Flor del Sol by first time director Dilia Pacheco took the top prize at the 7th Dominican Film Festival NY, winner of the Official Feature Film competition.  Todas las Mujeres son Iguales was chosen by the audience to receive DFFNY’s Audience Award. Best Director went to Archie Lopez for Luis, Best Actor to Dominican marvel Alfonso Rodriguez for Luis and Best Actress to Cheddy Garcia for Todas las Mujeres son Iguales.

“Dilia Pacheco’s portrait of Victor Mendez Capellán, a working-class orphan who armed only with his wits became one the most successful businessman in Dominican Republic, is a powerful, heartfelt and cinematic delight,” stated the jury when awarding the prize.

Four separate categories were considered on the short films competition: the “Dominicans in the Diaspora Short Film Showcase,” in which 16 shorts competed, “Short Films – Big Stories,” which included 13 short films; “Women in film” with 7 films participating and The Latino U.S Experience which included 10 stories. In the Diaspora Showcase, the jury award first place to Someday by director J.S Mayank. Mamba (Sam Puefua) and La Entreviu (Maite Bonilla) took home second and third place, respectively, and The devil’s Courier (Jason Marrero) received a Special Jury Mention. In “Short Films – Big Stories,” the jury awarded first place to Chanel by director Humberto Vallejo and Special Jury Mention to Zozobra by Jose Luis Jimenez. In Women in Film the award went to Elena directed by Ayerim Villanueva and in the Latino Experience in U.S the award went to Para mi Madre by Sam Hayden. The jury in the Short Film Categories included actor Kevin Martinez, director Christopher James Lopez and film critic Duarte Geraldino.

The 7th Dominican Film Festival NY ran July 24 to 29, 2018, under the slogan “Cinema Unites Us!”, and screened over 80 films, 18 of which were on the ballot for audience consideration.