New Generation of Dominican Filmmakers to be Presented at Drexel University

Friday October 4th, 2013

Philadelphia, October 4, 2013

As part of its popular Dominican Film Showcase program organized to promote, share, and celebrate the stories, characters and history of the Dominican Republic with an international audience, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) in collaboration with Café Latino, and the assistance of the Drexel University Spanish Club, will be hosting a Dominican film screening, to be held on October 10th, 2013 at Drexel University, PA.

This time, GFDD cordially invites Drexel University students and teachers for a film screening Ana’s Struggle, produced by the representative of a new generation of Dominican filmmakers, Bladimir Abud. We are proud to announce that the director of the film will join us for the event and we welcome the Café Latino members and guests to participate in a conversation with him.

Young and accomplished Dominican film director, producer and screenwriter, Bladimir Abud is best known for his 2012 film, Ana’s Struggle (La Lucha de Ana). The film won three International Awards, including the Best Picture of the year 2012 at the Premios Soberanos. With his films being socially focused, he won awards for Best Short Film at the Global Film Festival FUNGLODE in 2008 and the Festival of Santo Domingo shorts in 2000. He has directed and produced If I could save you (2010), Blameless (2009), A young man named Juan Bosch (2009) and Los Super (2013).

The Dominican featured film, Ana’s Struggle, tells the story of Ana, whose only son gets involved in a drug deal that leads to his murder. The film focusses on the corrupt system that Ana is forced to contend with, as she attempts to find justice for her son.

GFDD gives special thanks to the Drexel University Spanish Club under the leadership of Kahlil Gedin and Heather Conway for making the event possible. Established 3 years ago, the Drexel Spanish Club provides many opportunities for all students interested in the Spanish language to enhance their conversational and comprehension skills outside the classroom setting. The club is open to both students who are taking Spanish classes on a college level and those who are not.

This initiative comes thanks to Dr. Maria de la Luz Matus-Mendoza, Associate Professor of Spanish at Drexel University and creator of Café Latino, for co-hosting the event. Café Latino is a monthly tertulia that disseminates Latin American and Peninsular culture within Drexel University. It is an informal gathering where current topics are discussed. It is a place to meet with writers, artists and speakers to deepen knowledge and understanding of the Spanish speaking culture.

The Dominican Film Showcase was created with the idea of enriching the Dominican Republic’s film culture and bringing its unique brand of cinema to a wider audience. The program utilizes the seventh art as a platform for discussion, enhancing social awareness and promoting constructive change while highlighting issues of historic and cultural importance to the Dominican community. It also seeks to cultivate appreciation of all aspects of the Dominican Republic’s growing cinematographic talent.

Join us in the celebration of the Dominican Cinema; learn about its history, achievements and hear from its renowned representatives.

Date: Thursday, October 10, 2013
Time: 5:30-9:00pm
Place of venue: PISB 120 (Papadakis Integrates Science Building),
Drexel University
33rd and Chestnut Streets
Philadelphia PA, 19104

For more information:
margaret@globalfoundationdd.org and/or mm349@drexel.edu
www.dominicanfilmshowcase.org