April 5-14, 2024
www.MiamiFilmFestival.com
The 41st edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival returns April 5-14, 2024. The 10-day Festival showcases the work of the world’s best emerging and established filmmakers’ international and Ibero-American films, and serves as a major launchpad for many local filmmakers, as well as international and documentary cinema. Festival-goers can expect one of MFF’s biggest programs in years with over 180 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from more than 31 countries worldwide including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, France, Japan, India, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and Venezuela, to name a few.
The Festival will open with Thelma, directed by Josh Margolin, and the closing night film will be Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn from the ABC hit show “Scandal” and the beloved film Ghost. Goldwyn will be in attendance at MFF.
Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets for Festival screenings range from $15.50-$34. All other events vary in pricing. Visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).
2024 Festival Milestones:
- New Leadership: Welcoming James Woolley as the new festival executive director.
- New Dates: Moving a month later to April for a richer selection of films from major film festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, and more, including award winners like “Girls Will Be Girls” and “Ibelin.”
- Celebrities love Miami Film Festival: Since its inception four decades ago, some of the biggest stars and filmmakers in the world have graced the Festival’s red carpets from Sofia Loren, Antonio Banderas, Anne Hathaway, Nicolas Cage, Diego Luna, Danny Glover, Shirley MacLaine, Spike Lee, Pedro Almodóvar, and Andy Garcia. This year will be no different! Several stars to expect include Tom Hiddleston, Molly Ringwald, Adria Arjona, Heather Graham, Jeremy Piven, and Alison Brie, with others being confirmed.
- Local and MDC Connections: A record number of films with ties to Miami and Miami Dade College.
- Spotlight on Cuban Cinema: A special focus on Cuban cinema, presented by ArtesMiami at MDC’s Koubek Center in Little Havana and the ARSHT Center, showcasing 9 presentations from Cuban themed films.
- Expanded Shorts Program: Doubling the shorts program to showcase 24 diverse shorts by local and upcoming filmmakers, competing for the Made in MIA Short Film Award.
- Inclusivity and Diversity: This year’s festival places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, featuring a significant number of films that center around the lives of people with disabilities and neurodivergent, reflecting the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse narratives.
- Groundbreaking Experiences: The Miami Film Festival is poised to captivate audiences with an array of groundbreaking experiences that push the boundaries of traditional film viewing and celebrate the diversity of cinematic storytelling. For example:
- “32 Sounds” (Florida Premiere): “32 Sounds,” an Oscar short-listed, immersive documentary by filmmaker Sam Green, offers festival-goers a profound exploration of sound. Screened at the Perez Art Museum with support of Live Arts Miami, participants wear headphones and enjoy a sensory journey through the elemental phenomenon of sound, highlighting the festival’s commitment to innovative and engaging cinematic experiences.
- “Suze” (Florida Premiere): Enjoy dinner and a (free) movie at the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Coconut Grove as part of a special Miami Film Festival experience on April 10. The featured film will be “Suze” about an empty-nest mother who gets stuck with taking care of her daughter’s heartbroken ex-boyfriend when the daughter goes to university.
- “Dear Jassi” (India, directed by Tarsem Singh), follows the story of a young couple who desperately want to be together, but are separated due to time, distance, and societal expectations. Directly following the Florida Premiere screening of “Dear Jassi,” the festival will host a 35mm retrospective screening of Singh’s 2000 film The Cell, co-presented by Popcorn Frights.
- “Lady Like” (North American Premiere): This year, the Miami Film Festival proudly presents the North American premiere of “Lady Like,” a compelling film about the journey of Lady Camden, a London-born, San Francisco-based drag queen, from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame to confronting her traumatic past. The premiere at the Miami Beach Bandshell, a new venue for the festival, includes a Q&A, aligning with Miami Beach Pride Week for a celebration of drag culture.
