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Two Dominican premieres in the official selection
In the official billboard of the FICG 2025, two Dominican premieres represent the country with powerful and visually ambitious proposals:
“Olivia & las nubes”, directed by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat, will be screened on Monday, June 9th and Wednesday, June 11th. This work offers a poetic and surrealistic look at love and memory, with a structure inspired by the Rashomon effect. The story of Olivia and other characters is interwoven in an intimate universe, where memories take shape and the past is perceived with all the senses.
For its part, "Tiguere", by the renowned director José María Cabral, will be presented on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12. The film poses a deep reflection on masculinity in Caribbean culture, through a group of teenagers trained to become "tigueres", idealized figures of the urban man. The central conflict between a father and his son triggers an intense generational struggle charged with identity, social pressure, and rebellion.
Coproduction Meeting: new voices, new stories
At the 21st Coproduction Meeting, two Dominican projects were selected from hundreds of proposals:
• “Brujas de Isla” (Witches of the Island), by director Crisfel Jiménez Contreras and producers Yatnna Montilla and Laura Benítez, is a documentary that explores the stigmatization and persecution of older women accused of witchcraft in rural areas of the country.
• “El amor en los tiempos de Bacanería” (Love in the Times of Bacanería), directed by Patricia Pepén and produced by Cristian Mojica and Yoel Morales, tells the story of a 17-year-old teenager who, in her search for love, first discovers the need to find herself.
Dominican Talent in Guadalajara Talents 2025
The Guadalajara Talents program, dedicated to the training and promotion of young Ibero-American professionals, included three Dominican representatives this year:
• Yelidá Díaz – selected in the Acting/Directing Studio category
• Ottmar Suero – selected in Talent Motion
• Lauren Fernández – selected in Talent Press
These spaces offer mentorships, workshops, and international networking opportunities, reinforcing the future of Dominican cinema from the ground up.
Featured Coproduction in DocuLab 17
The documentary “Matininó”, directed by Gabriela Díaz Arp and co-produced between Puerto Rico, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, was selected for DocuLab 17, a section dedicated to the development of documentaries with strong social content. The film tells the true story of a woman who escapes domestic violence with her daughters, becoming a powerful tool for memory, denunciation, and collective healing.
A historic moment for Dominican cinema
The Dominican Republic's strong presence at FICG 2025 not only demonstrates the growth of its audiovisual industry, but also the diversity of perspectives and voices emerging from the Caribbean country. Fictions, documentaries, talent development, and international alliances consolidate Dominican cinema as a key player on the Ibero-American cinematic map.
By: Marc Mejía
