Marianna Vargas Gurilieva is the Film Commissioner of the Dominican Republic Film Commission (DGCINE), an institution dedicated to regulating, developing, and promoting the Dominican film industry. 

Marianna played a key role in the preparation, revision, and modification of the Dominican Film Law. She has extensive knowledge and a well-established background in corporate and commercial law, specializing in legal planning and entertainment law. 

Vargas previously served as the Director of Business and Legal Affairs for Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, where she acted as a legal advisor for both Dominican and international productions filmed in the DR. She also represented the Film Studios at the Dominican Film Council (CIPAC). 

During her tenure, she has strengthened the institution by creating a structure that meets the needs of an industry that has grown more than five times its size since 2020. The industry’s revenue has increased from a maximum of fifty million dollars annually to over two hundred and fifty million dollars annually from international film productions. 

Her strategic vision focuses on the internationalization of Dominican cinema, enhancing its visibility, providing industry-oriented training, and positioning the country as a regional film hub. 

Thanks to the strengthening of the three main pillars—specialized crew, locations and infrastructure, and inter-institutional collaboration (public-private)—the Dominican Republic is now recognized as an ideal film destination. This recognition has earned the country important international nominations and awards, including the Global Production Award for the “Film Friendly Samaná” project, received at the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. 

Marianna is a member of the Council of the Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities (CAACI) and has served as a jury member for the Platino Awards, the DALE! Award at the 2022 San Sebastián Film Festival (representing CAACI), the Guadalajara International Film Festival, as well as several local festivals.