What is the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival and who organizes it?
The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) is an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), in the United States, and its sister organization, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), in the Dominican Republic. The environment has been one of the themes at the forefront of the work of GFDD/Funglode since their inception. Their national and international network-building efforts, the discussion of pressing issues and the development of training programs with national experts and prominent international figures culminate in the creation of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival in 2011.
The purpose of DREFF is to motivate the Dominican public to take action to ensure the health and sustainability of the environment; it is intended to raise awareness and to deepen the existing understanding of environmental issues in the country and, at the same time, celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Dominican Republic’s natural heritage.
What can we expect at the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival?
- An interesting program of high quality films that addresses the most pressing environmental issues in an educational and entertaining manner. The agenda includes national and international feature films, short films, documentaries and animated films.
- Discussion panels, workshops and community activities, such as the cleanup of communities or beaches, and excursions to ecotourism-related points of interest, among others.
- Attendance by renowned filmmakers and national and international experts, academics, activists, filmmakers and leaders from the public and private sectors, with whom the audience will be able to interact in order to share good environmental practices and to create innovative solutions that contribute to the country’s sustainable development.
- Screenings around the Dominican Republic.
What is DREFF target audience?
The Film Festival is intended for the general public, from children to adults, of all ages. The programming includes films and activities for all ages.
How much does it cost to watch the films and to participate in the DREFF activities?
All activities of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival are free of charge. More information and the latest news on the DREFF may be found on its website and through the social networks:
www.dreff.org
Twitter: @MuestraCine
Facebook: MuestraCineMedioambiental
#DREFF
How can I join DREFF support team?
Every year, DREFF has a large team of volunteers who support all the activities included in its program. DREFF also has a network of experts that join the Q&A sessions after each screening. For more information and contact, info@dreff.org
How can I support the sustainability of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival
By donating! DREFF receives donations to make the Festival possible every year, and also to expand its scope to reach more people in more cities across the country. Donations may be made online through the GFDD website (www.globalfoundationdd.org ). To obtain more information or for follow up purposes, you may also contact Yamile Eusebio (yamile@dreff.org or call 809-685-9966, ext. 5024).
Why use cinema to foster messages of environmental awareness?
GFDD and Funglode understand that cinema is an efficient and effective method of activism. When we bring the people a message of environmental awareness through feature films, documentaries and short films, as well as animation for a younger audience, we take advantage of the strength of the audiovisual information and increase significantly its impact on the people who receive the message. The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) combines the power of film productions with discussion panels, workshops and community activities, with the intention that all Dominicans who participate receive and use up-to-date knowledge that is of utmost importance for the sustainability of the country and the planet in which we live.
What happens with the Festival during the rest of the year?
Since the inception of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) in 2011, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) has created and developed programs that operate year round and which make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic, as the Year Round Environmental Film Screenings, GFDD Shorts Production, DREFF Blog and DREFF 24/7.
Year Round Environmental Film Screenings complements DREFF’s mission to reach more communities, institutions and individuals around the country with high quality films on critical environmental and sustainable development issues. It organizes film screenings year round with local partners and for diverse audiences, such as parents, children, teenagers, adults, academics and scientists.
www.dominicanscreenings.org
GFDD Short Productions raise awareness about important environmental and socioeconomic challenges, while highlighting best practices and promoting innovative solutions. They also encourage young filmmakers to produce documentaries on environmental issues.
http://documentaries.globalfoundationdd.org
DREFF Blog is a platform for the exchange of opinions on issues related to the environment and sustainable socio-economic development that stimulates both individual and community actions within this field. Containing articles and photo reports by national and international experts, the DREFF Blog raises awareness about our planet and offers practical advice on addressing today’s environmental challenges and finding solutions.
Also, DREFF created DREFF 24/7, the online platform to enjoy environmental films that were part of past editions of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) and others that complement and enrich the program, at home or from any mobile equipment. DREFF 24/7 is DREFF à la carte, anytime, anywhere!
https://dreff.org/dreff247/
