New York, July 2026. The Dominican Film Festival in New York (DFFNYC) will celebrate its 15th edition from August 5 to 11, 2026, with a program of more than 70 films bringing together new voices, recognized filmmakers and diverse views of Dominican cinema made in the Dominican Republic and in the diaspora.
Over seven days, the festival will offer feature films, documentaries and short films, as well as world, international, U.S. and New York premieres, official competitions, special presentations, free workshops and encounters among filmmakers, industry professionals and the public.
The edition will open on Wednesday, August 5, with the world premiere of La fĂĄbrica de bodas, directed by Francis âIndioâ Disla. The opening gala will take place at the emblematic United Palace, located at 4140 Broadway in Washington Heights, Manhattan.
Under the slogan âWhere stories create emotions,â the program will move through genres such as comedy, drama, romance, documentary and thriller, reflecting the thematic and creative diversity that characterizes contemporary Dominican film production.
Screenings will take place mainly at AMC 34th Street 14, located at 312 West 34th Street, and at Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, at 530 West 166th Street. The latter venue will also host a series of free workshops open to the public.
âReaching fifteen years is an opportunity to recognize how far Dominican cinema has advanced while also looking toward the new stories and generations that are emerging. This edition celebrates the talent of our filmmakers, the bond with the diaspora and the ability of our cinema to connect with diverse audiences through emotion,â said Armando Guareño, founder and executive director of DFFNYC.
Official Competition: Diversity and evolution of Dominican cinema
The Official Competition brings together productions that reflect the diversity of genres, styles and perspectives present in Dominican cinema today.
Participating in the fiction feature competition are La herencia de los RamĂrez, by Brahyam Jade Humphreys; QuĂ© mĂĄs puedes hacerme, by FĂ©lix GermĂĄn; La batalla de los Ăngeles, by FĂ©lix GermĂĄn; Acorde final, by Pachy Banks-Cabral; EntiĂ©rrenlo Parao, by Ronni Castillo; Sublime Gracia, by Fel di Garbo; and Melodrama, by AndrĂ©s FarĂas.
The documentary competition includes Aquella primavera, by Mayra Poueriet; Boru, by Ronny A. Sosa; Kacimiro, by Boynayel Mota; MĂĄs allĂĄ del humo, by Mariel Aponte; Soldados de la Democracia, by Alberto Zayas; and Mujeres Extraordinarias: AsĂ en la guerra, como en la paz, by Yildalina Tatem Brache.
The short film competition includes A Tempo, by Camila Del Carmen and Elena Carrasco; Batea, by SofĂa Richiez and Claudio Rafael; El Amuleto, by Danny Camacho; El mar que nos separa, by Daslaina GonzĂĄlez Ălvarez; Everbranch, by Lisa Reyes; Lo que nadie ve, by Jhoanna Ruiz; Nueva forma, by Viviana C. SĂĄnchez; SinfĂłnica Novae, by Noelia Peguero, Lucille Victoria and Sarah Mora; Stuck, by Kamila Minier; Tenebras, by Francisco Rojas; Yante, by Alberto Valdez; A travĂ©s del silencio, by Keyla Charinne Ceballos Vega; Cuko, by Madel MĂĄrquez Ventura; El reloj, by Will Valerio; En pecado, by Yorjina Moran; La Antimusa, by Camilo Jarabacoa; Padrecito, by Jhoan Manuel Herrera JimenĂ©z; and Tainos, by Eduardo Schuldt.
The university short film competition includes Caribe, by Leslie HernĂĄndez (UNAPEC); Del otro lado, by Liz Garrido (UNAPEC); El loco que pinta, by Paul Limardo and Mariam Rosario (INTEC); ÂĄY con ustedes!, by VĂctor Batista HernĂĄndez (INTEC); Pueblo Viejo, by Alexander VĂĄsquez (CHAVĂN); Gislaine, by Camila EncarnaciĂłn (CHAVĂN); Un Regard, by Loli Taina (PUCMM Santo Domingo); El ColmadĂłn, by MarĂa Fernanda SĂĄnchez and MarĂa Laura Ben (PUCMM Santo Domingo); CarmesĂ, by Noelia Nolasco (PUCMM Santiago); Sueño SiamĂ©s, by Paul Ovalles (PUCMM Santiago); Delirio de Sangre, by RocĂo PĂ©rez (UASD); Abyss, by Danna Mariel Padilla Pereyra (UASD); and Reflejo, by Alexia GĂłmez (UNIBE).
Diaspora Competition: stories that transcend borders
The Diaspora Competition recognizes the work of Dominican filmmakers who develop their careers outside the Dominican Republic and continue creating stories connected to their roots and experiences.
Participating in the diaspora feature film competition are Canât Let It Go, by Roy Szuper; El Bodeguero, by Boccaccio GuzmĂĄn; One Guy, Too Many Dates, by Yissendy Trinidad; La FundaciĂłn: Baseballâs Island, by Isaac Weinberg; Rock del Caribe: Primera Parte, by Eddy CoradĂn; and The Burden of Nine Lives, by Vega Montañez.
The diaspora short film competition includes Absent Notes, by Jose Miguel Soto Mariano; Americano, by Yanelly MartĂnez; Dreamer, by Vergi RodrĂguez and Diana Zollicoffer; I Love You So Much but You Are So Difficult, by BerenicĂ© Brino; Migra, by Adrian Miranda; Visa, by Orlenny De LeĂłn; Poetry in Motion, by Angel Ruby Vasquez; My Grandmotherâs Hands, by Alicia Leon; El EspĂritu de la Escalera, by Leslie Rubiera; DreamZzz, by Hedi B. Asencio; Sprayinâ Series â 05: âFind Something You Love and Let It Kill Youâ, by Edwin Taveras; Le Teme a su Regreso, by Orlando CĂĄceres; La Señal, by Juno Harris; Here for the Event?, by Yudelka Heyer; A Street Named Mercado, by Vergi RodrĂguez; Doing the Johnny Pacheco, by Antonio de la Cruz; and Mejor Sola, by Gabriella Athena Moses.
DFFNYC Closing
The 15th edition will conclude on Tuesday, August 11, with the screening of Melodrama, directed by AndrĂ©s FarĂas.
The film follows Sonia, a Dominican widow who, after moving into a small apartment facing the Caribbean Sea, meets Aimé, a Haitian laborer with whom she begins a relationship marked by prejudice and social pressure. Facing the possibility of beginning a new chapter, Sonia must decide whether to follow her heart or give in to those who oppose their relationship.
The full program, screening times and ticket information are available on @dffnycofficial social media channels.