20+ Years of Creative Global Bridge-Building
Welcome to the heart of our story. For over two decades, we’ve been documenting, creating, sharing, and collaborating around the world. Below you’ll find Project Por Amor’s films, stories, music, press, and more — content that reflects our commitment to cultural connection and creative diplomacy.
Films
Explore our original productions and collaborations that bring untold stories to the screen.
Killing Me Softly With His Songs
Watch the trailer for Killing Me Softly With His Songs, a moving film about legendary composer Charles Fox. After touring with Project Por Amor, Charles invited us to coordinate a six-day film shoot in Cuba—featured in a third of the film. Now streaming on Amazon, Google Play, Apple, Vudu, and YouTube.
A Tuba to Cuba
Ben Jaffe, the creative director of New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band seeks to fulfill his late father's dream of retracing their musical roots to the shores of Cuba in search of the indigenous music that gave birth to New Orleans jazz. A TUBA TO CUBA celebrates the triumph of the human spirit expressed through the universal language of music and challenges us to resolve to build bridges, not walls.
The Street Network
The Street Network is a powerful short documentary by Stripe Press about how a homemade gaming network among friends in Cuba grew into a DIY internet serving much of the island. Directed by Emile Bokaer, with cinematography by Tijana Petrović.
Travelogues
Short films and video diaries created by our travelers—capturing moments of connection, insight, and discovery on the journey.
Celebrating Lico Jiménez's 173rd Birthday
Last December, we led 32 travelers, including actress Julie Carmen, on a journey to Cuba to celebrate her great-grandfather, José Manuel “Lico” Jiménez Berroa (1851–1917). An Afro-Cuban pianist and composer known as the “Ebony Liszt,” Lico’s pioneering work defied the racial barriers of his time. Our tour revived his nearly forgotten legacy and brought his descendants together across generations. Watch the highlight reel here, and visit www.licojimenez.com to explore his music and an upcoming documentary.
Cuba 2025 with LeRoy Downs
LeRoy Downs, the Jazzcat, takes us along on his personal vlog from a Project Por Amor tour in Cuba. With his signature warmth and curiosity, he captures candid moments, local culture, and the unique energy of experiencing Cuba through the lens of music and connection.
Icelandic Music: Traditional & Organ
Travelers Jon and Judy Rick share a beautiful video from their time in Iceland, featuring the sounds of a grand pipe organ and traditional Icelandic music. Their footage captures the country’s stunning landscapes and the deep cultural resonance of its musical heritage.
Music
Concerts and collaborations that capture the spirit and rhythm of our journeys.
Cuba Premiere of Far Away
Cuban children of Coro Diminuto take a stand for better politics while they perform the Cuba premiere Far Away in Havana (in collaboration with the National Children's Chorus).
Elegguá
Guitar duet composed by Sage Lewis. Performance by Odette Reinoso Sanchez and Carlos Ernest Varona on July 20, 2011 in Havana, Cuba.
Elegguá Scene (The Closest Farthest Away)
Scene from The Closest Farthest Away when Elegguá opens a door for "Amante" to enter Cuba from the US. Eleggúa dance by Ivan Francisco Cárdenas. Batá drumming by Omar Fariñas, Yasser Carrazana Amaya, Luís Barbaro. Camera by Raúl Perez Ureta, Aleigh Lewis, and Jorge Rufinelli. Taped in Havana, Cuba, November, 2007.
Elegguá Scene (The Closest Farthest Away)
Scene from The Closest Farthest Away when Elegguá opens a door for "Amante" to enter Cuba from the US. Eleggúa dance by Ivan Francisco Cárdenas. Batá drumming by Omar Fariñas, Yasser Carrazana Amaya, Luís Barbaro. Camera by Raúl Perez Ureta, Aleigh Lewis, and Jorge Rufinelli. Taped in Havana, Cuba, November, 2007.
From our Blog
Reflections, travel stories, cultural deep-dives, and behind-the-scenes dispatches.
The Paladar and a brief history of Cuban food
This blog explores Cuban paladares—family-run private restaurants born in the 1990s—that blend diverse culinary traditions. It highlights their role as symbols of resilience, creativity, and community in Cuban culture. The post also includes a link to our Top 10 Paladares guide.
This post explains why now is a powerful time to visit Cuba: travel regulations are accessible, cultural exchange is thriving, and limited internet allows for deeper, real-world connection. It encourages travelers to support Cuban communities while experiencing the island’s rich heritage and creativity.
Navigating the Cuban Travel Maze
This post breaks down how U.S. citizens can legally travel to Cuba under categories like “Support for the Cuban People.” It outlines key rules, such as avoiding government-run businesses and keeping a full schedule of meaningful activities. The blog also explains how we ensure compliance while offering authentic, engaging travel experiences.
Ingrid Hoopes reflects on her first trip to Iceland with Project Por Amor in 2022 and how it profoundly shaped her path. What began as a travel experience with her grandmother grew into a deeper connection with cultural exchange, eventually leading her to study abroad and join the Project Por Amor team. Her story highlights the power of travel to inspire personal growth and long-term purpose.
Nadine Erickson shares how disconnecting from social media during a Cuba tour helped her overcome mental fatigue and anxiety. Immersed in local life, she found renewed mindfulness and real-world connection.
Conversations with Experts
From intimate interviews to public panels and community talks, this section brings together the voices that shape our work. Explore thought-provoking conversations on culture, identity, art, activism, and global connection—direct from the people living it.
Journalist Ann Louise Bardach (Cuba Confidential, Without Fidel) discusses the July 11 protests in Cuba and the political aftermath that surrounds it
Cuban economist Dr. Ricardo Torres breaks down the realities of Cuba’s economy today. He discusses ongoing challenges, reforms, and how global policies and local innovation shape daily life on the island.
Marine scientist and conservationist Dr. David Guggenheim shares insights from Ocean Doctor’s hands-on efforts to protect Cuba’s unique ocean ecosystem. He explores the rich biodiversity of Cuba’s coastal waters and weighs in on recent media buzz around the search for Atlantis off the island’s western coast.
Dr. Runoko Rashidi shares his insights on African heritage in Cuba through his many travels to the island. Runoko Rashidi is a historian, research specialist, writer, world traveler, and public lecturer focusing on the African presence globally.
Filmmaker Catherine Murphy shares the story behind Maestra, her documentary about the teenage girls who taught during Cuba’s 1961 Literacy Campaign. She reflects on their courage, the campaign’s lasting impact, and the power of education to spark transformation.
Imogene Tondre reflects on her decade in Cuba, where she worked in radio, studied food culture, launched Cocina Abierta, and co-authored Cuba: The Cookbook. She shares insights on daily life, culinary innovation, and her return to Oakland.
Recommended Reading, Watching & Listening
Whether you're preparing for a trip or just curious, this is where your cultural immersion begins.
Cuba
HISTORY AND INFORMATION
Selected Writings, by José Martí
Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer
The Cuban Revolution: Origins, Course, and Legacy, by Marifeli Perez-Stable
Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook, by Ted Henken
Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know, by Julia Sweig
Cuba, Or the Pursuit of Freedom, by Hugh Thomas
Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, by Jon Lee Anderson
Dancing with Cuba: A Memoir of the Revolution, by Alma Guillermoprieto
The Boys From Dolores, by Patrick Symmes
Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana, by Ann Louise Bardach
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost it to the Revolution, by T.J. English
Without Fidel, by Ann Louise Bardach
FICTION
The Havana Quartet, by Leonardo Padura
The Man Who Loved Dogs, by Leonardo Padura
Viaje a la Semilla, by Alejo Carpentier
Letters from Cuba, by Ruth Behar
Cubana, by Ruth Behar
Waiting for Snow in Havana, by Carlos Eire
Telex From Cuba, by Rachel Kushner
Dirty Havana Trilogy, by Pedro Juan Gutierrez
Three Trapped Tigers, by Guillermo Cabrera Infante
Our Man in Havana, by Graham Greene
DETECTIVE THRILLERS
Havana Noir, ed: Achy Obejas
Havana Red, by Leonardo Padura
Havana Bay, by Martin Cruz Smith
PHOTOGRAPHY, ART, DANCE, AND MUSIC
Cuba and Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo, by Ned Sublette
Violet Isle, by Alex Webb & Rebecca Norris Webb
Jose A. Figueroa: A Cuban Self-Portrait, edited by Cristina Vives
Walker Evans: Cuba
Cuba y Cuba, by Rene Burri
Memoria: Cuban Art of the 20th Century, by Veigas-Zamora, Vives Gutierrz, Nodal, and Garzon
Contemporary Dance in Cuba: Tecnica Cubana as Revolutionary Movement, by Suki John
Danzón: Circum-Caribbean Dialogues in Music and Dance, by Alejandro Madrid and Robin Moore
TRAVELOGUE AND CULTURE
Tropicana Nights: A Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub, by Rosa Lowinger and Ofelia Fox
An Island Called Home: Returning to Jewish Cuba, by Ruth Behar
On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture, by Louis A. Perez, Jr.
Full Count: Inside Cuban Baseball, by Milton H. Jamail
Sport in Cuba: The Diamond in the Rough, by Paula J. Pettavino and Geralyn Pye
NETFLIX SERIES
The Cuba Libre Story
Cuba and the Cameraman
Four Seasons in Havana
FILMS
Before Night Falls, Julian Schnabel
Buena Vista Social Club, dir. Wim Wenders
A Tuba to Cuba, starring Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Memorias del Subdesarollo (Memories of Underdevelopment), Tomás Gutierrez Alea
Suite Havana, dir. Fernando Perez
Soy Cuba (I am Cuba), Mikhail Kalatozov
Death of a Bureaucrat, Tomás Gutierrez Alea
Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate), Tomás Gutierrez Alea
Guantanamera, Tomás Gutierrez Alea
Balseros, dir. Carles Bosch
Our Man in Havana, dir. Carol Reed
Lucia, dir. Humberto Solás
Una Noche, dir. Lucy Mulloy
El Ojo del Canario, dir. Fernando Perez
Iceland
FICTION
Independent People, by Halldor Laxness
Under the Glacier, by Halldor Laxness
Rosa Candida, by Audur Ava Olafsdottir
Summer Light, and then Comes the Night, by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
Icelandic Trolls, by Brian Pilkington with Terry Gunnell
A Giant Lovestory, by Gudrun Helgasdóttir
NON-FICTION / HISTORICAL
Sagas of Icelanders, Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition
Song of the Vikings, by Nancy Marie Brown
Little Books, by Alda Sigmundsdóttir (any of them)
The Museum of Whales you will Never See and Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums, by A. Kendra Greene
Viking Age Iceland, by Jesse Byock
Films
Trapped (TV series), dir. Baltasar Kormakúr
Katla (TV series), dir. Baltasar Kormakúr
The Oath, dir. Baltasar Kormákur
101 Reykjavik, dir. Baltasar Kormakúr
Woman at War, dir. Benedikt Erlingsson
Of Horses and Men, dir. Benedikt Erlingsson
Rams, dir. Grímur Hákonarson
White White Day, dir. Hlynur Pálmason
Noi Albino, dir. Dagur Kári
Pardon my Icelandic, comedian Ari Eldjárn (Netflix)
Online Music
Sage’s Icelandic Electric Music Spotify Playlist
Sage’s Icelandic Acoustic Music Spotify Playlist
Sicily
Books
Sicily Before History, Robert Leighton
Sicily: A Short History, from the Greeks to Cosa Nostra, John Julius Norwich
The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
The Viceroys, Federico De Roberto
The Day of the Owl, Leonardo Sciascia
On Persephone's Island, Mary Taylor Simeti
Films & TV Series
Cinema Paradiso, dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
Divorzio all'italiana, dir. Pietro Germi
Il Postino, dir. Michael Radford
Don Giovanni In Sicilia, dir. Albert Lattuada
I Cento Passi, dir. Marco Tullio Giordana
Nuovomondo, dir. Emanuele Crialese
Inspector Montalbano (TV series), dir. Alberto Sironi
Online Music
Sonnambula, Vincenzo Bellini
Casta Diva, Vincenzo Bellini
Cavellaria Rusticana, Pietro Mascagni
Cu ti lu dissu, Rosa Balistreri
Clan dei Siciliani, Ennio Morricone
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Ennio Morricone
Godfather, Nino Rota
Strade Parallele, Franco Battiato
Stranizza d'amuri, Franco Battiato
Pioggia d'Aprile, Carmen Consoli
In bianco e Nero, Carmen Consoli
Sapore di Sale, Gino Paoli
Focu di Raggia, Goran Bregovich & Carmen Consoli
So Far So Close, Dino Rubino
Sicilia, Francesco Cafiso
Lu pisce spada, Domenico Modugno
This is what you are, Mario Biondi
Sicilia Bedda, Roy Paci
Curated Travel Maps
Planning a trip or just dreaming one up? Get exclusive access to our custom Google Maps packed with our favorite restaurants, music spots, art galleries, wineries, and hidden gems.
On Collaboration
Planning a trip or just dreaming one up? Get exclusive access to our custom Google Maps packed with our favorite restaurants, music spots, art galleries, wineries, and hidden gems.
Behind the scenes documentary about the making of The Closest Farthest Away. Meet the collaborating artists share their ideas and experiences behind the challenges of this conceptually intriguing hybrid of theater and cinema. Filmed by Raphael Sznajder, Adrianne Koteen, Jorge Nhils, and Aleigh Lewis. Edited by Sage Lewis. 2007
Producer/filmmaker Yasef Ananda and playwright Agnieska Hernández Díaz speak about the making of The Closest Farthest Away.