The Dominican Republic is about to make its mark in the Latin American film industry, as two films, “Tíguere”, directed and produced by José María Cabral, along with “Pepe, la Imaginación en el Tercer Cine”, directed by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias and produced by Tanya Valette and Pablo Lozano, have been selected to participate in the prestigious “Final Copy” section of Latin America’s most important audiovisual content market, Ventana Sur.
This event will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from November 27 to December 1, 2023.
This achievement marks the first time that two Dominican feature films are part of this outstanding section, which focuses on recently completed films, with no previous premieres in or outside their countries of production and in search of opportunities with sales agents, distributors and international festival programmers.
The selection of these films was carried out through a rigorous evaluation process headed by the jury chaired by Eva Morch-Kihn, who selected only 6 films out of a total of 179, two of them Dominican. It is worth noting that in 2016 the film “Carpinteros” by José María Cabral, was also selected in this section, which led to important achievements within the framework of Ventana Sur, including its acquisition by Film Factory Entertainment.
The delegation representing the Dominican Republic at Ventana Sur will be headed by Marianna Vargas Gurilieva, director general of the General Directorate of Cinema (DGCINE), who will promote the country as a co-production partner and filming destination. Lía Báez, in charge of International Relations at the DGCINE, will also play a crucial role in this prominent Dominican presence.
To fulfill this purpose, the Directorate General of Cinema will have an institutional presence to promote co-production rounds, participate in panels and will be accompanying the Dominican talents who will be competing.
“As the Dominican film industry, we are extremely excited about this important milestone, in which a third of the films in this section are Dominican, which demonstrates the solidity and maturity that our projects are acquiring,” said Marianna Vargas Gurilieva, with enthusiasm for this achievement.
Vargas Gurilieva also emphasized the institution’s ongoing commitment to support projects such as “Pepe,” winner of the Fonprocine Public Competition in the categories of Project Development in 2020 and Fiction Feature Film Production in 2021, in addition to receiving funds from Ibermedia in 2020, of which the Dominican Republic is a member. He also mentioned that “Tíguere”, served as a pilot for DGCINE’s “Mi Primer Empleo en Cine” program, a successful initiative that facilitates the training and integration of young filmmakers into the national film industry.
The Dominican delegation at Ventana Sur will also include filmmakers Jeremy García, Fabiola Rosso and Joery Santos, who will participate in the “Animation!” section, an exclusive space for animation projects that aims to promote the region’s professionals, foster strategic alliances and promote local talent in other markets.
Collaboration with national airline Arajet
Arajet airline demonstrates its commitment to national cinema by providing valuable support to the Dominican delegation at Ventana Sur. This collaboration translates into a fundamental support for the presence and promotion of Dominican filmmaking in the international arena. Arajet has become a strategic ally in the promotion of Dominican film culture, contributing to the success and dissemination of local productions at this outstanding film event.
The Dominican delegation will board a flight on Arajet’s new route connecting Santo Domingo with Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ventana Sur, Latin American Film Market
Ventana Sur, Latin American Film Market, is a major event organized by the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (Incaa) and the Marché du Film, Cannes Film Festival. Every year, it brings together more than 3,000 film industry professionals and has become a must-attend event for distributors and buyers seeking to promote the co-production, financing and international distribution of Latin American content.
Through its various sections, conferences, screenings and services, Ventana Sur stands out for promoting Latin American content of all formats and genres, providing countless business and promotional opportunities unique in the region. This event represents an invaluable showcase for the Dominican Republic’s outstanding cinematography and the potential for collaboration with the international film community.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
