70 films and world premieres to open the Dominican Film Festival in New York 2025

New York, USA.- The 14th Dominican Film Festival in New York (DFFNYC) will open on October 23 with the international premiere of Los Rechazados: Operación Submarino, directed by Yasser Michelén, at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights. The event, held under the theme “Crossing Borders,” will feature more than 70 films—the largest showcase of Dominican cinema outside the country.

Screenings will take place at AMC Empire 25 and the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, which will also host free public workshops. According to festival founder Armando Guareño, DFFNYC aims to highlight the best of Dominican storytelling while connecting filmmakers from the island and its diaspora. The program includes co-productions with countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Spain, as well as animations and short films from partner festivals.

The festival’s official competition celebrates the creativity and diversity of Dominican cinema, featuring fiction, documentary, and short film categories. A special “Diaspora Competition” honors Dominican filmmakers abroad. The event will close with Carlota la más Barrial, a film that celebrates community spirit and resilience. Full details and schedules are available on @dffnycofficial and www.dominicanfilmfestivalny.com.