Big Screens, Stories, Talent and Impact Launch an Epic Tribute to the Infinite Possibilities of Film
In Miami, a city known for its opulence, glamour and glittering events, this spring one of the hottest tickets in town may well have been to the movies—to 198 of them, to be exact.
The 42nd Annual Miami Film Festival set the city ablaze with cinematic excitement, attracting more than 45,000 big screen aficionados of every persuasion, as well as some 400 producers, directors, actors and entertainment industry members. Delighting attendees with not only a full roster of world-class film screenings and a highly anticipated awards competition, each year the event also offers master classes, workshops, lectures, roundtables, discussions and parties all related to the making of movies.
Highlights of recent festivals have included award presentations and exclusive in-depth conversations with film legends Pedro Almodovar, Penelope Cruz, Nicolas Cage, Tom Hiddleston, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Rita Moreno, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ramin Bahrani, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Aldis Hodge, Javier Camara, Andra Day, Ari Wegner, Cristobal Tapia de Veer, and Joshua James Richards; and numerous World and International Premieres.
The Magic City’s celebration of the magic of film is a world-class platform for international, American, and Ibero-American movies with a special focus on those with Florida roots. It showcases the work of some of the world’s best emerging and established filmmakers and has become a cinematic event of the first magnitude.
Lights, Camera Action . . . A City-Wide Celebration
Screenings and related events took place throughout Miami. This year, the festival returned to the historic Olympia Theater designed by renowned atmospheric architect John Eberson. The theater opened in 1926 and received a designation from the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1984. Other notable venues included the Adrienne Arsht Center, Coral Gables Art Cinema and PAMM.
Attendees were treated to one of the most extensive film programs ever with almost 200 feature narratives, documentaries and short films of all genres from more than 45 countries worldwide.
Filmmakers compete for awards totaling more than $100,000 in categories ranging from feature, documentary, Ibero-Hispanic and South Florida themes to shorts, student-submissions and more. While the Festival shows many new films, other selections have already proven their merit by opening to critical acclaim at recent festivals in other geographic areas. Critically acclaimed films not yet commercially released are also shown in non-competition categories.
Meet the Barbarians Opens the Cinematic Excitement
This year’s Festival opened with Meet the Barbarians, a 2024 French satire examining Europe’s nuanced relationship with the current refugee crisis and the mindsets shaping it. Set in a small French village, it focuses on locals excited to welcome Ukrainian refugees. Instead, a group of Syrians arrive, setting off a complex and illuminating series of events and emotions that invite audience reflection. Directed by Julie Delphy, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The screening was followed by a lively opening night gala, with epicurean delights, specialty cocktails and fine wines from venues throughout the city. Hundreds of Festival attendees joined a full range of Festival talent, filling the historic Alfred I. Dupont Building as they partied late into the night.
On Swift Horses Caps Off the Show
On Swift Horses directed by Daniel Minahan brought the Festival to a dramatic close. The movie explored the tension between middle class expectations and the urge to live on the edge as life returns to normal after the Korean War. The intertwined secrets of an extended family and their sometimes reckless and dangerous choices paints a powerful picture of the complexities of human nature that transcend the generations.
Attendees were treated to another extravagant evening soiree capping off the Festival at Miami’s Jungle Plaza, the popular outdoor nightclub with its expansive spaces and cool evening breezes. Guests enjoyed tempting bites and cocktails from local eateries, as well as exciting activations and giveaways. Live DJ talent had guests crowding the dance floor to groove to the beat.
Something for Everyone: Showcasing the Diversity of Film
In between the Festival delivered a whirlwind of films truly offering something for everyone.
At Marquee screenings, attending film talent added enthusiastic audience engagement with lively Q&As and discussions. Among them were Another Simple Favor(United States, directed by Paul Feig), the sequel to the 2018 A Simple Favor. The film focuses on a lavish wedding in Capri where murder, avarice and betrayal are uninvited guests, driving forward a plot rife with unexpected twists and turns.
Another was Oh, Hi!(United States, directed by Sophie Brooks) focusing on the two young lovers’ first romantic getaway, which goes awry in a most unexpected and entertaining way.
For the more adventurous, Two Women (Canada, directed by Chloé Robichaud) told the tale of friends who fend off boredom with secret sexual liaisons with strangers to spice up their dreary existences. A lively post-film discussion ensued.
Also on the docket, Miami-themed films included The Python Hunt, focusing on an initiative to stop the invasion of destructive snakes in the Everglades. Similarly, environmentally themed was Edge of Hope, exploring effects of climate change on the Miami area.
As an inspiration for film-lovers, Magic Hour by Jacqueline Christy, paid homage to the power of movie-making as a dream that can be realized at any age.
Notable in short films were RAT! by Neal Suresh Mulani, providing a satirical examination of the mob mentality of the internet culture and Mickey Duzyj’s Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict, an unusual animated documentary.
One-of-a-Kind Film Experiences
Screenings also offered a range of distinctive elements that delivered truly unique audience experiences.
Highlights included a special 20th Anniversary screening of Pride & Prejudice at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as part of the celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. A 25th Anniversary showing of the cult classic dance film Center Stage was followed by an extended Q&A with lead actress Amanda Schull. Additionally, a special free screening of Magic Hour took place at the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, with director Jacqueline Christy and star Miriam Shor in attendance.
Making its debut this year was the Uncomfortable Brunch series, which featured a screening of the boundary-pushing 2002 film Secretary, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Film-goers enjoyed a curated brunch along with thought-provoking discussion with fellow attendees and special guests.
Among other highlights the other highlights were appearances by a roster of film personalities who were honored with special awards. They included Mark Duplass, Paul Feig, Melanie Lynskey, Roger Ross Williams and Billy Zane.
All in all, the Festival brought to the big screen films representing 35 world premieres, two international premieres, nine North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, 21 East Coast premieres and 72 Florida premieres.
And the Winner is . . .
Awarded the festival’s coveted Marimas $15,000 prize, Maryse Legagneur’s The Last Meal told the unusual tale of a man suffering cancer who through the healing power of Haitian cooking reconnects with his longtime estranged daughter. The award recognizes a narrative feature film that best embodies richness and resonance to elevate cinema’s future.
Winner in the Made in MIA feature film award category was The Python Hunt with its ecological theme and Everglades setting.The honor is given to a film of any genre that features South Florida in its story, setting and filming location, with a theme that has universal significance.
The Audience Feature Film Award–chosen by a vote of the Festival attendees themselves– went to Espina. The drama chronicled the tempestuous journey Jonathan Benaim–who played himself as a young disabled man–to Panama on a mission to confront the doctor who caused his disability.
Omaha captured the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award for its tale of two young siblings who gain new perspective after abruptly being taken on a cross-country trip by their father following a family tragedy. The prize was created by the Florida family of Jordan Ressler, an aspiring young screenwriter who passed away in a tragic accident at the age of 23.
Numerous prizes in additional categories cut across the film spectrum and testified to the Festival’s commitment to the diversity and excitement of film.
Whether or not individual creations were singled out for an award, together they created an impactful celebration of the art of film and a memorable experience for attendees—many returning year after year for the highly anticipated event.
The Credits
The Festival is curated by director of programming Lauren Cohen, along with Thom Powers (senior documentary programmer), Ivonne Cotorruelo (Ibero-American films programmer), Alejandro Rios (Spotlight on Cuba programmer), and Chris Molina (short films programmer).
Other major Festival sponsors are Miami-Dade County, Knight Foundation, Telemundo 51, NBC 6, Miami Downtown Development Authority, Macias Creative, Tilia Real Estate and The Historic Alfred I. Dupont Building. The Festival’s headquarter hotel is the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. Additional notable support includes Silverspot Cinema Miami, Amazon, and Panavision.