The Dominican film “Pepe” premieres at the Berlinale
The audiovisual had the support of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo so the university celebrates its premiere, which marks a milestone for Dominican cinema
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Dominican film “Pepe” Had his premier in the 74th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) and will opt for Golden Bear. With the screening of the film, a milestone in the history of national cinema by being the first Creole movie that projects in this prestigious festival which is celebrated in Germany.
During the screening they were present director of the film, Nelson Carlo De los Santos Arias, together to the producers Tanya Valette y Pablo Lozano, professor from Bachelor of Film and Audiovisual Communication of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), who were able to see the public's reaction to the film. They also attended ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Germany, Francisco Caraballo, and of the general director of the General Directorate of Cinema (DGCINE), Marianna Vargas Gurilieva.
Additionally, part of the film's cast and crew joined the celebration, along with international co-producers.
Ambassador Francisco Caraballo expressed his excitement: “This is a historic moment for the Dominican Republic and its cinematography. “We are proud to present to the world this work that reflects the talent and quality that represents us.”
For her part, Marianna Vargas Gurilieva, General Director of the DGCINE commented: “The success of 'Pepe' at the Berlinale is a testament to the talent and dedication of our film team. “We are excited to share, with such a renowned global audience, the quality of Dominican cinema.”
Among them was Carlo Chatrian, director of the Berlinale, who highlighted that the mixture of genres and styles in the film makes it “unclassifiable,” highlighting its versatility and extraordinary commitment.
“Pepe” is a film that promises to captivate audiences with its unique story and its outstanding cast. This exciting event marks the beginning of a successful trajectory for this Dominican production on the global film scene.
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) supported the production of the film which is part of an international co-production with partners in the Dominican Republic, Namibia, France and Germany; It took five years to complete.
The film belongs to the essay film genre and its plot tells the story of a captured hippopotamus (in Africa and brought to America) that represents a metaphor for the construction of the identity of Caribbean and Latin American societies, based on displacements and conflicts. As part of his work methodology, the director de los Santos delves into social settings, relating to communities, in a research process that links him to the academic and anthropological.