THE VENEZUELAN FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK - VEFFNY
Founded by Irene Yibirin, the Venezuelan Film Festival in New York -VEFFNY- previously known as FesNuCive is a competitive and carefully curated film festival committed to recognizing the very best of the new Venezuelan cinema, and bringing the most representative of it to the city of New York. VEFFNY is possible thanks to the generous support of CITGO PETROLEUM CORPORATION, its presenting sponsor since its very beginnings.
VEFFNY 2016 JURY
Marcelo Pont
As an Art Director Mr. Pont has received the Sur Award 2009 (Argentina), ANAC 1999, Mérida 2008 (Venezuela) and nominated to the Goya Awards 2010 (Spain) with movies such as “El Secreto de sus Ojos” (Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film, Goya, Ariel, Sur 2010) directed by Juan José Campanella, “Azul y no tan Rosa” (Goya 2014) directed by Miguel Ferrari, “Messi” directed by Álex de la Iglesia and Latin American classics such as “La Hora Cero” (2010) and “100 años de Perdón (1998).
As a Set Designer for Opera, theater and musicals, Marcelo has worked on more than 100 sets in USA, Venezuela and Argentina. Being a member of the Rajatabla group he was part of plays such as “La tempestad” (Delacorte Theatre, Central Park, NYC, New York Shakespeare Festival) directed by Carlos Giménez (1991).
He is a member of the Academia de Cine de Argentina and Founding Member of the Asociación Argentina de Directores de Arte (AADA).
Lauren Reinhard
Lauren is an interdisciplinary theatre maker from New York City. She is a director, choreographer, and experimental playwright. Lauren holds her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. As a performer, Lauren has performed in several countries, including Scotland and Greece. Selected directing credits include: Iphigenia and Other Daughters, Orson's Shadow, Rumors, The Inferno Project, House of Yes, Trojan Women 2.0, The Changeling, 'night Mother, and Damnee Manon Sacree Sandra. Selected performance credits include: 4.48 Psychosis, Crave, Midsummer Nights Dream, The Bakkhai, Three Tall Women, and her solo show, All the Tiny Pieces. Her plays have been produced at Sarah Lawrence College and around New York City.
Lauren has served on the advisory board of Rapscallion Theatre Collective as well as heading their volunteer program and serving on the literary committee. She served as Director of Developement for TheatreRats, and is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. She currently teaches devised theatre at Long Island University.
Isabel Dávalos
Isabel is founder and director of the film production company Cabezahueca, in Quito, Ecuador. She has produced and directed fiction and non-fiction feature films in her home country. She believes in the power of storytelling as a means to understand and make positive change in our world. Her most recent work as non-fiction film producer, director is focused on the search and reconstruction of the history of the conquest of the Inca Empire. As a photographer, her work has been seen in books and galleries in Ecuador and abroad. Her feature fiction films have premiered in Venice, Cannes, Toronto and Sundance, and her non- fiction films have aired on broadcast networks globally. Presently, she is also collaborating with the Boston Latino Film Festival (BLIFF).
VEFFNY 2016 WINNERS
BEST FILM JURY AWARD
EL MALQUERIDO
Nar. | 120 min. | 2015
Directed by: Diego Risquez
Cast: Jesús “Chino” Miranda, Samantha Castillo, Carlos Cruz, Héctor Manrique, Greisy Mena, Vicente Peña, Sheila Monterola
BEST DOCUMENTARY JURY AWARD
KUYUJANI ENVENENADO / POISONING KUYUHANI
Doc. | 87 min. | 2016
Directed by: Alexandra Henao
BEST FILM AUDIENCE AWARD
UNA FÁBULA MUY TRILLADA / A VERY TRITE FABLE: THE LEGACY OF DERMIS
Doc. | 92 min. | 2016
Directed by: William Padrón
Feat: Héctor Castillo, Sebastián Araujo
VEFFNY 2016 TEAM
Irene Yibirin: Festival Director, Founder
Nandar Godoy: Executive Director
Christian Ponce: Managing Director
Carlos Gutiérrez: Advisory Board Chairman
Rodrigo Llamozas: Director of Programming
María del Rocío Arregui: Festival Coordinator
Maibel Bracho: Director of Operations
Gabriela Pallares: Image Manager
Johnny Wolf: Photographer
VEFFNY 2016 PROGRAM
BEST FILM JURY AWARD Nar. | 120 min. | 2015 Directed by: Diego Risquez Cast: Jesús "Chino" Miranda, Samantha Castillo, Carlos Cruz, Héctor Manrique, Greisy Mena, Vicente Peña, Sheila Monterola Felipe Pirela, known as The Americas´ most romantic “bolero” singer, reviews his life and career... In competition | En competencia
OFFICIAL SELECTION Doc. | 50 min. | 2016 Directed by: Irene Sosa Vertical Slum, a 50-minute video documentary, explores how architecture reflects ideology. It uses the Confinanzas Tower, also known as the Torre David, in Caracas, Venezuela as a case study of the huge social, economic and political changes of the past three decades of Venezuelan history... In competition | En competencia
OFFICIAL SELECTION Doc. | 92 min. | 2016 Directed by: William Padrón Cast: Héctor Castillo, Sebastián Araujo Two decades ago, Venezuela's power trio Dermis Tatú released their only album, "La violó, la mató y la picó" ("Raped her, killed her and cut her")... In competition | En competencia
OFFICIAL SELECTION Nar. | 95 min. | 2016 Directed by: Francisco Javier Mujica Cast: Ernesto Ceballos, Martha Tarazona, Thomas Piedra y Carlos Antonio León. In the Caracas of the mid 80’s, in a society on its way to decomposition, the criminal gang called “The 8-6” emerges. Their search for easy money turns them into a delinquent structure that dominated the area of Cotiza and its surroundings. In competition | En competencia
NEW VENEZUELAN PERSPECTIVES Nar. | 17 min. | 2015 Directed by: Vadim Lasca Cast: Nina Rancel, Slavko Sorman Fabricio, a Chavista young man, is stuck at home during the rioting occurred in Venezuela on 2014. Alejandra, his former girlfriend who sides with the opposition and participates in the riots, is pursued by the National Guard, and arrives, unknowingly, to Fabricio’s house...
NEW VENEZUELAN PERSPECTIVES Nar. | 14 min. | 2014 Directed by: Javier Melero De Luca Cast: Arturo Leu, Alexander Hung, Carla Müller Chinese Silence tells the story of a young Chinese man with a pathological inability to communicate, to whom fate will place in an extreme situation: speaking or losing his life.
NEW VENEZUELAN PERSPECTIVES Nar. | 12 min. | 2016 Directed by: Bhima Gándica & Inti Torres Cast: Raúl José Navarro, Luis Rada, Samantha Castillo, Gonzalo Cubero Pablo and Luis found a body buried in the beach while they were escaping from school. Their mother, Rosa, resolves to go with the town's only authority, Prefect Ledezma...
NEW VENEZUELAN PERSPECTIVES Nar. | 11 min. | 2015 Directed by: Mario Paccini Cast: Diógenes Matute A ninety-year-old man returns to his home with all the ingredients to bake a quesillo (traditional Venezuelan custard dessert), for this he uses his wife’s recipe. She passed away a few years ago. Alone, he stays home. Reminiscing in every room as if she were still alive.
