7th Dominican Film Festival in New York City

On July 24, DFFNYC will open the Festival with the showing of the romantic comedy My Girlfriend’s Ghost, directed by Francis – El Indio – Disla and starring Carmen Villalobos, William Levy and Susana Dosamantes

New York, July 27, 2018 – The 7th Dominican Film Festival in New York City (www.dominicanfilmfestival.com) announces its official program for this year, featuring a list of 70 films that celebrate the Dominican film industry.

The program offers viewers an ample variety of genres – from comedies to thrillers, and from dramas to romantic feature films.  Also included are various productions to honor all-time classics.

The Festival began on Tuesday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m., with a red-carpet inaugural ceremony at the United Palace Theatre (4140 Broadway in Manhattan, between 175 and 176^th streets).  The film’s storyline is the following: a small-time thief, played by William Levy, can actually see dead people.  He runs into a female ghost played by Carmen Villalobos, who has nine days to find true love or remain in a permanent coma.  The romantic comedy combines humor, drama and fantasy.  Director Disla, producer Jalsen Santana, and two current popular actresses, Carmen Villalobos and Susana Dosamantes, attended the opening gala event and participated in a lively question-and-answer session after the conclusion of the film. All foreign films are subtitled in English.

From July 24-29, and under the theme “Films Unite Us!” DFFNYC will bring together at the AMC Empire 25 (234 W. 42nd Street) more than 60 actors and producers who will participate in panel discussions.  Many of the scheduled events are free of charge and open to the general public.

“The Festival hopes to bring to film enthusiasts the most representative films that are currently being produced in the Dominican Republic, while at the same time bringing together, all under the same roof, film  experts and personalities from our island and diaspora,” explained Armando Guareño, founder and executive director of DFFNYC.

Because the event is the most important Dominican film festival in New York, and north of 125th Street, the program includes a tribute to Dominican actors Hector Anibal (Cómplices, Reinbou, El Hombre que Cuida); Kiki Meléndez (Cattle Call, Hot Tamales Live, Journey of a Female Comic) and Celinés Toribio (Colao, María Montez, Las Siete Muertes).  Also, a special tribute to a dear Dominican film director, Fernando Báez (Flor de Azúcar), who was recently killed in a car accident.  Other events on the agenda: the presentation of the Dominican classic Pasaje de Ida, and  more than 40 U.S. and New York world premieres, as well as feature films, documentaries, animated films and short documentaries that have been recognized throughout the world.

DFFNYC has also programmed a rich and diverse program that includes DFFNYC’s Official Competition, a powerful compilation of fiction and documentary films that highlight the new movement of young filmmakers that are currently working in the D.R.

Some of the special programs will include “The Cinema World of Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas,” a close look at the story of this talent couple of Latin American filmmakers with the presentation of such documentaries as Carmita, a profound inside look into the life in Mexico of the exiled Cuban actress and Noeli en los Países, an intimate look into the life of an aspiring actress that tries to make it in Europe.  Also, the presentation of fiction films that tell the moving stories of two young Indians in Mexico (Cochochi), or the moving story of a Haitian in Santo Domingo (Jean Gentil), or that of a boxer making his way through a turbulent system (Samba).

July 29, at 4:00 p.m. is scheduled as “Family Day,” at the Centro Cultural Alianza Dominicana.  The movie scheduled for that day is the comedy Los Fabulosos Ma’ Mejores.  Also on schedule, the short documentary Dominicanos en la Diáspora, which highlights talented Dominican artists who have preferred to tell their stories outside their country, such as Mujeres al borde, Mujeres Dominicanas en el Cine and Filmes cortos – Grandes historias.  The selection is a powerful demonstration of new and emerging Dominican film directors, as well as representatives from the diaspora who are competing for the Best Short Feature Film.

The new category The Latino Film Experience depicts the talent of Latin filmmakers who live in the United States.  This year, competing for the best film are the following: He Matado a mi Marido (Francisco Lupini); Love with a Colonial Scent (Joelle Gonzalez-Jagger); Gamertag Radio, A Podcast Story (Danny Penna); En Algún Lugar (Tadeo García) and America Adrift (Christopher James López).

The festival will close on Sunday, July 29, at 7:00 p.m. with the debut in New York of Hermanos (Brothers), directed by Archie Lopez. The film tells the story of twins separated right after their birth, who grew up under very different circumstances.  One turns out to be an excellent family man, and the other a criminal.  When  they meet by chance, the criminal brother takes on the identity of his upstanding twin. How long can you fool yourself and others?

This year’s honorees are Dascha Polanco, Kiki Meléndez, Lia Chapman, Laura Gomez and Katherine Castro, who will participate in a panel discussion on women in the Hollywood film industry.  These talented Latino actresses will share their experiences and how they have worked to be able to present their powerful and unique stories on screen.

DFFNY will also honor Dominican actress and businesswoman Charytin Goico  and outstanding actor Alfonso Rodriguez,  who will present his film Pulso for the first time in the United States.  The film tells the story of the challenges faced by heterosexual couples when one comes down with the AIDS virus.

One of DFFNYC’s most important goals is to present panel discussions with filmmakers and other industry-related talents, as well as present an unique opportunity to carry out individual conversations with directors, actors and producers.

This year’s Master Classes, panels and workshops are free to the general public.