The Embassy of the Czech Republic invites the public to a screening of the documentary To the West, in Zapata (Al Oeste, en Zapata) by director and cinematographer David Bim. The event is presented as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival.

Following the screening, a discussion and Q&A will take place with human rights lawyer Laritza Diversent, Executive Director of Cubalex, and Ondřej Kamenický, Director of the One World International Human Rights Film Festival in the Czech Republic. The conversation will be moderated by Matouš Horčička, Event and Project Manager of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy at People in Need.

About the film: Deep inside Cuba's Zapata Swamp, Landi hunts crocodiles armed only with rope and his bare hands, driven by the urgent need to feed his family. At home, his wife Mercedes cares for their autistic son, waiting anxiously for her husband's return from the dangerous expeditions into the swamp.

Shot in striking black and white, the documentary contrasts the haunting beauty of the Zapata biosphere reserve with the family's struggle for survival. The film follows their repeated cycles of separation and reunion, exploring the sacrifices and risks taken in the name of love and survival.

Film details: Directed by David Bim (Cuba/Spain, 2025), 74 minutes. Spanish with English subtitles. The film premiered at the Visions du Réel Festival in Nyon in 2025, where it received the International Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI) and the Special Jury Prize in the Burning Lights Competition.

Event notes: Admission is free but registration is required. Guests must list their name exactly as it appears on their government-issued photo ID when registering. Small purses may be checked at security, and large bags are not permitted.

Parking is available on nearby streets including Spring of Freedom Street and Tilden Street. The closest Metro station is Van Ness (about a 15–20 minute walk from the embassy).