Agliberto Meléndez
Encyclopedia
Agliberto Melendez is a Dominican film director best known as the director of A One Way Ticket (Un Pasaje de Ida), the Dominican Republic
's first feature length film,produced entirely in the Dominican Republic by a Dominican cast and crew. The film became known to American audiences after its 1989 debut in New York
at the Museum of Modern Art
's New Directors New Films series. A One Way Ticket gained some notoriety because of its macabre subject matter; the story of would be immigrants who die in their desperate struggle to escape a fate of poverty and despair. A One Way Ticket, shot under very adverse conditions, proved to everyone that it could be done.
In 1979 Agliberto Melendez founded the Cinemateca Nacional, quickly becoming the meeting place for like-minded film enthusiasts. He single-handedly led the Cinemateca Nacional through very hard times but managed to stay afloat until it was finally forced to close its doors in 1986 following the election of right wing candidate Joaquín Balaguer
. The Cinemateca Nacional introduced classics from the world cinema to a fresh and enthusiastic new audience.
His perseverance and single-minded vision made Agliberto Melendez the undisputed film pioneer of Dominican Cinema. He currently teaches cinema studies in the Dominican Republic and prepares his next feature: "Del color de la Noche" based on the life of José Francisco Peña Gómez
which he began preproduction this year.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
's first feature length film,produced entirely in the Dominican Republic by a Dominican cast and crew. The film became known to American audiences after its 1989 debut in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
's New Directors New Films series. A One Way Ticket gained some notoriety because of its macabre subject matter; the story of would be immigrants who die in their desperate struggle to escape a fate of poverty and despair. A One Way Ticket, shot under very adverse conditions, proved to everyone that it could be done.
In 1979 Agliberto Melendez founded the Cinemateca Nacional, quickly becoming the meeting place for like-minded film enthusiasts. He single-handedly led the Cinemateca Nacional through very hard times but managed to stay afloat until it was finally forced to close its doors in 1986 following the election of right wing candidate Joaquín Balaguer
Joaquín Balaguer
Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo was the President of the Dominican Republic from 1960 to 1962, from 1966 to 1978, and again from 1986 to 1996.-Early life and introduction to politics:...
. The Cinemateca Nacional introduced classics from the world cinema to a fresh and enthusiastic new audience.
His perseverance and single-minded vision made Agliberto Melendez the undisputed film pioneer of Dominican Cinema. He currently teaches cinema studies in the Dominican Republic and prepares his next feature: "Del color de la Noche" based on the life of José Francisco Peña Gómez
José Francisco Peña Gómez
José Francisco Peña Gómez was a politician from the Dominican Republic. He was the leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party , a three-time candidate for president of the Dominican Republic and former Mayor of Santo Domingo...
which he began preproduction this year.