the 1980s, ICAIC has changed the organization structure and formed a separate office only for exhibition and associated activities for educating people. Also, the Escuela International de Cine y Televisión (International School of Film and Television) got founded by the ICAIC in 1986. Active directors, editors, producers, sound technicians, and other experts from around the world have been invited to this school to share their experience. EICTV helps the way for new modes of producing and distributing films, which prepares elites for new generation. Those changes point out that the ICAIC is devoted to educate people and draw people’s attention by organizing activities. The "Special Period" (1990–1995) The collapse of the Soviet Union put Cuba into a crisis because the United States embargo of Cuba had resulted in heavy Cuban reliance on trading partners in COMECON, which dissolved in 1991. People in Cuba suffered from daily shortages such as electricity blackouts, severe gasoline rationing, huge cuts in public transportation, and bicycles from China. Filmmakers, artists and intellectuals suffered the same consequence as everyone else. ICAIC only completed three features in 1990. At 1991, due to the economic crisis, it also led people to escape the island. The consequence of the “Special Period" of the 1990s for Cuban cinema is drastic reduction in the resources from film production to distribution. As a result, the ICAIC engaged in co-production with other countries such as Spain, (Germany) and Mexico. Fresa y chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) is one of the significant movies co-produced with Spain during the Special Period. More than that, it helps maintain Cuban films internationally and expand the Spanish-language film market. During this period, co-productions between ICAIC and the United States provided opportunities for civic engagement. For example, the United States Department of State collaborated with ICAIC in 1998 to screen Amistad as part of an effort to increase "cultural diplomacy" built around shared national histories of racial struggles. Recent years in Cuban cinema ICAIC continues to make efforts to develop the Cuban film industry and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019. See also Cinema of Cuba List of Cuban films References External links Cubacine, ICAIC portal Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos in IMDb Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos in Ecured Film organizations in Cuba