Miami has its highs and lows, when it comes to television and film productions. Recently, Miami has been on a high from the Academy Award-winning film, “Moonlight.” Each year, cinema lovers flock to the Miami area to catch some the hottest films around. Fortunately, for Miami Beach residents, they don’t have to travel far to catch thrilling artistic films.
History of the Miami Film Festival
The Miami Film Festival first opened on February 3rd, 1984, and was founded by the non-profit Film Society of Miami, Inc. The Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center officially became the residence of the Miami Film Festival in 1989; and, was moved to Miami Dade College in 2003. Over the years, the Miami Film Festival has grown, and runs for 10 concurrent days. The Miami Film Festival has hosted a diverse range of filmmakers, which include Pedro Almodovar and Spike Lee. Hollywood celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Demi Moore, Helen Hunt, Ashton Kutcher, and Shirley MacLaine, among many others, have all walked the red-carpet at this star-studded event.
Miami Film Festival 2017
The 34th Annual Miami Film Festival kicked off on March 3rd, and will run through March 12th. Screenings take place all over Greater Miami and the beaches at theaters such as O Cinema Miami Beach, the Coral Gables Art Cinema, the Olympia Theater, the Regal 17, and the Regal 18. The opening night film was “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” which was produced and starred by actor, producer, and humanitarian Richard Gere, whom attended the film screening and the Champagne & Stars Opening Night Party hosted by filmmaker Joseph Cedar.The 2017 Miami Film Festival is showcasing 131 feature narratives, feature documentaries, and short films. Entries into the film festival come from 40 countries. This year’s film festival sees the world and international premieres of 22 films. Out of the 131 films being showcased, 36 of them are either directed or codirected by women.
The city of Miami and its citizens are being featured throughout the festival, with many events focused on Miamians. Two Miami residents that have chosen the Miami Film Festival to premiere their films include Emilio Estefan with “A Change of Heart,” and Kenny Ortega and Miami-born Blake Jenner’s “Billy Boy.” In addition to these two films, there are a slew of other films with Miami connections.
