Dominican President Leonel Fernandez invited the special guests of the 4th Dominican Republic Global Film Festival along with the local and international press to a ceremony at the National Palace where he paid homage to several important individuals in the film world with the country´s highest distinction: the Juan Pablo Duarte Medal of Honor. President Fernandez also used the opportunity to publicly sign the newly promulgated Film Law.

National Tributes

European screen legend Claudia Cardinale was the first of the four recipients of the Medal of Honor to be introduced and honored by President Fernandez. Ms. Cardinale graciously and humorously – as is her style – accepted her medal in her native language, French. “I am not sure if I am receiving this for my many years of acting or for my many years!”

Spanish actress Victoria Abril was next. She thanked President Fernandez for the honor and thanked FUNGLODE and the organizers of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival (DRGFF) for inviting her to the DR where she has felt “warmly welcomed and taken care of.”

Puerto Rican-born US-based actor Benicio del Toro was then called up to receive his medal of honor. He expressed appreciation to the President and First Lady Margarita de Cedeño. Del Toro later joked to this reporter that he’d “never gotten a medal before! I feel like one of the Beatles.”

Del Toro, who referred to the DRGFF as “fantastic,” said he felt like it was destiny that he was here at this important moment when the Film Law was being signed by the President. “It is a great moment right now…the government and the private sector can come together and create more of this idea of film as a cultural exponent. I think of film as a sport…the Dominic Republic has baseball and film. It’s beautiful,” said del Toro.

Speaking of baseball (impossible not to in this atmosphere), Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds also happened to be at the ceremony in the National Palace. Photo ops with movie stars and baseball stars were the order of the day.

Last but certainly not least to be honored was cameraman, director and special effects genius, Bruce Logan, whose film work includes “Star Wars,” “2001 Space Odyssey,” “Tron” and “Star Trek: The Movie.” This is Mr. Logan’s third time at the Festival but he is especially delighted to be here now, and to be honored at this moment. “It is amazing for me to be given this honor and, at the same ceremony, to actually witness the President signing the Film Law.”

Once the awards were bestowed on the four members of the film community, two of the recipients were surprised by yet another gift. Ukrainian painter, Vasily Tretyakov, whose work is on display at FUNGLODE´s Juan Bosch Library, presented a painting to Claudia Cardinale and another to Benicio del Toro. Vasily´s paintings, mostly of historic sites in Santo Domingo, relate the importance and influence of Dominican history. “After all, it is important for visitors to know that the Dominican Republic is not just beaches and sun but indeed has a rich cultural history,” said Vasily.

See more photos on our Photo Gallery under National Palace, Nov. 18 >