Miami Film Festival Returns For 43rd Edition
Roll out the red carpet, strike your best pose and smile for the camera—the Miami Film Festival is back for its 43rd installment.
The event, which takes place from April 9 until April 19, will showcase 160 films from 45 countries.
The films and other festivities will take place at several venues across Miami, including the Tower Theater, Little Haiti Cultural Center, the Bill Cosford Cinema at University of Miami, Silverspot Cinema, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall in downtown Miami.
Actors and filmmakers making an appearance include stars like Adam Scott, Bob Odenkirk, Matt Boemer, Josh Horwitz, Lily Reinhart and Danielle Brooks.
“I’m always amazed by how much talent there is out there.” said Lauren Cohen, who serves as the film festival’s director of programming. “It’s really amazing to see filmmakers grow and take off after they screen here.”
Among the selections will be 40 world premieres, two international premieres, 11 North American premieres, five U.S. Premieres, 23 East Coast premieres, and 63 Florida premieres.
Opening night is set to take place at Olympia Theater, 174 E. Flagler St., on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. with Academy Award-winning director Daniel Roher’s feature film Tuner.
It stars Leo Woodall as a young gifted piano tuner with a heightened sense of hearing who falls into a life of crime, using his talents to crack safes for criminals. The movie explores themes of romance, suspense and drama and includes performances by Dustin Hoffman, Jean Reno and Tovah Feldshuh.
Perseverancia, un ensayo documental sobre Tomás Sánchez (Perseverance, a documentary essay on Tomás Sánchez) will screen at the Koubek Center, 2705 S.W. 3rd St. on April 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Juan Carlos Martín, it follows the life and career of Tomás Sánchez, a visual artist from Cuba. The documentary also sheds light on how the 1980s dictatorial Cuba affected Sánchez’s circumstances.
If I Go Will They Miss Me will be shown on April 14 at 6:45 p.m. at the Silverspot Cinema. The film is directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez and will include the attendance of Danielle Brooks for the Art of Light Award.
It stars Bodhi Dell as Lil Ant, a 12-year-old who tries to connect with his distant father while having mythical visions of boys drifting in his South Los Angeles neighborhood. The family drama is a continuation of Thompson-Hernandez’s 2022 short film by the same name.
The festival will close at the Olympia Theater on April 18 with Power Ballad, a comedy-drama focused around music, self-respect, friendship and the price of ambition. It screens at 7 p.m.
Starring Paul Rudd as waning wedding singer Rick, he goes to a wedding gig and meets Danny, a washed-up teen idol played by Nick Jonas. The two quickly bond over music, and Danny turns one of Rick’s old songs into a smash hit to revive his own career. Rick realizes his new friend stole his song and embarks on a revenge journey to reclaim his recognition.
This year, the Miami Film Festival will be handing out seven awards totaling $40,000 with the support of ArtesMiami.
They include the Made in MIA Award, Marimbas Award, Documentary Achievement Award, Made in MIA Short Film Award, Miami International Short Film Award, Short Documentary Film Award, the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award and the Cinemaslam Competition.
“The best thing about this festival is that we have a type of film for everybody.” said James Woolley, executive director of the MFF. “There’s a new favorite film for kids, for students, for grandmas, for anybody.”
For more information on tickets and events, visit: https://miamifilmfestival.com/attend/.
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