE HEAVENS”); and doing the post production of a new project call: “HELLO” (“HOLA”) and “BOXEADORA” (BOXER)
December 2016. Video Clip “Atraccion” / “Attraction”, song of the Colombian composer and singer Johann Henao, as Script Writer, Director, General Producer, Director of photography, Art Director, Casting and extra.
Oldren Romero Leyva lives and works in Massachusetts, USA
Facebook: O Man Productions
Oldren angel
Website: omanproductions.com
