The opening day of a film festival is generally a mixture of excitement and expectation. This year´s inauguration of the 4th edition of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival (DRGFF) was no exception. The official inauguration was preceded by a cocktail party at FUNGLODE´s Juan Bosch Library. The special guests of the evening included actors, directors, baseball players, painters and, President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez, himself an avid film buff and primary supporter of the DRGFF.

Asked what the driving force is behind the Festival’s growing success after only four years, President Fernandez said it was a group effort but more than anything, it is the result of a vision.

“It has to do with vision and hard work, people learning a trade and participating in festivals and having good advisors like [festival consultant] Nicole Guillemet. There’s been a long interest in the Dominican Republic in promoting filmmaking so I think all these things together are the reasons why we’re moving ahead with this Festival,” President Fernandez told this reporter.  

Milling around the reception area of the Juan Bosch Library were dozens of the invited guests from the world of film mingled in with several legends from another Dominican passion: baseball.

“I am happy to be back here in my country and to be here at the Festival,” said Sammy Sosa. “The Festival every year is getting better and better. I’m happy to be part of this event and to be here to support and do whatever it takes to help my country.”

This year’s Festival is featuring two films about baseball, “Boys of Summer” and “Buscon.” Dominican native and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal and Barry Bonds are also in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the DRGFF and to participate, with Sosa, in one of the many thematic panels held in connection with the films. In keeping with the Festival’s motto, Global Issues, Personal Stories, the panels seek to utilize the media of film as a platform to increase awareness and broaden perspectives of global, social and economic issues of importance to the Dominican Republic.

Film star Benicio del Toro also attended the reception and said, “It’s all good. I’m impressed and pleased to be here.”

Last year’s DRGFF star was Shalim Ortiz whose film, “Touched” played on the opening night. He’s now a confirmed attendee at the Festival.

“We are now regular supporters of FUNGLODE and will be regular supporters at the Festival. I am especially happy to be here tonight when the Film Law is being approved and signed into law. This is really a big deal,” said Ortiz, referring to Dominican Film Law which was approved and signed by President Fernandez this week.

Green Carpet at the National Theater

Following the reception, guests move down the street to the National Theater where the bright lights, green carpet and eager film fans waited for the action to begin.

Once the hundreds of guests and viewers, including the President and First Lady, were seated in the huge theater, the official opening ceremony got underway with an introduction to the first of five recipients of awards and tributes.

Tributes

The memory of the late Arturo Rodriguez Fernandez, film critic, screen and playwright, was honored with a short film put together by FUNGLODE which showed the life of Fernandez and the influence he had on the Dominican film industry. “The DRGFF is honoring Mr. Rodriquez’s work as part of our past as we move into a bright future for Dominican film,” according to FUNGLODE.

Irving Vincent, Director of the One Race Global Film Foundation (ORF) and NYU’s HEOP Multimedia Lab as well as Co-Founder of FUNGLODE’s Primera Toma production workshop in the DR was given the Endorsement to the National Cinema Tribute for his work in teaching young people the skills to write, shoot, direct and edit their own films. He was humble about the tribute.

“The tribute is not really mine. It is really a tribute to the vision of President Fernandez, Vin Diesel and others and I came along to carry it out. It was their vision and now I am doing more to round it out. After next year, we’ll have a template we can use anywhere,” said Mr. Vincent.

European actress, Claudia Cardinale was given the Lifetime Achievement Tribute. A short film highlighting Ms. Cardinale’s films reminded the audience of what a talented and beautiful actress she has always been and still is. When she took her award, she turned to the public, thanked everyone then threw a kiss to the audience at which point most people sprung to their feet in delighted applause.

Spanish actress Victoria Abril was given the National Award for Professional Trajectory.
Benicio del Toro also received an acting achievement award. Actress Eileen Ryan received recognition as well for her role in the opening night film, “Mother and Child,” by director Rodrigo Garcia.

Finally, the lights were lowered and people settled into their seats to enjoy the opening night film. When the movie ended, a roar of applause rose once again in the National Theater marking the official opening of the 2010 Dominican Republic Global Film Festival in Santo Domingo.   

This year’s Festival, as last, is underway simultaneously in six Dominican cities: Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Nagua, Higüey, Cap Cana and, for the first time, Port au Prince, Haiti as a way of extending the DR’s already staunch support of their neighbors in these months of difficult times.

See more photos on our Photo Gallery under Santo Domingo Opening, Nov. 17>

Click here to see videos of this event >