GFDD/Funglode and DREFF Mourn the Death of Dominican Filmmaker Fernando Báez Mella

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) deeply lament the death of Dominican producer, director and photographer Fernando Báez Mella, who tragically passed away on July 3, 2018. In addition to having been a great friend and collaborator, Mr. Báez Mella was a member of the DREFF National Advisory Committee.

A generous human being, Báez used his extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion to develop the Dominican film industry with productions that elevated the national pride. He was the first filmmaker to make use of the benefits of the Film Industry General Law, with his film “El Rey de Najayo” (2012). 

We extend our condolences and warm thoughts to his wife, María Cordero, who also cooperates with the GFDD, to his family, and to the Unicornio Films team, company that Báez Mella directed for many years.

Today we want to honor his memory with this interview that we recorded in 2015 for DominicanaOnline.org, when he visited Washington, DC invited by GFDD to present his film “Lago Enriquillo…A Prelude to Climate Change”.