| PRESS
ROOM
THE
THIRD ANNUAL DOMINICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS
UP THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL AT SUN VILLAGE RESORT & SPA
Highlights from this
year’s festival include feature screenings of Manny
Perez’s Bella
and Joe Pantoliano’s Canvas, award recipient Dania
Ramirez and Crocs, Inc. philanthropic outreach
Puerto Plata, Dominican
Republic – November 15, 2007 – The Third Annual
Dominican International Film Festival wrapped up four days
of fun, sun and film on Sunday, November 11 after a successful
four-day festival. Guests, filmmakers, film lovers and celebrities
traveled from all over the world to be a part of this unique
beachside film festival held at the luxurious, all-inclusive
Sun Village Resort & Spa in Cofresi Beach, Dominican
Republic.
The festival hosted
four-days of industry film panels, children’s film
workshops, feature screenings, shorts and documentary screenings,
as well as a special Spanish-language program. In total,
the festival featured an array of films from 13 different
countries and in 8 different languages.
The highlights from
this week include:
** Emmy Award-winning
actor Joe Pantoliano attended this year’s festival
for the screening of the critically acclaimed film, Canvas,
starring Pantoliano along side Academy Award-winning actress
Marcia Gay Harden. Pantoliano offered an hour-long Q&A
session about the film which addresses the effects of mental
illness on a suburban family. During the session, Pantoliano
opened up about his own struggle with mental illness, his
experience and the importance of acceptance.
** Dania Ramirez and
Manny Perez were recognized at this year’s festival
for their achievements in film and television as well as
their willingness and commitment to give back to their native
country, the Dominican Republic. Perez was awarded with
the JetBlue Humanitarian Award and shared with the festival
guests about his own experience growing up in the Dominican.
Ramirez graciously accepted the Rising Star Award. This
award was Ramirez’s first award in the Dominican Republic
and she was proud to be receiving it in her home country.
** The Dominican International
Film Festival concentrated on a new philanthropic program
during the past week by partnering with Crocs, Inc, JetBlue
Airways and the Elliott Foundation to distribute 10,000
pairs of recycled Crocs™ to Dominican children in
need of shoes. Manny Perez (Bella, El Cantante), Julissa
Bermudez (BET, Make it Happen, The Wannabe), Jenn Boss (AVP
player) and Jake Gibbs (AVP player) met with the children
and assisted with the distribution of Crocs to the communities
most in need in the Dominican Republic.
** A group of children
from the local community were also invited to the festival
to participate in a children’s film workshop by Directors’
Cut. Manny Perez (Bella, El Cantante), Dania Ramirez (Heroes,
The Sopranos), Jessy Terrero (The Sopranos, Brooklyn to
Manhattan) and Julissa Bermudez (BET, Make It Happen) attended
the children’s workshops and worked with the children
on acting, film making and claymation.
For more information
about the films and special guests of this year’s
festival, please visit www.dominicaninternationalfilmfestival.com.'
About Dominican International
Film Festival:
The Dominican International Film Festival is a young, rapidly
growing festival dedicated to promoting independent filmmaking.
The Festival separates itself from other film festivals
by embracing the Latin American flavor through screenings
of Latin American feature films, promoting renowned Dominican
stars and its dedication to providing live Dominican entertainment.
The 2007 Festival will include a variety of screenings of
some of the year’s top films, panels and workshops
that feature award-winning actors, writers and directors,
VIP parties and live entertainment. This year’s Festival
will also recognize two award recipients in the following
categories: The 2007 Rising Star Award and 2007 Humanitarian
Award. The Dominican International Film Festival is produced
by Elliott, the dynamic parent company of Sun Village Resort
& Spa and the new Maxim Bungalows in the Dominican Republic
and Vincent Partners, a NY-based marketing firm.
Editor’s Note:
High-res images, celebrity items and interviews, film panel
items and interviews and film descriptions are available
upon request by contacting Erin Maxwell, Vincent Partners
Public Relations at erinm@vincentpartners.com
or
212-627-3439 ext. 443.
|