Second
Dominican Republic Global Film Festival Holds Presentation Event
in Santiago
New York,
10/20/ 2008
The Second Dominican Republic Global Film Festival - an
initiative of the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE)
and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD)
– was launched today among a small group of media directors
and journalists in Santiago at a cocktail party in the Gran
Theater of Cibao. Santiago, the second most important
Dominican city, is one of the five cities where the Festival’s
competition will be held on November 18-23. The other cities
hosting the festival are Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Nagua
and Higüey.
The guests were welcomed by the Festival’s Local Production
Director, Yamile Eusebio; Technical Director, Omar de la Cruz;
and Santiago Advisory Committee Member and Deputy Minister of
Culture, Enegildo Peña. The guests attended the showing of the
Festival’s institutional video prepared by GFDD and FUNGLODE’s
Audiovisual Department. In addition, they were provided with
details about the Festival’s webpage:
www.drglobalfilmfestival.org. They also had the opportunity to
speak at length with DRGFF Staff.
A total of 36 feature-length fiction and documentary films
have been confirmed to be screened during the second edition
of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival, which will be
celebrated November 19-23, 2008. 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
film, 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. The film,
Captain Abu Raed will be shown in Santiago during the
Opening Ceremony on November 18.
Natasha Despotovic, DRGFF Director, GFDD Executive Director
and FUNGLODE Vice President, and Nicole Guillemet, DRGFF
Programming and Production Consultant, lead the international
and multidisciplinary team that during the first edition in
2006, achieved great success by bringing high quality
productions to the country. In
2007, the Festival was cancelled days before due to the
devastating effects of Tropical Storm Noel.
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 Despotovic. 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.
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