- RENE FORTUNATO´S CINEMA
(The Republic)

René Fortunato
in the Dominican cinema
- Records not beaten yet-

1.- The most successful and crowded premiere exhibition of a Dominican cinematographic production, was the feature film premiere “The Violence of the Power”, at the National Theater on May 5th, 2003, were the attending audience paid RD$500.00 pesos for a ticket.

This record has not been beaten yet by any other national or foreign production.

The premiere exhibition of the Dominican movies has been mostly presented in La Fiesta Theater, at the Jaragua Hotel and in various theaters of the Malecón Center Cinema.

The capacity of La Fiesta Theater, completely full, is 1,100 people. The capacity of Malecón Center is 1,235 people. The capacity of the principal hall of the National Theater is 1,500 people. The night of “The Violence of the Power” premiere it was full and there were people left waiting in the outside. The deed was repeated two more times, filling up La Fiesta Theater at the Jaragua Hotel.

2.- Pioneer in the use of video technology, as a technological support for national cinema. In 1988 produced the feature film documentary “April, the Trench of Honor”, in video and premiered in five theaters. It became the first feature film documentary produced in the country.

The same year publishes in the national press the article “Video: The National Cinema Alternative”, (La Noticia, September 10th, 1988- “Aquí” Supl.) where he exposes the reasons why video should be used as the national cinema resource. In the present, every movie produced to the date has had to use video technology as a part of the production process.

3.- The most awarded Dominican cinematographic production at international festivals, besides “One Way Ticket” (“Pasaje de Ida”), is “April, the Trench of Honor”.

It has been awarded the following prizes: *Pitirre Prize for the best Caribbean region documentary, at the San Juan Cinema Festival, Puerto Rico-1990-. *First Finalist at the New Latin American Cinema International Festival, Habana, Cuba-1988- (See El Nacional Newspaper: January 1st, 1989- Galería Supl.-) * Special Jury Prize at the Contra el Silencia Todas las Voces Festival ( Festival Against the Silencing of Voices), Mexico, D.F. -2000-, among others.

4.-The biggest screen ever used for the projection of a cinematographic production, was used by René Fortunato at the National Theater during the premiere exhibition of “The Violence of the Power” documentary on May 2003, and during the premiere of “The Legacy of the Tyrant”, in 1998. Screen size: 25 foot high by 45 foot wide.

5.- Until year 1995, the box office record of theatre assistance in a Dominican cinematographic production, was held by “April, the Trench of Honor”. The premiere of “Nueva Yol”, by Angel Muñiz, broke that record and established a new mark not beaten yet.

6.- During an unprecedented event in our country, nearly 10,000 people assisted to “La Puerta del Conde”, where the new version of the documentary “April, the Trench of Honor”, was presented on two giant screens, the 24th of April of 2005, during the 45th anniversary of the 1965 April war.
- Hoy Newspaper, April 26, 2005-

7.- His documentaries hold sales records in the VHS and DVD formats, thanks to an efficient promotion and distribution network. Due to the versatility of these formats, his productions have reached the most distant corners of the world, which has contributed to the fact that René Fortunato has become the most re-known Dominican producer worldwide.