DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

René Fortunato / Hoy

The name of Rene Fortunato is synonymous with historical documentaries on Dominican government and politicians in the Dominican Republic. Fortunato passed away on Friday, 18 July 2025. He was but 67. He died from a rare form of cancer.

Eighteen days before his passing, acclaimed Dominican filmmaker and documentarian René Fortunato had premiered his latest and final production, El Triunfo de la Democracia (The Triumph of Democracy), at the Sala Carlos Piantini of the Eduardo Brito National Theater.

This most recent documentary tells the story of how the Dominican Revolutionarey Party (PRD) made it to the presidency in 1978 and the racist campaign against PRD politician José Francisco Peña Gómez. It features historical events surrounding the rise to the Presidency of Antonio Guzman and historical events leading to the stepping down from the Presidency of...