FAQ’s

What can we expect at the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival?
- An interesting program of high quality films that addresses the most pressing environmental issues in an educational and entertaining manner. The agenda includes national and international feature films, short films, documentaries and animated films.

- Discussion panels, workshops and community activities, such as the cleanup of communities or beaches, and excursions to ecotourism-related points of interest, among others.

- Attendance by renowned filmmakers and national and international experts, academics, activists, filmmakers and leaders from the public and private sectors, with whom the audience will be able to interact in order to share good environmental practices and to create innovative solutions that contribute to the country’s sustainable development.

- More than 90 screenings in approximately 14 cities around the Dominican Republic, including Santo Domingo, Santiago, San Francisco de Macorís, San Juan de la Maguana and Baní.

What is the DREFF target audience?
The Film Festival is intended for the general public, from children to adults, of all ages. The programming includes films and activities for all ages.

When does the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival take place?
This year we will celebrate the fifth edition of the Festival on September 8 - 13.

How much does it cost to watch the films and to participate in the DREFF activities?
All activities of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival are free of charge. More information and the latest news on the DREFF may be found on its website and through the social networks:

www.dreff.org
Twitter: @MuestraCine
Facebook: MuestraCineMedioambiental
#DREFF #RDsostenible

How can I join the DREFF support team?
Every year, DREFF has a large team of volunteers who support all the activities included in its program. GFDD/Funglode issue two calls during the summer to enroll those interested in supporting DREFF. For more information, please write to voluntarios@dreff.org or call (809) 685-9966 ext. 2454.

How can I support the sustainability of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival?
By donating! DREFF receives donations to make the Festival possible every year, and also to expand its scope to reach more people in more cities across the country. Donations may be made online through the GFDD website (www.globalfoundationdd.org). To obtain more information or for follow up purposes, you may also contact Yamile Eusebio (yamile@dreff.org or call 809-685-9966, ext. 5024).

Why use cinema to foster messages of environmental awareness?
GFDD and Funglode understand that cinema is an efficient and effective method of activism. When we bring the people a message of environmental awareness through feature films, documentaries and short films, as well as animation for a younger audience, we take advantage of the strength of the audiovisual information and increase significantly its impact on the people who receive the message. The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) combines the power of film productions with discussion panels, workshops and community activities, with the intention that all Dominicans who participate receive and use up-to-date knowledge that is of utmost importance for the sustainability of the country and the planet in which we live.

What happens with the Festival during the rest of the year?
Since the inception of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) in 2011, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) has created and developed 5 programs that operate year round and which make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic. They are: ReCrearte, EcoHuertos, RDescubre, the Globo Verde Dominicano Award and the Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings.

ReCrearte works with the most disadvantaged members of the community who receive training in the art of recycling and creating new objects from waste and, at the same time, learn to develop an alternative source of income. The program revolves around the "three golden rules" - or 3Rs - for the proper management of solid waste: reduce, reuse and recycle. The workshops demonstrate and emphasize the idea that recycling waste and transforming it into art strengthens both the individuals and the communities alike. - www.recrearte.org

EcoHuertos promotes the creation of sustainable and organic gardens in schools and communities throughout the Dominican Republic, while fostering, through hands-on activities conducted in the field, the Natural Sciences subjects contained in the school curriculum. The program also raises awareness about the importance of a balanced diet, and emphasizes the value of eating fruits and vegetables. - www.eco-huertos.org

RDescubre This project offers students from marginalized communities in the Dominican Republic the opportunity to develop an emotional bond with the environment and appreciate the natural heritage they share, while helping them to develop their leadership skills, focusing on their personal growth and improving their interpersonal skills. Since its inception, the program has organized dozens of expeditions, including visits to Pico Duarte, whale watching, and visits to Lago Enriquillo, among others. - www.rdescubre.org

Globo Verde Dominicano Award. The Globo Verde Dominicano Award, which is presented during the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, is a competition that recognizes audiovisual materials with an environmental content that have been created by Dominican students and young professionals in the areas of cinema, photography, advertising, or related fields. This program rewards the best works and showcases them before national and international audiences. It also encourages Dominican youth to create audiovisual materials that raise awareness about the importance of the environment and sustainable development. - www.globoverdedominicano.org

Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival maintains a Year-Round Environmental Film Screenings program, which offers the opportunity to audiences around the country to enjoy the most interesting films on environmental issues that have been shown in previous editions of the Festival, thus widening the scope of the efforts to raise awareness and deepening the existing understanding of environmental issues among the Dominican public. - www.dominicanscreenings.org