DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO LAUNCH GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL
“Global Issues, Personal Stories”

The first Dominican Republic Global Film Festival will take place
November 8-12, 2006
Dominican Republic, Sto. Dgo., September 6th 2006

Santo Domingo, September 06, 2006- Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), proudly announce the debut of the DR Global Film Festival (DRGFF) in November 2006. The five-day event will run from November 8th to 12th and will feature an international selection of dramatic and documentary films by internationally acclaimed filmmakers. The movies are to be shown at a number of venues in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Nagua and Higuey including university auditoriums, FUNGLODE facilities, and movie theatres.

The Festival aspires to play a leading role in nurturing and enriching the film culture of the Dominican Republic and bring cinema to a broad variety of audiences. “Under the subtitle “Global Issues, Personal Stories”, the Festival seeks to raise awareness and deepen understanding of global issues through stories about events and people that have shaped our lives.”, said Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, acting as the Festival Director. “It uses film as a modern platform for the discussion of ideas about politics, social and economic issues.”

In that sense, the mission of the DRGFF complements that of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarollo (FUNGLODE) and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD).

As a part of the festival program, a number of social and educational activities will create opportunities for networking, learning and sharing of ideas. After the gala opening night, multiple daily screenings, workshops and discussion panels with directors, actors, filmmakers and industry leaders will follow.

The organizers of the Festival plan to exhibit a wide variety of films to which audiences in the Dominican Republic would not otherwise have access. Special efforts will be made to reach out to people from all walks of life and social backgrounds, and create opportunity for discussion. Movies that click with young people, while dealing with relevant social and political issues, will be highly represented.

The Festival’s creation and mission have been guided by the vision of the President of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Leonel Fernandez, who is at the same time the Founder and the Honorary President of FUNGLODE/GFDD. In Mr. Fernandez’ words “Film as a medium for enhancing social awareness and promoting constructive change will be a permanent underlying trait of this big international gathering. At the same time, it is expected that it will raise awareness among film industry professionals of the desirability of the Dominican Republic as a shooting location, as well as foster the professional development of domestic human resources in the field, contributing therefore to the economic development of the country.”

DRGFF is another initiative by GFDD/FUNGLODE that seeks to encourage art appreciation, enhance understanding of global issues, offer training in media arts as well as support the economic, social and democratic development of the country. Some of the institutions’ programs in that area include The FUNGLODE Art Gallery, Global Magazine, Cinema Forum and, particularly, the Global Media Arts Institute (GMI) which offers initiation courses and professional development programs with special emphasis on television and film production.

Join us November 8-12 and be part of this extraordinary experience. Stay tuned for our news and announcements of the full program.

For more information on this coming event please contact: DR Global Film Festival at (212) 751-5000 or e-mail Asuncion Sanz at asuncionsanz@globalfoundationdd.org or Yamile Eusebio at y.eusebio@funglode.org.

Visit http://www.drglobalfilmfestival.org and register to receive regular updates. Further information also at http://www.globalfoundationdd.org (English) and http://www.funglode.org (Spanish)