Dominican Films Jeffrey and Site of Sites Presented at GALA Theatre

Saturday December 2nd, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC – Two Dominican films, Jeffrey and Site of Sites, were part of the 6th Annual ‘REEL Time at GALA Film Festival’ in Washington, DC, presented in collaboration with Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD). On November 30^th and December 2^nd, Washingtonians enjoyed these movies and post-screening panel discussions with experts, including Hugo Pagan, Dominican film critic and marketer, blogger and distributor; curator Carlos Gutierrez; and María Victoria Abreu, GFDD’s International Affairs and Socioeconomic Program Manager and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)’s programming director.

“The Dominican film industry experienced a quantum leap since the Law 108-10 (Law for the Promotion of Cinematographic Activities in the Dominican Republic) in 2010. We are seeing more films being made every year, with better quality and broader international exposure”, said Pagan. The critic also noted how Dominican films like Site of Sites are targeted to a broader global audience beyond the local public, a fact that has been recognized by renowned festivals around the world.

Hosted by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the United States, a cocktail reception including embassy representatives was held after the November 30^th screening.

GFDD is proud to support the REEL Time at GALA Film Festival through its Dominican Film Showcase (DFS) initiative, which aims to showcase in the United States the best films produced recently in the Dominican Republic, by Dominican filmmakers, about Dominican topics.

For more information about the REEL Time Annual Film Festival, visit:

http://en.galatheatre.org/2016/07/contemporary-and-classic-latin-american.html

About Jeffrey
(Directed by Yanillys Pérez, 2016, 78 min.)
Winner of the Discovery Award for Best Film at the Toronto Film Festival, Jeffrey is a heart-warming portrait of a young windshield washer who dreams of becoming a reggaeton singer. Fiction and reality intertwine in this Dominican debut feature by Yanillys Perez that captures the soul of a country better known for its beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts.

About Site of Sites
(Directed by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, 2016, 61 min.)
Humans have significantly altered the natural world in a way that no other species has. In this film, an award-winner at the 2016 IDFA Documentary Festival in Amsterdam, we witness one of the more obvious manifestations of this change: the creation of an artificial beach on a Caribbean resort. Alternating between semi-direct addresses to the camera and more intimate fly-on-the-wall moments, the film presents the wealthy denizens of the resort — a beach bum actress, golfers — and the laborers who are reshaping the land for their benefit. –“Subtly teasing out the intersection of race, class, and environment, this documentary is not to be missed.” –Film Society of Lincoln Center

About GFDD’s Dominican Film Showcase
The presence of the vibrant and dynamic Dominican community is well acknowledged in cities across the United States. Dominican culture, music, and traditions are quickly becoming household references but the country’s film industry remains relatively unknown. Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) aims to change that by showcasing a sample of the best films produced recently in the Dominican Republic, by Dominican filmmakers, about Dominican topics. The Dominican Film Showcase presents, shares, and celebrates the stories, characters and history of the Dominican Republic with an international audience.

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