BEST FEATURE: LO QUE SIENTO POR TI BY RAUL CAMILO

BEST DOCUMENTARY: SOLANO (PATRICIA SOLANO)

BEST DIRECTOR: FELIX GERMAN (LA ISLA ROTA) AND AUDIENCE FAVORITE: DOS MEJOR QUE UNA (JOSE PINKY PINTOR)

BEST ACTOR AND ACTRESS: FRANK PEROZO (LA ISLA ROTA) AND YORDANKA ARIOSA (LO QUE SIENTO POR TI)

DOMINICANS IN THE DIASPORA BEST SHORT: 6 ANGRY CUBANS (TRISHA LAFACHE)

BEST DOMINICAN SHORT: LA CAJITA (ROBERT CORNELIO)

The 8^th Dominican Film Festival in NY announced the winning films during its Closing Night Ceremony at the Cinepolis Chelsea in Manhattan. July 23-28, 2019, DFFNYC screened over 70 films, 18 of which were on the ballot for audience consideration. On Sunday, July 28th, DFFNYC announced Lo que siento por ti by first time director Raul Camilo as the winner of the Official Feature Film competition. Dos mejor que una was chosen by the audience to receive DFFNYC’s Audience Award.  Best Director went to Felix German for La isla rota.  Best Actor to Dominican marvel Frank Perozo for La isla rota and Best Actress to Yordanka Ariosa for Lo que siento por ti. Best documentary went to Solano by Patricia Solano. Special Jury mentions went to Councilwoman by Margo Guernsey and Un 4to de Josué by Gabriel Valencia. The jury in the fiction category included director, Christopher James, actor Anthony Alvarez and producer Michael Toribio.

Two separate categories were considered on the short film’s competition: the “Dominicans in the Diaspora Short Film Showcase,” in which 16 shorts competed, “Short Films and Big Stories,” which included 13 short films. In the Diaspora Showcase, the jury award first place to 6 Angry Cubans by director Trisha Franche. Tinderbar (Leonel Severino) received a Special Jury Mention. In “Short Films - Big Stories,” the jury awarded first place to La Cajita by director Robert Cornelio and a Special Jury Mention to Cronotopo by Julio Vargas. The jury in the Short Film Categories included actor Soleidy Mendez, director Miguel Rueda and film distributor Michael Toribio.

During the ceremony, New York State Senator Robert Jackson presented a proclamation where he declares “The Dominican Film Festival in NY and its director Armando Guareño, an essential part of the cultural landscape of New York City;” whereas, Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez asked the audience to “support the festival because its invaluable contribution to disseminate positively the Dominican culture and the Dominican artists, filmmakers from the Island and those that are away from home.”  Senator Jackson also presented a proclamation to Yvette Marichal, Film Commissioner of the Dominican Republic where he states declared “Ms. Marichal’s contributions to the film industry of the Dominican Republic are invaluable”.

A full house attended the Closing Night Ceremony and Awards Presentation, followed by the New York premiere of La Isla Rota. Producer Luis Arambilet and actors Manny Perez and Algenis Perez were present to lead a Q&A after the screening. Barceló Rum sponsored the Closing Night after Party.

Running July 23-29, 2019, under the slogan "AMATUCINE” (Love your Cinema) DFFNYC screened in five venues across Manhattan with the Cinepolis Chelsea (204 W 23^rd Street) as its main venue and hosted more than 50 actors and filmmakers in town to participate in Q&As and panel discussions. The program included a variety of cinematic genres and formats- and all films were from the Dominican Republic and/or co-produced with countries such as Spain, Mexico, Colombia and the U.S. The festival has continuously offered a platform for members of the Dominican film industry wherein both new and established filmmakers can promote their works to the public, establishing DFFNYC as a premier cultural event for New Yorkers.

For interviews with Armando Guareño and filmmakers contact Diana Vargas at 917-658-7735 / press@dianavargas.com / press.dffny@gmail.com.

ABOUT US

The mission of the Dominican Film Festival in New York is to promote a new generation of Dominican filmmakers together with those already established. DFFNYC strives to strengthen the vital economic, social and cultural relationship of the Dominican Republic with the United States. Its objective is to inform the public of the City of New York about the Dominican cinema and its relationship with the history, politics and social life of this country, through an aesthetic approach. The presentation will showcase a wide artistic creation of the diverse population in the city including a large proportion of Latinos from 21 countries who love cinema.

Organized by Cine Art Entertainment Productions, its roster of sponsors includes Hon. Council member Ydanis Rodriguez, The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Dominican Tourism Board- Ministry of Tourism and the support of, Spectrum, Delta Air Lines, The Hispanic Federation, Dirección General de Cine (DGCINE), The New York Times, Ron Barcelo, Edge Hotel, El Diario La Prensa, Viacom, La Casita de Producciones, Presbyterian Hospital.  

Additional sponsors include Festival de Cine Dominicano, Alta Travel, ARPR, Caribbean Cinemas, Duende Films, AMC Independent, Plus Vodka, Columbia University Medical Care. DFFNYC 2019 media sponsors are: Telemicro, El Especialito, Manhattan Times. Other sponsors are: Agape Luxury Cars, Alta Travels, Papi Wine, Arrow Wines, Tenth Ave NY Tapas Bar Restaurant, Cañave, Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, Catholic Charities, Viacom, And Comisionado Dominicano de Cultura.

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