Havana - Graphic humorists from 23 countries are competing from April 5-8 in Cuba at the 19th International Humor Biennial.

With a call to defend peace, the Group of Cartoonists from the Association of Cuban Journalists (UPEC) and the Humor Museum in San Antonio de los Baños will promote the meeting among foreign and local professionals in this capital and nearby Artemisa province.

The jury received works by artists from 33 countries and approved about 23 works, from a total of 93 authors, its president, Reinerio Tamayo, told Prensa Latina.

The most representated countries are Cuba, China and Uzbekistan, as well as Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Spain, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Italy and Peru, among others.

According to Tamayo, all genders are represented and excellent works on cartoon stories, personal caricature and political satire stand out.

The most reflected topics were peace, non-violence, children´s innocence amid wars and nature.

The event will open spaces for exhibitions, lectures, popular parades, concerts and film screenings in rural communities.

The works chosen by the jury will be exhibited as of Sunday at the 19th International Graphic Humor Exhibition at the Eduardo Abela Provincial Visual Arts Center, and those attending the exhibition will be able to vote to define a Popularity Award.

The official jury of the Biennial is made up of Argentinean artist and cartoonist Marlene Pohle, Carlos Brito (Portugal), Victor Enmanuel Velez and Jorge Flores (Mexico) and Mohamed Effat (Egypt).

According to Tamayo, the event will be dedicated to cartoon story as a gender and will call to reflect on ¿War games? to draw more attention to the need for peace.