ALAFIAfilms is an award-winner interactive arts collective created in Toronto since 2019 by the photographer, videographer and visual artist Pablo Dewin and the musician and composer Dayme Arocena. The purpose of this union is the joint development of audiovisual materials inspired by the creative processes of several artistic expressions. Through this collaboration platform both artists combine their skills at the disposal of a common piece, which contributes to the growth of their individual careers and the collective itself. Since its inception they have supported creators, venues and local events, as well as international cultural and social awareness projects, focused on visibility to minorities and the community of artist and activist around the world.

Pablo Dewin

Visual Artist, Photographer, Videographer
Born on June 7, 1992 in Havana, Cuba
Self-taught visual training artist

Pablo Dewin's works include painting, drawing, body paint, ceramics, photography, video art and audiovisuals. In 2017, after an imminent interest in photography, he
entered the Higher Institute of Arts (ISA), which motivated him to continue on the path to the world of audiovisual and video art. During this period, he was a photojournalist, collaborating with various Cuban magazines and publications such as OnCuba, El Toque Magazine and Play Off Sport Magazine. In 2019, he received one of the scholarships from the International School of Film and Television (EICTV) in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, to be part of the multipurpose workshop specializing in film editing. He has participated in several group exhibitions such as:

"Fragmentos" in "Fresa y Chocolate" Gallery, "Ciudad sin límites" in "La Moderna" Gallery, both in Havana, among others. He was also part of the XIII National Photography Biennial held at “Eduardo Abela” Gallery in San Antonio de los Baños.

In 2019 he founded the audiovisual platform ALAFIAfilms with his wife Daymé Arocena with the aim of making materials for independent artists or in the process of professional empowerment from all over the world.

In 2020 he made an exhibition dedicated to the urban and social deconstruction of the Latin American continent together with the Brazilian artist Lucas Gervilla and Rodrigo Contijo in the gallery "Casa Galería" Sao Paulo, Brazil. Also, in July Dayme and Pablo exhibited a video art in the festival “La Ceiba” inspired by her latest album Sonocardiogram and the concept of the cover made by Dewin in 2018. He is currently developing a few audiovisuals projects on the behalf of ALAFIAfilms, in collaboration with different international artists.

Dayme Arocena Uribarri
Singer, Composer, Arranger and Chorus Conductor
Born on February 4th, 1992 in Havana, Cuba

Graduated from the musical conservatory “Amadeo Roldan” in the speciality of Chorus Conducting and Vocals.

Dayme Arocena is an award-winning Afro-Cuban jazz singer, who has been described as Cuba's "finest young female singer.” She is a GRAMMY Award nominee and Juno Award winner in 2015, for the best jazz album, as a member of the jazz band Maqueque directed by Jane Bunnett.

In 2014, François Renié, Communications Director at Havana Club, was struck by seeing one of her performances. Then Gilles Peterson’s record label Brownswood Recordings in collaboration with Havana Cultura (artistic platform by Havana Club), signed her as one of their exclusive artists, followed by her debut LP Nueva Era, which is on National Public Radio's (NPR) list of 50 favorite albums of 2015.

She also accompanied Gilles in his journey through rumba culture for the expansive Havana Club Rumba Sessions project, which produced a feature-length documentary along with an album titled “Dayme Arocena One Takes,” released in 2016.

"Cubafonía" released in 2017 is her 3rd album, drawing inspiration from the Caribbean island’s different rhythms and styles. This album possesses the biggest tunes of Arocena such as: "La Rumba Me Llamo Yo" and "Mambo Na Ma" which is considered one of the best tracks written by a woman in the 21st Century. In 2018, she wrote and interpreted the song “Cancion de Agosto,” for the internationally awarded and currently exhibited movie “AGOSTO” directed by Armando Capo. In 2019, she founded ALAFIAfilms with her husband Pablo Dewin, focused on developing a platform to help other musicians make their work more visible.

In September 2019, she launched her latest album called "SONOCARDIOGRAM", nominated for the UK critics’ awards "Songlines 2020” as “Best Americas Album.” She has described this material as a journey through her own life history. Also, she has been included in the “DownBeat Critics Pool” in the last two editions as one of the “Best Rising Female Vocalist Star.”