Huge Turnout at the Lawrence, MA Screening of the Documentary “There is a Country in the World”

At the Lawrence Public Library in Lawrence, Massachusetts the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, la Fundación democracia y desarrollo (GFDD/Funglode) and the Dominican bank BHD-León held a screening of the documentary “Hay un país en el mundo” (There is a Country in the World).

The library’s facilities were filled with enthusiastic guests –many of them members of the Dominican diaspora in Massachusetts– as the film played during the evening hours of Wednesday, December 12. The film, which is a celebration of Dominican culture and heritage, was produced thanks to support from Dominican bank BHD-León.

Prior to the screening of the film “There is a Country in the World” the GFDD/Funglode liaison in Massachusetts, Katy Polanco Berndt, led a short cultural celebration.

Berndt, who was in charge of the organization of the screening, presented copies of two special Dominican books to Jessica Valentin, the Director of the Lawrence Public Library. The books were “Diccionario cultural dominicano,” a product of Editorial Funglode (the publisher of GFDD’s sister organization in the Dominican Republic) and the book “Lo Dominicano,” published by GFDD in the United States.

Attendees also enjoyed a number of appetizers donated to the event by Amílcar Gonell, the President of Fusión, as well as Café Santo Domingo, thanks to the contribution of Luis Fanjul on behalf of Induban.

There was also a performance by a local dance team, Cultura Latina, led by Yaya Rodríguez. Ernesto Bautista, the producer of the television program “Mass Tv,” was in charge of photography at the event.

The Mayor’s office of Lawrence, MA was represented by Wendy Luzon, who had an important role in the organization and facilitation of the event.

Among the attendees were town council members Ana Levy and Brian De Peña, as well as Wendy Luzon, who represented the Mayor’s office, and Maurice Aguiler, who is part of the city’s police department.

Before and after the screening, dozens of the movie watchers expressed pride and excitement about being Dominican.

About the Film:
“Hay un país en el mundo” (There is a country in the world), directed by José (Pinky) Pintor, is a walk-through of the natural landscape of the Dominican Republic, describing the country’s historic, cultural and social values as explained by experts in specific areas of interest. The documentary’s musical score was produced by distinguished Dominican artists and is named after the emblematic poem by Dominican poet, Pedro Mir.