GMAI Celebrates Graduation of Audiovisual Production Class and Presentation of Student Works

On June 27, 2008, the Global Media Arts Institute (GMAI), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), held a ceremony for the twenty-two students that participated in the Introduction to Audiovisual Production for Film and Television Course. In addition to presenting certificates of achievement, the ceremony featured the showing of a number of student works realized throughout the
class, which took place June 2-27 at FUNGLODE Headquarters in Santo Domingo.

The family, friends and professors of the GMAI students that filled the auditorium took delight in the seeing the short films and public service announcements produced by the students, presented on the “big screen.”

FUNGLODE Executive Director, Frederic Emám Zade, led the event along with the Director of GFDD and FUNGLODE’s
Audiovisual Department, Omar de la Cruz, and instructors, Irving Vincent and George Argento of New York University’s Opportunities Program.

Emám Zade encouraged the students to continue pursuing their professional aspirations with the same degree of enthusiasm and passion that they demonstrated throughout the realization of the class.

Vincent, Director of NYU’s Opportunity Programs conveyed his satisfaction
regarding the successful execution of GFDD and FUNGLODE’s second summer course. He also discussed how the out comes of this course, proposed by Dr. Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic and Honorary President of GFDD and FUNGLODE, would ultimately both strengthen the film industry in the Dominican Republic and contribute to the development of local talent.

During the event, the names of the five students that received scholarships to
participate in the Tisch Creative Arts Program, offered by NYU’s School of Art, were announced. The following students will be participating in the program this summer: Alberto Matos Soto (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo), José Manuel Taveras del Orbe (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo), Shahzad Yuna Pérez (Universidad Iberoamericana), Carolina Veras (Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo) and
María Alfonsina Duarte Martínez (Universidad Católica Nordestana).

GMAI is dedicated to providing up-and-coming professionals in the television and film industry with comprehensive instruction in the latest trends in audiovisual production, as part of its overall mission to expand the multimedia industry of the Dominican Republic. The Institute seeks to play a key role in the development of a highly qualified Dominican audiovisual
industry that significantly contributes to the economic development, competitiveness and modernization of the nation.

Related link:
www.nyu.edu/op