During the Third Dominican Republic Global Film Festival Sharif and Madsen confessed their passion for classic films

At a press conference in Cap Cana, Omar Sharif and Michael Madsen, special guests of the Festival, expressed satisfaction for their first visit to the Dominican Republic, and were happy to support a cultural event that seeks to promote the film industry in the country. Sharif surprised the audience by speaking and answering questions in Spanish.

(Cap Cana, 15 November 2009) .- The Egyptian actor Omar Sharif and American Michael Madsen, two world stars of the film industry, participated in a press conference at the Caleton Beach Club, Cap Cana, prior to the beginning of the activities of the Third Dominican Republic Global Film Festival. They spoke about their careers and their vision of the film industry.

The actors shared the main table at the press conference with Kathleen Martinez, Dominican archaeologist who carries out exploration for the tombs of Cleopatra and Marco Antonio since 2005, Dr. Zahi Hawass, Director of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities, and Gabriela Bonetti, Dominican ambassador in Egypt.

Their hosts were, Omar de la Cruz, Technical and Production Director, also in charge of the Promotion of the festival, Yamile Eusebio, Director of Development and Marketing for the Festival, and Ellis Perez, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations of Cap Cana, who chaired the meeting.

Eusebio welcomed the guests and expressed the commitment of the Dominican Festival public, offering quality films that stimulate reflection on reality and its environment, while contributing to further development of the film industry in the country.

Sharif: "The movies that make money are those that young people love."

Sharif was the first to respond to questions from journalists who came to Playa Caleton to share with famous actors and did so in Spanish, a language he learned under the influence of his mother, he said.

The actor stressed his passion for classic films, but acknowledged that the industry produces for young people, "because the movies that make money are those that young people love."

American movies are the most projected in the Western world, even in countries like India, because people go to see films made in North America more .

He said that the Indian film focuses especially on issues that reflect the country's culture, and, as they have a large population, they do not need to sell their products beyond their borders to finance them.

In Egypt, he said, at one time, they produced up to 200 movies, but without a box-office support, as it happens in the United States, the industry did not prosper.

Moreover, the actor considered that actors today are much better than at the time when he won worldwide fame. Then he said, was enough to be beautiful and many incurred in overacting. Now, however, acting is more naturally and it is not compulsory that actors be just beautiful, but there are many normal people acting more naturally.

Madsen would like to make a film about baseball in the Dominican Republic

Madsen introduced his presentation at the conference with a salutation to Sharif, and expressed his admiration mentioning that he has a poster of Lawrence of Arabia-one of the films that solidified Sharif’s film career in his home town.

Expressed satisfaction to coincide and meet him in the Dominican Republic, while expressing that as Sharif, he also enjoys the classics movies.

He coincided with Sharif, stating that the film industry now accommodates, not only beautiful actors, which results in a personal benefit to him, who is not considered part of that package. He said he is among the group of normal people, not beautiful, and whose career is acting.

In relation to the movies world, he stressed his interest in working beyond acting. He said he likes to get involved in casting, scenarios and all the logistics that entails a film production.

When Madsen was asked about his presence in the country and the possibility of making a film project in its scenarios, said he submitted a script about baseball and would like to make a film with that theme, filmed in the Dominican Republic.

Known for his roles in Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, Sin City, among others, Madsen joins the stars that will lighten up the event, from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 November.

Madsen came to the country with Suzanne Ghersi, Executive of Admit One Productions, and director John Mark Sjogren. Ghersi, is the Executive Producer of Apnea, a film production to be shot in Dominican Republic under the leadership of her husband, Michele Ghersi.

Dominican producers Elias Acosta and Samuel Toribio are part of the group of U.S. filmmakers attending the Festival.