GFDD to Support the Premier of Dominican Films “Miriam Miente” and “La Concejal” at the Havana Film Festival in New York

The Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY), the biggest festival for Latin American film in New York City, is now celebrating its 20th anniversary from April 5 – 16, 2019.

During this special edition of the festival, HFFNY will host the New York premier of two Dominican films: the award-winning Miriam Miente (Miriam Lies)directed by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, and the documentary La Concejal (The Councilwoman)directed by Margo Guernsey.

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) in New York will support the presentation of these film premiers as part of its efforts to promote Dominican culture and arts in the Dominican Republic, New York City and throughout the world. This is the fourth year that GFDD has supported the presentation of Dominican films at HFFNY.

The feature film Miriam Miente, which premiered recently in the Dominican Republic, will be 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 will be screened 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 will also be part of a panel discussion about being Latina in the film industry. Alongside those directors will be filmmakers Ana Katz, Marta Bautís, Blanca Rosa Blanco and Olivia Luengas. These women will share 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 will include 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