Attack of the film festivals

The 25th Miami International Film Festival may be over, but the local film festival season is just getting started.

First up is the third annual Women's International Film and Arts Festival, which runs March 28-April 6. Boasting 100 feature-length and short films "by women, about women and for all who love women," the event opens with the red pink carpet world premiere of Steam, starring Ally Sheedy and recent Oscar-nominee Ruby Dee, both of whom will attend.

The black-tie screening will be held at the Gusman, followed by an opening-night bash at the Havana Club featuring a performance by Xiomara Laugart, star of the off-Broadway hit Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, which I can personally attest is a whopping good time. Unfortunately, the party carries a big "BY INVITATION ONLY" label on the program, which is usually code for "We don't want you here." Alabao!

Anyway. Other WIFF events include An Evening With Ruby Dee at the Lyric Theater on March 31, a slew of workshops and panels and, of course, movies. You can download a copy of the festival program here.

  Next up is the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary April 25-May 4. The festival launches with a screening of Breakfast with Scot and closes with Were the World Mine, both at the Gusman.

Other noteworthy events include the festival's centerpiece selection, The Secrets starring Fanny Ardant, and a tribute to iconoclastic film producer Christine Vachon (I Shot Andy Warhol, Go Fish, Far From Heaven) along with a screening of her latest film Savage Grace, starring Julianne Moore.

New this year is the addition of a parallel mini-fest, the Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which will run May 1-May 4 with its own set of films. The festival's complete lineup will be unveiled this Sunday. 

A few weeks later, the 12th edition of the Brazilian Film Festival of Miami arrives. Running May 30-June 7, the event kicks off with a free outdoor screening of last year's People's Choice Award winners Urban Snapshots (Polaroides Urbanes) and Chicken Blood Stew (Galinha ao Molho Pardo) at the North Beach Bandshell on Collins Avenue.

Nine days of screenings, workshops and parties will follow at the Colony and Lincoln Theaters and Miami Beach Cinematheque. This year's lineup will be announced on April 18th.

Comments

[FD-Condo-Hotel-South-Beach]

Thank you for sharing with us this information.

I had a blast at the Miami International Film Festival, especially with a Peruvian movie: "LOKAS". A great movie and you may find it on DVD in the next 6 to 12 months.

I can't wait for the Brazilian Film Festival. Brazil have always some imaginative, clever and funny movies.

Thanks. We live in a great city. Best regards.