First-Ever MIFFecito Provides A Strong Shot Of Cinema

Miami International Film Festival hosted its first ever MIFFecito—a semiannual event held exclusively at Miami Dade College’s Tower Theater—running from Oct. 16 through 19.

MIFFecito presented a mini MIFF experience, concentrated into four days that included more than 10 international red-carpet premieres, accompanied by in-person appearances by some of the actors and filmmakers.

Opening night premiered the film Behavior (Conducta)—directed by Ernesto Daranas—about a troubled boy  growing up in Cuba, forced to go to reform school. Daranas made a red-carpet appearance along with Hector Noas, one of the actors from the film.

Daranas said he drew inspiration from his neighborhood growing up in Cuba, and the realities that he sees every day. It was important for him to capture the true essence of Cuba, so he insisted on using normal children, not actors, to play the characters in the movie.

“I’m not too worried about imposing a specific idea, or point of view, or message to the audience…the possibilities of creating a story with value and sentiment, and everyone drawing their own conclusion, that’s what I want for the movie,” Daranas said.

Noas, who only had a minor role in the film, was still an instrumental part of conveying the message.

“Even though it’s a small part, it’s the most human character I’ve played,” he said. “I didn’t even have to act much, I just let myself be moved by the emotion, and the story, and the kids. It’s truly been a gift to be a part of this film.”

Saturday premiered the movies Paradise—about a couple who succumb to insecurities when trying to lose weight that test their relationship after moving from the suburbs to the big city—and Lake Los Angeles, about a Cuban man who uses his home as a passage for immigrants in order to make some extra cash. In attendance was the director for Paradise, Mariana Chenillo, and an actor from Lake Los Angeles, Roberto Sanchez.

It was Chenillo’s second time attending MDC’s Tower Theater. Chenillo debuted her first feature film, Nora’s Will, at the Tower Theater in 2008 where it was well received. When asked what it meant to debut a film at MIFFecito, she said “I’m really excited. For me, Florida is really important. Nora’s Will played on and off for a year in this cinema…and after that the distributor decided to open it in 50 cities around the country, so for me it’s like the beginning of everything. I’m very happy.”

Sanchez, the protagonist in Lake Los Angeles, also expressed his excitement in being a part of MIFFecito: “It’s phenomenal, it’s awesome. It’s my home town, and to be able to come with my own film, it’s incredible. I used to come as a kid to watch movies, you know, so it’s so cool.”

With a broad range of inspiring and eye-opening films, MIFFecito was a delightful experience, filled with influential directors, screenwriters, and actors expressing their own cultural diversity and vision.

MIFFecito offered up the perfect sampling of what’s to come at next year’s 32nd annual MIFF, running March 6-15, 2015.