Anita Ontiveros died at 76 on 3 January 2024 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was the first female camera director in the Dominican Republic. Her death made headlines as people gave her credit for pioneering in TV production in the Dominican Republic. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she lived 56 of her 76 years in the Dominican Republic. She worked at Color Vision (Channel 9), TeleAntillas (Channel 2), Radio Televisión Dominicana (Channel 4), Rahintel (formerly Channel 7), Super Canal 33 and other companies.
She and her husband, Horacio Lamadrid, both tango dancers, arrived to perform in the Dominican Republic in 1967. Both would remain here, finding work producing audiovisual content. They founded Color Movil, the country’s first full-color mobile unit, and worked for local TV channels and produced events.
Ontiveros was in charge of transcendental broadcasts such as the XXII Games of 1974, the legendary protest concert “Seven Days with the People” (1974), the first visit of Pope John Paul II (1979) and productions when the king and queen of Spain visited (1976). The team also worked to produce Miss Universe International (1977) when it was held in the Dominican Republic.
Ontiveros was part of stellar television programs such as “Otra vez con Yaqui”, “De Noche” (with Milton Peláez), “Los Dirigentes” (José Francisco Peña Gómez), “El Gordo de la Semana” and the El Dorado Awards.
She produced the children’s program “Pequitas” and discovered the talent of Nuria Piera as a child performer, staging her in the child program “La Casa de Pequitas,” which she produced for Color Vision in the 70s.
“How sorry my heart is for her departure. Dominican television is in mourning. Pioneer and inspiration, brave, disruptive and talented. First female camera director in the television industry of the Dominican Republic. Producer and the one in charge of opening the doors to many who had the privilege of being nourished by all his wisdom,” posted TV host Jatnna Tavárez, as reported in Listin Diario.
Edilenia Tactuk, one of the leading producers today, during a recent tribute (Imaginativa TV) stated: “Anita Ontiveros, the producer who paved the way for the role of women behind the cameras. In 1973 she started as a director when this area was dominated only by men.”
Tactuk highlighted Ontiveros’ creativity and the high quality of her productions that lead her to direct iconic figures in TV, such as Yaqui Núñez del Risco. Tactuk also spoke of how Ontiveros was a pioneer in producing documentaries and reports of denunciation and social interest that had not been presented on television due to the prevailing political restriction. These inevitably influenced national television programming.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
8 January 2024