The Dominican Film Festival’s (DFFNY) mission is to promote the new generation of Dominican filmmakers as well as established ones, its film industry and to strengthen the vital and expanding economic and cultural relationship with the United States. Here's the opening night film:

Carpinteros, 2017
Julián finds love and a reason for living in the last place imaginable: the Dominican Republic's Najayo Prison. His romance, with fellow prisoner Yanelly, must defeat the distance that separates them by using a sign language created by the inmates in Najayo, called "Woodpecking”, enabling them to effectively communicate and develop personal and even intimate relationships without the knowledge of dozens of guards.

New York: July 25 - 30. Full lineup and details here.