GFDD Partners with PLAFF to Bring the Dominican Film Showcase to the City of Providence, RI

The Dominican Film Showcase, coordinated by Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) in partnership with the Providence Latin American Film Festival (PLAFF), proved to be an enormous success.

The Showcase debuted the films La Lucha de Ana, a 2012 production by Dominican director Bladimir Abud, and Ballplayer: Pelotero, a 2011 production by directors Ross Finkel and Trevor Martin.

La Lucha de Ana tells the story of Ana, a flower vendor, whose son is murdered by a young, well-off man involved in a drug deal gone wrong. The film follows Ana’s struggle to take on a corrupt judicial system to seek justice.

Ballplayer: Pelotero reveals the real-life story of two top baseball prospects in the Dominican Republic and the competition and corruption they face as they chase their big league dreams.

GFDD and PLAFF coordinated screenings of the films September 28-30 at the University of Rhode Island Providence Campus, Bryant University, Providence College and the MET School. Film screenings were presented by Director of the GFDD New York Office, Yamile Eusebio.

Movie-goers had the unique opportunity to discuss the storylines and the makings of the films with directors Bladimir Abud and Ross Finkle during the question and answer sessions that took place following the screenings. GFDD also played an instrumental role in bringing acclaimed Dominican director Fernándo Báez to PLAFF to serve as one of the festival judges.

GFDD is very pleased to announce that actress Cheddy García, the protagonist of the film La Lucha de Ana, was the recipient of PLAFF 2012’s Best Actress distinction. The success of the Dominican Film Showcase was the result of a close partnership between GFDD and PLAFF. GFDD looks forward to developing an ongoing partnership with the Providence-based film festival, dedicated to presenting the best of Latin American cinema.

About GFDD’s Dominican Film Showcase:
In an effort to endorse the burgeoning film industry of the Dominican Republic, GFDD organizes Dominican Film Showcases in different cities in the United States, with the intention of sharing and celebrating the stories, history and talent of the Dominican Republic through spotlighting a sample of the best films produced in the Dominican Republic, by Dominican filmmakers on Dominican topics.

Objectives:

• Facilitate the enrichment of the film culture of the Dominican Republic and bring its unique brand of cinema to a wider audience
• Utilize the seventh art as a platform for discussion and as a medium for
  enhancing social awareness and promoting constructive change
• Raise awareness internationally of issues of historic and cultural importance to the Dominican community
• Cultivate an appreciation of Dominican cinematographic talent
• Encourage financing for Dominican film and multimedia productions
• Further appreciation of the cinematographic arts and help advance the multimedia industry in the Dominican
  Republic
• Encourage potential partnerships for international co-productions
• Aid in the professional development of Dominican human resources in the field of film

Related links:
www.dominicanfilmshowcase.org
www.plaff.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WoYzR0GJpQ
www.peloterothemovie.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jfhRyoljA
http://www.uri.edu/prov/
www.bryant.edu
www.providence.edu
http://metcenter.org/