Value of Life and Cycles to Bring the Caribbean to Kuala Lumpur

August 14, 2017

Washington, D.C. – Out of 249 films hailing from 44 different countries, Value of Life, a production of the Global Foundation for Democracy & Development and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic (GFDD/Funglode), and Cycles, the winner of the 2016 Globo Verde Dominicano Short Film Award have been selected to screen during the 10th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF), to be held from October 23rd – 29th, 2017. GFDD could not be more delighted to serve as an ambassador of film of the Dominican Republic to the people of Malaysia. It is our honor to be selected for this important event and we look forward to witnessing the impact of our stories.

An inquiry into how modern societies value the natural resources that surround them and the ways in which nature provides for modern economic development, Value of Life has been screened in six film festivals around the world. Additionally, through its program of Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of GFDD/Funglode, has screened the short film on many occasions to stimulate critical thought and bring about awareness on environmental issues.

Cycles, a production from young director Hansel Ureña Espósito, is the story of a Dominican artist who uses waste collected from Dominican streets, beaches, and dumps as his raw materials. The film looks to motivate society to rethink the concept of trash and propose better ways to handle the tons of waste generated each day around the world.

The Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival leverages the power of film to facilitate the transition towards more eco-conscious communities, businesses, and individuals. In partnership with Malaysian sustainability leaders, the Festival presents a broad array of domestic and international films and aims to inspire audiences to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. GFDD/Funglode highly values the opportunity to take part in this year’s celebration.

About Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD)
The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), sister organization of Funglode in the United States, is a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of collaboration between organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic in order to conduct research, enhance public debate, design public policy, propose strategies and provide training to facilitate change in crucial areas of the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and Latin America.

About the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)
Since its creation in 2011, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) – an initiative of GFDD/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. With a diverse selection of films, numerous panels, workshops, seminars, and community activities, 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. DREFF implements programs that operate throughout the year and works with diverse communities year-round throughout the Dominican Republic.

About Globo Verde Dominicano
Globo Verde Dominicano is the only national competition in the Dominican Republic that recognizes and encourages the production of short films, public service and photographic works on the importance of the environment and other sustainable development related topics. The contest, organized annually by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), is part of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) celebrated every September.

More Information:
www.globalfoundationdd.org
http://vital.dreff.org
www.globoverdedominicano.org