Dominican Film Festival In NYC

2024 PROGRAM

OPENING NIGHT

LA GRANDE / THE GREAT

Tito Rodríguez

Director

After more than a decade being hailed by her people as deserving of the most important award in the country, finally, in 2016, the first female merengue singer in the Dominican Republic received the Soberano award. Just before hearing her name, Fefita La Grande closes her eyes and together with her we experience episodes of her life that we did not know until now, showing us the woman behind the artist. 

UNITED PALACE

4140 Broadway NY, NY 10033

Wednesday 11/6

8:00 PM

CLOSING NIGHT

FREDDY

Giancarlo Beras-Goico

Director

The life of Dominican comedian, writer, TV producer and philanthropist Freddy Beras-Goico.

AARON DAVIS HALL, CITY COLLEGE

129 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10027 United States

Wednesday 11/13

8:00 PM

FEATURE FILM OFFICIAL COMPETITION

CANTA Y NO LLORES

Felix Sabroso

Director

A family of women composed of Pepa, the matriarch (Consuelo Duval), Beli, the artist (Michelle Rodríguez), and her daughter Lucía (Patricia Maqueo), live alongside Toni (Paco Rueda), Pepa’s son and Beli’s half-brother. The family runs a taco food truck to make a living, where they cook up artistic aspirations and everyday frustrations.

QUAD CINEMA

34 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 United States

Thursday 11/7

8:30 PM

CONVIVENCIA / COEXISTENCE

José Gomez de Vargas

Director

After the assassination of a resident of an old condo, an extensive investigation holds a group of seven tenants in an interrogation room, all of them suspects of committing the crime.

 

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Monday 11/11

6:30 PM

CUANDO TE TOCA

Rene Bueno

Director

It’s a romantic comedy that highlights the complexities of establishing a romantic relationship in times where the conveniences of technology make love and commitment seem completely outdated and relative concepts.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

6:00 PM

DANNY 45

Gilbert De La Rosa

Director

Based on true events, the story presents a narrative about the events of a period of terror in the most dangerous prison in the Dominican Republic carried out by “DANNY 45” and the events that led him to become the most feared inmate of “La Victoria Prison” in the mid 90’s, imposing terror in this penitentiary.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Monday 11/9

7:40 PM

EL DÍA DE LA TORMENTA / THE DAY OF THE STORM

Alexander Viola

Director

Macario believes his daughter is the witch responsible for the death of children in the town. He takes refuge in the mountains to face the terrors of his destiny filled with Afro-Caribbean mysticism.

QUAD CINEMA

34 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 United States

Sunday 11/10

4:00 PM

EL TRAYECTO

Francisco Valdez

Director

“El Trayecto” is a charming coming-of-age comedy set in the Dominican Republic, following four friends—Yasser, Camila, Karina, and Richarson—on a laughter-filled trek through the beautiful yet challenging Samaná terrain. Unforeseen revelations, including Karina and Richarson’s private struggle with fertility, add depth to their journey, turning it into a heartfelt exploration of friendship and self-discovery. In “El Trayecto,” the path to adulthood is paved with laughter, tears, and enduring bonds.

QUAD CINEMA

34 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 United States

Saturday 11/9

4:30 PM

INSULAR

Héctor Valdez

Director

Insular follows the sole survivor of an illegal yola (boat) going from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. As time passes, the castaway learns to cope with his isolation by surviving with what the island provides. But his sanity is tested, and the lines of reality increasingly blur. An unexpected turn makes him question his initial reason for leaving.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Saturday 11 /10

8:30 PM

LA BACHATA DE BIONICO / BIONIC’S BACHATA

Yoel Morales

Director

A raw vision of love in a hostile Caribbean city, Bionico’s Bachata follows a hopeless romantic, addicted to crack, who must take control of his life if he wants to marry the woman he loves.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

6:30 PM

LA CIGÜEÑA

Alejandro Andújar

Director

After her mother’s death, Leila agrees to become a surrogate for the mysterious Inés & her husband Daniel. But under the watchful eyes of Inés & her employee Grace, Leila’s pregnancy turns into a prison filled with secrets & extremism. For each of them, the path to motherhood will look more like a trap than a blessing.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11 /10

8:00 PM

LA ESTRATEGIA DEL MERO / THE FISHERMAN’S DAUGHTER

Edgar de Luque Jácome

Director

​​Samuel, the last freediving fisherman of grouper, lives isolated on an island. One day, he unexpectedly receives a visit from his son, now called Priscila, a transgender prostitute looking for a place to hide. He allows her to stay despite his constant rejection. The area’s fishermen observe everything with strangeness and one of them extorts Priscila because he knows why she’s hiding. After suffering an accident, Samuel must accept the care of his daughter, and this brings them closer together. They take the opportunity to dive together in life to heal a broken past and to accept each other in the depth of the sea; like groupers, who can change sex when they reach maturity.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11 /9

8:30 PM

LA HEMBRITA / BABYGIRL

Laura Amelia Guzmán

Director

From her empty nest in Santo Domingo, Dominique is waiting for her first grandchild to be born abroad, and she eagerly expects a baby girl. When Carmen, her live-in maid, vanishes without a warning and leaves behind her 7-year-old granddaughter, Dominique takes the girl in. As she deals with pushback from her family, Dominique finds herself challenging her own priorities.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Monday 11 /11

8:30 PM

LA TERCERA EDAD

Archie López

Director

Two friends in their senior years make a life-changing decision: enrolling in university. Their intention is to embark on new adventures, meet new loves, and, of course, have more fun… What could possibly go wrong?

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11 /8

8:30 PM

DOCUMENTARY FILM OFFICIAL COMPETITION

AQUÍ ESTAMOS / HERE WE ARE

Violeta Lockhart

Director

A group of young activists challenge the status quo through a citizen candidacy and win a deputation with less than 10% of what their opponents invest. Now, from inside and outside Congress, they will try to replicate the strategy to involve more people in the defense of democracy, human rights and the environment, and thus occupy the spaces of power where they face a conservative majority.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Monday 11/9

5:30 PM

CONSUELO

Fernando Santos Díaz

Director

“Consuelo” follows Sister Leonor Gibbs, the only surviving nun, who, aided by a group of dedicated teachers, continues her daily fight to prevent the loss of the values that made this municipality a model for personal, community, and national transformation.

 

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

6:30 PM

EL FOTÓGRAFO DE LA 40 / THE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE 40

Erika Santelices y Orlando Barría

Directores

It reveals the story of photographer Pedro Aníbal Fuentes Berg, who was sent to take images at the clandestine prison La 40, a torture center created during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961) in the Dominican Republic. Fuentes Berg feels an inevitable commitment to spread these images internationally to expose the horrors experienced by the regime’s opponents inside the prison, and he decides to publish them so they can be known. Some of these photographs became iconic representations of the brutality of Trujillo’s dictatorship.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/10

6:00 PM

FÚTBOL DESDE EL CORAZÓN / FOOTBALL FROM THE HEART

Nelson González

Director

With Football from the heart, we are going to tell the story and the impact of soccer on the Dominican sports class, the impact of a club on the lives of all its players, humble boys who have found on a field the way out that previously eluded them. . We will see the international journey of Dominican soccer, we will ask ourselves if we will ever be a World Cup country and we will look for the answers to this and other questions. Football from the heart is a comprehensive work on soccer in the Dominican Republic, soccer in Santiago, and soccer in Cibao.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

4:30 PM

YAQUE

Oliver Olivo

Director

The film tells the story of the people who live along the Yaque del Norte, the longest and most important river in the Dominican Republic, and how that flow of water plays a fundamental role in their lives.

ALIANZA DOMINICANA CULTURAL CENTER

530 West 166th Street New York, NY 10032 United States

Saturday 11/9

4:00 PM

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

3:30 PM

DOMINICAN IN THE DIASPORA: FEATURE FILM OFFICIAL COMPETITION

1.5 MILLION

Gregory Hernández

Director

“1.5 Million” explores the literacy crisis in the South Bronx’s District 7, driven by a lack of libraries, bookstores, and education investment. Stereotypes and poverty worsen the issue, with 70% of third graders unable to read at grade level and only 56% of high school graduates being college-ready. The area has the nation’s poorest congressional district and high  unemployment.

 

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Saturday 11/9

3:30 PM

MANGÚ AQUÍ 2

Luke Bond

Director

In “Mangú Aquí 2,” we’re back on the streets of New York City with Roberto in his teenage years. This sequel takes us deeper into his world, mixing the raw, real-life moments with those of laughter and love. It’s more than just a follow-up; it’s a dive into the rich culture and tight-knit family dynamics of his community.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Saturday 11/9

1:00 PM

RETRATOS DE REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA

Daihoro Peguero Moscoso

Director

This captivating documentary journeys through the heart of the Dominican Republic as five passionate individuals share their unique crafts and stories. From the rhythmic flow of fishing the island’s coasts to the art of meat preparation, from skilled craftsmanship to the vibrant world of aviculture, and finally to the rich flavors of Dominican cuisine, each person offers a glimpse into the cultural tapestry that defines their homeland. Through their eyes, we explore the deep connection between tradition, identity, and the spirit of a nation.

QUAD CINEMA

34 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 United States

Thursday 11/7

4:30 PM

SOMETHING OF VALUE

Yaniel Paulino

Director

When the pressures of being a senior in high school gets to be too much, Manuel “Manny” Reyes, begins to rebel against his parents, consequently falling into the wrong crowd aligning himself with the neighborhood gang who are responsible for a string of robberies, selling drugs, and heavy partying.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

9:30 PM

TAMBIÉN SE MIGRA POR SER

Miguel Oniel

Director

Benny, Ektor, Yorky, Gian, Josué and Emmanuel, are only 6 Dominican migrants out of the millions around the world. They live in different latitudes of the globe, however, they are united by the reason they left their country. How does current legislation affect the Dominican LGTBIQ+ community? Is there homophobia and discrimination in the DR? Is leaving the country the only viable option to live a dignified life?

QUAD CINEMA

34 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011 United States

Sunday 11/10

2:30 PM

SHORT FILM BIG STORY

EBANDELI

Melvin Báez

Director

Patricia Valerio

Directora

In 1965, in a small village in Damajagua, Jánico, a young woman finds herself caught between her spiritual heritage and her family’s expectations. While her grandfather performs a ritual to ease her afflictions, she is visited by an enigmatic figure, Santa Marta Negra, who represents the hidden, African part of her lineage. Her curiosity drives her to uncover the secrets her family has kept, despite her mother’s warnings. In her quest to understand who she is and where she comes from, she discovers that the key to her healing lies in fully embracing her spiritual and cultural identity.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

12:30 PM

AZUL

Rebecca Dalmasí

Director

Adrián, a teenager grappling with the recent death of his father, is placed in the company of his blind cousin, Ángel. Though they initially clash due to their lack of understanding, they manage to forge an unexpected friendship. This bond will be tested when Adrián is faced with a choice between what he has lost and what still remains.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

12:30 PM

VOYEUR

Franchelle Marie Ulloa

Director

In a surreal world where the boundaries between reality and perception blur, a Woman struggles to navigate a life where freedom seems like an illusion. As she goes about her daily routines, her internal conflict deepens, all while pretending she is not catering to male fantasies. She imagines herself unseen, believing she has a life of her own, unaware that every move is orchestrated by the pervasive presence of the Man in her mind. 

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

12:30 PM

ANTHOLOGY OF THE NATURAL STATE (STAINED)

Inés de los Santos

Director

Locked in her room, a young woman faces the ghosts that make her relive the sexual abuse she was a victim of during a party by a schoolmate.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

12:30 PM

UN ADIÓS PARA LILÍ

Lorena Durán

Director

When an electrical job goes wrong, a cynical electrician must accept help from a caring spirit to bury the evidence of a fatal accident

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Saturday 11/9

12:30 PM

LA SUERTE

Victor E Stamers

Director

Willian, a writer in his fifties, celebrates his birthday while facing a terminal diagnosis that will change his life forever. Encouraged by his wife, Digna, he decides to write a story inspired by their relationship, shifting from his usual dark themes to something more personal and romantic. As he works on this final story, he receives a devastating update on his condition, leaving him only a few months to live. Together, Willian and Digna navigate this painful reality, finding solace in love and shared memories, as he leaves his legacy in her hands, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

¿QUÉ IMPORTA ESA M*****?

Isaac Morantus

Director

After a disastrous first impression introducing Miguel, her boyfriend, Brenda, in a desperate attempt to sleep with him, convinces him to stay over at her house that same night without her parents finding out. Everything goes smoothly until a conveniently timed stomach ache forces Miguel to use the only bathroom available, right next to Brenda’s parents’ bedroom.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

BAÑO DE SANGRE

Jensson Cruz

Director

Two people wake up in a bathroom, trying to understand what happened to them in what appears to be their last minutes of life.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

BESTIA

Elian Abreu

Director

Man is constantly confronted by the one eyed beast. When peeking through the hole in his box, he discovers a truth that transforms his life. Every time the beast observes him and the darkness approaches his box, he becomes an embarrassed being.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

MISTERIO OCULTO / HIDDEN MYSTERY

Jhon E. Díaz

Director

Alicia, a young woman of 28 years old, with mulatto skin, curly black hair, and brown eyes, is a journalist who lives in the town of Bonao, a small countryside in the Dominican Republic, where she is looking for a story for the media outlet she works for. And she finds herself involved in a great mystery that could cost her her life.’

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

JOSELO

Josías Domínguez

Director

Joselo Contreras is a young man in a wheelchair who lives in extreme poverty on the Dominican-Haitian border. Despite his challenges, he has chosen to dedicate his time to training the children in his community, inspiring them to pursue their dreams of becoming football players. His passion and determination not only teach them sports skills but also convey the importance of perseverance and hope.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

MAREA

Adrian Díaz

Director

While Alondra is doing laundry at home, her friend Nataly arrives with news that will forever dirty their lives and those of half a dozen other people.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

LIMPIA BOTAS

Yen Romero

Director

Julio, a prodigious shoeshiner and passionate rapper, fights tirelessly to earn enough and keep his family afloat. Desperate, he clings to the last chance he has, one that can completely change his life. Will Julio overcome his dreams, or will he succumb under the pressure of adversity?

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

LA NAGUERA

Luis Camilo

Director

La Naguera is yet another victim of poverty, lack of access to education, and a dysfunctional family.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

RELOJ ANTIGUO

Yorjina Moran

Director

A poem from the book ONE AT A TIME by the writer Yorjina Moran. A conversation between life and death, a mother stops death in order to save her son, causing an unusual debate between them.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Friday 11/8

2:30 PM

DOMINICAN IN THE DIASPORA: SHORT FILM

VASTI: EASY PREY

David Pollock

Director

Two young women face danger on the way home at night when targeted by thugs, and their only hope to escape is in one of them revealing an unbelievable secret.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

IN FOUR YEARS

Hedi B. Asencio

Director

A man, Jesus Armando Cruz, reflects on a special bond he shares with his uncle Jonny and the game of soccer.  After the passing of a family member, he makes a promise to fulfill his uncle’s last wish of attending a World Cup final.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

A NIGHT IN THE HEIGHTS

Henlee De Jesús

Director

What was supposed to be a quiet night turns into a chaotic quest through Washington Heights to find the girl of his dreams, all because he might have heard her say his name in the background of a social media post.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

DARK ROAST

Mark Marquez

Director

Sinopsis A small Queer/Trans-BIPOC café, built by and for the community, faces off against a monstrous franchise, leaving the baristas to fight for their space… by any means necessary.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

FIRST THING I'M BUYING

Isaac Morantus

Director

Leo and Yulissa, a Dominican couple, won 511 million dollars in the New York lottery. Their lives change, but not as they expected, once they realize they lost the winning ticket because they are the most toxic couple ever.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

THE REAL AMERICAN DREAM

Rita Damirón

Director

Isabella Bretón

Director

While many leave their homeland to pursue the American dream, this artistic short film takes us through a brief conversation between two sisters separated by the Atlantic where one shares her personal American Dream.

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA

2537 Broadway at 95th St. New York, NY 10025

Sunday 11/10

1:00 PM

AQUÍ Y ALLÁ

Isabella Bretón

Director

Through a conversation with photographer Winston Vargas, we explore the evolution of the Dominican community that migrated from one island to another. We witness through his gaze the peculiar experience of the diaspora in Washington Heights, but most importantly the effect of the community on its new environment. Apart from addressing Dominican identity, Winston confronts the difficulties of adapting, their resilience and the value of documenting and visually expressing their presence over the years.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

B FOR BACHATA

Ricky Rosario

Director

A young Dominican-American learns to dance Bachata at a family BBQ, where he discovers a long-lost family secret.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

SOUL TIE

Maegan La Trese Philmore

Director

Melrisa, a middle-aged Afro-Latina with a successful political podcast, finds herself seeking companionship during the Covid lockdown in Los Angeles. She rekindles a date with an old boyfriend, Saeed, a middle-aged African American who had previously cheated on her. Melrisa and Saeed form a mature, intimate, and temporary bond despite being in a world that grows increasingly dystopian and isolated as the days go by.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

FLOWER OF MAY

Airham Almonte

Director

In “Flor de Mayo,” Jocelyn tenderly cares for her mother, Francia, battling advanced Alzheimer’s. As Francia’s illness worsens, Jocelyn’s devotion is tested, revealing the profound bonds of love amidst the complexities of Alzheimer’s.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

THE FOURTH

Johnny Kirk

Director

Eager to celebrate the 4th of July, Rey and his friends experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.



QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

SHE SPRANG OUT RED

Ana Reyes Cid

Director

An exploration of substantial transformation through the embodiment of monstrous feminine narratives in cross-cultural and Caribbean imaginaries and dialogues between movement and design

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

ATRAPADA

Wigner Duarte

Director

After waking up a woman discovers that she has been kidnapped by a mysterious man.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/09

2:30 PM

DOMINICAN CLASSIC

LA FIESTA DEL CHIVO

Luis Llosa

Director

Two young women face danger on the way home at night when targeted by thugs, and their only hope to escape is in one of them revealing an unbelievable secret.

 

ALIANZA DOMINICANA

530 W 166th St, New York, NY 10032

Sunday 11/10

7:00 PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

DUEÑOS DEL TIEMPO

Luis Llosa

Director

Two young women face danger on the way home at night when targeted by thugs, and their only hope to escape is in one of them revealing an unbelievable secret.

 

ALIANZA DOMINICANA

530 W 166th St, New York, NY 10032

Sunday 11/09

2:00 PM

SIEMPRE, LUIS

John Antonio James

Director

An immigrant from Puerto Rico is determined to bring the musical ‘Hamilton’ to his island home.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/07

6:30 PM

WIFREDO, EL LEGADO DE UN GENIO DEL LENTE / WIFREDO, THE LEGACY OF A GENIUS WITH A LENS

José R. Soto Jiménez

Director

This feature-length documentary narrates the life, work and significance of Wifredo Garcia, who is the father of contemporary Dominican photography.

QUAD CINEMA

34 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

Sunday 11/10

2:30 PM