Havana, Cuba.- The 5th International Festival of Social Communication began today with the Espacio prize-giving ceremony, the highest distinction granted by the Association of Communicators of Cuba (ACCS) to outstanding professionals in that field.

In the category of institutional communication, the Metropolitan Bank and the Cuban Radio were awarded; while in the public relations department, the specialist Gabriel Gutierrez was awarded; and in the communication community, the prize went to the children’s theater company La Colmenita.

The award for creativity was received by designers Jose Antonio Medina, Ricardo Monat and the design group of Expo Cuba; and for the work of life, the decorated ones were the designers Ricardo Rey Mena, Luis Rodriguez, Andres Franco and the director of La Colmenita, Carlos Alberto Cremata.

During the opening of the forum, the National President of the ACCS, Rosa Maria Perez announced that in this edition issues such as the challenges of Social Communication will be addressed, as well as the link between culture and public relations, intellectual property, digital communication and the market, brands and consumers.

She also referred to the current geopolitical situation and neoliberal strategies, which, in her opinion, evidences the lack of clear, timely and incorruptible communication, which leads to the contrast of meaning and triggers violence, she said.