News – Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival

  • DREFF starts off 2020 with a screening of Cacú: Un cambio por la vida at UNIBE
    February 3, 2020

    The first screening of 2020, as part of DREFF’s Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, was celebrated this past Saturday, February 1 at UNIBE’s auditorium in Santo Domingo. Cacú: Un cambio por la vida was selected to be screened before an audience, of students, professors and special guests. Reydi Moreta, representative of DREFF, shared some welcoming […]

  • DREFF 2019 concludes with an encouraging message to the Dominican youth
    November 16, 2019

    Santo Domingo – The seventh edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival ended yesterday with an encouraging message to the Dominican youth: a message of commitment to the environment and a vision of a more harmonious planet under the care of everyone. A total of nine academic institutions of the Dominican Republic assembled hundreds of […]

  • Hundreds of young people of all ages show enthusiasm, knowledge and environmental consciousness in the seventh edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival
    November 15, 2019

    Santo Domingo – The last four films of DREFF 2019 were screened at Santo Domingo and Santiago, concluding this edition in 3 cities and 9 venues in the Dominican Republic were hundreds of young people of all ages have shown grand knowledge and awareness of environmental threats as well as the available solutions to tackle climate […]

  • Cacú: un cambio por la vida and Chasing the Snot Whales of Samaná, and their director, Marvin Del Cid, were the protagonists today at DREFF
    November 14, 2019

    Santo Domingo – The third day of DREFF 2019 concludes with Dominican flair and was filled with great and educative discussions, excellent films and fun shorts for the children. Cacú: un cambio por la vida and Chasing the Snot Whales of Samaná, and their director Marvin del Cid, a Guatemalan living in the Dominican Republic, […]

  • Victoria Sloan Jordan: “This movie could not be a traditional documentary, based on data and interviews, because director Chris Jordan and I are artists. He is a photographer and I m a poet; we had to do something that reached the human condition.”
    November 13, 2019

    UNIBE welcomes the projection of Albatross and the presence of its producer in the second day of DREFF filled with prominent and award-winning international productions Santo Domingo – The second day of DREFF 2019 concluded tonight at the Pontifica Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo with the screening of Sea of Shadows after […]

  • The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival’s seventh edition premiered today with 9 screenings in 3 cities and 6 venues
    November 12, 2019

    Santo Domingo – Under the theme “Passion for our planet”, a new edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival began today. A total of 12 screenings from 6 countries- Colombia, Argentina, Belgium, U.S.A., Mexico and the Dominican Republic- will be shown over the next 4 days in 9 venues around the country in association with […]

  • DREFF Co-Host Special Screenings at GCFI72 in Punta Cana
    November 11, 2019

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a GFDD initiative, with the Grupo Puntacana Foundation, and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) hosted two special screenings of environmental documentaries as part of the 72nd Annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). The Dominican documentary “Cacú: Un cambio por la vida”, directed […]

  • In Collaboration with DREFF, “Alimento” Screened at Colleges and Universities Through the Faces for Hunger 2019 Festival
    October 22, 2019

    Washington, DC – Thanks to the support of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), the Dominican short film “Alimento” was selected to be screened at the Faces for Hunger 2019 film festival, an initiative of the Palms for Life Fund. The festival took place at […]

  • Final Countdown! Less Than a Month Until the Seventh Edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival
    October 18, 2019

    Washington – The seventh edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) starts November 12 with four days of movies and debates on the environment and climate change challenges. Three cities in the Dominican Republic -Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana- will be the sites of activities aiming to involve the community in debate on […]

  • DREFF and UNIBE close Environment Week with the documentary Revolution
    June 12, 2019

    Santo Domingo – Last Friday, June 7, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) presented a screening of the documentary Revolution to observe World Environment Day. The event, held together with the Ibero-American University (UNIBE) to close its Environment Week, was hosted by DREFF’s Environmental Film Screenings, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and […]

  • DREFF Joins 37 Festivals from around the World in the First International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals
    October 15, 2018

    Under the organization and sponsorship of CineEco environmental film festival that takes place annually in Seia, Portugal, the First International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals united 38 film festivals from all around the world, all the members of the Green Film Network. The director of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), Natasha Despotovic, was among the participants.

  • DREFF will be Present at the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal
    October 8, 2018

    Alongside 35 other festival directors from across the globe, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) Executive Director and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) Director Natasha Despotovic will be present at the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal next week, from October 13th to 15th. Despotovic will join the other festival directors in discussion and promotion of the environment through film. Areas for
    collaboration and the sustainability of film festivals to promote social change will be debated in panel-style conversations.

  • DREFF: Special Guest at the First International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal
    September 17, 2018

    CineEco, in collaboration with the Green Film Network (GFN), will organize the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal, next October. The event, supported by the Portuguese Tourism Center, will take place during the 24th edition of the CineEco festival, October 13th to 15th. Natasha Despotovic, Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)’s Director, has been invited to attend as a special guest, together with representatives of the most
    relevant environmental festivals around the world.

  • “You Don’t Need to be a Biologist to be a Nature Conservationist; You Need to be Human and Have a Voice”
    September 5, 2018

    On Wednesday, September 5th, a special screening of the film “Blue Heart” (2018) was co-hosted by Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), the Center for Responsible and Sustainable Travel (CREST) and Patagonia, at the Patagonia Georgetown store in Washington, DC.

  • New Habits to Control Plastic Consumption
    August 13, 2018

    Last Saturday, August 11th, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) – an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), and the National Museum of Natural History “Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano” (MNHN for its Spanish initials), joint efforts to screen the documentary “Bag It!”.

  • DREFF, Cinemateca Dominicana and the Centros Tecnológicos Comunitarios promote environmental awareness
    August 13, 2018

    This past Friday, August 10th, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), together with its Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Cinemateca Dominicana, screened the children’s environmental short film “Peter Plastic” to youth from the Centros Tecnológicos Comunitarios (CTC).

  • DREFF Joins BIJRD at FICI 2018 with Screenings of “The Boy and the World”
    July 31, 2018

    As part of the collaboration with the XIII Festival Internacional de Cine Infantil (FICI – Children’s International Film Festival), held annually in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, GFDD and its DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) screened the animated film “The Boy and the World” twice. The first screening was held on Sunday, July 29 at 4:00 p.m at Sambil, and the second one was on Monday, July 30 at 4:00 p.m. at Agora Mall. Hundreds of children and
    adults enjoyed the Oscar nominee film that was part of the 2016 DREFF’s official selection.

  • DREFF and Cinemateca Screened Environmental Short Films to Participants of BIJRD’s Summer Camp Participants
    July 11, 2018

    As part of a special visit to the Cinemateca Dominicana and thanks to the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), dozens of children and adults, participants of the summer camp at the Biblioteca Infantil y Juvenil de la República Dominicana (BIJRD), enjoyed the short films “Peter Plástico” and “The Change”.

  • GFDD/Funglode and DREFF Mourn the Death of Dominican Filmmaker Fernando Báez Mella
    July 4, 2018

    The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) deeply lament the death of Dominican producer, director and photographer Fernando Báez Mella, who tragically passed away on July 3, 2018. In addition to having been a great friend and collaborator, Mr. Báez Mella was a member of the DREFF National Advisory Committee.

  • “The Lack of Sustainability is Going to Affect Us All; it’s Already Affecting Us”
    June 21, 2018

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) hosted a panel discussion at its Washington, DC office, titled “Best Practices on Sustainable and Responsible Tourism”. The conversation included international speakers such as Natasha Despotovic, GFDD/DREFF’s Executive Director and President, Villa Serena Hotel in Samaná, Dominican Republic; Jake Kheel, Vice President, Grupo Puntacana Foundation (and
    co-director of the documentary ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’); Martha Honey, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and Maryanne Culpepper, Executive Director, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF).

  • DREFF Celebrates World Environment Day and World Ocean Day with Film Showings at the Cinemateca Dominicana and Local Universities UNIBE and UNAPEC
    June 11, 2018

    Beginning June 1st, the Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) celebrated during an entire week two important international days: World Environment Day and World Ocean Day, held annually on June 5th and 8th, respectively.

  • The DREFF, Along with Ministries of the Environment and Tourism, Celebrate World Ocean Day
    June 11, 2018

    To commemorate World Ocean Day, held on June 8th of each year, the Dominican Environment Film Festival (DREFF), along with the Ministries of the Environment and Tourism of the Dominican Republic, featured a special presentation of the short documentaries El mar y yo (non-official translation: The Sea and I) and Un viaje a través de los ojos del
    arrecife     (non-official translation: A Journey Through the Eyes of the Coral Reef).

  • DREFF and UNAPEC Will Celebrate World Environment Day and World Oceans Day
    May 23, 2018

    To commemorate World Environment Day, held each year on June 5th and World Oceans Day, held worldwide on June 8th, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and APEC University (UNAPEC), will feature films on both these subjects for professors and students from June 5-8, 2018.

  • DREFF and the Cinemateca Dominicana Will Exhibit Environmental Films to Celebrate World Environment Day
    May 10, 2018

    To celebrate World Environment Day, held annually throughout the world on June 5, the Dominican Environmental Film Initiative (DREFF) and the Cinemateca Dominicana will host free film showings on various environmental issues. The films will be exhibited, free of charge, from June 1 through the 6 at the Film Archive Cinema, situated in Santo Domingo’s Cultural Plaza.

  • GFDD/DREFF and the “Cinemateca Dominicana” Feature Documentaries on How Children and Adolescents Can Take Care of the Environment During Annual Dominican Book Fair
    April 30, 2018

    During Santo Domingo’s International Book Fair, held from April 19-30, 2018, children and adolescents were treated to special showings of short documentaries and feature films on how to care and protect the environment.

  • DREFF and Cinemateca Dominicana to Screen Environmental Films at the 2018 Santo Domingo International Book Fair
    April 16, 2018

    The International Book Fair of Santo Domingo will be held April 19-30, 2018. As part of it, an interesting program of environmental short films and documentaries will be screened. This initiative is a collaboration of Global Foudnation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) and the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), with Cinemateca Dominicana and the DR Film
    Commission (Dirección General de Cine de la República Dominicana, DGCINE).

  • The DREFF and the “Siempre Más” Foundation Present Motivational Documentary to Local Students and Encourages Them to Follow Their Dreams
    March 25, 2018

    The Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) recently presented the documentary La Montaña (The Mountain) to hundreds of students from the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro high school, in the northeast Santo Domingo community of San Isidro. Most of the students who attend the public high school are the children of Dominican Air Force officials. The showing was organized by the DREFF and the “Siempre Más”
    Foundation.

  • GFDD Hosts Discussion on Environmental Activism and Journalism In Its Washington, D.C. Offices
    March 21, 2018

    In addition to the successful Dominican Night at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival, where Dominican filmmakers presented two documentaries on Dominican conservation efforts, on Tuesday, March 20, the GFDD and DREFF hosted a special side event on “Environmental Journalism and Activism:  Creating and Sharing the Frontline Stories.”  The event was held at the GFDD-DC offices, and moderated by Natasha Despotovic, the Foundation’s Executive Director and DREFF
    Director.

  • GFDD and DREFF Bring Incredible Dominican Environmental Stories to Washington, DC!
    March 20, 2018

    The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), and its Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), hosted the annual Dominican Night at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) on Monday, March 19.

  • Dominican Films and Activists Will Be Part of the 2018 DC Environmental Film Festival
    February 27, 2018

    In 2018, the 26th annual DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) will honor environmental heroes with ‘Stories from the Frontlines’. Whether it is wildlife conservation, habitat protection, clean drinking water or clean air, DCEFF films and speakers will reflect the action and the passion of those who are working on the battle lines to protect and
    preserve the environment for us and for future generations. More than 100 films will be screened to audiences of more than 30,000 Washingtonians.

  • DREFF 24/7: A New Online Platform for Environmental Films!
    December 21, 2017

    Never relaxing in its efforts to promote greater environmental awareness and sustainable socioeconomic development, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) has decided to take yet another leap into the digital realm, in addition to continuing with its trademark presentations, panel discussions, workshops, global strategic alliances, and exchanges of knowledge and experience with international experts.

  • Chasing Coral Elicits Reflections in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana
    December 8, 2017

    On December 6th and 7th, two free film screenings were held for the acclaimed documentary Chasing Coral, directed by famed director and recent winner of the United Nations’ Champions of the Earth award, Jeff Orlowski. The film highlights the changes that are occurring in the world’s oceans and corals due to the effects of global warming, and has been shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards consideration in the Documentary Feature award category.

  • ‘Love the Earth’ Film Series Comes to the Cinemateca Dominicana
    November 29, 2017

    With collaboration from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Environment, the Dominican Republic Film Commission (DGCINE) and the Year Round Environmental Screening Initiative of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) celebrated the film series ‘Love the Earth’ from November 17 to 29 at the Cinemateca Dominicana, located in Santo Domingo’s Plaza de la Cultura.

  • Two Caribbean Environmental Film Festivals Joined Efforts for Regional Sustainability
    November 8, 2017

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a Global Foundation for Democracy and Developmen (GFDD) initiative, joined the environmental film festival of Trinidad and Tobago, Green Screen T&T, an annual event which brings environmental and sustainability focused films, panels, workshops and other activities to the city of Port of Spain.

  • DREFF’s Nominee, “Death by a Thousand Cuts”, Finalist in the 2017 Green Film Network Award!
    September 29, 2017

    The Dominican Film “Death by a Thousand Cuts”, screened at the 2016 Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), has been selected as one of the finalist in this year’s Green Film Network (GFN) Award. This was DREFF’s nomination for the renown international environmental film prize, “Green Cinema Award”, organized by GFN, a prestigious network of the world’s best environmental film festivals. DREFF is a member of GFN.

  • Quality over Quantity: A Discussion on Sustainable Tourism in the Dominican Republic
    August 29, 2017

    The tourism sector in the Dominican Republic needs to take advantage of the natural and cultural resources within the country to improve the industry and attract mindful tourists, thereby adding value in services.

  • Value of Life and Cycles to Bring the Caribbean to Kuala Lumpur
    August 14, 2017

    Out of 249 films hailing from 44 different countries, Value of Life, a production of the Global Foundation for Democracy & Development and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic (GFDD/Funglode), and Cycles, the winner of the 2016 Globo Verde Dominicano Short Film Award have been selected to screen during the 10th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF), to be held from October 23rd – 29th, 2017. GFDD could not be more
    delighted to serve as an ambassador of film of the Dominican Republic to the people of Malaysia. It is our honor to be selected for this important event and we look forward to witnessing the impact of our stories.

  • GFDD’s Value of Life Preselected for Cinema Los Angeles
    August 7, 2017

    Having been screened across the Dominican Republic and competed in six film festivals in locales ranging from New York and Turin, Italy to Ensenada, Mexico, Value of Life is an inquiry into how modern societies value the natural resources that surround them and the ways in which nature provides for modern economic development.

  • GFDD and Funglode Attend the 2017 Edition of the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and Supports the Delivery of the NGO Major Group Position Paper
    July 21, 2017

    Over the course of two weeks, the HLPF reflected on experiences and lessons learned during the last year of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation, and resulted in a ministerial declaration endorsed by more than 70 ministers from around the world aimed at accelerating the pace of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to lift millions out of poverty.

  • DREFF and Siempre Más Foundation Promote Environmental Protection
    July 21, 2017

    Siempre Más Foundation works with the El Higüero summer camp to offer classes and instruction on the environment and environmental protection. The DREFF joined these efforts to promote love for natural resources and spur members of Dominican youth to strive for their dreams.

  • The Universities UNAPEC, UNIBE and UNPHU Celebrate World Environment Day Alongside DREFF with a Diverse Lineup of Documentaries
    June 8, 2017

    UNAPEC, UNIBE and UNPHU, institutions of higher learning in the DR, will celebrate World Environment Day this week alongside GFDD/Funglode’s Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and its Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program with a diverse list of documentary screenings and debates about sustainable development and good environmental practices.

  • 50 Dominican Leaders Visit the GFDD Offices in Washington DC to Discuss the Environment and Sustainable Development
    June 2, 2017

    A group of 50 Dominican leaders participated in an event organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) as part of the Dominican Embassy in the United States’ Leaders Program in Washington, DC. The group participated in a screening of the GFDD award-winning film, “Value of Life” and in a subsequent discussion about the environment, sustainable development and environmental film.

  • DREFF Environmental Film Also in the 2017 Santo Domingo International Book Fair
    April 28, 2017

    As part of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival’s (DREFF) mission to promote as well as educate and spread awareness about good environmental practices, the Funglode/GFDD stand in the 2017 Santo Domingo International Book Fair was the scene for screenings of environmental film, one activity among the jam-packed agenda of events organized by those foundations.

  • Celebrate International Recycling Day at Expo ReCrearte!
    April 26, 2017

    Expo ReCrearte, an event held in celebration of International Recycling Day on May 17, is organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) ReCrearte program, and done in collaboration with the ECOESCUELA project of the Dominican Republic Institute for Environmental Law (IDARD, for its acronym in Spanish).

  • GFDD Commemorates Earth Day in the National Botanical Garden with more than 200 High School Students
    April 25, 2017

    On April 23, to commemorate Earth Day, more than 200 students from schools in Santo Domingo participated in screenings of the documentaries “10 Billion, What”s on Your Plate,” by Director Valentin Thurn, and “The True Cost,” by Andrew Morgan, within the Year Round Environmental Film Screenings Program of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF).

  • ReCrearte Participates in Colegio New Horizons’ Global Expo 2017 with an Art Recycling Workshop in Santo Domingo
    April 6, 2017

    ReCrearte joined together with the Dominican Republic’s Center for Agricultural and Forest Development (CEDAF, for its acronym in Spanish) to host on Wednesday, April 5 a recycling presentation and workshop with 62 students from the Colegio New Horizons, in Santo Domingo, DR. These activities were among many at the school’s Global Expo 2017.

  • DREFF Joins Forces with Cinema Planeta to Promote Dominican Environmental Filmmaking
    April 5, 2017

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) once again joined forces with Cinema Planeta from Cuernava, Mexico, to co-present two Dominican environmental film productions during the ninth edition of the Mexican competition, which will take place from May 2 to May 7, 2017: the documentary “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” by Jake Kheel and Juan Mejía Botero, and the winner of the 2015 Globo Verde Dominicano Award, “7 gramos”, directed by Hadzael Gómez and
    Jonatán Vila.

  • ReCrearte Holds 8 Workshops with More than 250 Students from Across the Country
    April 3, 2017

    Throughout the month of March, ReCrearte, an initiative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), held eight art recycling workshops with nearly 250 students from schools across the Dominican Republic. Done in collaboration with the ECOESUELA project of the Dominican Republic Institute for Environmental Law (IDARD, for its acronym in Spanish), the projects intended to promote environmental awareness and recycling efforts among young people by engaging them in fun
    recycling activities and discussions.

  • DREFF – Cinemateca Dominicana Alliance: Environmental Film and Responsible Practices for Everyone to Enjoy
    March 26, 2017

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Cinemateca Dominicana (part of the Dominican Republic Film Commission) concluded last Wednesday in Santo Domingo a week of environmental film and debate on good practices and sustainable development in an unprecedented initiative.

  • Once Again, DREFF and DCEFF’s Dominican Night Celebrate Environment and Promote Its Sustainable Use
    March 24, 2017

    As part of the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) held its annual Dominican Night, a showcase of documentaries produced on the island by Dominican filmmakers, on Thursday, March 23 at the E Street Cinema in the nation’s capital.

  • Over 300 Students Attend Environmental Film Screenings at Colegio Dominico Americano Commemorating World Water Day
    March 24, 2017

    To raise awareness for World Water Day, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) held a screening of environmental documentaries and shorts at Colegio Dominico Americano on the morning of March 23, 2017

  • Dozens of Students Celebrate International Day of Forests with DREFF and the National Botanical Garden
    March 22, 2017

    Dozens of students from the educational centers, the Center of General and Service Studies (CEGES, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Capotillo Educational Center of Santo Domingo commemorated the International Day of Forests at the National Botanical Garden (JBN, for its acronym in Spanish) in an activity planned by the Dominican Agroecological Society with the purpose of strengthening and developing knowledge about the environment among children from vulnerable
    communities.

  • DREFF Holds Networking Breakfast for Filmmakers, Green Film Network Members and the Press as Part of the DCEFF
    March 17, 2017

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) held today a networking breakfast for Green Film Network (GFN) members, filmmakers and friends at the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) office in Washington, D.C. The get-together was part of the official 2017 DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), which is now taking place in Washington, D.C. from March 14 to March 26.

  • DREFF Welcomes Denis Delestrac and Sixto Incháustegui as Members of Its Advisory Committees
    March 8, 2017

    The Dominican Environmental Film Festival(DREFF) is pleased to introduce the new members of the International Advisory Committee and the National Advisory Committee, Denis Delestrac and Sixto Incháustegui, respectively.

  • DREFF and Cinemateca Dominicana Announce Special Program in March
    March 6, 2017

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Cinemateca Dominicana (part of the Dominican Republic Film Commission) will be hosting a joint program to promote environmental films in Santo Domingo.

  • The Winner of the 2016 Globo Verde Dominicano Begins His Journey around International Film Festivals
    February 21, 2017

    Globo Verde Dominicano Award gets you one step closer to becoming an environmental filmmaker and achieving the goal of travelling around the world with your movies. In fact, the winner in the Short Films category, in addition to a $2000 gift certificate, receives a unique prize: the director gets to travel with his/her film to an international environmental film festival and the movie will screen at film festivals around the world.

  • PUCMM Students Discuss Who Really Pays the Price of Our Clothes
    February 13, 2017

    Business students of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo enjoyed a screening of the film The True Cost on Friday, February 10th, within the framework of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)’s Year Round program.

  • Steve McCurry in Santo Domingo: “Photography Is Not a Matter of Luck; It’s Training, Work and a Lot of Practice”
    February 10, 2017

    Master of contemporary photography, Steve McCurry is raising great expectations and passions during his visit to the Dominican Republic. Yesterday, hundreds of people queued from the early hours of the afternoon outside Funglode headquarters to attend the workshop for professionals and the master class open to the public organized by the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, a GFDD initiative. Before the academic activities, McCurry – accompanied by filmmaker Denis
    Delestrac – was received by GFDD/Funglode President Dr. Leonel Fernández.

  • Dominican Night to Come Again to Washington In March as Part of DCEFF
    February 9, 2017

    As part of the long-term partnership between the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF), Dominican Night, featuring screenings of documentaries produced on the island, comes once again to the United States capital. On March 23, as part of the long-running Washingtonian festival, this year in its 25th edition, the city’s E Street Cinema will host a screening of the winner of the 2016 Globo Verde
    Dominicano, the short film Ciclos by Hansel Ureña Espósito, as well as Death by a Thousand Cuts, directed by Juan Mejia and Jake Kheel, and Site of Sites, by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada.

  • DREFF and Green Screen T&T to Promote Environmental Filmmaking and Sustainability in the Caribbean
    December 5, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Environmental Film Festival of Trinidad and Tobago, Green Screen, are joining efforts to promote environmental filmmaking and sustainability in the Caribbean. Both festivals have incredible experiences and lessons learned throughout the years and now are ready to share best practices to increase their impact and scope of action in the region.

  • Dominican Film Showcase Opens in New York to Laughter and Applause with the Comedy Todos Los Hombres Son Iguales
    November 17, 2016

    The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) opened its Dominican Film Showcase in New York on Thursday night at Symphony Space with the comedy Todos los hombres son iguales, from Manuel Gómez Pereira. The event was attended by José Ramón Alamá, the movie’s producer and CEO of Bou Group, who introduced the film and chatted with the audience.

  • Making Our Oceans Great Again: DREFF Team Is Proud to Be Part of the BLUE Ocean Film Festival
    November 14, 2016

    The BlUE Ocean Film Festival and Summit took place once again in Saint Petersburg, Florida, from November 10 to 14. The DREFF’s (Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival)  and GFDD’s Executive Director, Natasha Despotovic, attended the four busy days of film screenings, panels, workshops and discussions, together with Semiramis De Miranda, DREFF’s Director of Digital Publications and Media.

  • 7 Grams, Winner of 2015 Globo Verde Dominicano Award, Screens in Trinidad and Tobago
    November 9, 2016

    On November 6, 2016 the short film 7 Grams was screened at The Botanical Gardens of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, as part of the sixth edition of Green Screen T&T, the country’s environmental film festival hosted by Sustain T&T.

  • GFDD Production Value of Life Finalist at the Blue Ocean Film Festival 2016
    October 31, 2016

    Value of Life, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) latest production, has been chosen by an international jury as a finalist, together with other 5 films, in the category of Short Productions. This category honors the best short films between 5 and 20 minutes in length that are “engaging, creative and empowering”, according to the organizers.  Furthermore, it is Natasha Despotovic´s, the Executive Director of GFDD and DREFF, third year as a
    judge; in this edition for the category of Cinematography. As collaborators and friends Blue Ocean Film Festival, Despotovic, and other members of the staff will attend the event to take place November 10 to 17 in Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg.

  • The Mexican Sunú, DREFF Audience Award 2016
    October 30, 2016

    The Mexican film Sunú, directed by Teresa Camou, rose to the top this year as winner of the DREFF Audience Award from among more than 40 films and 140 screenings. Seen through the eyes of small, medium, and large Mexican maize producers, Sunú weaves different stories in a threatened rural world.

  • Nobel Peace Prize Winner from 2007 and Landfill Harmonic Are Highlights at the Closing Ceremony of the DREFF 2016
    September 18, 2016

    The sixth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)  came to an end with a flourish today after six wonderful days, 140 screenings in over 40 venues in 11 cities, making 2016 the largest and most influential Festival to date. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize and the movie, Landfill Harmonic, winner of the Green Film Network Award, the Oscar of  environmental film, were the stars of the
    evening, which took place at Funglode’s headquarters in Santo Domingo. The DREFF and Dominican Republic were this year’s hosts and organizers of the prestigious Green Film Network Award, held for the first time in a Latin American country.

  • Environmental Film Festival Tribute to Dominican Filmmakers at DREFF 2016
    September 17, 2016

    Funglode opened its doors this evening to host a film and environmental celebration with the Dominican Republic and its filmmakers as protagonists. During the evening, attended by Dr. Leonel Fernandez, president of Funglode and GFDD, the Globo Verde Dominicano 2016 Awards were handed out in the categories of Short Film, Public Service Announcement, Junior and Photography. Numerous personalities from the world of film and culture were present along with international guests from all
    over the world.

  • Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Joins the DREFF 2016 Wave
    September 15, 2016

    Dozens of members of the technical and administrative team as well as special invited guests enjoyed an environmental film yesterday at the office of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources as part of the 6th edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF).

  • Fernando Abruña, DREFF 2016 Guest Named “Distinguished Guest of Dominican Architects”
    September 15, 2016

    Following a successful screening of the documentary La Casa Ausente at UNIBE as part of the 6th Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), the Board of Directors of the Society of Architects of the Dominican Republic named Puerto Rican architect, Fernando Abruña, “Distinguished Guest of Dominican Architects” in recognition of his successful career in international architecture.

  • Green Carpet Rolled Out to Inaugurate Sixth Edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival 2016
    September 13, 2016

    Under this year’s slogan, “Yo soy sostenible,” the sixth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (www.dreff.org) was inaugurated on Tuesday September 13 in Santo Domingo with a screening of the documentary The True Cost and a magnificent celebration of sustainable fashion in the Agora Mall, complete with a green carpet. The Film Festival, to last until September 18, will take place in 11 cities around the Dominican Republic, including Santo
    Domingo, Santiago, Baní, Puerto Plata/Sosúa, San Juan de la Maguana, La Vega, Samaná, Hermanas Mirabel, Bonao, Punta Cana and La Romana in over 40 cinemas and screening rooms.

  • Celebrating Sustainable Fashion at DREFF 2016
    September 9, 2016

    The sixth edition of the DREFF, taking place between September 13-18 in eleven cities around the Dominican Republic, has planned a large celebration to support and encourage sustainable fashion, which seeks to respect humans as well as the environment. At the inauguration, to be held September 13 at the Palacio del Cine-Agora Mall in Santo Domingo, the DREFF has organized a full program that will celebrate and welcome, in grand style, a movement that emerged globally several years
    ago and which seeks to encourage a more transparent and mutually supportive fashion industry, which gains more followers everyday.

  • Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Dr. Rajendra Pachauri in the Dominican Republic as DREFF Guest of Honor
    September 8, 2016

    The sixth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is proud to welcome Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize recipient on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as this year’s guest of honor. Dr. Pachauri will receive the highest recognition of the Film Festival, the Colibrí Award, for his outstanding academic and professional career. Born in India, Dr. Pachauri will attend the closing ceremony of the DREFF, to be held on
    September 18th at 6:00 pm in Funglode. In addition to receiving the award, he will deliver the keynote address entitled, “Sustainability and Sustainable Development: A Challenge for all Stakeholders.”

  • Disneynature and DREFF Partnered to Screen Several Films on Global Biodiversity
    September 7, 2016

    This year, as part of the new partnership with Disneynature to promote global consciousness and appreciation for biodiversity, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), in collaboration with Caribbean Cinemas, will be showingMonkey Kingdom, Chimpanzee, African Cats, and Wings for Life.

  • Landfill Harmonic, Winner of the GFN Award 2016, Hosted by DREFF
    September 2, 2016

    The winner of this year’s Green Film Network (GFN) Award – the Oscar of environmental filmmaking – has just been announced! Landfill Harmonic, the joint Paraguay/USA production directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley, has been chosen from among 14 competing films representing various countries. DREFF is proud to be the first host of the annual Green Film Network (GFN) Award in the Americas. The film – screened during the opening ceremony of DREFF 2015 –
    will again run during this year’s closing ceremony on September 18 in Santo Domingo.

  • Official Announcement in Santo Domingo of the Sixth Edition of the Dominican Republic Evironmental Film Festival
    August 25, 2016

    All the details about the Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) were presented yesterday in the capital of the country, Santo Domingo, before a large group of journalists, environmental experts and friends and collaborators at the Colonial Gate 4D Cinema. The Chief Operations Officer of DREFF, Yamile Eusebio, and Omar Shamir Reynoso, Coordinator of GFDD environmental programs, spoke of all the details of this great celebration of environmental cinema that is held this year
    from the 13th  to the 18th  of September in 11 of cities across the country.

  • New NYC Recycling Law Allows GFDD New York Office to Go Even Greener!
    August 25, 2016

    The New York office of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is delighted to announce that since August 1, 2016 a new NYC recycling law has gone into effect requiring all commercial building in the city to recycle the following materials disposed of by its tenants, including: Paper, cardboard, metal, glass, plastic and beverage cartons.

  • Everything You Want to Know About Organic and Sustainable Foods during DREFF 2016
    August 22, 2016

    Sustainable energy is a hot-button issue when it comes to preserving the environment, but have you ever thought about sustainable food? At the upcoming sixth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), to be held from September 13 to 18 in 11 cities around the country, sustainable food is one of the crucial topics. Five films and two international guests will develop this issue with the objective of helping us reflect on the food we eat, how it’s
    produced, and the effects of our daily eating decisions on our environment.

  • Passion for the Sea, Recycled Fashion and NYFA Student´s Photographs Exhibit at DREFF 2016
    August 17, 2016

    The 6th Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is excited to announce the three exhibitions that will be part of this year’s special activities taking place during the 6 days of the festival. These exhibitions will be open during the festival, which will take place from September 13th – 18th. They include Mar Vivo – The Living Sea Photographic Exhibit; Expo RD Recicla – A Space to Showcase Sustainable Fashion during DREFF; and the New York Film Academy
    Student Photography Exhibition.

  • Promoting Environmental Conscientiousness and Sustainable Practices through Community Engagement during the DREFF
    August 15, 2016

    In an effort to promote sustainability and to engage Dominicans to take action, DREFF will put on several community activities during the week of the festival, from September 13th to the 18th. These activities will range from exploratory walks to workshops to social media competitions. DREFF aims to allow Dominicans to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of their homeland while simultaneously encouraging them to take a part in planning for its sustainability. In accordance with
    this year´s slogan “Yo soy sostenible”, these activities will emphasize the importance of taking an active role in conservation today to live sustainably in the future.

  • GFN Award, the Oscar of Environmental Filmmaking, Hosted by DREFF 2016
    August 11, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), which celebrates this year its 6th edition from September 13 to 18, is proud to be the first to host the annual Green Film Network (GFN) Award in the Americas. The Green Award, often called the Oscar of environmental filmmaking, is now in its third edition and will announce the winning film at the end of August. The chosen film will be screened during the festival’s closing ceremony to be held on September 18.

  • Come Check Out the Sixth Edition of DREFF!
    August 4, 2016

    The wait is over! The website for the sixth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is up, and everything you wanted to know about DREFF 2016 is now online! The website is a user friendly and innovative platform that will provide you with a vast range of information, from the movies that will be screened and venues, to master classes, workshops, and special guests that will be attending the festival from September 13 to 18.

  • DREFF Joins the World Bank Initiative Film4Climate
    August 1, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is proud to announce its recent partnership with Film4Climate, an initiative launched by Connect4Climate, a global partnership program dedicated to raising awareness about climate change issues around the world created by the World Bank and a broad range of partners.

  • Death by a Thousand Cuts Screened in Washington, DC: “The ferocious and growing competition for natural resources is fertile ground for social conflict”
    July 28, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), in collaboration with the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) and the Interamerican Development Bank (IBD), yesterday celebrated the screening of the film Death by a Thousand Cutsat the E Street Cinema in Washington, DC. Before a full house that required the opening of two screening rooms, the movie’s codirectors Juan Mejía Botero and Jake Kheel and producer Ben Selkow spoke with the
    public about the film and expressed their hope that it would serve to call attention to the implicated parties and generate dialogue between Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as transnational solutions.

  • “My biggest advice – listen carefully”: GFN Interviews Natasha Despotovic
    July 12, 2016

    The Green Film Network, association that brings together more than 30 environmental festivals from around the world – among them the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) – has just published an interview made to Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of DREFF and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD).

  • DREFF, DCEFF and IDB present Death by a Thousand Cuts DC Premiere
    July 12, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) in partnership with the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will host the DC premiere of Death by a Thousand Cuts at the IDB Enrique V. Iglesias Auditorium, July 27 at 6 pm. The special screening will be followed by a discussion with the co-director and producer Jake Kheel, co-director Juan Mejía Botero, and producer Ben Selkow. This
    initiative is part of the Year Round Environmental Film Screenings Program that DREFF develops in the United States throughout the year, on this occasion with the collaboration of DCEFF, our long term partner.

  • The Dominican Environmental Film Festival Partners with the German Embassy
    June 21, 2016

    Her Excellency Ambassador Sabine Bloch met last week at the Embassy in Santo Domingo with Yamile Eusebio, Director of GFDD New York Office and Director of Operations of DREFF, who was accompanied by María Victoria Abreu, Programming Director of DREFF and GFDD’s International Affairs and Socio-Economic Development Program Manager.

  • Do You Want to Be an Environmental Filmmaker and Travel Around the World with Your Movies? Premio Globo Verde Dominicano Gets You One Step Closer to Your Goal!
    June 17, 2016

    The Globo Verde Dominicano Award, a GFDD/Funglode and DREFF initiative, is a unique opportunity for filmmakers, students and young professionals who want to venture into a fairly uncharted area in the Dominican Republic -the creation of environmental audiovisual material- as well as to show their work to a national and international audience. For example, the short film 7 Grams, winner of Premio Globo Verde Dominicano 2015, has been presented
    this year in 4 different international festivals: DCEFF in Washington, D.C.; Princeton Environmental Film Festival, in New Jersey; Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, in New York; and Festival del Cine Pobre de Gibara, in Holguin (Cuba); in addition to the Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) during the award ceremony last September. This year there´s still time, submit your work before July 31!

  • Lake Enriquillo: A Prelude to Climate Change, a DREFF Screening, at the Opening of the Environment Week 2016 at UNIBE
    June 8, 2016

    During UNIBE””s Environment Week, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), through the Year Round Environmental Film Screenings program, presents national and international documentaries aiming to raise awareness and deepen the understanding on environmental issues among students, teachers and interested audience.

  • “Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival: the Path to Synergy”, an article by Natasha Despotovic
    June 7, 2016

    As Director of GFDD and DREFF, Natasha Despotovic, contributes to the publication How to organize a film festival with a social commitment, a handbook for organizers of human rights and environmental cinematographic events (Cómo organizar un festival de cine con compromiso social, un manual para organizadores de eventos cinematográficos de derechos humanos y medio ambiente), with the article “Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival: the Path to
    Synergy”.

  • Strengthening the Power of Film Festivals Networks: DREFF at the 2016 FINCA
    June 7, 2016

    The Multimedia DeHumALC Institute (IMD) of Argentina, in the framework of the International Environmental Film Festival FINCA, organized last Friday in Buenos Aires the meeting “The Power of Film Festivals Networks” during the launch of the publication “How to organize a film festival with a social commitment, a handbook for human rights and environmental cinematographic events” which is available online for download. The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)
    participated to recount its six years of experience organizing the only event of its kind in the region.

  • DREFF and Centro León Celebrate World Environment Day with Cinema and Discussions on Sustainable Development
    June 5, 2016

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), through its program Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, commemorated yesterday in collaboration with Centro Leon in Santiago de los Caballeros the World Environment Day. To celebrate this important day two short films were screened: Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience, a Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) production winner of numerous international awards; and
    7 Grams, winner of Premio Globo Verde Dominicano 2015.

  • UASD Environmental Law and Management Students Learn About Environmental Challenges and Best Practices in the Dominican Republic through the GFDD Short Value of Life
    May 10, 2016

    The Lawyers Association for the Protection of the Environment (INSAPROMA for its acronym in Spanish), in coordination with FUNIBER and within the framework of the DREFF’s program Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, screened at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), GFDD/Funglode latest production Value of Life. Directed by Natasha Despotovic, the documentary features the importance of the natural value of the Dominican Republic and the main challenges
    the country is facing to achieve socioeconomic sustainability, as well as some of the best practices being applied in the area.

  • GFDD and Funiber Join Efforts to Raise Awareness for a More Sustainable Planet
    May 6, 2016

    The Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (Funiber) organized yesterday the Conference “Effects of Climate Change Globally and in the Dominican Republic”, addressed to professionals in the environmental sector, and companies and professionals interested in issues related to the phenomenon of climate change and how to face it. As part of the activity, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), within the
    framework of the program Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, presented their latest documentary, Value of Life. The short film shows how historically little value has been placed on natural capital when looking at growth equations and socioeconomic development, and highlights the most outstanding initiatives that public and private companies are developing to support sustainable development in the Dominican Republic.

  • Pediatric Hospital Doctor Hugo Mendoza Partners with DREFF in the Goal of Becoming the First Green Hospital in the Dominican Republic
    May 5, 2016

    Within the framework of the GFDD and DREFF program Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, yesterday the Pediatric Hospital Doctor Hugo Mendoza in Santo Domingo hosted the screening of the documentary A Thirsty World, within the programming of the Environmental Week that the medical center is celebrating these days. The hospital aims to be the first green institution of health in the Dominican Republic.

  • Leonel Fernández Highlights Funglode/GFDD’s Efforts to Promote Dominican Republic Film Industry in the U.S.
    April 26, 2016

    The president of Gobal Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo(Funglode), Dr. Leonel Fernández, pointed out yesterday in New York the foundations’ efforts to promote the Dominican Film Industry in the United States.

  • Cuba Welcomes with Great Enthusiasm Dominican Environmental Films and Recycled Art
    April 26, 2016

    The Dominican Environmental Film Festival, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), was present at the 12th Festival del Cine Pobre de Gibara, in Holguin, Cuba, held from April 20 to 24, with a busy agenda:  screening of three documentaries—two GFDD productions and the winner of Premio Globo Verde Dominicano 2015—promoting creative recycling; and participating in a panel commemorating Earth
    Day.

  • Strengthening the Partnership Between DREFF and Cinema Planeta in Mexico
    April 25, 2016

    Under the motto “Because we can do something”, Cinema Planeta, the Mexican International Environmental Film Festival held its eighth edition between April 19 and 24, with 73 films screened and 20,000 attendees.

  • More than 300 Students Attend the ReCrearte Workshop Series Hosted in Collaboration with Eco Escuelas Program
    April 19, 2016

    Friday, April 15 concluded the series of creative recycling workshops offered by the GFDD program ReCrearte, as part of the Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de la República Dominicana´s project Eco Escuelas. The workshops were taught in a total of nine schools, with the aim of raising awareness about today”s environmental challenges and promoting good practices on recycling and sustainable development.

  • Globo Verde Lab: From Idea to Screen – How to Make Environmental Documentaries
    April 4, 2016

    North American director Suzan Beraza and Dominican director Pedro Urrutia will work personally with each participant to help them develop their short film ideas, design main characters, write the script, choose a technical team and plan and prepare content.

  • Dominican Environmental Short Films and ReCrearte Workshops go to Cuba
    March 30, 2016

    Three Dominican environmental short films will participate in the “Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre” in Gibara-Holguin, Cuba, to be held from April 20 to 24, 2016: GFDD’s shorts Value of Life and Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience; and 7 Grams (winner of the Premio Globo Verde Dominicano 2015). In addition, as part of the programming of the Cuban festival, Bertha Santana will host recycling workshops for
    children, youth and adults in the community, as part of GFDD´s program ReCrearte.

  • Praising Dominican Natural Beauty and Creating Environmental Awareness at the DCEFF
    March 19, 2016

    There were conversations about environmental awareness and sustainable development as well as praise for the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic. Film was once again used not just for entertainment but as a vehicle to show the world the issues that most matter and to spread the word about them, because they are after all, global and touch us all. A sign in front of the Gala Theater in Washington D.C. read “tickets sold out”  for the Noche Dominicana
    (Dominican Night) organized by GFDD and DREFF yesterday as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF).

  • Celebrating Women at the DCEFF
    March 17, 2016

    For the 4th year, Women in Film and Video hosted a breakfast at Restaurant Nora in Washington D.C. during the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation´s Capital (DCEFF) to celebrate women and film. On this occasion, the director of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), Natasha Despotovic, who presented the latest GFDD production, Value of Life – codirected by her-participated in a panel with other two renowned directors of documentaries, Sandy
    Cannon-Brown (Beautiful Swimmers Revisited) and Marilyn Weiner (Dispatches from the Gulf).

  • Children Learn to Create Art from Trash at the Riverfront Library in Yonkers
    March 16, 2016

    The Riverfront Library of Yonkers, New York, hosted Yesterday a group of 32 children who learned about creating art with discarded materials that would normally end up in the trash bin. As part of a series of workshops, organized by GFDD’s ReCrearte program, children will learn to turn trash into new objects and create recycled art at the hand of project coordinator Bertha Santana. The children, with great enthusiasm, were making bookmarks from old library flyers and
    buttons.  The program will run throughout March in different locations in New York.

  • Join Us to Celebrate Recycled Art!
    March 8, 2016

    ReCrearte, an initiative of GFDD/Funglode, focuses on the three R’s of sustainability- reduce, reuse, and recycle. Workshops concentrate on repurposing discarded materials into new objects that can be sold for income and waste that can be turned into art. Bertha Santana, the program’s coordinator will be visiting New York City for a series of workshops throughout the city.

  • Dominican Night at the 2016 Environmental Film Festival at the Nation`s Capital
    February 29, 2016

    As part of the 2016 Environmental Film Festival at the Nation`s Capital (DCEFF) program, a Dominican Night will be hosted by DREFF on March 18th at the Hispanic Gala Theater in Washington, D.C. This opportunity is precious in fostering GFDD’s aim of facilitating the enrichment of the film culture of the Dominican Republic and bringing its unique brand of cinema to a wider international audience.

  • The Fifth Edition of Globo Verde Dominicano is Now Open for Submissions
    February 22, 2016

    The Dominican Film Festival (DREFF) is pleased to announce the fifth edition of the first audiovisual competition in the area of environment and sustainable development in the Dominican Republic, the Globo Verde Dominicano Award. This year’s competition will include 4 categories: the recently added Globo Verde Junior, Public Service Announcement, Short Film and Photography.

  • Year Round Environmental Film Screenings begin 2016 with the projection of “Cotton Road” in the ITSC San Luis
    January 25, 2016

    The program Year Round Environmental Film Screenings of the Dominican Republic Environmenral Film Festival began this year on January 25, with the presentation of the documentary “Cotton Road” in the ITSC San Luis in Santo Domingo. About 60 students participated in the activity that is part of the Film Forum program of the school and is celebrated thanks to the agreement signed between the DREFF -a GFDD / Funglode initiative- and ITSC.

  • 75 Students Climb Highest Mountain in the Caribbean with RDescubre
    January 19, 2016

    The 15th Educational Expedition to Pico Duarte, part of the initiatives of the RDescubre program, was successfully held when 75 students from Liceo Escuela Hermano Miguel from Santiago, Liceo Profesora Mercedes Muñoz, Fe y Alegría from Cambita el Pueblecito (San Cristobal), and Politécnico Ann and Ted Kheel from Veron (Punta Cana), had the opportunity to climb Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean.

  • More than 200 professor of Social and Natural Sciences attend workshop in leadup to 23rd Geography Week
    January 19, 2016

    As part of the preparatory events for the 23rd annual Geography Week, the auditorium of the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) hosted more than 200 social and natural sciences teachers, who received information on the significance of the slogan for this year’s event: “Let’s Explore! The Power of the Island’s Geography.”

  • GFDD and DREFF Mourn the Death of Dominican Filmmaker Máximo José Rodríguez
    December 7, 2015

    The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) deeply lament the death of Dominican filmmaker, Máximo José Rodríguez, who passed away yesterday in the Dominican Republic. In addition to having been a great friend and collaborator, Mr. Rodríguez was a member of the DREFF National Advisory Committee.

  • La Montaña Comes to the Dominican Navy’s 27 de Febrero Naval Base
    November 26, 2015

    This event, held as part of the DREFF Environmental Film Screenings series, was arranged especially for cadets, candidates, and recruits of the Dominican Navy and included the participation of Commander General Vice Admiral Edmundo Felix Pimentel and the president of the Association of Navy Officers’ Wives of the Dominican Republic (ADEOARD), María Orietta García de Félix.

  • Cinema as Inspiration: DREFF Motivates Young People to Create a Softball Team Promoting Shark Protection
    November 18, 2015

    Inspired by the films screened during the 4th and 5th Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a group of young people have decided to raise awareness on the importance of sharks for preserving biodiversity through a new softball team: the Las Galeras Sharks.

  • Film Series “Earth! Action! Understanding the Environmental Crisis” Screens Documentaries as DREFF and Alliance Française Prepare for COP21
    November 9, 2015

    Within the framework of the XXI International Conference on Climate Change (COP21), to be held soon in Paris, the Alliance Française, in collaboration with the Dirección General de Cine, organized a free film series called “Tierra! Acción! Entender la Crisis Medioambiental” (Earth! Action! Understanding the Environmental Crisis), that was held at the Cinemateque in Santo Domingo from November 5th – 8th. The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF),
    through its Year-Round Environmental Film Screening program, took part in the series with two films by European director Cosima Dannoritzer: The E-Waste Tragedy and The Light Bulb Conspiracy.

  • DREFF and the Alliance Française of Santo Domingo Promote Environmental Awareness
    October 30, 2015

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Alliance Française in Santo Domingo will be screening two environmental films to promote sustainable development and environmental awareness for the community of students, professors, and friends of the French educational organization, as well as the general public. Both selected films—The LightBulb Conspiracy and The E-Waste Tragedy—are French co-productions directed by European
    filmmaker Cosima Dannoritzer.

  • The DREFF and ITSC Promote Sustainable Development Through Environmental Film Screenings
    October 30, 2015

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Instituto Técnico Superior Comunitario (ITSC), will present an environmental film cycle over several weeks to promote sustainable development and environmental awareness among the entire student community, teachers, and others involved in this educational institution.

  • UAPA University Students Learn About Pressing Problems Causing Climate Change
    October 19, 2015

    Last Wednesday, October 14, students and staff of the University for Adults (Universidad Abierta Para Adultos –UAPA) participated in a screening of the documentary Lago Enriquillo: Prelude to Climate Change, held at the National Aquarium. The event was part of the programming of the Year-round Environmental Film Screening Series run by GFDD/Funglode as a sub-initiative of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival.

  • GFDD/Funglode’s ReCrearte Program, other Environmental Initiatives Join “Going Green Together” Project
    October 15, 2015

    GFDD/Funglode is pleased to announce its participation in the “Going Green Together” (Juntos Somos Verde) initiative, being held in the Ágora Mall through the entire month of October, with the aim of raising awareness on environmental protection.

  • Expo RD Recicla at DREFF
    September 16, 2015

    One of the activities that attracted the most visitors and aroused the most curiosity from the public and the guests of the Dominican Environmental Film Festival was the Expo RD Recicla, in which the ReCrearte program, an initiative of GFDD/Funglode, exhibited the work of some of its most talented students, along with the coordinator, Bertha Santana. During the week, the public was able to appreciate the art and objects created from discarded materials and could purchase some of the
    most prized pieces in the Funglode gallery. The same room held the exhibition Oxígeno, in which Spanish photographer Juan Carlos Véla offered the public a journey across the Dominican Republic, recounting their three year expedition exploring the country’s coastline, forests, hills, and other natural enclaves.

  • Oscar-winning director, Louie Psihoyos, and his film, Racing Extinction, protagonists at DREFF closing night
    September 11, 2015

    The acclaimed director and photographer will receive the Colibrí Prize during the event. GFDD/Funglode is excited to announce that Oscar winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos, director of the documentary Racing Extinction…

  • What Happens When the Bees Disappear?
    September 4, 2015

    In recent years, more and more honeybees have been disappearing- literally vanishing from their hives. This phenomenon is known as Colony Collapse Disorder, and is a very real threat to the farmers who produce many of our favorite fruits and vegetables.

  • GFDD Film “Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience” Nominated for International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum
    July 9, 2015

    The GFDD film “Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience” has been selected for nomination in the category of Environmental Conservation to be shown at the upcoming CMS VATAVARAN Competitive International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum, which takes place from October 9th – 12th in New Delhi.

  • Suzan Beraza and David Byars Share Their Secrets for Creating Impact Documentaries
    May 15, 2015

    Seeking to encourage young Dominican filmmakers, the Globo Verde Dominicano Award and the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) presented the workshop “Creating and developing concepts for short film documentaries.” The presentation took place yesterday in Santo Domingo at Funglode’s headquarters. During a lively class led by documentary filmmakers Suzan Beraza and David Byars, 60+ participants had the opportunity to learn basic techniques for developing a
    documentary film and some “secrets” to creating works of impact.

  • Creating and Developing Concepts for Short Documentaries
    May 13, 2015

    The goal of the workshop, “Creating and Developing Concepts for Short Documentaries” for young filmmakers and potential competitors of the fourth edition of the Globo Verde Dominicano competition, seeks to encourage students and professionals to create audiovisual material capable of generating awareness around the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable development.

  • 90 Students Climb the Highest Mountain in the Caribbean in the 12th Educational Expedition to Pico Duarte
    February 25, 2015

    The 12th Educational Expedition to Pico Duarte, part of the initiatives of the RDescubre program, was successfully held when 90 students from various schools in the Dominican Republic had the opportunity to climb Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean. The event, organized by Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) in collaboration with Siempre Más Foundation, took place from
    February 18th to the 22nd.

  • 200 Dominicans Teachers Learn about Creative Ways of Recycling Waste
    February 18, 2015

    Raising awareness through school, family and community, and the importance of caring for the planet to ensure the feeding supply for future generations: this was the main theme of the conference-workshop organized on February 13 by GFDD/Funglode, the LEA Plan educational program and the Listin Diario newspaper, as part of activities marking the XXII edition of the Week of Geography.

  • DREFF Participated in the Festival International du Film D’ Environnement (FIFE)
    February 12, 2015

    Île-de-France, a region that is successfully achieving ecological and social transition to sustainable development, has just celebrated the thirty-second edition of the festival’s most important environmental films from France and one of the largest in Europe, Festival International du Film d’Environnement (FIFE by its French acronym). Team members of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) traveled to France to participate in the prestigious event, which is also a
    meeting point of the festivals that are part of the Green Film Network (GFN), a worldwide association to which the DREFF belongs since January 1st of this year.

  • The DREFF Kicks-off the Fourth Edition of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award with a Special Category for High School Students
    February 2, 2015

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) will host the fourth edition of the first audiovisual competition in the area of environment and sustainable development in the Dominican Republic, the Globo Verde Dominicano Award. This year’s competition will include a special category for high school students: the Globo Verde Junior, which joins the Public Service Announcement, Short Film and Photography categories.

  • The ReCrearte Program Reaches Over 2,000 Dominicans in 2014
    January 13, 2015

    The ReCrearte program, an initiative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), far surpassed the 30 workshops it had set as a goal in early 2014, and , thus, has benefitted more than 2,000 people in the Dominican Republic. A total of 85 workshops, which involved members from all walks of life and empowered the most marginalized groups of society, took place in 60 neighborhoods and communities across the country.

  • Green Film Network Welcomes DREFF as a New Member
    January 5, 2015

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) ushered in the new year by joining the Green Film Network (GFN), the prestigious international association of environmental film festivals. Through its network of major festivals, the GFN promotes global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues by coordinating the events of its member festivals, by promoting and distributing films worldwide, and by encouraging cooperative initiatives and projects. In its
    homepage the association welcomes DREFF and explains its mission, vision and objectives. Its website also hosts a dedicated link to the Dominican festival.

  • “We All Have Mountains to Climb”, Said Iván Gómez During the Screening of La Montaña at the United Nations
    December 12, 2014

    In an effort to continue raising awareness on environmental issues, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) hosted a special screening of the inspiring Dominican film La Montaña, as part of the activities to commemorate International Mountain Day at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City on December 12th.

  • Starting in 2015 GFDD Will Become a Member of the Worldwide Association of Environmental Film Festivals Green Film Network
    December 1, 2014

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its initiative, Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), will be part of the prestigious global association of environmental film festivals Green Film Network (GFN), starting in 2015.

  • Washington, D.C. Was the Setting for Discussing the Benefits of the New Film Law in Dominican Republic
    November 20, 2014

    With the participation of renowned experts from the Dominican film industry the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), and in collaboration with the Dominican Republic Film Commission (DGCINE, by its Spanish initials), presented the panel “The Film Industry in the Dominican Republic as an engine of socio-economic development”, on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at GFDD offices in Washington, D.C., as part of the Dominican Film
    Showcase (DFS).

  • El Centro León Welcomes Students for the Screening of the Documentary La Montaña, as Part of the Educational Trip to Pico Duarte
    November 4, 2014

    A group of young students enjoyed the screening of the documentary La Montaña, a film that shows the adventure of the first Dominican expedition that ascends to the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal. The event took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at the Centro León, as part of the Educational Excursion to Pico Duarte and RDescubre program. This presentation is one of the initiatives that Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in
    theDominican Republic, Fundación Global Desarrollo y Democracia (Funglode) offers through this program.

  • The Audience of the IV Edition of the DREFF Chooses the Film Bears as the Winner of the “Audience Award 2014”
    October 21, 2014

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), announced the film Bears has been this year’s “Audience Award 2014” winner, recognition given by the public that attended the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), held on September 10 to 14, 2014 in the Dominican Republic.

  • Premio Globo Verde Dominicano Selects Its 2014 Winners
    September 14, 2014

    At a special ceremony in the presence of renowned filmmakers and environmentalists, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) presented the winners of the 2014 Premio Globo Verde Dominicano at the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF).

  • Globo Verde Dominicano to Recognize Films on Environmental Issues
    September 5, 2014

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) will recognize the production and distribution of films on climate change and sustainable development topics with the Globo Verde Dominicano Award 2014. This contest is an essential part of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) to be celebrated September 10-14, 2014; the winners will be announced on Saturday, September 13th, 2014.

  • By Public Demand!! Globo Verde Dominicano Award Extends Registration Deadline and Closing Date for Entries in all Three Film Categories
    July 18, 2014

    Representatives of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) have received numerous petitions for the past several weeks from contestants of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award asking for more time to develop their proposals they are intending to present to the third edition of the contest.

  • DREFF Volunteer Meetings Held in Santo Domingo
    July 10, 2014

    The organizers of the fourth edition of the DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), held two meetings with volunteers looking to help out at this year’s Festival, to be held September 10-14, 2014.

  • GFDD Attends the 3rd Annual Plasticity Forum
    June 24, 2014

    On June 24th, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) joined the 3rd Annual Plasticity Forum, a one-day event examining the future of plastic, innovations in design and materials, all aimed at preventing plastic from becoming a waste product.

  • DREFF raises awareness and promotes environmental stewardship
    June 10, 2014

    In celebration of World Environment Day, and as part of its mission to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of environmental issues, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a GFDD/FUNGLODE initiative, successfully carried out a series of events between June 6th and 9th.

  • Celebrate World Environment day with DREFF’s Year Round Environmental Screening Program
    June 2, 2014

    In celebration of World Environment Day, the DREFF’s Year Round Environmental Screening program is organizing a series of events from June 3-9, across the Dominican Republic in the cities of Santo Domingo, Santiago and Jarabacoa.

  • Eco-Visitas Program Encourages Environmental Education and Recreation for Students
    May 21, 2014

    Hundreds of public school students enjoyed a lively participation in the 46th edition of the Eco-Visitas Program for Environmental Education and Recreation, which is promoted by the Dominican Ministry of Environment’s Department of Education and Environmental Training.

  • DREFF Screens Eco-Films at III Edition of the International Autodidactic Photography Festival in Cuba
    May 8, 2014

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) participated with the III Edition of the International Autodidactic Photography Festival in the province of Holguín, Cuba May 3-9, 2014 under the title; “Human Species”” Impact on the Environment”.

  • Dominican Geography Fair Opens Up “A New World of Exploration” for Visitors
    April 29, 2014

    Students, teachers and general public interested in learning more about the environment gathered under the creative theme of  “We are all Explorers” at the Geography Fair which took place April 23-24 in Santo Domingo’s Sambil Mall.

  • GFDD and FUNGLODE celebrate Earth Day at the United Nations
    April 23, 2014

    On April 23, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, in collaboration with the Dominican Mission to the UN, and with the support from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Committee on NGO’s (CoNGO), and the Earth Day Network, hosted the New York Film Premiere of Jon Bowermaster’s latest film: On the Edge, Antarctica.

  • DREFF joins the III Edition of the International Autodidactic Photography Festival in Cuba
    April 16, 2014

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) will be joining forces with the III Edition of the International Autodidactic Photography Festival in the province of Holguín, Cuba May 3-6, 2014. The event, originally designed as an international competition for amateur photographers, continues to be an inspirational platform for audio-visual arts projects promoting social justice, peace, and a genuine care and concern for the environment.

  • GFDD and FUNGLODE Collaborate with the United Nations to Screen Documentary “On the Edge, Antarctica” in Honor of Earth Day Celebrations
    April 15, 2014

    GFDD/FUNGLODE in collaboration with the Earth Day Network, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Committee on NGO’s (CoNGO), and the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, will host a special Earth Day screening of the newly released documentary film, On the Edge, Antarctica.

  • DREFF’s Year-Round Screening Program Showcased at Third Annual Geography Fair
    April 15, 2014

    As part of GFDD’s Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) will join forces with Listin Diario’s Plan Lea in celebrating the Third Annual Geography Fair, to be held from April 23-24 in Santo Domingo.

  • Dominican Films to be Showcased at Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
    March 28, 2014

    For the second time since 2013, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) will partner with the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital to reinforce and expand the Spanish-speaking film program and encourage the involvement and attendance of the Hispanic community.

  • GFDD and FUNGLODE Feature Dominican Shorts at DC Environmental Film Festival
    March 28, 2014

    On March 28, as part of its commitment to raising awareness concerning the conservation of the environment through its programs, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development partnered with the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) to showcase four Dominican short films at the GALA Hispanic Theatre in Columbia Heights.

  • Third Edition of Globo Verde Dominicano Award Introducing a New Category in the Area of Photography
    March 24, 2014

    The third edition of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award is introducing a new category in the area of photography. This year’s selected theme for 2014 is “Huertos Familiares” (Family Farming), in support of International Year of Family Farming, declared by the United Nations General Assembly.

  • DREFF Celebrates World Water Day with a Special Screening of the Film A Thirsty World
    March 20, 2014

    As part of its Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings Program, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), in collaboration with the Vida Azul Foundation, will be hosting a special screening of the film A Thirsty World.

  • GFDD’s RDescubre Program Inspires Environmental Stewardship through Education
    March 18, 2014

    GFDD’s RDescubre Program in collaboration with Listín Diario’s Plan Lea, organized an educational whale-watching excursion on March 15th.  As part of Geography Week (Semana de la Geografía), the aim of the trip was to promote the exploration of nature, particularly of protected areas.

  • GFDD’s RDescubre Program embarks on a whale watching adventure
    March 14, 2014

    RDescubre in collaboration with Listin Diario’s Plan Lea initiative, will be organizing an educational whale watching tour on March 15th, 2014, under the framework of Geography Week (Semana de la Geografia). Forty-one exceptional students have been selected from 10 schools around the country to participate in this amazing journey.

  • ReCrearte Program continues to gain strength across the country
    March 5, 2014

    GFDD/FUNGLODE is delighted to report on the progress of the ReCrearte program, which has experienced great success in the first few months of 2014, spreading to new communities throughout Santo Domingo.

  • DREFF’s Year Round Screening Program commemorates International Women’s Day
    March 3, 2014

    On March 7th, the DR Environmental Film Festival in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources will hold a special screening of the documentary film Mother Caring for 7 Billion, in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

  • GFDD Short Film Wins Best Documentary at the 2014 Green Lens Environmental Film Festival
    February 27, 2014

    GFDD received recognition at the Green Lens Environmental Film Festival 24-27 February 2014, where its short film “Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience,” an official selection of this year’s festival won the Best Documentary Category.

  • Questions Seeking to Send a Message to the World is Main Topic of Workshop Held in Collaboration with Human
    February 17, 2014

    The FUNGLODE-hosted workshop, “The Art of the Interview: Techniques for Establishing Good Dialogue in the Production of a Documentary,” introduced French filmmaker Yan Arthus-Bertrand’s new documentary Human as well as serving as a practical session wherein part of the film’s technical team explained to the audience about the methods they use in doing the film’s interviews and shared tips on how to connect with their interview subjects.

  • GFDD and Human Film Crew to Give Workshop on “The Art of the Interview: Techniques for Establishing Good Dialogue in the Production of a Documentary”
    February 15, 2014

    As part to the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival’s (DREFF) year-round activities, GFDD and the film crew of Human are organizing a workshop on documentary interviewing techniques for filmmakers, journalists and broadcasters. The workshop will take place on Monday February 17 at 6:00 pm at the offices of FUNGLODE in Santo Domingo.

  • GFDD Short Film Wins in the Documentary Category at Green Lens Environmental Film Festival in Illinois
    February 12, 2014

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development’s Short Film “Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience” (¿Basura o recurso? Experiencia de la República Dominicana?), has been selected as best Documentary at the Green Lens Environment Festival, which runs from February 24-27 in downtown DeKalb, Illinois.

  • Dominican Students Conquer New Heights on Mountain Hike to Pico Duarte
    February 8, 2014

    The 9th Educational Expedition to Pico Duarte, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development’s DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Siempre Mas Foundation, concluded successfully, this time with 75 students and staff members.

  • Dominican Student Group Set to Conquer New Heights on Mountain Hike to Pico Duarte
    February 6, 2014

    The Educational Expedition to Pico Duarte, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development’s DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Siempre Mas Foundation, set off today, this time with 75 students and staff members. For the ninth time since the cultivation of the initiative at DREFF 1 in 2011, selected student will endure the thrill of a four day climb to conquer the tallest peak in the Antilles, Pico Duarte.

  • DREFF Opens Designated ”Green” Area to Help Promote Environment Preservation and Education Initatives
    February 4, 2014

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and the Vida Azul Foundation signed an inter-institutional collaboration agreement on a significant  initiative aimed at raising awareness in children and adults on the importance of preserving the environment. The educational program of activities will be carried out at the recently opened Espacio Verde (Green Space), located in the Sambil
    Commercial Center of Santo Domingo.

  • GFDD’s Participates in the Princeton Environmental Film Festival with its own Dominican Eco-Short
    January 29, 2014

    As part of its mission to elevate awareness of environmental challenges and to promote the sustainable use of natural resource, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is pleased to announce its participation in the 8th annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival, to be held in Princeton, New Jersey, from January 30 – February 9, 2014.

  • GFDD’s Dominican-made Short Film Spotlightling The Importance of Responsible Consumption Screened during International Recycling Festival in Europe
    January 22, 2014

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development’s 2013 original 17 minute short film “Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience ” (¿Basura o Recurso/Materia Prima? Experiencia de la República), which recently premiered during the III DREFF in Dominican Republic in September, and at FICMA in  Spain in November, was also screened on December 14, 2013 as part of the three week long International Festival
    of Recycling Art of Catelonia.

  • DREFF joins the Dominican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in raising awareness for ocean conservation
    December 6, 2013

    As part of GFDD’s Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program, the DR Environmental Film Festival in collaboration with the Dominican Vice Ministry of Coastal Marine Resources celebrated a screening of the documentary film Planet Ocean on December 6th at Ministry headquarters in Santo Domingo.

  • DREFF joins the Siempre Mas Foundation in realizing the Sixth and Seventh Educational Expeditions to Pico Duarte
    November 25, 2013

    The Sixth and Seventh Educational Expeditions to Pico Duarte, organized by Karim Mella’s Siempre Mas Foundation, in collaboration with Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) among other organizations, took place this past September 12-15 and October 3-6, respectively.

  • DREFF Presents its Environmental Agenda in 20th Environmental International Film Festival (FICMA)
    November 9, 2013

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of GFDD and FUNGLODE, presented its year-round Environmental Program agenda at one of the most recognized festivals in Europe, the Environmental International Film Festival (FICMA) in Barcelona, Spain.

  • DREFF Announces Winners of Second Edition of Globo Verde Dominicano Contest
    September 7, 2013

    A special ceremony in the presence of directors from Film Festivals all over the world, was hosted at FUNGLODE headquarters, on Saturday  evening, September 7 to announce winners of DREFF’s Second Globo Verde Dominicano Contest. After the smashing success of last year’s Globo Verde Awards,  this year’s winners have also out-done themselves! The Short Film and Public Service Announcement Competition, whose objective is to generate environmental awareness and sustainable
    development, welcomed entries from far and wide across DR.

  • The Globo Verde Dominicano Award Extends its Registration and Delivery Deadline at the Request of Contestants
    July 12, 2013

    As a result of the heavy rains in the Dominican Republic and after Tropical Storm Chantal passed over the island, many the participants of the II edition of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award have communicated to the offices of the GFDD asking for “a little more time” to finish up their audiovisual proposals.

  • GFDD and FUNGLODE Launch the Second Edition of Globo Verde Dominicano Contest
    January 31, 2013

    Following last year’s successful Globo Verde Dominicano competition held as part of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, the GFDD and FUNGLODE are launching the second edition of the Short Film and Public Service Announcement Competition.

  • Globo Verde Dominicano is Extending the Period of Submissions until July 30
    July 11, 2012

    “I haven’t finished! I only have a little left!” These are some of the responses we have received from participants the last few days prior to the close of the First Short Film and Public Service Announcement Competition launched by Globo Verde Dominicano.

  • GFDD to Coordinate Panel on Environmental Education Tool, Ocean in Google Earth, at Rio + 20
    June 7, 2012

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Ocean in Google Earth and Mission Blue to present the panel: “’Ocean in Google Earth’ as an Environmental Education Tool: The Dominican Perspective,” during the Rio + 20 Conference in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

  • DREFF Reaches New Heights with First-Ever Expedition to Pico Duarte
    April 10, 2012

    The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival’s first-ever expedition to Pico Duarte exceeded expectations. Over the course of the four-day trek, forty-five students from three Dominican high-schools — Centro de Excelencia Media Profesora Cristina Billini Morales “Fe y Alegria”, Centro de Excelencia República de Colombia, and Centro Educativo República de Guatemala – had the opportunity to scale the Dominican Republic’s highest summit alongside Dominican professional
    mountaineer and seasoned Everest trekker, Karim Mella.

  • Environmental Documentary Screens to a Full House at FUNGLODE’s Auditorium
    September 16, 2011

    As part of its follow up to the very successful I DR Environmental Film Festival, GFDD and FUNGLODE hosted a special screening of environmental documentary Dirt! The Movie at FUNGLODE auditorium last Friday, September 16 at 7pm. The movie, which played to a full house, was the first in a series of monthly screenings by both institutions that will be dedicated to covering themes related to the environment.

  • The First Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) Formally Opens
    September 8, 2011

    Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) will celebrate the opening today of the First Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, which President Leonel Fernandez will attend.

  • Director of Film to be Presented at the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) Wins Top Humanitarian Award
    August 27, 2011

    One of the invited international guests to the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of GFDD and FUNGLODE, has won a special humanitarian award in Canada for his climate change films and work with the United Nations.

  • GFDD and FUNGLODE present the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, September 8 – 11, 2011
    August 17, 2011

    Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution in the DR, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), announced the dates of a new initiative, the DR Environment Film Festival, which will be held on September 8 – 11, 2011, in Santo Domingo and Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Institutional Video

What is GFDD?

See Our Brochure (Download)



Areas of Work and Programs

International Affairs

Dominican Issues

Environment

Education

There are many ways you can choose to support GFDD’s initiatives and activities. The Foundation is able to continue its valuable work, thanks to the support and generosity of its donors. We welcome all levels of contribution; whether it's a one time gift, monthly donation, or in kind.

DONATE

New York
780 Third Avenue 19th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017
T: 212.751.5000

Activities

The Foundation conducts research, enhances public understanding, designs public policies, devises strategies, and offers capacity building in areas crucial to social, economic, democratic and cultural sustainable development.

X