The International Photoimagen Photo Festival Dominican Republic “Tránsitos” 2012 and the Photocultura Rally Awards Ceremony Close Very Successfully

The International Photoimagen Photo Festival Dominican Republic “Tránsitos” 2012 and the Photocultura Rally Awards Ceremony Close Very Successfully
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 15, 2012

Imagen 83 Foundation and Centro de la Imagen, very successfully closed their sixth edition of the International Photoimagen Photo Festival Dominican Republic 2012, called”Tránsitos“. The closing ceremony took place with great enthusiasm and joy and included a cocktail that was held at the Spanish Cultural Center where the main exhibitors, guest photographers and the press at large gathered to bring a wonderful experience to a close.

This year’s event was made possible thanks to the support of the Embassies of Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Spain through the Spanish Cultural Center (CCE); the Ministry of Culture; and to the generous cultural support of Propagas, Nikon, Odebrecht, and of the employees and partners of the participating organizations.

Photoimagen showcased the works of over 87 artists from Brazil, Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, Costa Rica, among others, and, of course,the Dominican Republic.

In addition to celebrating the closure of the event, there was an awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the Photocultura rally,which took place in the Colonial City, where amateur and professional photographerspushed the limits of their talents to develop photo shots that were both interesting and in accordance to the theme. Among the winners of the rally, thefirst placeswent to: Marvin Del Cid for Best Photo Essay; Gina Maria Ruiz for Best Picture; and Roan Gil for Best Cinematography- Youth Mention.These winners received prizes of 25,000 pesos, 15,000 pesos and a Nikon camera, respectively.

Ms. Mayra Johnson, Director General of Photoimagen, and Carlos AceroRuiz, Director of General Art at the Festival, expressed their satisfaction with the development of what has become a biennial event, and urged those present to get ready for what next yearpromises to be an event of quality, variety and optimum organization.

This year’s event was made possible thanks to the support of the Embassies of Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Spain through the Spanish Cultural Center (CCE); the Ministry of Culture; and to the generous cultural support of Propagas, Nikon, Odebrecht, and of the employees and partners of the participating organizations.

A little history

In 1983, I organized the first group of women photographers, and in 1989 I visited Mexico City to attend the Fotoseptiembreevent and to visit the Centro de la Imagen, and that is where I felt the desire to do this at home. In 2003, on the 20thanniversary of the group’s organization, together with some of the original members and with some new amateur photographers, and after having had a conversation with Evelyn Espaillat, we re-launched the group again. However, in my head I still had the idea of ??the Festival and of the Centro de la Imagen, and so during the 20thanniversary of the group I organizedthe Imagen 83 Foundation, a non-profit organization whose only purpose is to develop and disseminate Dominican photography. In 2004, Laura Vicini heard about the project and donated a XVI century house to the Foundation,located in the Colonial City. With Vicini’shelp,the project culminated with the restoration of the house where the Centro de la Imagenis now located. Its director is Carlos AceroRuiz, art curator. The Centro de la Imagen is a living space that was open in 2011, where photo exhibitions, workshops, seminars take place.

The Festival started in 2006 and until 2008 it was an annual event. However, we realized what were the cost and work that were involved and that year we transformed it into a biennial event, which took place in 2010 and now, in 2012, we are celebrating its V edition. Suddenly, the Festival became an international event in 2007.

For the sixth time, Santo Domingo will be the perfect venue for photography. For a whole month hundreds of men and women photographers will be willing to see and create pictures in various cultural locations, walls and streets throughout the city.

The sixth edition of Photoimagenwill be celebrated September 4 through September 30, which has become the month of photography in the Dominican Republic. Its agenda includes photo exhibits and workshops by international guests, solo and group exhibitions, and workshops and conferences on the subject matter. This year Brazil is the guest of honor and the theme is Tránsitos.

Winners: Roan Gil,. Gina Ruiz and Marvin del Cid