Team members of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) were present last night at the opening of Planet in Focus Film Festival, which is taking place in Toronto until this coming Sunday.

Canada’s leading environmental film festival, and the first of its kind in the world, this year marks its fifteenth anniversary with a full schedule of film screenings and events for the industry, as well as activities aimed at primary and secondary school students.

Last night, the TIFF Bell Lightbox hosted the opening gala during which, in addition to screening the film Monsoon, by Sturla Gunnsson, tribute was paid to renowned Canadian documentary film Director Alanis Obomsawain.

Today, Planet in Focus celebrates the Industry Day at Toronto’s City Council, in which DREFF will be present.

This event is organized by Canadian filmmaker Mark Terry, who is a friend and collaborator of DREFF and has presented films in its past editions.

Planet in Focus is an environmental organization dedicated to the visual arts with programming throughout the year. Its mission is to “produce, promote and disseminate artistically made films and videos that explore and tell stories about the world in which we live.”

The Festival, which is ongoing until Sunday, November 9th, presents and promotes environmental films and videos in all genres: documentary, animation, experimental, short films and drama, by Canadian and international filmmakers.

According to the organizers, its objective is to enlighten, engage and entertain people from all backgrounds through film.

In turn, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) aims to raise awareness among the Dominican public and to deepen its understanding of current environmental issues. DREFF is also dedicated to celebrating the natural beauty and diversity of the Dominican Republic, as well as providing information and proposals that contribute to their appreciation and to promote their conservation and sustainable use.

The DREFF team, which will celebrate its fifth edition on September 8th through the 13th, 2015, works throughout the year to bring to the Dominican Republic the best films during each of its editions and to create networks with members of the industry from all over the world and, thus, serve as a catalyst for the creation of projects and programs that promote good practices in the area of the environment, resulting from the interaction between youth and the general public with teachers.

Related Link: http://planetinfocus.org/

GFDD-Funglode’s short film "Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience" will be screened this Friday, November 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival, taking place this week at St. Petersburg, Florida. The film, a finalist in the category of Foreign Language Film, was directed by Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of GFDD.

Ms. Despotovic and Ms. Semiramis De Miranda, GFDD executives, are participating at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Summit 2014, which is an event celebrated every two years where ocean leaders, filmmakers, photographers, scientists, explorers, entertainment executives and the general public gather to honor the best in ocean filmmaking. Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) actively aims on fostering progress, collaboration and exchange related to sustainable development and democracy in the Western Hemisphere, and so participating in summits, forums, festivals and discussions on these topics and to collaborate creating awareness at all levels, is part of the Foundation’s institutional mission.

More information: www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), announced the film Bears has been this year’s “Audience Award 2014” winner, recognition given by the public that attended the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), held on September 10 to 14, 2014 in the Dominican Republic.

The selection process was conducted by the viewers who attended the screenings during the DREFF, who rated the movies on a ballot distributed in each presentation. A jury was in charge of counting the votes at the end. The audience chose the best film among the 37 presented at the DREFF 2014, where 16 feature films, 8 short films, 6 Dominican productions, 5 GFDD productions and 2 retrospectives were screened.

Bears, directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill and produce by Disneynature, is an epic story on a breathtaking scale. Showcasing a year in the life of a bear family — mother Sky teaches her two impressionable cubs, Amber and Scout, about life’s most important lessons. Emerging from hibernation, the three face the bitter cold and an exciting but very risky outside world.

For more information and to watch the trailer, you can visit http://www.dreff.org/2014/bears/?lang=en

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) production Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experiencehas been chosen as official selection at the ENFOQUE International Film Festival, to be celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico from 13 -15, November 2014.

The GFDD production, directed by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Natasha Despotovic, had received more than 12 awards since its official launch during the 3rd edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF). The film shows in detail how recycling has become an important economic opportunity for Dominicans. Through various business and educational projects the viewer notes that besides the obvious benefit to the environment, recycling allows economic development through the creation of new businesses and industries. A short film that inspires, moves and calls for action.

ENFOQUE is an international film festival that presents some of the greatest new works by emerging filmmakers. The themes for the festival are family, social interest and values.
The Festival is designed to attract film enthusiasts within and outside Puerto Rico, as well as families and individuals interested in seeing visual productions and work with moral values and different perspectives on current social problems.

For more information visit http://garbage.dreff.org | www.dreff.org orwww.enfoquefilm.com

Team members of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival will participate in Toronto’s Planet in Focus film festival

Washington, October 10^th, 2014

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is already warming up to carry out its next edition, which is scheduled to be held on September 8^th to the 13^th, 2015, in various cities of the Dominican Republic. In this regard, several DREFF team members will attend as guests the Planet in Focus environmental film festival next November in Toronto (Canada), which this year will celebrate its fifteenth edition.

Planet in Focus is an environmental organization dedicated to audiovisual art. It has programming throughout the year and its mission is “to produce, promote and disseminate artistically made ​​films and videos that explore and tell stories about the world in which we live.”

The Festival, which this year will be held from November 6^th to 9^th, exhibits and promotes environmental films and videos of all genres: documentary, animation, experimental, short films and drama of Canadian and international filmmakers.

According to the organizers, its objective is to enlighten, engage and entertain audiences of all backgrounds through film.

DREFF

In turn, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) aims to raise awareness among Dominican audiences and to deepen their understanding of today’s environmental issues. DREFF is also dedicated to celebrate the beauty and natural diversity of the Dominican Republic, as well as to provide information and proposals that contribute to its appreciation and which promote its conservation and sustainable use.

The most recent edition of the DREFF, which took place between September 10^th and September 14^th of this year, was held in 10 cities throughout the Dominican Republic and in more than 20 locations, and it screened 37 films from around the world. With a total of 80 screenings -50 of which were aimed at students of all ages- DREFF brought together filmmakers and experts from all over the world for five days to attend the screenings and to participate in panels, workshops and discussions about the latest trends in films and technology, the environment and sustainable development.

The DREFF team, which will hold its fifth edition on September 8^th to the 13^th, 2015, works throughout the year to bring to the Dominican Republic the best films during each of its editions and to create networks with members of the industry worldwide with a view to serving as a catalyst for the creation of projects and programs that promote good practices in the area of ​​the environment, and which result from the interaction of young people and the general public with teachers.

Related links:
http://www.planetinfocus.org/

In appreciation of the valuable work carried out during the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), which was held in 10 cities across the country from September 10-14, 2014, GFDD-FUNGLODE hosted a party to the youth who participated as volunteers.

Over Dominican 50 volunteers contributed to the success of the DREFF, serving as hostesses of national and international guests as well as during the screenings and special events held in during the Film Festival. To GFDD-FUNGLODE, the work of these young volunteers was vital to the success of the DREFF.

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) production Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience, as well as Primeros Pasos, 1st place winner in the second edition of Globo Verde Dominicano Award, has been selected as finalists in the 2014 edition of ECOFILM Festival.

The GFDD production, directed by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Natasha Despotovic, had received more than 10 awards since its official launch during the 3^rd edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF). The film shows in detail how recycling has become an important economic opportunity for Dominicans. Through various business and educational projects the viewer notes that besides the obvious benefit to the environment, recycling allows economic development through the creation of new businesses and industries. A short film that inspires, moves and calls for action.

Meanwhile, Primeros Pasos is a short film directed by Sebastián Cabrera, which was awarded the 1st Place of the second edition of the Globo Verde Dominicano Award, an initiative of GFDD which recognizes the best short films and public service announcement in the area of ​​environmental and sustainable development.

ECOFILM is an International Environmental Short Film Festival, held annually in Mexico.  It responds to the need to raise awareness on environmental topics, promoting audiovisual production and ecological culture with solutions that balance human beings in interaction with their environment.  This year’s theme was Solid Waste.

For more information visit

http://garbage.dreff.org

www.dreff.org

http://www.globoverdedominicano.org/

http://ecofilmfestival.org/

“Movies and documentaries in defense of animals represent a new form of activism, and improve the way to educate people,” so said the renowned international activist and star of the documentary The Cove Rick O’Barry, during the workshop “the Cinema as a means of activism.”

The workshop was held last Sunday 14, as part of the activities of the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) .

The environmental activist said that through making documentaries and films about environmental issues and animal rights today, people are more aware of the problems that arise in this world. “In the past you had to tell journalists the problem, but now they go to the interview with a base about the problem and ask about possible solutions.”

The creator of the Dolphin Project (www.dolphinproject.org) urged young filmmakers interested in the environment, “to use the medium to create awareness.” Alisson Argo, a leading environmental film director, discussed her beginnings in this type of production. “I went from being a Broadway actress to a film production company in defense of animals after learning the plight of a Gorilla, and made my first film.”

The winner of six Emmy Awards said that movies about animal rights ” do make a difference”, as many people know about the situation of these living beings and can help improve their situation. Argo said that when making a documentary, you should “tell the story, show the facts and let people draw their own conclusions.”

Meanwhile Stefanie Brendl, co-producer of Extinction Soup said that movies are a powerful tool, even to change laws and impact the population. Brendl cited as an example the film she co-directed, with which they could make the trade of shark fins in Hawaii eliminated, and the negative perception that people have about this animal was changed.

The environmental activist advised young filmmakers who want to make environmental films to “be well honest, surround yourself with experts in the field in which you want to make your movie, and create a human emotion to make the public be interested in what is happening.”

For three days the Biblioteca Infantil y Juvenil República Dominicana in Santo Domingo became the ideal setting for a great mission: giving voice to the voiceless and show younger Dominicans riches that mother Earth gives us and how to care for them and promote the messages of awareness about the environment. This is the mission that for four years the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo(FUNGLODE) expressed through the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), which this year celebrated its fourth edition from 10 to 14 September in 10 cities across the country.

The library hosted a total of 5 projections, attended by over 700 students from different primary and secondary schools of the capital, including República de Chile, Domínico-Americano, San Martín de Porres, Cuie-UTESA, EvangélicoCentral, República de Honduras, Evangélico Misionero, and República de Colombia y Jacagua.

The Dominican documentary Cordillera Central: Oasis del Caribe and international films Cotorra: Una historia secreta; Field Chronicals: Chinganza – The Water`s Journey and Bears, as well as a program of animated shorts about various environmental issues were received by the young Dominican public with great enthusiasm.

“The DREFF’s clear message with these films is: that we must change the way of life as a society because we are endangering the natural resources for generations to come,” said the director of the library, Ms. Dulce Elvira.

After each screening, the students had the opportunity to talk with the directors of the films and national and international experts on the most pressing environmental issues. The director of the film Cotorra: Una historia secreta, the American Allison Argo; Director of Cordillera Central: Oasis del Caribe, the Dominican Máximo José Rodríguez; The directors of El agua de la Tierra, Mexicans Emma and Pedro Lopez Narvaez and national experts José Rafael Almonte, professor at theUniversidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo; Simon Guerrero, a biologist and professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana, and Nelson Marcano Garcia, the Deputy Minister of Protected Areas, among others, held lively discussions with students.

Argo said she “felt the need to talk to the parrots, intelligent birds but have no voice in humans” and are in danger due to their captivity. The environmentalist invited the young people to protect these birds, which are unique and intelligent animals.

For his part Rodríguez, speaking of his film, emphasized, “The Cordillera Central is the life of the Dominican Republic. You, the students, are the heirs and, especially, their children. My message is to care for our planet, our home. “

Meanwhile Emma López, co-director of El agua de la tierra said, “It is very gratifying to see that our voice is being heard. If we all contribute we will maintain the balance that by nature, the Earth itself generates. “

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), organizer of the DREFF, aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of environmental problems worldwide among the Dominican public. In DREFF, GFDD also promotes and even celebrates the beauty and diversity of the natural heritage of the Dominican Republic, offering an insight into the attitudes and actions that ultimately contribute to its appreciation, conservation and sustainable use.

To see all that has happened in this year’s DREFF visit www.dreff.org. Join the conversation on sustainable development promoted by followingGFDDorg GFDD andMuestraCine on Twitter, using #RDsostenible and #DREFF hashtags.

Before an auditorium filled to capacity the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), held the closing ceremony in the theater FUNGLODE.

The ceremony began with a review video of everything that happened during the past five days. In his welcoming Mrs. Natasha Despotovic, GFDD Executive Director, thanked all filmmakers, organizers, partners, sponsors, students and the general public who took part in special activities and film screenings during this year’s DREFF. “I think this event has been very productive. It has been an experience of work and contribution for the country and the world, ” said Despotovic.
A surprise during the ceremony was the presentation of short films Aqua and Casi Cero, productions by students of Colegio Loyola, which were also screened at the Loyola Film Festival, organized by art teacher Wendy Kellys. Ms. Natasha Despotovic also took the opportunity to invite Emy Rodriguez, Environmental Specialist of GFDD and DREFF filmmakers’ coordinator, to the podium. After seven years of collaboration with the Foundation, Rodriguez will be retiring to pursue doctoral studies to become a marine biologist. Subsequently, the Executive Director gave way to the premiere presentation of the film … Prelude Lake Enriquillo climate change, Dominican director Fernando Báez, outstanding professional filmmaking in the Dominican Republic and President of Unicorn Films.

The film is about the history and evolution of the largest lake in the Antilles. A thorough investigation of the rising of the water level, commented by professionals who have studied the lake for years. How the flood has affected its inhabitants. As has captured the attention of the scientific community in the world for being considered a window to the world that shows the consequences of climate change.

National and international experts on environmental issues participated in the activity, such as as Omar Ramirez, Executive Vice President of the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism; Idelisa Bonelly de Calventi, a renowned legend in development of marine science in the Dominican Republic; and Sixto Incháustegui, Dominican biologist and consultant on international environmental issues; among others. At the end of the film presentation, a question and answer session was held with the participation of Don Sixto Incháustegui and Fernando Báez.

During the DREFF, GFDD also promotes and celebrates the beauty and diversity of the natural heritage of the Dominican Republic, offering an insight into the attitudes and actions that ultimately contribute to its appreciation, conservation and sustainable use. In this IV edition of the DREFF more than 30 short films were screened and over 20 national and international guests attended special activities, as well as offering workshops and lectures on topics related to the environment.

For more details you can visit the DREFF www.dreff.org. Join the conversation on sustainable development promoted by followingGFDDorg GFDD andMuestraCine on Twitter, using the hashtags #RDsostenible and #DREFF.