WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The largest celebration of Dominican cinema outside the nation itself is happening Uptown this week with the Dominican Film Festival in New York.
Now in its fourth year, the festival will showcase more than 50 films by both leaders in the Dominican film industry and emerging talents. The festival runs June 24-28.
This year’s theme, “The Way We Are!” was chosen to highlight the diversity within Dominican culture, the festival’s organizers said.
"With this year's slogan, 'That’s The Way We Are,' we are extremely excited to showcase films from an array of genres and unique voices that prove to be as diverse as Dominican culture," Armando Guareño, the festival’s founder and executive director, said in a statement.
The festival kicks off on June 24 with a red carpet event and showing of “Dólares de Arena.”
Directed by Laura Amelia Guzman and Israel Cárdenas, the film is based on a novel by French writer Jean-Noél Pancrazi. It explores the relationship between a young Dominican woman and a wealthy, older woman who is part of a jet-set crowd. “Dólares de Arena,” translated to "Sand Dollars," has already garnered praise for performances by award-winning actress Geraldine Chaplin and newcomer Yanet Mojica.
Other highlights include the short film program “Dominicans in the Diaspora,” which will showcase films made by local Dominican-Americans and Dominicans living around the world. “Woman in Film,” which will celebrate female filmmakers, is also included in the program.
In addition to panel discussions featuring directors, producers and actors, the festival will also offer two hands-on classes for the first time. A five-day master acting class will be led by well-known Dominican actor Juan Fernandez, while Dominican producer Kendy Yamoreth will hold a two-day production workshop called “How to Make a Movie and not Die Trying.”
The festival closes on June 28 with a showing of “Yo Soy La Salsa: La Vida de Johnny Pacheco," a documentary exploring the life of the legendary Dominican musician.
Screenings will take place at Columbia University Medical Center Alumni Auditorium, the Hall of Fame Theater at the Fort Washington Armory and the Comisionado de Cultura Dominicano en U.S.
Festival passes begin at $40, while admission to single events starts at $12. All foreign language films feature English subtitles.
