An emotional memorial marked the opening gala of the Santo Domingo Global Film Festival

Santo Domingo. -The Santo Domingo Global Film Festival (FCGSD) kicked off its eighteenth edition with an inaugural gala filled with emotion and solemnity, in which one of the most significant moments was the in memoriam memorial, dedicated to paying tribute to outstanding figures of art and culture who passed away during the last year.

Held in the main hall of the National Theater, the opening ceremony included a special segment in honor of artists of various nationalities whose work left a deep mark on music, cinema, and popular culture. Among the honored figures were the artists Paquita la del Barrio, Rubby Pérez, Félix Cumbe, as well as the cultural manager José Rafael Lantigua, the pioneer of Dominican cinema Agliberto Meléndez, the documentarian René Fortunato, the emblematic singer-songwriter Cheo Zorrilla, among other creators whose memory was evoked before a visibly moved audience. The memorial was accompanied by a musical moment specially conceived for the occasion, performed by Sofia Bracho Gregory Ponciano of the "Grupo Prohibido", becoming one of the most emotional moments of the night. This artistic tribute served as an act of collective remembrance and reaffirmed the festival's commitment to cultural memory, recognition of the artistic legacy and the appreciation of those who have contributed to enrich the cultural heritage of the peoples.

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The opening ceremony also framed the official start of the festival's programming with the world premiere of the film Milly, the Queen of Merengue, directed by Leticia Tonos, and the dedication of this edition to the memory of the writer and former Minister of Culture José Rafael Lantigua, a fundamental figure in Dominican cultural thought. With this memorial, the Santo Domingo Global Film Festival not only opened a new edition, but also reaffirmed its vocation to be a space where cinema dialogues with history, art, and the memory of those who have left an indelible mark on culture.