Three Dominican environmental short films will participate in the “Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre” in Gibara-Holguin, Cuba, to be held from April 20 to 24, 2016: GFDD’s shorts Value of Life and Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience; and 7 Grams (winner of the Premio Globo Verde Dominicano 2015). In addition, as part of the programming of the Cuban festival, Bertha Santana will host recycling workshops for children, youth and adults in the community, as part of GFDD´s program ReCrearte.

The Dominican program is brought to the Cuban Festival thanks to the Dominican Republic Film Festival (DREFF) and the existing Alliance with the Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematographic Industry (ICAIC for its acronym in Spanish).

The Festival Internacional de Cine Pobre, founded by Humberto Solás, is one of the most popular events within the alternative cinema circuit. Usually held in the city of Gibara, has been dedicated since its first edition in 2003 to films made with a budget of less than 300,000 dollars. “It was born in order to encourage the production of a legitimate cinema, involved and mobilizing, highly aesthetic and ethical, and humble in their elaboration, oblivious to any cultural elitism and proponent of an interaction between the diverse communities,” as the organizers state.

About the movies

Value of Life
This production, directed by Natasha Despotovic, is GFDD”s most recent short movie. Historically, little value is placed on natural capital when looking at growth equations and socioeconomic development. It is difficult for big businesses, and more so for ordinary people, to quantify the significance of natural resources and make the value of nature tangible in our daily lives. The production responds to those questions: How much is the natural capital of the Dominican Republic worth? How do we put a price on the ecosystem the planet has given us and that allows us to survive?
For more information

Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience
The Dominican Republic has more than 340 open-air landfills without any type of management or control, which have become highly-concentrated areas of air and water pollution. They are an unseen danger for every Dominican. Fortunately, the country is witnessing cultural changes which are creating initiatives that convert this “problem” into an opportunity for development. The message is clear: trash is no longer just trash, rather it has value. As long as trash can be utilized, it is not trash.The appropriate term is “discarded material,” a resource which is raw material and then turned into a new product. Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience, a film produced by GFDD/FUNGLODE, depicts how recycling has become an important economic opportunity for Dominicans. Through various corporate and educational projects, the viewer observes how– aside from the obvious environmental benefits– recycling enables economic development through the generation of new companies and industries. A short film which inspires, moves and calls to action.

Watch trailer

7 Gramos
This film is the winner of the 2015 edition of DREFF’s Globo Verde Dominicano Award (part of the DREFF programs) and is based on a true story.
The story takes place in a small rural community in the Dominican Republic, and recounts the life of a Hispaniolan Emerald (one of the smallest birds in the world, endemic species) who decides to build her nest and lay her eggs in a support pillar of a school building under construction. After two weeks, her little chicks hatch. Along with their mother, the chicks begin their daily routine. Meanwhile, the construction workers, in order to finish their job, must decide whether to leave the birds’ nest where it is, or remove it.

About Dreff
Since its creation 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) – 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, along with its challenges and best practices while celebrating the unique beauty and wealth that is the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage.

Related Links:
www.dreff.org
http://globoverdedominicano.org/
http://festivalcinepobre.cult.cu/

A total of 12 days of films, discussions on environment, work meetings and passion; passion for the cinema, for sustainable development and alternative ways of living for a healthier coexistence with our neighbors and the planet. For the fifth consecutive year, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) teamed up with the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) and participated to the fullest in the screenings and events that took place in the nation’s capital.

In addition to attending the opening night as guests, which included the premiere of the film Sherpa, the DREFF and its staff were present at several of the activities in programming at DCEFF 2016.

Natasha Despotovic, executive director of GFDD and DREFF, shared a panel in which she presented GFDD’s latest production, Value of Life, with two other renowned female directors, on March 17^th, Sandy Cannon-Brown (Beautiful Swimmers Revisited) and Marilyn Weiner (Dispatches from the Gulf). For the 4th year, Women in Film and Video hosted this breakfast at Restaurant Nora, in Washington D.C.

Read more

La Noche Dominicana (Dominican Night) organized by GFDD and DREFF, already a tradition in the DCEFF, was a total success. Members of the Dominican community in Washington, film buffs and environmental activists filled the packed room in a double celebration: a celebration of Dominican environmental film and a celebration of the DR’s extraordinary biodiversity.

Three Dominican films were shown: Valor Vital (most recent GFDD production), 7 Gramos (winner of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award 2015), and Reserva de la Biosfera: Jaragua, Bahoruco, Enriquillo (directed by Máximo José Rodríguez).

Read more

Moreover, during the Festival, some members of the Global Film Network (GFN) met at the DREFF´s headquarters in Washington D.C. and announced the appointment of Natasha Despotovic as member of the Board of Directors.

Read more

The DREFF team also participated in some special events, as the filmmakers networking sessions, different screenings, panels and conversations and the closing ceremony.

Related Links:
www.globalfoundationdd.org
www.dreff.org
www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org

There were conversations about environmental awareness and sustainable development as well as praise for the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic. Film was once again used not just for entertainment but as a vehicle to show the world the issues that most matter and to spread the word about them, because they are after all, global and touch us all. A sign in front of the Gala Theater in Washington D.C. read “tickets sold out”  for the Noche Dominicana (Dominican Night) organized by GFDD and DREFF yesterday as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF).

Members of the Dominican community in Washington, film buffs and environmental activists filled the packed room in a double celebration: a celebration of Dominican environmental film and a celebration of the DR’s extraordinary biodiversity.

It was a wonderful opportunity to promote the objective of the GFDD, which is to facilitate the enrichment of the film culture in the Dominican Republic and to publicize its unique brand to the international audiences.

Three Dominican films were shown: Valor Vital (most recent GFDD production), 7 Gramos (winner of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award 2015), and Reserva de la Biosfera: Jaragua, Bahoruco, Enriquillo (directed by Máximo José Rodríguez).

“We are proud to present, once again, to such a distinguished international audience, the films made in the Dominican Republic by Dominican filmmakers,” explained GFDD and DREFF Executive Director, Natasha Despotovic.

The evening event was presented by María Victoria Abreu, DREFF Director of Programming who, after the screenings, conducted a question and answer session between the audience and co-director of 7 Gramos, Hadzael Gómez and Lisette Fernández, wife of late film director Máximo José Rodríguez. Lisette Fernández is the executive producer of the vast majority of her husband’s documentaries.

A posthumous tribute was given to the director during the event. In addition to being a great friend and collaborator, Rodriguez was a member of the DREFF National Advisory Committee. “A generous human being, Max used his extraordinary talent, dedication and passion to develop documentary film productions that captured the beauty, diversity and natural wealth of the Dominican Republic,” said Ms. Despotovic, GFDD Executive Director.

For her part, Lisette Fernández, accompanied by her three children, said: “For me and my children, this event has been extremely meaningful, it has touched our hearts. The idea of showing his films in the United States as part of the DCEFF. This recognition of Máximo, honoring his memory, and paying tribute to his life…a life full of passion for nature, the environment and natural resources of the Dominican Republic combined with his passion for art. A legacy of life, love and hope for the future of our country.”

Hadzael Gómez expressed his appreciation for having been a part of this year’s Noche Dominicana celebration. “Although it sounds cliché, I have no words to express the emotions of this night, being at the oldest environmental film festival in the world. To have our small contribution of work represent us as Dominicans is a great source of pride and joy.” Mr. Gomez, along with Jonatan Vila, won the Globo Verde Dominicana Award last year. Part of the prize was to be able to screen his winning film at an international festival and to attend as a guest. “It is an excellent opportunity to see the best films of this genre and to meet some of the best directors in the world,” he stressed.

Members of the DCEFF
For the past five years, as part of the program of the Environmental Film Festival at the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) 2016, the DREFF has organized Noche Dominicana. In keeping with what Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of the GFDD and DREFF said about the Festival, “we very much value our partnership with our friends at DCEFF. In fact, they served as an inspiration for the creation of our own festival, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival.”

More about the films

About DREFF
Since its creation 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)- 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, along with its challenges and best practices while celebrating the unique beauty and wealth that is the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage.

About DCEFF
The Environmental Film Festival at the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) is the world’s premiere showcase of environmentally themed films. Each March in Washington, DC, the Festival presents more than 150 films to an audience of over 33,000. DCEFF program includes thematic discussions and social events, film screenings at museums, embassies, libraries, universities and local theaters. Founded in 1993, DCEFF is the largest and longest-standing environmental film festival in the United States. It has grown into a major collaborative cultural event both during the festival and all year round.

Related links:
www.globalfoundationdd.org
http://dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org

Natasha Despotovic, executive director of GFDD and DREFF, shared a panel in which she presented GFDD’s latest production, Value of Life, with two other renowned female directors

For the 4th year, Women in Film and Video hosted a breakfast at Restaurant Nora in Washington D.C. during the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation´s Capital (DCEFF) to celebrate women and film. On this occasion, the director of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), Natasha Despotovic, who presented the latest GFDD production, Value of Life – codirected by her-participated in a panel with other two renowned directors of documentaries, Sandy Cannon-Brown (Beautiful Swimmers Revisited) and Marilyn Weiner (Dispatches from the Gulf).

WIFV supports women in the industry by promoting equal opportunities, encouraging professional development, serving as an information network, and educating the public about women’s creative and technical achievements, as highlighted by Melissa Houghton, Executive Director of Women in Film and Video D.C., during her introduction.

Flo Stone, Founder of the DCEFF, who moderated the panel , explained that this year’s Festival will see the largest number of women filmmakers participating in its 24 year history with more than 60 percent of film screenings, festival-wide, made by women. “Of those 88 women filmmakers, 50 of them are directors or co-directors of their films. Since 2014, EFF’s festival programming has featured nearly 250 films made by women.”

During the breakfast, which was attended by environmentalists, representatives of the film industry, and the media, clips from all three films were presented. Value of Life will be celebrating its premiere in the United States tomorrow, Friday 18, at theDominican Night, which GFDD and DREFF organize in collaboration with DCEFF each year.

GFDD Productions
Natasha Despotovic said that DREFF “greatly appreciates our collaborative relationship with our friends at DCEFF. In fact, they inspired us for the creation of our own festival, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival”.

The director of Value of Life explained that as part of the programs developed throughout the year under the umbrella of the DREFF, GFDD has been devoted in recent years to produce short environmental films that show the richness and the biodiversity of the Dominican Republic, the challenges, and the most successful environmental initiatives.

“We focus on presenting socio-economic and environmental challenges as well as highlighting good practices and promoting innovative solutions.”

“We realized with the DREFF, that there are few filmmakers focused on environmental film. By showing our productions we aimed to encourage young filmmakers to produce documentaries in this area and show the world a piece of the Dominican Republic,” continued the Director of GFDD.

Panelists Biographies
List of Women Filmmakers at EFF 2016

About DREFF
Since its creation in 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival has been providing Dominicans with a platform of knowledge and debate on the environment and sustainable development, along with 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 promotes dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and experience, inspiring Dominicans to adopt actions that contribute to the appreciation, conservation, and sustainable use of their environmental resources.

About DCEFF
The Environmental Film Festival is the leading showcase for environmental film in the United States and is presented in collaboration with over 100 local, national, and global organizations. Festival films are screened at 52 venues throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including museums, embassies, libraries, universities, and local theaters in all eight wards of the city. Some 70 percent of films are free.

About WIFV
Women in Film and Video is dedicated to advancing the professional development and achievement for professionals working in all areas of screen-based media and related disciplines. WIFV supports women in the industry by promoting equal opportunities, encouraging professional development, serving as an information network, and educating the public about women’s creative and technical achievements.  WIFV is an affiliate of Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), a global network of nearly 40 chapters whose total membership includes more than 10,000 media professionals worldwide. Founded in 1979, it is the premier professional resource for people who want successful media careers in the D.C. metro region. Its resources, connections, and advocates support a vibrant, creative media community.

For more information:
www.dreff.org
http://dceff.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Women-EFF-Filmmakers-Press-Release.pdf
http://vital.dreff.org