First Annual Dominican Republic International Film Festival to Be Held at Sun Village Resort & Spa

First Annual Dominican Republic International Film Festival to Be Held at Sun Village Resort & Spa

Week-Long Event Will Feature Top Films, Directors and Actors at Beachside Resort

COFRESI BEACH, Dominican Republic, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Set upon the shores of the Dominican Republic's breathtaking north coast, the EMI Group's Sun Village Resort & Spa, in Cofresi Beach, near Puerto Plata, will host the first annual Dominican Republic International Film Festival (DRIFF). From Nov. 13 - 19, the resort will turn into a haven for Hollywood, housing high profile directors while screening top studio and independent films and hosting exclusive parties and events.

Derek F.C. Elliott, president and CEO of the EMI Group, is responsible for introducing the idea of a film festival to the Dominican Republic and Sun Village Resort & Spa. Elliot was involved in the production of the soon-to-be- released film, Lovewrecked, which was shot on location at Sun Village Resort & Spa and stars Amanda Bynes, Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Chris Carmack. The film, which will debut at the festival, was produced by his film-making company, Elliott Motion Pictures and a partnership with Media 8 Entertainment.

"We're thrilled to introduce and host such a momentous event for the Dominican Republic at Sun Village Resort & Spa," said Elliott. "The film industry has definitely taken notice of the country's vast offerings by using the scenic cities and landscapes for shoots -- some of which will be screened at the festival. In addition, our team's involvement with the entertainment industry coupled with the resort's unparalleled hospitality makes Sun Village the perfect location for such an event."

Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the film festival along with directors from Lovewrecked, Water and The Last Mogul. Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr. and Miss Dominican Republic have confirmed their presence. Samuel L. Jackson, Vin Diesel, and top Dominican-born Major League Baseball players are tentatively planning to attend.

Several screenings will be shown throughout the festival, with the following featured films:

-- Lovewrecked - Directed by Randal Kleiser (Grease, Blue Lagoon). Stars Amanda Bynes (What a Girl Wants), Chris Carmack (Fox's, "The O.C."), Jamie-Lynn DiScala ("The Sopranos") and Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls). The film was shot on location at Sun Village Resort and Spa. -- Water - Directed by Deepa Mehta (this film opened the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival). -- The Last Mogul - The controversial documentary film by Barry Avrich about Lew Wasserman. -- Havoc - A music-driven film, directed by Barbara Kopple, written by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan and starring Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Michael Biehn, Freddy Rodriguez.

A welcoming reception will kick-off the festival on Sunday, while Monday evening will officially commence the five-day event with an opening night screening and a Hollywood-style party. Festivities will culminate with an awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 18. Screenings will be held at a poolside outdoor theater, indoor viewing facilities and on the resort's breathtaking beachfront.

Festival Passes can be purchased for $250 and include admission to all events such as, the welcoming night reception, Monday-night kick-off gala, nightly parties, a beach BBQ, closing award ceremony and send-off brunch. VIP Passes can be purchased for $500 and include the same benefits of the Festival Pass in addition to special VIP events with filmmakers and celebrities, photo opportunities with filmmakers and celebrities, a VIP villa dinner, reserved seating for all film screenings and reserved seating for all film panels and filmmaker discussions. US and Canadian travel packages can be booked on the DRIFF website. For additional information about the first annual Dominican Republic International Film Festival, or to order tickets, visit http://www.driff.org/ .

Sun Village Resort & Spa is managed and operated by EMI Resorts Inc., a division of the EMI Group. Sun Village Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive luxury hotel with 305 rooms, seven swimming pools and offers guests five unique dining facilities. Sun Village's lavish amenities are found in a dramatic mountain-beach setting that is unparalleled on the north coast of the Dominican Republic and is accessible in less than 30 minutes from the International airport in Puerto Plata. Sun Village is set to open its second all-inclusive resort in Juan Dolio, along the country's south coast, this February. For more information about Sun Village Resorts, visit http://www.sunvillageresorts.com/ .

Source: Dominican Republic International Film Festival

CONTACT: Rebecca Barry of BVK PR, +1-414-247-2121, rebeccab@bvk.com

Web site: http://www.driff.org/ http://www.sunvillageresorts.com/

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