Disneynature and DREFF Partnered to Screen Several Films on Global Biodiversity

September 7, 2016

This year, as part of the new partnership with Disneynature to promote global consciousness and appreciation for biodiversity, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), in collaboration with Caribbean Cinemas, will be showing Monkey Kingdom, Chimpanzee, African Cats, and Wings for Life.

This represents a great opportunity for the Dominican audience, in particular students, who will be inspired to appreciate the wildlife and wild places and will be empowered to create positive changes for wildlife in their school, community and the world, while promoting life-long conservation values.

DREFF is humbled to receive the support of Caribbean Cinemas, one of the biggest chains of movie theaters in the Caribbean, and Disneynature´s representative in the Dominican Republic.

DREFF appreciates the direct support received from Jean-François Camilleri, General Manager Disneynature, who unfortunately is unable to attend the festival this year, and Matt Scholey, Marketing Coordinator. Also, Zumaya Cordero, Caribbean Cinemas Chief Operations Officer in the DR, who collaborated with DREFF to make the screenings of the Disneynature films a reality. They were very receptive to DREFF and their cooperation is highly appreciated.

Disneynature is an independent film unit of Walt Disney Studios that produces nature documentary films and emphasizes on the biodiversity of the planet and how we need to protect it. They have produced 9 films since 2008 and usually release the films around Earth Day in an effort to generate awareness about environmental and biodiversity protection. They also team up with environmental organizations to help conserve the planet. For their movies Earth and Oceans, Disneynature teamed up with the Nature Conservancy and planted 3 million trees in Brazil’s most endangered forest and established 40,000 acres in the coral reefs of The Bahamas as a new marine protected area. For the movie African Cats, they partnered with African Wildlife Foundation to create 65,000 acres of protected savanna conservation corridors in Kenya. For the film Chimpanzee, Disneynature and the Jane Goodall Institute worked to have 130,000 acres of wild chimpanzee habitat protected in the Congo, 60,000+ local youths educated, and chimpanzees cared for. Disneynature’s Bears and the National Park Foundation teamed up to have conservation projects across 400,000 acres supported, park visitors educated, animal and plant species protected. The movie Monkey Kingdom worked with Conservation International to have conservation projects supported across one million acres in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, benefiting hundreds of species and protecting fresh drinking water for local populations.

About the movies
Monkey Kingdom is a spectacular tale set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya, a clever and resourceful monkey, finds her world forever changed when she welcomes her son Kip into her colorful extended family. As Maya strives to keep Kip safe through unexpected and sometimes perilous adventures, amazing footage captures all the magic and surprises of their magnificent world. Maya and her family will make you laugh and warm your heart as she realizes her dreams for her son’s future.

Wednesday, September 14 – Centro Cultural Perelló, Baní 5:00pm

Wednesday, September 14 – Hotel Villa Serena, Las Galeras, Samaná 7:00pm

Thursday, September 15 – Centro Cultural Monina Cámpora, San Juan de la Maguana 10:00am

Friday, September 16 – Cinema Oasis, Bonao 3:00pm

Saturday, September 17 – Caribbean Cinemas Acrópolis Center, Santo Domingo 3:00pm

Sunday, September 17 – Centro León, Santiago de los Caballeros 10:30am

Chimpanzee is about a journey deep into the African rainforest and meeting Oscar, an adorable young chimp with an entertaining approach to life, and a remarkable story of individual triumph and family bonds. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps who love creating mayhem. Full of curiosity, a zest for discovery, joy and a love for mimicking others, Oscar — and his family — navigate the complex territory of the forest. It’s an inspiring and life-changing adventure that overflows with courage and charm that will capture your heart.

Wednesday, September 14 – Caribbean Cinemas Multiplaza, La Romana 5:00pm

African Cats is about an epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, it captures the real-life love, humor, and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, sprit, and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons.

Wednesday, September 14 – Cinema Oasis, Bonao 3:00pm

Saturday, September 17 – Caribbean Cinemas Multiplaza, La Romana 3:00pm

Wings of Life launches into the stories of selected animal characters–a bat, a hummingbird, a butterfly, and a bee–stories that reveal the extraordinary importance of flowers and their pollinator partners. Though we primarily associate flowers with beauty, we often don’t realize how essential they truly are–that without flowing plants and their winged messengers, and the foods they produce, we humans might not survive. Using special cinematic techniques, we explore the mystical intersection of the animal and plant worlds where life regenerates itself over and over again. It’s this seductive dance that feeds the early, and today that dance is threatened.

Wednesday, September 14 – Caribbean Cinemas Acrópolis Center, Santo Domingo 5:00pm

Thursday, September 15 – Cinema Oasis, Bonao 3:00pm

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.

www.dreff.org / info@dreff.org
Twitter e Instagram @MuestraCine / Facebook MuestraCineMedioambiental
#DREFF y #YoSoySostenible