Lights, Camera, Action at the Miami Film Festival

Movie lovers and film buffs, rejoice! Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival is coming to a location near you this spring!

That’s right! This annual cinema competition is back for its 37th year, bringing wonder, depth, and—of course—the magic of the movies. To learn more about this exciting 10-day event and how you can get involved, keep reading today’s local spotlight.

Welcome to Film Fest

What exactly is the Miami Film Festival? Great question!

This yearly gathering of artists aims to highlight the work of the world’s most talented emerging and established filmmakers through international and Ibero-American films. These films are presented to the Miami community, where folks like you are invited to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Last year, the 2019 Miami Film Festival brought a crowd of around 45,000 people and 300 filmmakers and industry professionals. It presented over 170 documentaries, feature films, and short stories from all genres and more than 40 different countries.

The festival has even hosted some pretty well-known movie makers, including Spike Lee, Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, and Patricia Clarkson—just to name a few.

2020 Film Festival: Awards & Recognition

The heart of the Miami Film Festival is to showcase the hard work of local and international artists. Thus, it’s only fair that they’re awarded for their efforts.

By the festival’s conclusion, 10 awards will be dished out to a deserving group of jury-selected films. Some of these top prizes include:

Knight Marimbas Award: This is the festival’s biggest honor, presenting $40,000 cash to the feature film that best exemplifies richness and resonance for the future of cinema.

Knight Made in MIA Award: This award is given to the best feature film and best short film (under 30 minutes) of any genre in which a substantial portion of its content was filmed in the South Florida region. Winners are those who create films that most demonstrate emotion, faith, and pride for the South Florida community.

Jordan Ressler First Feature Award: $10,000 cash is awarded to the jury-selected best film by a filmmaker making their feature narrative (60 minutes or more) film debut.

How Can I Get Involved?

Come join in the fun! The Miami Film Festival starts on March 6, 2020 and runs through March 15. Tickets are available for purchase by the general public starting February 13, with pricing as follows:

• $13 General Admission
• $10 Miami Film Society Members
• $12 Seniors (65+)
• $10 Students with ID
• $10 Veterans with ID

For the complete lineup of films and their showtimes, follow the Miami Film Festival over on Facebook. It’s the best way to stay up to date on any of the event activities. Interested in lending a hand? Don’t hesitate to inquire about their various volunteer opportunities as well.

Which reminds us, just because the festival ends on March 15 doesn’t mean the movies have to! Catch both classic and newly released films year-round at Miami Dade College’s historic Tower Theater Miami. You can even become a member to enjoy special discounts and benefits.

Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy the Show

Don’t miss out on the fun! Expand your horizons and experience the joy of film at Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival. Hope to see you there!