The Miami International Film Festival returns for its 28th year. This year\u2019s festival features 100 films from around the world, as well as a series of seminars hosted by industry professionals. The following are our selections for must see films at the 2011 MIFF. For more info, visit MIAMIFILMFESTIVAL.COM<\/p>\n
Text by Jessica Medina and Mark Pulaski<\/em><\/p>\n Chico & Rita<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gusman Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, March 4, 2011\u2014 7 p.m.<\/p>\n For the first time in its 28-year history, the MIFF will be opening with an animated feature\u2014Chico & Rita<\/em>.<\/p>\n The film follows the stories of Chico, an up-and-coming piano player, and his love-interest Rita, a beautiful singer with a heavenly voice. Fueled by their love of music\u2014 and each other\u2014the couple embark on a journey that spans across multiple continents and decades.<\/p>\n Featuring a unique visual style and music from jazz legends Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddy Cole; Chico & Rita<\/em> promises to be a great way to kick off the 2011 MIFF.<\/p>\n The Piano in a Factory<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Regal South Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, March 4, 2011\u20146:15 p.m.<\/p>\n Saturday, March 5, 2011\u2014 9:45 p.m.<\/p>\n Making its U.S. debut, Piano in a Factory<\/em> is not only a tale of a fathers unwavering love for his daughter, but a comedic story of friendship and loyalty. Single father, Chen, struggles daily to take care of his daughter. His life becomes slightly more difficult when his estranged wife emerges not only asking for a divorce, but for custody of the single most precious thing he holds dear\u2014his daughter.<\/p>\n To solve the custody battle, the little girl declares that she will live with whoever can provide her a piano.<\/p>\n Faced with this challenge, Chen goes on a journey to acquire a piano before finally resolving to build his own out of scrap steel with help from a gang of misfits. The piano may not have classical sound, but Chen will surely play a melody of the heart.<\/p>\n Potiche<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gusman Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, March 5, 2011\u20146:45 p.m.<\/p>\n Potiche<\/em>, starring Oscar nominees Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve, is a French comedy featuring a housewife turned businesswoman coming to her husband\u2019s aid in his time of need. Deneuve is forced to take control of her husband\u2019s umbrella business after he suffers a near-fatal heart attack. She proves to be a popular and lovable boss, even with the mayor and union leader (Depardieu). A heated battle of the sexes surfaces once her husband has a smooth recovery and wants to return to work. Will a 70\u2019s era housewife conquer a stubborn chauvinist? Check out Potiche<\/em> to find out.<\/p>\n Mamma Gogo<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Regal South Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, March 11, 2011\u20146:15 p.m.<\/p>\n Sunday, March 13, 2011\u20147:00 p.m.<\/p>\n A semi-autobiographical, humorous, and compassionate journey of an Icelandic filmmakers experience as his charismatic and quick-witted mother, Mamma Gogo<\/em>, descends into the treacherous disease that is Alzheimers.<\/p>\n Fridrik Thor Fridriksson portrays an unstable period in his own life, when his film Children of Nature<\/em> flopped in theatres and his last salvation was its nod from the Oscars.<\/p>\n The uncertainty of his public life mirrored that of his private life as Mamma Gogo<\/em> lost her sanity before his very eyes.<\/p>\n Incendies<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gusman Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, March 12, 2011\u20147:00 p.m.<\/p>\n Incendies\u2014currently nominated for an Oscar\u2014is the fictional tale of Arab-Canadian twins Simon and Jeanne and their quest to unravel the secrets kept by their mother.<\/p>\n After her death, they embark on a voyage to the Middle East to find that their father who they thought was dead, is actually alive.<\/p>\n They also discover a brother they did not know existed. A compelling plot adapted from Wajdi Mouawads play of the same name, is sure to deliver a memorable cinematic experience.<\/p>\n Beyond<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Regal South Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Wednesday, March 9, 2011\u20149:45 p.m.<\/p>\n Friday, March 11, 2011\u20149:30 p.m.<\/p>\n British Academy of Film and Television Arts award nominee Noomi Rapace (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo<\/em>) plays Leena, a young mother of two whose abusive childhood comes knocking at her doorstep, or better said, ringing through her telephone. After receiving a phone call from her hometown\u2019s hospital about her alcoholic mother\u2019s severe illness, Leena is faced with a life-altering decision. Going back and reopening deeply rooted wounds is a painful process, but is it worth the healing and retribution?<\/p>\n Things Fall Apart<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gusman Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, March 5, 2011\u20149:45 p.m.<\/p>\n Rapper\/Actor Curtis \u201c50 Cent\u201d Jackson underwent a drastic weight loss\u2014shedding 54 pounds\u2014 for his role as Deon Barnes, a cancer-stricken college football player with dreams of going pro. 50 Cent also co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the film. Directed by Mario Van Peebles and co-starring Ray Liotta, this drama will be making its world premiere at this year\u2019s festival.<\/p>\n In a Better World<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Gusman Center<\/strong><\/p>\n Sunday, March 6, 2011\u20147:00 p.m.<\/p>\n Current Oscar nominee Susanne Bier directs another international hit, which happens to be the current Oscar contender for Best Foreign film. Already winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, In a Better World<\/em> probes the hardship of two young men, Elias and Christian, who find refuge in each other\u2019s pain. Christian\u2014forced to move back to Denmark with his withdrawn father after his mother\u2019s death\u2014 is silently grieving when he meets the perpetually bullied Elias\u2014a fragile boy whose father is performing missionary work in Africa. They begin to channel their feelings of abandonment and betrayal in increasingly violent acts. Bier pushes the envelope and brutally depicts the emotional destitution of a tragic youth.<\/p>\n The Whistleblower<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Tower Theatre<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, March 12, 2011\u20149:30 p.m.<\/p>\n The true story of Kathryn Bolkovac\u2014Nebraska cop turned U.N. peace keeper in post-war Bosnia\u2014 and her disturbing findings is brilliantly illustrated with a dazzling Oscar-winning cast featuring the likes of Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave.<\/p>\n Larysa Kondracki makes her directorial debut with this astonishing drama about the sex trafficking scandal uncovered in Bosnia, the outing of fellow U.N. workers partaking in the sexual enslavement of young girls, and how the U.N. tried to keep it silent.<\/p>\n An account of a very real, very cruel fact of today\u2019s world is a sobering must watch in this year\u2019s festival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Miami International Film Festival returns for its 28th year. This year\u2019s festival features 100 films from around the world, as well as a series of seminars hosted by industry professionals. The following are our selections for must see films at the 2011 MIFF. For more info, visit MIAMIFILMFESTIVAL.COM Text by Jessica Medina and Mark […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7474","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-ae"},"yoast_head":"\n