Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, San Sebastián, Berlin. Award winning films that have been screened during the world’s most renowned festivals, many of which have recently premiered in the United States and have not yet been shown is Latin America, will be screened in five cities and in ten screening locations during this edition of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival (DRGFF), to be celebrated November 19-23. A total of 26 feature length dramatic films and 10 documentaries, in addition to 6 shorts produced by the Global Media Arts Institute (GMAI), will represent 21 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Japan, China, Jordan and Lebanon.

Under its motto, Global Issues, Personal Stories, the Festival – an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) – will bring the Dominican Republic, the best of international cinema, while at the same time offering opportunities for learning, professional development and the creation of professional networks. The complete program, as well as all press releases and festival updates may be found on the Festival’s webpage at: www.drglobalfilmfestival.org.

Amongst the 36 feature length films that will be presented to the Dominican public during the second edition of the Festival include: the film that opened the 2008 Cannes Festival, Blindness; the film awarded Best Film at the Valladolid Festival, 14 Kilometers; the recipient of the San Sebastián CICAE Award, Brick Lane;and winner of the Sundance World Cinema Audience Award, Capitan Abu Raed. The following films will also premier in screening locations in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Nagua and Higüey: Caramel, recipient of the TCM Award and the Youth Award in San Sebastián; Fados, directed by prominent director, Carlos Saura, Goya Award Winner for Best Original Song and nominee for Best Documentary Film; and The Band’s Visit, winner of over 30 film festival awards around the globe

The 2008 program will also incluye the animated film, Persepolis, awarded Cannes Jury Prize, and the Brazilian film Elite Squad, winner of the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear Award; and Cochochi, recipient of the Diesel Prize for Debut Film at the Toronto International Film Festival – a film highly applauded by critics and the public at the 2007 Venecia Festival.

Documentaries that will be featured during this year’s Festival include: I Am Because We Are, the most recent production by artist Madonna, the film’s executive director, screenwriter and narrator; Flow: For the Love of Water, nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize; and Taxi to the Dark Side, 2008 Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary; and Emmanuel Jal: War Child winner of the Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award and Young@Heart, recipient of the Los Angeles Film Festival Audience Award.

A One of a Kind Festival

Although film festivals of different magnitudes and themes abound worldwide, the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival is unique for various reasons. “It is the only one that simultaneously presents films in five cities throughout the country. It is the only one that brings films to public university auditoriums and works directly with schools. It is truly extraordinary in its mission to promote the cinematographic arts as a means of furthering understanding of the world and topics of contemporary global importance,” affirmed Natasha Despotovic, the Festival Director. In addition to being an event organized by non-profit organizations, the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival distinguishes itself by serving as a model platform from which to project the country as an ideal destination for the filming and production of films, thus promoting the film industry of the Dominican Republic, while contributing to the economic growth of the nation.

• See film synopsis
• Gallery of awarded films: