Leonel Fernández Recognized during Cine Argentino Film Festival

Dr. Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic, was the recipient of special recognition and the 2017 Argentine Film Award during the Cine Argentino Film Festival which began Sunday, September 3rd at Nova Southeastern University’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale.

Fernández received the tribute in recognition of the important work carried out by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development and its sister organization in the
Dominican Republic, Funglode, as well as for his role in the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival.

The award was presented by Adriana Bianco, founder of the Festival de Cine y Arte Argentino y Latino (Argentine and Latin American Film and Art Festival), and Dr. George Hanbury, President and CEO of Nova Southeastern
University.

During her presentation, Bianco underlined the contributions that Dr. Fernández has made to the development of the Dominican Republic at every level, particularly concerning the consolidation of the film industry.

Upon receiving the recognition, Fernández showed gratitude and emphasized the large contributions that Argentine film has made to the development of the film industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Similarly, Fernández highlighted the upturn seen in the Dominican film industry in recent years, which he qualified as “young and promising.”

At his side, Omar de la Cruz, Director of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival, gave a detailed recollection of the content and importance of the 2010 Dominican Republic Film Industry Law, and spoke of the number of movies filmed in the country as a result of the legislation’s approval
and implementation.

De la Cruz also underlined the quality of Fernando Báez’s Flor de Azúcar, which was chosen to compete in the 89th Academy Awards in the category for Best Foreign Language Film.

In fact, Bianco dedicated this year’s iteration of the Cine Argentino Film Festival to the Dominican Republic, and screened Flor de Azúcarwith Dr. Fernández in attendance.

Directed by
Fernando Báez, the film tells the story of two peasant couples – one Dominican and one Haitian – that become mixed up in conflict during the era of the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, who ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961.