The Dominican Film Showcase Closes Its Washington, D.C. Edition with Merengue and Bachata

The Dominican Film Showcase (DFS), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), successfully ended last night with the presentation of the documentary film Sol Caribe, by filmmaker Félix Limardo. The diverse audience enjoyed a pleasant evening enlivened with the rhythms of Merengue, Bachata and Son, during the fifth and final day of film screenings that took place in
Washington, D.C., between November 19th and November 23rd.

After five days in which the main objective of GFDD was to exhibit the best films that are being produced in the Dominican Republic, made by Dominican filmmakers on Dominican topics, Sol Caribe delighted the audience present in the packed auditorium of the Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The Director of the GFDD office in New York, Yamile
Eusebio, explained that the film is about the roots, development and current state of Dominican music with its four main genres of popular music: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Son,as seen and expressed through the voices of 12 of its greatest musicians: Milly Quezada, Wilfrido Vargas, Joseíto Mateo, Fefita La Grande, Johnny Ventura, el Cieguito de Nagua and Francisco Ulloa, among others. "This makes us proud to be Dominican," said Eusebio.

In turn, GFDD Director of Projects and ICT, Semiramis de Miranda, emphasized that the audience at the Dominican Film Showcase are the "real Ambassadors" of this event. She welcomed the fact that the mechanisms to increase the production of Dominican films have already been underway for several years and cited the 2010 Dominican Film Law as an example. "The productions have been growing
significantly. From 2012 to 2014 some 42 films received production incentives", she pointed out.

De Miranda said that Dominicans now have the option of watching films made and produced by Dominican filmmakers, which also successfully participate in international festivals. "Among the goals of GFDD and Funglode are the dissemination of these Dominican productions worldwide and to support the Dominican Republic as a destination for the film
industry."

The Dominican Film Showcase has demonstrated once again that the international community is thirsty for new productions and is very curious to learn about cultures and diversity. Nothing beats the art of cinema to show a culture with different voices and different formats.

Since last Wednesday both, the Dominican diaspora and the public interested in other cultures’ films, have enjoyed all genres of films: from romantic
comedy and animated films to environmental documentaries, musicals and inspiration films.

For more information, please visit www.dominicanfilmshowcase.org.