GFDD and FUNGLODE Present 2008 GFDD/FUNGLODE Awards During a Ceremony Representative of the Arts

With jazz during the commencement, theater and classical music during the interim, and music, film and poetry to mark its conclusion – culture was in abundance during the 2008 GFDD/FUNGLODE Awards Presentation Ceremony that took place Thursday, January 29, 2009 at FUNGLODE Headquarters in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The music of “Cuarteto de Jazz Ensamble” by Ania Paz opened the night outside of FUNGLODE. Invited guests
enjoyed the cocktail which took place before the ceremony in the lobby of FUNGLODE. President of the Dominican Republic and Honorary President of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), Leonel Fernández, and Secretary of Culture and Director of the institution’s Cultural Studies Center, Rafael Lantigua, were present at the event and conversed with guests.

Prior to the
start of the ceremony, guests viewed a video featuring memorable moments from last year’s edition of the awards presentation. President Fernández and Secretary of Culture Rafael Lantigua presented the statues and prizes to the winners that competed in the categories of Poetry, Novel, Essay, Short Story, Journalism, Short Film, Documentary Film and Photography. One by one, award recipients were called on stage to receive their prizes, which were handed to them by
President Fernández and the Secretary of Culture.

The night was brought to a close with music by soprano Antonia Chabebe and pianist Elioenai Medina; the screening of the short film La apuesta by award winner José María Ripoll; and poetry by Bismar Galán, winner in the category of poetry for his poem “En la piel de la mirada.”

Award recipients by
category

Rafael Herrera Award for Journalism:

First Place: “Serie Desarrollo Humano” by Riamny Méndez y Linda Valdez, published in Clave
Second Place: “Niñas venden flores en centro de diversión de madrugada” by Arlene Reyes, published in Listín
Diario
Third Place: “La violencia doméstica no tiene clase social” by Grisbel Medina, published in Listín Diario

Honorable Mentions:

1. “Los grupos naciones” by Lery Laura Piña, published in Clave
2. “En los bateyes todavía la gente se muere de misterios” Lery Laura Piña,
published in Clave
3. “Estudiantes universitarios: los héroes de todos los días” by Rainier Maldonado, published in Listín Diario

Juan Bosch Award for Short Story:

First Place: Menú para dos by Gerhard Sehmid, pseudonym: X2Y3
Second Place: Yo sé que no tiene
sentido, pero igual by Danilo A. Rodríguez, pseudonym: Martín Romaña
Third Place: Oír y nada decir, una mañana by Alexis Gómez Rosa, pseudonym: Leviatán mediterráneo serie 54

Honorable Mention:

1. Las tres y cuarto by Willy Suriel, pseudonym: Edipo
2. Seis balas en el tambor by José Carlos
Nazario, pseudonym: Rojo
3. Proud by Gladys Francisca Martínez Álvarez, pseudonym: Askenaz.

Abelardo Rodríguez Urdaneta Award for Photography:

• Black and White Category: “Evidence” by Fausto Ortiz
• Color Category:
“Crucifixión” by Miguel Cruz
• Digital Category: “Amanecer Vernáculo” by Guadalupe Casanova
• Experimental Category: No prize awarded

Honorable Mention:

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