Top 5 Miami Film Festivals [Must Attend]
The Miami Film Festivals emphasizes a wide variety of fields, ranging from the fashion industry to the LGBTQ+ community. These festivals have grown over the years and can extend from a mere three-day celebration to one that occurs for ten days. When it comes to the Miami video production community, festivals are essential, so here are our top picks:
1. The Miami Film Festival
Location:
Miami, FL
Contact:
(305) 237-3456
The Miami Film Festival is one of Miami’s biggest platforms for showcasing the world’s best upcoming and established filmmakers. The festival has been hosted over 30 times. Based on previous attendance, the festival is projected to attract around 45,000+ people and 300 professionals of the filmmaking industry. A wide range of categories are honored at this festival, from documentaries to short films of varying genres and have hosted talents such as Abel Ferrara and Spike Lee. They also have over ten film award categories open for submission, a few of which are:
- Short Film Audience Award
- Miami Film Festival Trailer Award
- Miami Film Festival Poster Award
- Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation Cinemaslam Competition
2. Reel Minds: Miami Mental Health Film Festival
Location:
University of Miami – Shalala Center Grand Ballroom
1330 Miller Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Contact:
(305) 665-2540
The National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of the most prominent mental health organizations in the US, will once again present The Annual Reel Minds Mental Health Film Festival. In connection with this, the films presented are related to the sensitive topic of mental illness, serving to highlight the lives of those who are affected. They are meant to show solidarity and inspiration. Because of the free tickets, the festival is sold out quickly. To qualify, submitted films must fall under the following categories:
- Genre: Mental Illness Short Film
- Hope and recovery is one of the main focuses
- Mental Illness is the focus topic
3. Miami Underground Film Festival
Location:
Churchill’s Pub
5501 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33137
Contact:
The focus of this festival is on bizarre, out of this world films of various forms. This includes local shorts, music videos, and documentaries. The Miami Underground Film festival is one of the most exciting film festivals in this city. It doesn’t stop there, though. The projection of these films is then followed by an Awards ceremony and guest lectures from industry insiders and even live bands. There is a slew of prizes waiting for you, all under one condition: You must be a South Floridian filmmaker.
4. OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Location:
Miami, FL/Fort Lauderdale, FL
Contact:
Running for 22 years as South Florida’s showcase for LGBTQ+ films, the OUTshine has a mission it serves to complete every year. It aims to inspire those members of the community by giving them a platform to explore their creativity and present their historical and contemporary films on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience. Started in 1998, the festival grew to accommodate ten days and 65+ movies. It has also become critically and internationally acclaimed. It is a platform for many premiers such as the World Premiers and GLBT Spanish language films. The festival presents various awards such as:
- Best Documentary: Jury Selection
- Runner-Up Best Short: Audience Favorite Selection
- Best Full-Length Feature: Audience Favorite Selection
- Best Short: Audience Favorite Selection
5. Miami Fashion Film Festival
Location:
O Cinema South Beach
1130 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Contact:
As the name suggests, this festival brings attention to the interdependence between art and fashion, emphasizing the belief that ‘fashion is art’. Local and international films are highlighted during this festival, which includes documentaries, as well as short films. The focus, of course, remains on the fashion industry. The awards are tailored around such, with programs that aim to engage the community in the art and history of the fashion industry. Proceeds from the festival go towards the nonprofit organization, Fashion Inspires More, which aims to expand fashion through art and education. The awards available includes:
- Founder’s Award
- Best Film
- Best Cinematography
- Best Visual Effects
Miami’s Film Festivals’ range of experience, specializations, and themes are wide-reaching. This only exhibits the flexibility of the film industry. Each festival is a recommended, must-attend event.