International Dominican Company, Joan Giacinti and Les Films De L’Astre Present New Film Cristo Rey

International Dominican Company, Joan Giacinti and Les Films De L’Astre Present New Film Cristo Rey
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana 10/06/2012

The filming for Cristo Rey, begins on Tuesday October 9th. The new Dominican film was written by film director Leticia Tonos and Alejandro Andujar, winner of the third edition of the Arturo Rodríguez Screenwriting contest organized yearly by the Dominican International Company and Les Filmsde L’Astre.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Gobbi also promised that he will do all he can to get the movie to be the opening film at Cannes.

French producer, Sergio Gobbi, president of Les Films De L’Astre Production Company, has confirmed the distribution of the film in Europe, which will make it the first Dominican-made film to make it to the big screens on the old continent.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Gobbi also promised that he will do all he can to get the movie to be the opening film at Cannes. Along with Mr. Gobbi was Elis Pérez, Director of the Dominican Film Board; Diego Fernández and Leo Proaño, executives from the Dominican International Company and Joan Giacinti, Executive co-producer.

Film director, Leticia Tonos is the first female Dominican to write, produce and direct a feature film “La Hija Natural”, a co-production between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. It was awarded the audience prize at the 27th Chicago Latino Film Festival where it competed with more than 100 films from around Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States.

Leticia Tonos, who also won the Casandra Prize 2012 for Best Director, holds a degree in Advertising Art, a Master’s degree in Audiovisual Communication from a university in Spain and another from the London Film School. She has worked in commercials and feature films on a national and international level and is currently the president of the Línea Espiral SRL (www.lineaespiral.com) production company. This important director has been deeply involved in getting Dominican movies onto the international film circuit such as HBO Latino® and the pre-selection as the DR’s Best Picture for the Oscars in 2012.

Cristo Rey (Christ the King) is an intriguing love story that takes place in one of the most populous neighborhoods of Santo Domingo, called Cristo Rey.
The story is about the struggle for love between Janvier, a young Dominican/Haitian who runs into problems when he falls in love with the lovely Jocelyn, sister of the most feared gangster of the neighborhood. Then there is Rudy’s ex-girlfriend, Janvier’s half-sister who does all she can to keep him and Jocelyn apart.

Janvier and Jocelyn will have to confront all manner of conflicts on the streets of this tough neighborhood to the point that Janvier will face his biggest challenge, even death, to reach the most difficult goal of his life: to leave Cristo Rey with the woman he loves.

The film’s talented actors include James Saintl, as Janvier, who has done various short films and has worked as an assistant director. Others, like Yasser Michelen Cunillera, is a graduate of the National School of Dramatic Arts of Santo Domingo who later studied theater at the University of Chile and worked in various theater pieces both inside and out of the country.

The main female role is played by Akari Endo, who studied acting with actress and producer of the Laura García Godoy Theater, took singing classes with Nadia Nicola and danced in the Dominican Dance Concert. She has done more than 15 theater and video clips as an actress.

Yasser Michelen Cunillera, James Saintl, Akari Endo, Sergio Gobbi, Leticia Tonos, Elis Pérez,Joan Giacinti, Leo Proaño and Diego Fernández


James Saintl, Akari Endo, Leticia Tonos, Sergio Gobbi and Yasser Michelen Cunillera


Producer, Francés Sergio Gobbi, talks about his faith in local Dominican film.