Dominican children are just as important as the rest of those who are celebrating this year's film extravaganza underway around the country this week. To assure that children and young people feel welcome, the Ministry of Education has been divided up into six Regional Educational Offices corresponding to the cities where the festival is being held: Santo Domingo II, Santo Domingo III, Santiago Nagua, Puerto Playa and Higüey.

Matinee performances of the II Dominican Republic Global Film Festival are expecting approximately 5,500 students to attend from more than 100 schools in the above-mentioned cities. The students will also participate in the special panel discussions called "Let´s Talk about the World." Though film and these types of organized conversations, organizers of the Global Film Festival seeks to raise awareness and understanding among young Dominicans about relevant social issues such as "the global water crisis," and "the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

As part of their social and academic education, each student will be responsible for writing an essay pertaining to the topic dealt with in the film they´ve seen.

The panel discussions will include the participation of national and international professionals with an expertise in the various themes to be discussed. In their role on the panels, these experts are promoting the education and consciousness of the new generation of the Dominican Republic.