Countdown to DREFF 2015 is on!

Countdown to DREFF 2015 is on!
Santo Domingo, July 22 2015

The webpage for the fifth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival is up and running in English and Spanish, just in time to start learning everything you need to know about this year’s films, international guests, panels, workshops, as well as community and special activities that will take place between September 8-13 in ten cities around the Dominican Republic.

The countdown has begun. The calendars are marked and everything you have wanted to know about the fifth edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is now available on the official website. The entertaining and easy to use website will collect information on films, special guests as well as the cities and venues hosting the Festival from September 8-13. It will keep you on top of the screenings and activities that will revolve around a common theme this year: Toward an Agreement on Climate Change, United Nations 2015.

Over 25 venues comprise this year’s DREFF screening network in 10 cities: Santo Domingo, Santiago, Baní, San Francisco de Macorís, Puerto Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, La Vega, Samaná Bonao and Punta Cana.

Countries represented in this fifth are the Dominican Republic, Cuba, United States, Canada, Mozambique, Spain, France, England, India, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany.

Under three categories – “Personal Habits,” “Public Policies and Business” and “Inspiration”- the DREFF will show a total of 36 films this year, including features, short films, Dominican productions, retrospectives and GFDD’s own film productions.

A group of nearly 40 international and national guests will mix with the public at all film screenings where they will offer workshops, panels and round table discussions about cutting-edge issues in sustainable, socioeconomic development.

A celebration of the seventh art that brings together young people, academics, experts, activists, filmmakers, representatives from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations as well as a wide-ranging audience from all walks of life, all coming together to promote programs and projects that contribute to protection, conservation and environmental sustainability.

Thanks to our partners and collaborators “Thanks to the invaluable participation of nearly 60 private institutions, both non-governmental and public, every September for the past five years the Festival reaches more than 7,000 viewers, with over 80 free film screenings,” said Natasha Despotovic, Film Festival Director and Executive Director of the GFDD.

Since its creation in 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival– an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) – has been providing Dominicans with a platform of knowledge and debate on the environment and sustainable development, its challenges and best practices while celebrating the unique beauty and wealth that is the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage.

With a diverse selection of films and numerous panels, workshops, seminars and community activities, the DREFF, stressed Ms. Despotovic, “is promoting dialogue and exchange of knowledge and experience, inspiring Dominicans to adopt actions that contribute to the appreciation, conservation and sustainable use of their environmental resources.”

Fulfilling GFDD/Funglode’s commitment to contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Objectives, the DREFF implements 5 programs that operate throughout the year and work with diverse communities: ReCrearte, EcoHuertos, RDescubre, Globo Verde Dominicano Award and Screening of Environmental Films.

In its mission to promote the production of environmental films and to raise the level of public awareness, the DREFF organizes the Premio Globo Verde Dominicano Award, the Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program, produces its own documentaries and constantly updates the Film Festival’s blog.

The DREFF is a member of the Green Film Network, an international network that groups together 30 of the most important environmental film festivals in the world.

More information: www.globalfoundationdd.org