Latin American Cinema Forum Takes Place at the MAM

Latin American Cinema Forum Takes Place at the MAM
Santo Domingo, June 30, 2014

The Ministry of Culture, the Embassy of the United States, the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) and the Directorate General of Film hosted the “Foro Cine Latinoamericano: Necesidades, Apreciación y Visualización (Latin American Cinema Forum: Needs, Assessment and Display)”, by filmmakers Jorge Oliver, Film Director at the Pratt Institute in New York, and Félix Germán, Director General of Fine Arts in the Dominican Republic.

The audience gathered in the auditorium of the Museum of Modern Art, where the panelists shared with them their assessment on Latin American Cinema and exchanged ideas regarding the new trends.

During his presentation, Oliver explained that Latin America is making very good films. He said that women filmmakers, in particular, are thriving, for example in Argentina, Lucrecia Martel and Lucia Puenzo; and in Peru, Claudia Llosa. “This is very interesting because this is not seen very frequently in American or Caribbean films, and I am very surprised to see that in Cuba, which is so avant-garde regarding cinema, there are no female filmmakers”.

He noted that currently Hollywood filmmakers produce mainly blockbusters (action films), while the rest of the production is in the hands of independent filmmakers, and, because film equipment has dropped in price, then it has become more feasible, but the cost of the movies is also being subsidized through crowdsourcing.

Jorge Oliver was born in Puerto Rico and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Zoology from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In later years, his passion for cinema and film led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Communications at the New School University (Parsons) in New York. He has produced and published a total of 13 short films and has worked as a cinematographer and director of camera for important films and documentaries.

Meanwhile, Félix Germán was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and studied acting at the HB Studios in New York City. He also studied Screenplay at the Maine Photographic Workshop.

Germán spent several years between acting and the production of more than 50 plays, but he also ventured into cinema with several film productions, short films and documentaries. He is currently the Director General of Fine Arts.

The Museum of Modern Art of the Dominican Republic is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is located at Avenida Pedro Henríquez Ureña, Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte in Santo Domingo.