New York Applauds the US Premiere of Director Archie Lopez’s “Luis”

Tuesday May 16th, 2017

Dominican director Archie López and part of his cast participated in the US debut of the film alongside GFDD/Funglode president, Dr. Leonel Fernández, in an event organized by the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival (FCGD, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Dominican Film Showcase (DFS)

New York – The most recent production by Dominican film director Archie López, Luis, had its premiere in the United States on May 15 in the Walter Reade Theater at The Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York before a packed auditorium. The premiere included the presence of GFDD/Funglode president, Dr. Leonel Fernández, and Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, vice president of the Dominican Republic, as well as businessman Manuel Corripio, Dominican producer and director Archie López, producer Desiré Reyes and part of the premiered movie’s cast.

Prior to the screening of the full-length film, starring Axel Mansilla and Alex Rodríguez, a discussion took place, moderated by Dr. Fernández, following opening words from former Dominican Minister of Tourism Ellis Pérez. Axel Mansilla, Desiré Reyes, Archie López, Raymond Pozo and Miguel Céspedes participated in the debate about the movie and Dominican film in general.

At the event, organized by GFDD/Funglode through the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival and the Dominican Film Showcase, attendees included  GFDD Interim Co-Director Yamile Eusebio; former Alternate Ambassador to the United Nations Gregorio Morrobel; businessman Manuel Corripio; merengue musician Miriam Cruz, and members of the salsa group Chiquito Team Band. Also present were the executive director of Funglode, Marcos Herrera, director of FCGD, Omar de a Cruz; actress Celinés Toribio; sexologist and television personality Nancy Álvarez and many other noted figures, among them Guillermo Sención, César Fernández and Juan Carlos Arciniega.

The screening in NY received support from Panamericana Producciones, Coral Producciones and Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Film (DGCINE, for its acronym in Spanish).

Archie López said he felt proud to present his most recent full-length film and first in the drama genre in the city where he was born and where he received part of his professional training.  “It’s very exciting to present this film in front of you all, before the Dominican community in New York, where I have so many friends and relatives.”  

Luis, which was the opening film at the tenth edition of FCGD, does not have a date set for its premiere in the Dominican Republic, but, according to its producers, is expected to come to Dominican cinemas at the end of 2017. The film will be presented at the Marché du Film de Cannes thanks to its sales agent, Habanero Films.

Desiré Reyes, producer of the full-length film and noted member of the Dominican film industry, expressed that the experience with the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival was unforgettable. “For Panamericana Producciones it is an honor that this film has been presented to the Dominican audience in New York and to the audience that Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo and Global Foundation for Democracy and Development convened to appreciate the work that we have dedicated so much towards.”

For Omar de la Cruz, director of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival, this type of event allows the public to directly appreciate how the quality of Dominican films have been improved. “The objective is to continue promoting and establishing the real foundations for a true film industry. The presentation of Luis demonstrated once again the great progress that we have made and the endorsement that the Dominican audience is making with respect to the implementation of the film law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ellis Pérez, advisor to the Dominican president on cinematographic matters, expressed that the premiere of the Dominican film was an extraordinary success as the Walter Reade Theater was completely full. “There were a lot of people that had to watch the film standing. Comments at the end of the premiere were appreciative of the content, drama and extraordinary message that the film leaves to youth and society,” he exclaimed.

The Film
Luis tells the story of Colonel Rosario, who is noted as an exemplar and heroic police officer. When his well-behaved young son, Luis, commits a crime, both are prey to the contradictions.

“The film has a very powerful message aimed at parents and adolescents, with regard to their relationship at the time when young people begin to see the world from their own perspective, which is not necessarily the same as their parents. We make reference to the risks that young people take because they neither act with responsibility, nor do they measure the consequences of their own actions,” expressed Archie López.

About the Director
ARCHIE LÓPEZ, president of Panamericana de Producciones, is one of the most active players in the Dominican film industry. His films LOTOMAN (2011) and TUBÉRCULO GOURMET (2015) are two of the most successful films of all time  in the Dominican Republic. His filmography as director and producer includes the Box Office Hits MI NOVIA ESTÁ DE MADRE (2007), CRISTIANO DE LA SECRETA (2009), LOTOMAN 2.0 (2012), LOTOMAN 003 (2014), LOS PARACAIDISTAS (2015), and TUBÉRCULO PRESIDENTE (2016).

More information:
www.globalfoundationdd.org
www.funglode.org

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