Miami Production Brief — Festivals, Permits, and Studio Notes for Early October
Miami video production is active this week with GEMS programming at the Miami Film Festival and steady local permit activity from FilmMiami and City of Miami offices.
Miami’s production ecosystem mixes festival screenings, routine commercial shoots, and an emerging push for more local studio capacity. Below I summarize verifiable items between Sept 26 and Oct 10, 2025, explain how permit rules and event calendars affect on-street work, and point to studio and crew resources for quick hires. If an item had no published date inside the window I note the nearest confirmed timing and the source.
What’s on the calendar
The Miami Film Festival’s year-round/GEMS calendar shows the GEMS program launch screening After The Hunt on Sept 30 at the Koubek Theater — that screening and similar GEMS events are the clearest festival items in the next two weeks and will concentrate evening audiences near FIU/Koubek venues. Check the festival calendar for ticket times before scheduling nearby pickups or basecamp parking.
Production alerts
- GEMS screening: After The Hunt, Sept 30 — expect ticketed crowds and evening traffic near Koubek / FIU venues.
- Weekly permit activity: Miami Today publishes weekly “Filming in Miami” permit roundups that list recent permit issuances and location reports — a useful live feed to see what’s already permitted nearby.
- Notable recent productions: Netflix’s medical drama Pulse and Kevin Hart’s Netflix feature 72 Hours filmed in the Miami area this year, demonstrating continued studio and streamer interest in South Florida locations (this drives local crew demand).
- Studio development: the City has moved forward on a Florida Film & Television Center concept and local reporting notes steps toward expanded studio infrastructure — monitor the Film Commission and local press for concrete stage-opening dates.
Permits, insurance, and logistics
Miami-Dade’s Office of Film & Entertainment (FilmMiami) and the City of Miami’s Office of Film & Entertainment publish permit guidelines, insurance minimums, and the application portals you must use for shoots on public property; many municipalities in the county require permits for public streets, parks, beaches, and waterfront sites. For city-right-of-way closures, basecamp parking, or police details submit applications early and include a traffic/parking plan and certificates of insurance as the permit portals require.
Studios, rentals, and crew resources
- M3 Studios (Miami) — an operational commercial soundstage complex that lists multiple studios and cyc walls for rent; good for controlled interview/spot days.
- Local short-term studio/space marketplaces (Peerspace/Giggster) — quick options for interview rooms and small product shoots when you need a turnkey interior.
- FilmMiami / county resources — FilmMiami helps producers with location assistance, permitting referrals, and liaison services across multiple municipalities in Miami-Dade.
How this affects your shoot planning
If you’re booking pickups or a commercial in Miami between Sept 26 and Oct 10: (1) check the Miami Film Festival GEMS dates and venue times before reserving nearby exteriors, (2) monitor Miami Today’s permit lists to see confirmed nearby productions, (3) file for Miami-Dade/City permits early via FilmMiami or the City portal and include traffic/police plans and insurance, and (4) consider renting a local studio (M3 or Peerspace) for noisy or weather-sensitive interiors to avoid last-minute street permitting headaches. For drone work remember FAA rules and coordinate any additional city or port clearances if you plan waterfront or Port of Miami shots.
Closing paragraph
Over the next two weeks Miami’s production picture mixes festival screenings (notably the GEMS After The Hunt event on Sept 30) with steady film-permit activity and existing studio capacity — all signs of continued industry momentum in South Florida. Keep festival calendars, FilmMiami/City permit portals, and the weekly Miami Today permit roundups bookmarked, file permits with adequate lead time, and use local studio and rental options to simplify tight schedules.
