GFDD and DGCine Help Bring the Premier of Dominican Film “Miriam Miente” to the Havana Film Festival in New York

New York, NY. – The Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY), the biggest festival for Latin American film in New York City, featured the New York premier of the award-winning Miriam Miente (Miriam Lies) directed by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada.

As part of its efforts to promote Dominican culture and arts in the Dominican Republic, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) in New York supported the presentation of the film.

Prior to the showing, Yamile Eusebio, GFDD New York Office Director, gave welcoming remarks and introduced the film. Eusebio highlighted the support of GFDD and the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Film (DGCine, for its acronym in Spanish), who for several years have supported the international film festival. She expressed that GFDD felt proud to be part of such a tremendous gathering of filmmakers and moviegoers.

Eusebio mentioned that, through the passing of the General Film Law 108 in 2010 by President Leonel Fernández, Dominican film has evolved and gown. The entire film industry has economically benefited the country, she said.

GFDD thanked Mrs. Yvette Marichal, the director of DGCine for promoting Dominican films around the world and supporting the presence of film directors at various screenings. On this particular occasion, DGCine helped ensure the attendance of the codirectors of Miriam Miente, Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada. Eusebio also gave thanks to Diana Vargas, artistic director of the festival, which allows GFDD to bring Dominican productions to its faithful audience of Dominicans in New York.

On April 11 and 13 the Dominican documentary La Concejal was also screened.

This is the fourth year that GFDD has supported the presentation of Dominican films at HFFNY.

About the Films
The feature film Miriam Miente, which premiered recently in the Dominican Republic, was presented on the 12th and 14th of April at the AMC Theater on 34 Street in Manhattan. The film is about a young girl, Miriam, who, during her summer vacation, falls in love with a boy, Jean-Louis. After weeks of preparation and excitement to meet one another, the boy is not exactly how Miriam and her family expected. The two directors of the film will be present at the premier thanks to support from DGCine.

The documentary film La Concejal was shown on April 11 and 13 also at the AMC Theater 34 Street. The documentary tells the story of Carmen Castillo, a Dominican woman and hotel housekeeper, who happens to be elected to the Municipal Council in Providence, Rhode Island. It highlights the challenges that Castillo faces in office and her fight for marginalized workers. The director of that film will also be in attendance.

Cabral and Guernsey were part of a panel discussion about being Latina in the film industry. Alongside those directors were filmmakers Ana Katz, Marta Bautís, Blanca Rosa Blanco and Olivia Luengas. These women shared experiences and challenges they have faced as females making movies.

About the Havana Film Festival New York
HFFNY is the most important and famous event on Latin American film in New York, which in 2019, is celebrating 20 years of existence. This year the festival takes place April 9 – 16 with special events taking place April 5 – 8.

The festival includes classes, film screenings and panel discussions with actors, producers and directors.

The program includes more than 35 movies from Cuba, Latin America and Latin American filmmakers living in the United States. The films come from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and the United States.

Read more at www.HFFNY.com