Running March 4–13, 2016, Filmmakers from 40 Countries Will Exhibit 129 Feature, Documentary, and Short Films
Monica Bellucci, Iciar Bollaín, Gavin Hood and Deepa Mehta will all receive tributes in a new Marquee Series to be presented at the 33rd edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival scheduled for March 4 – 13, 2016. The 10-day annual event takes place at the Festival’s traditional home, the historic Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami, plus six additional cinemas scattered across the Miami; and includes a plethora of screenings, stylish parties, thoughtful panel discussions, spirited film competitions, awards ceremonies and immersive cultural exchange opportunities for filmmakers attending from across the globe.
Official Poster of the 33rd annual Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival
Additionally, director Andrew Currie‘s comedy The Steps, starring James Brolin, will receive its US Premiere at the Festival as the Closing Night selection. The Festival is the only major film festival worldwide produced by a college or university.
The new announcements join Alex de la Iglesia‘s My Big Night, previously announced as the Opening Night Selection, as the Festival’s major touchstones. The pop comedy My Big Night stars Spanish recording legend Raphael, who will open the Festival with a personal appearance at the March 4th screening.
Celebrating its 33rd annual edition, the MIAMI DADE COLLEGE’S MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival entertains more than 60,000 audience members and over 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. The MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL‘s special focus on Ibero-American cinema has made the Festival a natural gateway for the discovery of new talent from this diverse territory. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. Major sponsors of the 2016 Festival include THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, LEXUS and MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. (For more information, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM(3456.)
“This year’s lineup is like a prism that invites Miami to see the world with an illumination that only the cinema, and the artists that create the work, can provide,” says theFestival’s Executive Director and Director of Programming, Jaie Laplante. “The programmers have populated the program with films and events that are essential to the complex, dynamic, ever-changing Miami of the now.“
This year’s Festival showcases 129 films, including 100 feature films and documentaries and 29 short films produced and directed by both renowned and emerging talent from 40 countries. Forty-six are directed or co-directed by women.The Festival is pleased to announce numerous important premieres: 12 World, 1 International, 16 North American and 13 US premieres, debuting in Miami.
The Festival’s new MARQUEE SERIES category, dedicated to on-stage conversations with major film personalities of the moment, sharing a major new work, includes:
Monica Bellucci in Conversation with Guy Edoin (Tuesday, March 8th). The Italian fashion beauty and screen star will discuss her career up to and including her brilliant new starring role in Edoin’s Ville-Marie, which will screen after the Conversation.
Conversation with Iciar Bollaín (Sunday, March 6th). The double Goya Award-winning Spanish actress-director will speak about her career and her latest film, The Olive Tree, which will receive its World Premiere in Miami after the Conversation.
Conversation with Gavin Hood (Saturday, March 5th). The Academy Award-winning South African filmmaker of Tsotsi will speak about his career and screen his new film, Eye In The Sky, starring Dame Helen Mirren and the late Alan Rickman.
Conversation with Deepa Mehta (Wednesday, March 9th). The Academy Award-nominated Indo-Canadian filmmaker of Water will speak about her career in the context of the screening of her new film, Beeba Boys, described as “a desiScarface”.
Additional films include:
CINEDWNTWN OPENING NIGHT FILM Presented By Miami Downtown Development Authority and the OPENING NIGHT PARTY presented by The Historic Alfred I. Dupont Building and Tilia Events on Friday, March 4, 2016
As previously announced, Álex de la Iglesia‘s My Big Night (Spain), starring Spanish pop icon Raphael and an ensemble cast of many of the biggest stars in the Spanish film industry, opens the Festival. In a special treat for Miami audiences, Raphael will appear in person at the screening to officially inaugurate this year’s Festival. (http://2016.miamifilmfestival.com/films/my-big-night/)
This riotous pop masterpiece from de la Iglesia (Think Broadway’s Noises Off!) chronicles the accidents, romances, conspiracies and backstage shenanigans that beset the taping of an unusually fraught New Year’s Eve variety show. The agitated extravaganza is headlined by pompous singing icon Alphonso (played with self-satirizing brio by real-life singer Raphael) being stalked by a tunesmith with a murderous grudge. Alphonse’s younger beefcake counterpart Adán (Mario Casas) is sought by a groupie looking to snatch a sample of the legendary Lothario’s semen.
Out in the house a runaway crane takes out an extra, who is promptly replaced by endearing nebbish José (Pepón Nieto)—though José too may be doomed to some grievous bodily harm if he continues to pursue his comely colleague Paloma (Blanca Suárez), a woman with a history of unintentionally maiming every man she fancies. The hosts hate each other, the director can’t contain the chaos, and riot police are called in to quell the violent demonstration erupting right outside the studio doors.
My Big Night starts where most films climax and grows steadily more manic from there. The laughs possess an edgy uneasiness enhanced by the cast’s go-for-broke performances. A master orchestrator of mischief, de la Iglesia keeps us oriented as this audacious ensemble comedy spins wildly out of control. Get ready for a great time. My Big Night is more than a film—it’s a party!
My Big Night turns into “My Big Party” after the film with an outstanding Opening Night party at the Historic Alfred I. Dupont Building. The party promises to ring in the new Festival with glitz and cheer, boasting rocking music, cuisine, cocktails, and dancing, all in the spirit of a glittering New Year’s Eve bash. The events kick off the Festival’s CINEDWNTWN series, sponsored by Miami’s Downtown Development Authority.
CINEDWNTWN AWARDS NIGHT FILM presented by Miami Downtown Development Authority and Pyrat Rum Awards Night Party sponsored by The Related Group on Saturday, March 12, 2016
Following the presentation of the juried Awards, the US premiere of Andrew Currie’s The Steps (Canada) will close the Festival’s official premieres. Featuring a brilliant ensemble cast led by James Brolin and Oscar-winner Christine Lahti, this riotous comedy is about what happens when two already fraught families are forced to merge into one big dysfunctional clan.
As The Steps opens, we meet failed investment banker Jeff (Jason Ritter) and his party-animal sister Marla (Emmanuelle Chriqui), New Yorkers who’ve been invited by their publishing-magnate father, Ed (James Brolin), to visit his cottage in Northern Ontario. They’re infuriated, terrified and appalled — to them, Canada is even a bigger wasteland than Wyoming. Since their father married Sherry (Christine Lahti), a woman with a chequered past and children by three different men, they’ve been worried they may never see any of their father’s fortune.
Jeff and Marla head for Georgian Bay and find that things are worse than anticipated. Sherry’s crew of offspring would have to step up their game seriously just to reach the “motley” level. Keith (Steven McCarthy) is an unemployed musician who was kicked out of the emerging band he was in; Samir (Vinay Virmani) is a pot dealer and full-time stoner; and though eldest son David (Benjamin Arthur) may have the second-largest paintball field in all of Ontario, he also seems to have fairly serious rage issues. And now Sherry and Ed are planning on a few changes to their family that may leave Jeff and Marla out in the cold.
Mocking peculiar obsessions and peccadilloes on both sides of the border, Currie (who made the memorable zombie comedy Fido, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006) and his fine cast have an enormous amount of fun skewering everything from Americans’ less appealing dietary habits to Canada’s love of Nickelback. Brolin and Lahti have an enormous amount of fun as love-struck newlyweds, as do Ritter and Chriqui as Ed’s snotty and entitled kids, and the supporting cast attacks their roles with gusto (especially Arthur as always-angry Canadian nationalist David). As lingering bitterness and current disappointments wreak havoc in the cottage and disaster looms, threatening even Ed and Sherry’s idyllic happiness, these strangers slowly, and hilariously, figure out how to become a family.
After the screening, the evening continues by walking up “the steps” to the beautiful outdoor plaza at The Related Group‘s latest addition to the swanky Miami skyline, the newly-announced One Brickell property just “steps” away from Olympia Theater on the banks of the Miami River at 444 Brickell Ave. Feel what it means to project light in the Magic City through an imaginative collection of installations and entertainers, all courtesy of Pyrat Rum and Stella Artois.
CINEDWNTWN SCREENINGS PRESENTED BY MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Red carpet events featuring the year’s most compelling works be top-tier directors showcased at the historic Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami. New titles announced for major screenings in the Festival’s historic home for all 33 of its years:
Queen of Thursdays (USA, directed by Orlando Rojas) *World Premiere. A documentary about Rosario Suarez, Cuba’s famed, exiled prima ballerina now living in Miami.
I’ve Never Not Been from Miami (USA, directed by Andrew Hevia, Joey Daoud, Jonathan David Kane, MonicaPeña, Tabatha Mudra, Keisha Rae Witherspoon, Kenny Riches, Jacob Katel, Kareem Tabsch and Tina Francisco). Ten short films all directed by local filmmakers, about local artists. A Soiree Film paired with Behind the Curtain Onstage Party at Olympia Theater.
“Who Is Lou Gehrig?” (USA, directed by Gil Green). A documentary short mixing illusion and reality about local basketball coach Jeff Fogel and his brave fight to stay positive. Featuring Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem.
THESE FILMS JOIN THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED CINEDWNTWN GALAS:
Palm Trees in The Snow (Spain, directed by Fernando González Molina)
The Rebound (USA, directed by Shaina Allen) World Premiere – A Soiree Film paired with “Who Is Lou Gehrig?” (USA, directed by Gil Green) – Screenings paired with a Backlot Bash at Toejam Backlot (150 NW 21st St., Miami)
Spanish Affair 2 (Ocho apellidos catalanes) (Spain, directed by Emilio Martinez Lazaro)
FESTIVAL COMPETITION CATEGORIES:
KNIGHT COMPETITION PRESENTED BY THE JOHN S. & JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION: A mesmerizing variety of powerful works from around the world, directed by filmmakers who have directed at least one previous Official Selection (feature) of the Festival. Films are eligible for Achievement awards totaling $40,000 in cash. The 28 films (*indicates the title was previously announced) selected for this Competition are:
*The Apostate (Spain, Uruguay, France, directed by Federico Veiroj)
Argentina (Argentina, directed by Carlos Saura)
Chronic (Mexico, France, directed by Michel Franco)
The Companion (Cuba, Colombia, France, Panama, Venezuela, directed by Pavel Giroud)
Dheepan (France, directed by Jacques Audiard)
Eye in The Sky (UK, directed by Gavin Hood)
*Happy 140 (Spain, directed by Gracia Querejeta)
*Hearts of Palm (USA, directed by MonicaPeña) *World Premiere
I Promise You Anarchy (Mexico, Germany, directed by Julio Hernández Cordón)
Incident Light (Argentina, France, Uruguay, directed by Ariel Rotter)
*An Italian Name (Italy, directed by Francesca Archibugi)
The Lobster (Ireland, UK, Greece, France, Netherlands, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos)
The Memory of Water (Chile, Spain, Argentina, Germany, directed by Matias Bize)
A Monster with A Thousand Heads (Mexico, directed by Rodrigo Plá)
Mountains May Depart (China, France, Japan, directed by Zhang-ke Jia)
Much Ado About Nothing (Chile, directed by Alejandro Fernandez-Almendras)
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (USA, directed by Morgan Neville)
*My Big Night (Spain, directed by Álex de la Iglesia)
*Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper (USA, directed by Liz Garbus)
The Olive Tree (Spain, Germany, directed by Iciar Bollaín)*World Premiere
One Breath (Germany, Greece, directed by Christian Zübert)
Paulina (Argentina, Brazil, France, directed by Santiago Mitre)
*Spanish Affair 2 (Spain, directed by Emilio Martinez Lazaro)
*Spy Time (Spain, directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera)
Sunset Song (UK, Luxembourg, directed by Terence Davies)
Tale of Tales (Italy, France, UK, directed by Mateo Garrone)
*Trapped (USA, directed by Dawn Porter)
*Truman (Spain, Argentina, directed by Cesc Gay)
KNIGHT DOCUMENTARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED BY THE JOHN S. & JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION: Candid, thought-provoking feature-length documentaries examining social issues, diverse cultures and influential people compete for an audience-voted $10,000 cash achievement award. The 17 films (*indicates the title was previously announced) selected for this Competition are:
Argentina (Argentina, directed by Carlos Saura)
*Beyond My Grandfather Allende (Chile, Mexico, directed by Marcia Tambutti Allende)
*Cameraperson (USA, directed by Kirsten Johnson)
The Forbidden Shore (Canada, directed by Ron Chapman)
Mapplethorpe: Look at The Pictures (USA, directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barnato)
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble (USA, directed by Morgan Neville)
*Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (USA, directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady)
*Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper (USA, directed by Liz Garbus)
Our Last Tango (Germany, Argentina, directed by German Kral)
Queen of Thursdays (USA, directed by Orlando Rojas)*World Premiere
Presenting Princess Shaw (Israel, directed by Ido Haar)
*The Rebound (USA, directed by Shaina Allen)*World Premiere
*Snacks, Bites of A Revolution (Spain, directed by Veronica Escuer and Cristina Jolonch)
Thank You for Your Service (USA, directed by Tom Donahue)
*Tocando la luz (Touch The Light) (USA, Cuba, directed by Jennifer Redfearn)
*Trapped (USA, directed by Dawn Porter)
*Weiner (USA, directed by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg)
LEXUS IBERO-AMERICAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION: Open to all Ibero-American films in the Official Selection, competing for a jury-selected cash Achievement Award of $10,000, courtesy of Lexus. The 35 films (*indicates the title was previously announced) selected for this Competition are:
*Abzurdah (Argentina, directed by Daniela Goggi)
*The Apostate (Spain, Uruguay, France, directed by Federico Veiroj)
*The Bride (Spain, Germany, directed by Paula Ortiz)
Cien años de perdon (Spain, directed by Daniel Calparsoro)
The Companion (Cuba, Colombia, France, Panama, Venezuela, directed by Pavel Giroud)
*Dark Glasses (Cuba, Spain, directed by Jessica Rodriguez)
Dogs’ Night (Argentina, directed by Nacho Sesma)
Elephant: The Horse (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, directed by Andrés Waissbluth)*World Premiere
The Farm (Puerto Rico, directed by Angel Manuel Soto)
From Afar (Venezuela, Mexico, directed by Lorenzo Vigas)
*Happy 140 (Spain, directed by Gracia Querejeta)
The Heirs (Mexico, Norway, directed by Jorge Hernandez)
I Promise You Anarchy (Mexico, Germany, directed by Julio Hernández Cordón)
Incident Light (Argentina, France, Uruguay, directed by Ariel Rotter)
*The King of Havana (Spain, Dominican Republic, directed by Agusti Villaronga)
*Ma Ma (Spain, France, directed by Julio Medem)
*Magallanes (Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, directed by Salvador del Solar)
The Memory of Water (Chile, Spain, Argentina, Germany, directed by Matias Bize)
A Monster with A Thousand Heads (Mexico, directed by Rodrigo Plá)
Much Ado About Nothing (Chile, directed by Alejandro Fernandez-Almendras)
*My Big Night (Spain, directed by Álex de la Iglesia)
*My Friend from The Park (Argentina, Uruguay, directed by Ana Katz)
No Kids (Argentina, Spain, directed by Ariel Winograd)
*Nothing in Return (Spain, directed by Daniel Guzmán)
The Olive Tree (Spain, Germany, directed by Iciar Bollaín)*World Premiere
*Palm Trees in The Snow (Spain, directed by Fernando González Molina)
Panamerican Machinery (Mexico, directed by Joaquin del Paso)
Paulina (Argentina, Brazil, France, directed by Santiago Mitre)
*Restless Love (Brazil, directed by Vera Egito)*World Premiere
*Siembra (Colombia, directed by Angela Maria Osorio Rojas and Santiago Lozano Alvarez)
*Spanish Affair 2 (Spain, directed by Emilio Martinez Lazaro)
*Spy Time (Spain, directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera)
*Truman (Spain, Argentina, directed by Cesc Gay)
Viaje (Costa Rica, directed by Paz Fabrega)
*We Are Pregnant (Spain, directed by Juana Macías)
JORDAN ALEXANDER RESSLER FOUNDATION SCREENWRITING PRIZE: Screenwriters from all feature films in the Festival that have a first-produced feature screenwriter credited, compete for a jury-selected cash prize of $5,000, courtesy of the family of the late Jordan Alexander Ressler. This special award recognizes and supports first-time produced screenwriters. It was created by the South Florida family of Jordan Alexander Ressler, an aspiring screenwriter and Cornell University film studies graduate who, during his brief entertainment career, held production positions with the Tony award-winning Broadway hits 700 Sundays with Billy Crystal and The Jersey Boys.
The 11 screenwriters (*indicates the title was previously announced) eligible for this competition are:
Beatbox (USA, written by Andrew Dresher)
*Dark Glasses (Cuba, Spain, written by Jessica Rodriguez)
Dogs’ Night (Argentina, written by Nacho Sesma)
The Farm (Puerto Rico, written by Angel Manuel Soto)
From Afar (Venezuela, Mexico, written by Lorenzo Vigas)
*Magallanes (Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, written by Salvador del Solar)
*Mountain (Israel, written by Yaelle Kayam)
*Nothing in Return (Spain, written by Daniel Guzmán)
*Siembra (Colombia, written by Angela Maria Osorio Rojas and Santiago Lozano Alvarez)
The Steps (Canada, written by Robyn Harding)
The Wait (Italy, written by Giacomo Bendotti, Ilaria Macchia, Andrea Paolo Massara and Piero Messina)
FILM SHORTS COMPETITION:The latest in films 30 minutes or less from around the globe, the jury-selected winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize. The competing films are:
“The 100 Years Show” (USA, directed by Alison Klayman)
“Doble 9” (USA, directed by Aisha Schliessler)*World Premiere
“Glove” (USA, directed by Bernardo Britto)
“If I Was God” (Canada, directed by Cordell Barker)
“La Nube” (Cuba, directed by Marcel Beltrán)
“Land Tides” (Chile, directed by Manuela Martelli and Amirah Tajdin)
“The Lift” (Spain, directed by Javier Polo)*World Premiere
“The Man of My Life” (France, directed by Melanie Delloye)
“Memories of The Sea” (Brazil, USA, Peru, directed by Thais Drassinower)
“Najmia” (USA, directed by Cristhian Andrews)
“Party Girl” (Poland, Trinidad & Tobago, directed by Roma Zachemba)
“This Modern Man Is Beat” (USA, directed by Alex Merkin)
FESTIVAL NON-COMPETITION CATEGORIES:
SOIREE Series: A memorable evening out, beginning with an inspiring and entertaining film, segueing into a fabulous social experience. Films included in this series are:
The Idol (UK, Palestine, Qatar, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, directed by Hany Abu-Assad) – Screening paired with The Standard Affair at The Standard Spa (40 Island Ave., Miami Beach)
Tale of Tales (Italy, directed by Matteo Garrone) – Screening paired with Desserts & Directors at The Temple House (1415 Euclid Ave., Miami Beach)
CINEMA 360° PRESENTED BY VIENDOMOVIES AND XFINITY: A vibrant and dynamic selection of narrative works (*indicates previously announced title), from both accomplished and emerging filmmakers, including an international selection of dramas, comedies, suspense thrillers, and innovative docudramas.
*4 Kings (Germany, directed by Theresa Von Eltz)
Disorder (France, Belgium, directed by Alice Winocour)
The Endless River (South Africa, France, directed by Oliver Hermanus)
Gold Coast (Denmark, Ghana, Sweden, directed by Daniel Dencik)
Highway to Hellas (Germany, directed by Aron Lehmann)
Maggie’s Plan (USA, directed by Rebecca Miller)
Mammal (Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, directed by Rebecca Daly)
The Measure of a Man (France, directed by Stéphane Brizé)
The Meddler (USA, directed by Lorene Scafaria)
*My King (France, directed by Maïwenn)
*Our Loved Ones (Canada, directed by Anne Emond)
*Parched (India, USA, UK, directed by Leena Yadav)
The Promised Land (China, directed by He Ping)
“Rocket Wars” (Greece, directed by Salomon Ligthelm)
Standing Tall (France, directed by Emmanuelle Bercot)
*Summertime (France, directed by Catherine Corsini)
The Surprise (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, directed by Mike Vam Diem)
Two Friends (France, directed by Louis Garrell)
LEE BRIAN SCHRAGER’S CULINARY CINEMA: Returning for a fourth mouthwatering year, the Culinary Cinema category has teamed up with catering and foodie event legend, Lee Brian Schrager, for a schedule of distinct film & culinary pairings. Premiere sponsor, Frederick Wildman & Sons, will pair its wines with the four meals during the Festival. Take your palette and mind on a culinary adventure with these delicious options:
Crushed (Australia, directed by Megan Riakos) – Screening paired with a three-course meal prepared by Aussie native Chef Aaron Brooks at EDGE Steak & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Miami (1435 Brickell Ave., Miami)
My Bakery in Brooklyn (Spain, USA, directed by Gustavo Ron) – Screening paired with an exclusive three-course private dinner at the ultra hip Wynwood kosher bakery & café, Zak the Baker (405 NW 26th St., Miami)
Snacks, Bites of A Revolution (Spain, directed by Veronica Escuer and Cristina Jolonch) – Screening paired with three-courses of Spanish experimental fare at Piripi Miami at The Shops at Merrick Park (320 San Lorenzo Ave., #1315, Coral Gables)
Sweet Bean (Japan, France, Germany, directed by Naomi Kawase) – Screening paired with prepared Japanese delights, by Japanese restaurant, Katsuya, and hosted at the MDC’s Tower Theater (1508 SW 8th St., Miami)
**PRE-FESTIVAL EVENT IN COLLABORATION WITH SOUTH BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL: Screening of the classic Mexican film, Like Water for Chocolate (Mexico, 1992, directed by Alfonso Arau) – Sunday, February 28th at 6 p.m. / Following the screening, conversation with screenwriter, Laura Esquivel, at <