In addition to being organized by non-profit organizations, the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival is distinguished for its role in promoting the DR as an excellent location to make and produce films, thus contributing to the Country's economic growth and competitiveness.
Mission
The Dominican Global Film Festival presents a selection of the best international, dramatic and documentary films to enrich the country’s film culture and to bring the seventh art into all sectors of Dominican society. The Festival contributes to raising awareness and understanding of global issues through stories about events and people that have left a mark on our lives. It uses film as a way to promote and encourage discussion about social issues, politics and economics.
Goals
To enrich the film culture of the Dominican Republic.
To show a wide variety of films that are generally not available to the Dominican public.
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7 Locations
14 Venues
Santo Domingo: Funglode, Teatro Nacional, Auditorio Pedro Mir (UASD), Palacio del Cine Blue Mall, Centro Cultural Mauricio Baéz and the Centro Cultural de las Telecomunicaciones
Santiago (CURSA and Palácio del Cine)
Puerto Plata (CURA)
Nagua (CURNA)
Higüey (CURE)
Capcana
Haití (Puerto Príncipe)
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America (2010) Puerto Rico
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Americano (2011) Francia
Asalto al cine (2011) Mexico
Balada triste de trompeta (2010) España
Boleto al paraiso (2010) Cuba
Bicicleta, cuchara, manzana (2010) España
Binta y la gran idea (2005) España
Cápsulas (2011) Guatemala
Carlos (2010) Francia
Carro publico (2008) Enfoque Africa
Catching Hell (2011) Estados Unidos
Chico y Rita (2010) España
Como estrellas en la tierra (2007) India
Cuando el tambor esta latiendo (2011) Haiti
Detective Dee y el misterio de la llama fantasma (2010) China
Dev-D (2009) India
El Sotano (2011) República Dominicana
El dedo (2011) Argentina
El viaje silencioso (2007) Estados Unidos
G.W.B. (2011) Estados Unidos
Estados Unidos (2011) Estados Unidos
Jaque Mate (2011) República Dominicana
Jean Gentil (2010) República Dominicana
Hombres al dente (20101) Italia
Las llaves de la independencia (2005) España
November 20
Closing Night with Fernando Trueba (Chico and Rita) at Teatro NacionalNovember 19
Tower Heist Film, Screening in Cap Cana
Panel: Actors Studio (by: Steven Bauer) at MAURICIO BAEZNovember 18
11 Finalists of 3rd Short Film Competition WinnersNovember 17
Tribute at National PalaceNovember 16
view photo galleries
Opening Night with the Blue Carpet - TEATRO NACIONAL
Welcome Cocktail - FUNGLODE
Gathering for Special Guests - Hotel Embajador
Chico and Rita
IGM Shorts Contest (WINNING)
6:00 PM Teatro NacionalGun Hill Road
6:00 PM Centro Cultural Mauricio BaezAll your dead ones
5:00 PM UASD, Auditorium Manuel del CabralDetective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
6:00 PM Centro Cultural de las TelecomunicacionesCatching Hell
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5:00 PM
CURE - HIGUEY
The Dominican Republic Global Film Festival is proud to honor and dedicate this year´s 5th edition of the Festival to María Montez, the first Dominican actress to achieve fame in Hollywood as she became a reference for filmmaking worldwide. Next year, 2012, is the 100 year anniversary of the birth of María Montez, “the Queen of Technicolor.” For that reason, the Dominican Global Film Festival has honor to of placing her name first on this year´s list of Tributes.
We are equally proud to welcome other national and international film and entertainment greats to this Festival. Welcome Geraldine Chaplin, Danny Glover, Vin Diesel, Agliberto Meléndez, Moctesuma Esparza and Rafael Solano.
Festival Dedication to María Montez
Continental Focus: Africa
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Guest of Honor: India
Lifetime Achievement Award: Geraldine Chaplin
"Arturo Rodríguez" Hispanic Pride in the Seventh Art Award": Moctesuma Esparza
"Camilo Carrau" National Film Pride Award: Agliberto Meléndez
Humanitarian Award: Danny Glover
Musical Contributions in the Audiovisual Arts: Rafael Solano
Support for National Cinema Award: Vin Diesel
People’s Choice Award for the Best Picture 2010: “Jean Gentil”
People’s Choice Honorable Mention for Best Picture 2010: “La Hija Natural”
There will be two types of Prizes during the Festival:
1. Awards for the 3rd Short Films Competitions to be awarded by a special jury.
The prizes include the following: An iMac, The opportunity to make a short film under the auspices of the Dominican film production company, Panamericana, Scholarships to study at the Film School at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba (EICTV), Free online courses for one year offered by www.video2brain.com2. Audience Awards (for best dramatic film and best documentary film), to be selected by ballot after each screening.
view the winners
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18
Laws Relative to the Film Industry
Dominican Film Law and its benefits
Entertainment Industry
“I’m in L.A. Now What?”
Rubirosa: The Last PlayboySATURDAY NOVEMBER 19
Journey of a Comedian
Journalists and Reporters in the Film Industry
Actor Studio
Acting workshop
Business of FilmSUNDAY NOVEMBER 20
Real Steel and its special effects
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Santo Domingo, November 20, 2011
Film Nights at the National Theater
Santo Domingo, November 20, 2011
“GWB” Plays to a Full House in Santo Domingo
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Santo Domingo, November 19, 2011
Advice from Hollywood Stars to Aspiring Dominican Actors: Work Hard with Passion
These are the 11 finalists of our 3rd Short Film Competition.
Congratulations to everyone!
1. Bajo la Mesa
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2. Bienvenida a Casa
3. Cara // Escudo
4. Casimente
5. El Dinero
6. !Hola Mamá! (Third Place)
7. Iguales (Second Place)
8. Irresponsabilidad Cívica
9. La Mujer (First Place)
10. Promesa de Lechón
11. Regresión
Opening Film of
5th Edition Festival de Cine Global Dominicano 2011
Screening:
- Tuesday 15 - 7:00 PM
Teatro Nacional
Santo Domingo
Checkmate
- Film Title: Checkmate
- Director: Jose Maria Cabral
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Year: 2011
- Running Time: 82 minutes
- Format: 35mm / Color
- Language: Spanish with English subtitles
- Film Credits
- Producer: Kendy Yanoreth
- Executive Producers: Jose Miguel Bonetti, Alfonso Rodriguez
- Screenwriters: Cesar Leon Lopez and Jose Maria Cabral
- Cinematographer: Hernán Herrera
- Editor: Harold Loscher and Hernan Herrera
- Composer: Sergio Marte
- Cast: Adrian Mas, Frank Perozo, Michelle Vargas, Sharlene Taulé, Marcos Bonetti, Sergio Carlo
Film Synopsis
David Hernandez is a well-known host of one of the most popular television programs in the Caribbean. In the phone-in segment of his show, he is surprised by a caller who claims to have David’s wife and son kidnapped in their home. The caller forces David to play his game, and forbids him from hanging up or going to commercial break. Otherwise, the kidnapper says, he will "be forced" to kill his family.
David becomes the prey of a cold-hearted predator who seems to know a lot about the program, its production and David himself, for that matter. The Police enter onto the scene but the increasingly tense situation and possible margin of error forces them to remain in the background.
Throughout the “game,” the kidnapper slowly breaks down David’s much revered public persona, forcing him to reveal his darkest secrets and exposing what is really behind one of the world's most viewed abductions.
The intention behind “Checkmate” is to bring Dominican film to new levels, gaining international recognition. “Checkmate” is a controversial story told within a local context, while reflecting a universal reality. The film arouses curiosity through television; it reveals who we really are and how we project ourselves to appear to be something else.
The film explores social, personal and moral issues. As viewers, we can pretend to be spectators of the film and the television program itself as we watch the live kidnapping of this renowned entertainer’s family on national TV.
"In addition to being an entertaining thriller, the film goes beyond that. It peels back the many layers that cover the world of television and it reveals what television means to human beings.
People can say 'Let's see a Dominican film that should be respected for its intelligence and good taste.'"
-Adrian Mas-
"This is a film that deals with the issue of kidnapping, but in reality, I dare say it is about one particular kidnapping. I think this movie is one of the best film experiences I have had. It is a film that reflects the energy and desire of a young director to tell a good story.”
-Alfonso Rodríguez-
"... This is something we would like to discuss: the role of television in society and what it represents."
-José María Cabral-
Director's Biography
José María Cabral, Dominican filmmaker, was born in Santo Domingo on July 24, 1988. In 2005 José María started his film career producing and directing short films. While finishing his senior year of high school in 2008, he produced and directed "Excexos" which was shown in theaters in his native Santo Domingo.
Jose Maria attended film schools in New York, Los Angeles and Spain. Since 2009 he has been involved in the production of social impact videos that have reached Internet viral status. In 2010, Jose María directed his first professional feature film "Jaque Mate," shot in the Dominican Republic. The film is to be released in theaters and at international film festivals by the end of 2011.
