Sergio Giral is an American citizen born in Havana, Cuba out of a Cuban father and American mother. He was raised in New York until he returned to Cuba at the time of the Revolution in 1960. He began working for The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), in 1961. He went on to make a number of short films, documentaries and features. With more than 30 years of experience as a film director and scriptwriter, Giral has dedicated most of his films to Afro-Cuban and Caribbean history and culture. His famous trilogy depicting historical considerations on 19th century slavery in Cuba and the Caribbean (including Maluala and Placido also available through ArtMattan Films) have achieved numerous awards and recognitions around the world. Sergio Giral return to United States in 1991.