The 18th edition of the Santo Domingo Global Film Festival (FCGSD) officially launched on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Eduardo Brito National Theater, setting the stage for a week-long celebration of international cinema and cultural dialogue.
The opening night’s centerpiece was the world premiere of “Milly: La Reina del Merengue” (Milly: The Queen of Merengue), a musical documentary directed by Leticia Tonos. The film chronicles the life of the legendary Milly Quezada, who fled the Dominican Civil War in 1965 as a youth and rose to musical prominence in New York’s Washington Heights during the 1970s. The documentary explores Quezada’s journey through themes of memory, identity, and resilience.
During the opening ceremony, the festival presented top honors to both Milly Quezada and multi-talented artist Cecilia García, recognizing their enduring impact on Dominican theater, film, and music.
The night also featured the screening of “Platanero,” a short film by Juan Frank Hernández. Fresh from its selection for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, the Dominican-Canadian production offers a critical and ironic look at migration and identity.
International focus and special guests
This year, the festival welcomes Hungary as the Guest of Honor, featuring a curated selection of Hungarian classics and contemporary works.
Adding to the festival’s international profile is the participation of the celebrated Dominican-American author, Julia Alvarez who is a central figure in this year’s edition. The festival will host the screening of the documentary “Julia Álvarez: A Life Reimagined,” directed by Adriana Bosch, followed by a discussion with the author.
Also here for the festival is former US ambassador to the Dominican Republic Robin S. Bernstein. She was ambassador during the first Trump administration. Bernstein will participate in a screening and public forum for the documentary “They Called Us Trujillo’s Jews.”
The festival runs from 28 January 28 to 4 February 2026. Notable events from the official calendar also include the Projection and Panel on “Frantz Fanon, vie, pensee et heritage” on 2 February.
Looking ahead
Omar de la Cruz, the festival’s executive director, highlighted that this edition serves as a bridge toward the festival’s 20th anniversary in 2028 and marks the 25th anniversary of Funglode.
The festival runs through 4 February 2026, featuring six international competitions spanning debut features, animation, documentaries, and short films. Educational workshops, including a marketing and commercial strategy course led by the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia (ESCAC), are also integral to the program.
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Noticias SIN
Film Festival calendar
29 January 2026