DRGFF Participates in 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC
New York, May 7, 2008
Representatives of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival (DRGFF), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), attended the seventh Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, which was held April 23 – May 4, 2008, in order to identify potential films for the upcoming 2008 edition of the Festival, and gain valuable knowledge about the process of transforming a cultural event into a cultural phenomenon.
During the festival, acclaimed for showcasing world class talent, the DRGFF team, led by GFDD Executive Director and FUNGLODE Vice President, Natasha Despotovic, had the opportunity to view a plethora of the 121 narrative and documentary films and 79 shorts by innovative industry professionals from 41 countries. Films were presented in the following categories:
- World Narrative
- World Documentary
- Spotlight (documentary and narrative films featuring high-profile directors and cast members, not yet in theatres)
- Encounters (documentary and narrative films about poignant societal concerns)
- Discovery (inspirational documentary and narrative films)
- Showcase (award winning world cinema)
- Midnight (eclectic thrillers)
- Restored/ Rediscovered (celebrated works by renowned international filmmakers)
- Shorts (short films by established and up-in-coming artists)
By participating in the festival, DRGFF representatives were able to identify a number of documentary films to premier during the 2008 Dominican Republic Global Film Festival, scheduled to take place November 19 – 23 in the Dominican Republic.
Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, the Tribeca Film Festival seeks to enable filmmakers from around the world project their creations to a broad audience. Over the course of its seven years in existence, Tribeca has grown to become a cultural fixture amidst New York City’s abundant cultural offerings.
The process by which a young festival gains strength among the industry and the public, and the steps taken to forge a unique identity and increase filmmaking capacity, is of great interest to GFDD and FUNGLODE. Participation in Tribeca provided not only an opportunity to identify innovative films and industry tendencies, but also a means by which to pinpoint elements that will make DRGFF a unique and authentic experience -- one in which film is employed as a vehicle for learning, development and creation.
Upon attending international festivals, good choices and bad decisions become more apparent. Such experiences help the DRGFF team to create the best festival possible, an event which provides quality offerings to the public and to local and international members of the cinematographic community interested in developing projects in the Dominican Republic. Moreover, the exercise of participating in international festivals also offers GFDD and FUNGLODE the possibility to elevate awareness of the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival amongst international industry representatives.
DRGFF plays a leading role in nurturing film culture in the Dominican Republic by bringing the best of international narrative and documentary film to a wide audience. The Festival raises awareness and deepens understanding of global challenges while using film as a modern platform for the discussion of political, social and economic issues. DRGFF, together with GFDD and FUNGLODE’s Global Media Arts Institute (GMAI), supports capacity building, provides network opportunities for Dominican professionals and fosters the development of a strong and sustainable national film industry.
Related link:
www.tribecafilmfestival.org
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