Alejandro Andújar Wins the Third Arturo Rodríguez Screenwriting Contest

Alejandro Andújar Wins the Third Arturo Rodríguez Screenwriting Contest
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 4/30/2012

Alejandro Andújar, with his script, “Aquí no hay invierno” was chosen the winner of the third edition of the Arturo Rodríguez Screenwriting Contest, organized by the International Film Company and Film de L´Astre, under the auspices of the French Embassy in the Dominican Republic.

He received his prize at a special ceremony held in the residence of the French Ambassador, Mrs. Bladine Kreiss, who, along with the Dominican Foreign Minister, Carlos Morales Troncoso and organizers Sergio Gobbi, Diego Fernández ,…

He received his prize at a special ceremony held in the residence of the French Ambassador, Mrs. Bladine Kreiss, who, along with the Dominican Foreign Minister, Carlos Morales Troncoso and organizers Sergio Gobbi, Diego Fernández and Leo Proaño, presented Andujar with a check for $3,000 dollars.

Members of the jury were comprised of such professionals as Sergio Gobbi, president and director general of “Les films de L’Astre”; Leticia Tonos, film director and author of “La Hija Natural”; the architect, Gianfranco Fini; Jean-Luc Puyau, attaché for linguistic and university cooperation at the French Embassy, the actor Frank Perozo and film producer Joan Giacinti.

Finalists included “Trapos sucios” by Ernesto Alemany, “Al ritmo del éxito” by Eudys Cordero and Juan Pérez; “Galipote Azul” by Carlos Abelardo Vicioso and “La Ladrona” by Amelia del Mar Hernández.

Last year´s winner of the Arturo Rodríguez Screenwriting Contest was Luis Rafael González, with “Dioses sin crepúsculos,” beating out nearly 100 entrants.

In the first year of the contest, Pablo Guzmán won with the story of a former Italian fascist military officer who, after the fall of Benito Mussolini, fled to the Dominican Republic.

Films de L’Astre is a well-known filmmaking company in Europe with dozens of screen productions around the continent. Last year they filmed, in the DR, “Asuntos Extranjeros Cuba” (Affaires Etrangeres), with actors Nashla Bogaert and Frank Perozo. This coming October they intend to film “Cristo Rey” Dominican filmmaker, Leticia Tonos.

Les Films de L’Astre is represented in the DR and Latin America by Dominican International Film Company, under the direction of Sergio Gobbi, Diego Fernández and Leo Proaño in Santo Domingo.

“Aquí no hay Invierno” is the story about the aftermath of the earthquake that left Haiti in ruins. The city of Santo Domingo filled up with volunteers and international NGO workers who were unable to get into Haiti. Emilio, a Dominican nearly 30 years old, is living with his girlfriend at her parents´ house. Their relationship is in crisis as Emilio wants to move out but she wants to wait.

One night, Emilio meets an African woman who works with Doctors without Borders and is waiting to get into Haiti.  After having spent an unforgettable night with her, she leaves the next day for Haiti. Emilio decides to make a radical change in his life. He moves, gets a job as a bartender and breaks up with his girlfriend. When the woman of his dreams comes back to the DR, she is not interested in him. Emilio soon discovers how difficult it is to be rejected and angry in a country with no winter