First Meeting for DREFF 2012 Volunteers

New York, August 3, 2012

On Thursday, August 2, the organizers of the Second Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), convened the first meetings for potential volunteers. The second edition of the Festival will be celebrated September 5-9, 2012.

Out of a pool of 40 potential candidates, 20 volunteers will ultimately be selected. Volunteers will be selected based on availability and competency in the given area. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or over. Photographers should possess their own equipment, and translators should be fluent in both Spanish and English.

Yamile Eusebio, Director of the GFDD New York Office, explained the tasks and responsibilities associated with the position. She also conveyed the mission and objectives of DREFF and reviewed the preliminary agenda.

Eusebio affirmed that being a DREFF volunteer is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows participants to meet other volunteers and interact with the DREFF team, producers, sponsors and other respected figures in the fields of film and environment.

The second edition of the Festival will feature screenings of over 20 documentary films in Santo Domingo, San Francisco de Macorís, Santiago, Punta Cana, Baní, Puerto Plata and Sosúa. This year’s Festival will also premiere Dominican productions: Terra and Dominicana Bajo el Mar.

The DREFF 2012 program offering will include, among other documentary films, the following: Anna, Emma and the Condors; Big Miracle; Carbon for Water; In Organic We Trust; My Village, My Lobster; My Father, The Capitain: Jacques-Yves; Revenge of the Electric Car; and Somplace with a Mountain.

All of the screenings, panel presentations, workshops and training sessions are open to the public, free of charge. The international environmental and cinematographic event will also feature awareness raising activities in all seven locations.

The first edition of the Festival took place in September of 2011. DREFF aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of environmental issues among Dominican audiences, while celebrating the beauty and diversity of the country’s natural heritage. The Festival offers insights into attitudes and actions that contribute to the appreciation, conservation and sustainable use of the planet.

Through screening a diverse selection of high quality films on matters of environmental concern, and by organizing discussion panels with environmental experts, filmmakers and other stakeholders, the Festival seeks to foster dialogue and inspire the Dominican public to adopt practices that will help to ensure the environmental sustainability and health of the country.

By bringing together youth, scholars, experts, activists, filmmakers, representatives of the public, private and non-governmental institutions and the general public, the Festival promotes programs and projects that contribute to environmental protection, conservation and sustainability.

The Festival provides youth and general audiences the opportunity to watch ground-breaking documentary films on environmental topics. Key thematic areas of DREFF 2012 include Oceans, Biodiversity, Green Economy, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change. The Festival offers ample possibilities for participants to interact with leading figures in the environmental community and opportunities to collaborate in national and international programs that are making a positive impact.

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