The Miami Film Festival is celebrating 40 years. Scheduled for March 3-12, it is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing cinema in the U.S. and a major launching pad for films from 30 different countries. Several have gone on to become Academy Award nominees and winners including “Sound of Metal” for best film editing and best sound. Joshua James Richards, who received the film festivals’ Art of Light Award for cinematography in the Academy’s Best Picture-nominated film Nomadland, was Oscar-nominated for best achievement in cinematography.
Winners are awarded cash prizes totaling more than $100,000 in various categories including feature films, shorts, documentaries, music in films and more. Last year, the Haiti-set “Freda” directed by Géssica Généus, earned the festival’s top jury prize, the $25,000 Knight Marimbas Award, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The festival draws some 45,000 cinephiles, as well as hundreds of filmmakers, producers and talent and industry professionals from around the world.
Past years’ attendees have been treated to award presentations and exclusive in-depth conversations with film legends including Pedro Almodovar, Penelope Cruz, Rita Moreno, Riz Ahmed, Ramin Bahrani, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Aldis Hodge, Javier Camara, Andra Day, Ari Wegner, Cristobal Tapia de Veer and Joshua James Richards.
The films are screened at multiple locations throughout Miami. The festival also plays host to dozens of events, workshops, parties, masterclasses and happy hours.
Visit miamifilmfestival.com