Ortiz gave a press conference at the Hotel Santo Domingo along with the film’s other producers, Jackie Watson and Oliver Rossman, and actors Holliston Coleman and Sevy Di Cione.

Shalim Ortiz, actor and co-producer of Touched, said the III Dominican Republic Global Film Festival is the best place in the world to be premiering the film, having been convinced by attending last year’s Festival and seeing the level of organization and the grandiosity of the event. 
During the press conference at the Hotel Santo Domingo, with the cast and crew of Touched, Shalim Ortiz stressed the strength of the film’s story which is about the physical and emotional abuse of a mother toward her handicapped daughter.

At the same time, Shalim, actor, singer and composer, thanked the event organizers, “for believing in Touched and for making it the opening night film.”  He said he and the other producers of the film had agreed to postpone the participation of the film in other festivals or events in order for it to premiere here at the III Dominican Global Film Festival.

Members of the Festival’s organizing committee, Yamile Eusebio and Omar de la Cruz, attended the press conference with Shalim Ortiz along with fellow producers Jackie Watson and Oliver Rossman. Holliston Coleman, who played the handicapped teen, and Sevy Di Cione were also at the press conference.
Jackie Watson, whose life inspired the movie, spoke at the press conference. She said the story of Touched, based in her own life, is a message of forgiveness in those times of war and a film against the physical and emotional abuse of minors.

The producers and crew of Touched responded to questions from the national and international press who are here covering the III Dominican Global Film Festival.

On Thursday, the cast will travel to Nagua to interact with the audience at the screening of the film there. They will also hold a press conference in Nagua with the local press.

The III Dominican Global Film Festival opened on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm with a solemn ceremony that took place at the National Theater.

SPONSORS
The III Dominican Global Film Festival is made possible with the generous support of CapCana, Abastos & Services, SERIGRAF, Digital 15, Punta Perla, Radio Cadena Comercial, Ruíz Centro Stereo, Telemicro, Telemicro Internacional, La 91, Zol, Radio Disney, Odebrecht, CTN, Hotel Santo Domingo, New World Films,  Ram Engineering, WindTelecom, Tech Films Solutions 3, Thrifty, Amhsa Marina, Aquí y Allá, Tiendas Corripio, Dominicana Radio Dispacher, Induban, Cinema Palace  and MADE.

In addition, the Festival also has support from UASD, the National Theater, Cinemateca Dominicana, Mauricio Báez Club, León Center, Air Ocean, Memoria de Nación Foundation, LVT Subtitlings, RNN, Ministry of Education (SEE), Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (SEESCyT), Sousa Sistemas, Telecentro and Vinópolis.

The Spanish Embassy, Spanish Aid Agency (AECI), the United States Embassy through the Franklin Center and the Mexican Embassy have also contributed to the success of the Festival.  

The Organizing Committee of the III Dominican Global Film Festival