"Fallen Fruit," a semi autobiographical film, has its world premiere at the Miami Film Festival on opening night, Friday, April 5. (Photo courtesy of Fallen Fruit)
The 41st annual Miami Film Festival gets into full swing starting Friday, April 5 with the opening night film, "Thelma" at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts' Knight Concert Hall.
93-year-old Thelma is at a crossroads in her life – in between senior citizen and senior living. Widowed and living alone, she stubbornly clings to her independence, all while butting heads with her well-intentioned but perpetually concerned family.
"Thelma" will feature an in-person introduction by Director Josh Margolin and Producer Zoë Worth.
June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, and Parker Posey who star in the film will be in attendance.
Also, opening Friday, April 5, is the world premiere of "Fallen Fruit," director Chris Molina's debut feature, which explores the universal yet tough-to-swallow journey that is learning to accept the bottomless state of adulthood, when you feel like a failure but have not yet failed. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 5, at the Coral Gables Art Cinema.
Alex (Ramiro Batista), is a 20-something-year-old who begrudgingly moves back to his childhood home in Miami from New York after a breakup. Blinded by his optimism of returning to New York after the Summer, Alex underestimates the inevitable hurricane that is adulthood. As his Miami life takes its turns, Alex documents his version of rock bottom with an old camcorder found in his bedroom-turned-storage closet. Looking for an escape, he soon finds comfort in Chris (Austin Cassel), a random hookup, who shows him what a life in Miami might have to offer. Blinded by optimism and lust, the reality of adulthood comes flooding in, forcing him to begin to grow up.
Variety will honor Molly Ringwald with the Variety Creative Vanguard Award at the Miami Film Festival on Saturday, April 6. She'll participate in a question and answer session. (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
On Saturday, April 6, Variety will honor Molly Ringwald with the Variety Creative Vanguard Award. The award will be for her outstanding career achievements, earning acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
Ringwald will participate in a Q&A about her extensive work in film and TV with Variety Senior Awards Editor Clayton Davis at 8 p.m. in the Chapman Conference Center at the MDC Wolfson Campus. 254 NE 4th St., Building 3. Miami.
"It's important to remember that before Molly Ringwald was the iconic young star of John Hughes' teen angst-driven comedies such as ‘Sixteen Candles,’ ‘Pretty in Pink’ and ‘The Breakfast Club,’ she first starred in Paul Mazursky's contemporary update of Shakespeare's ‘Tempest,’ according to Steve Gaydos, Variety EVP of Global Content and Executive Editor. “This is important because the secret of Ringwald's early success and career longevity is the simple fact she has always been one of American film and television's most gifted and versatile actresses. Her dazzling work this year as Joanna Carson in the Ryan Murphy hit TV series ‘Feud’ is ample proof that Ringwald's range and acumen remain intact, and audiences can continue to expect new and wonderful surprises from one of their favorite stars."
The Miami Film Festival kicks off with The festival kicks off with “Thelma,” a comedy about a grandmother's quest to reclaim her lost money, directed by Josh Margolin and featuring a cast including June Squibb, “White Lotus” alum Fred Hechinger and Parker Posey. (Photo courtesy of the filmmakers)
Of local interest is Sarah Sharkey Pearce and Simon Schneider's film "Resident Orca," which tells the unfolding story of a captive whale’s fight for survival and freedom. After decades of failed attempts to bring her home, an unlikely partnership between Indigenous matriarchs, a billionaire philanthropist, killer whale experts, and the aquarium’s new owner take on the impossible task of freeing Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Lolita/Tokitae), captured 53 years ago as a baby, only to spend the rest of her life performing in the smallest killer whale tank in North America. When Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut falls ill under troubling circumstances, her advocates are faced with a painful question: is it too late to save her. The film will be shown at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at Silverspot Cinema 13 and 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9 at Regal South Bech 17.
Also on Saturday, at 7 p.m., at the Adrienne Arsht Center's Knight Concert Hall, Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz's newest film, "Los Frikis" will premiere with a post-screening question and answer with the cast and filmmakers.
On Monday, April 8, join the Mixer and Movie crowd at "We Met In Miami" at the Miami Film Festival. We’ll kick it off with a 5:30 p.m. happy hour mixer at the New York Film Academy on Lincoln Road. This curated experience is designed to help adults 21+ make authentic and meaningful connections with others who share their interests — in this case, film. And we’re ecstatic to also welcome filmmakers whose work is being featured in this year’s Miami Film Festival for this rare event.
"Resident Orca" tells the unfolding story of a captive whale's fight for survival and freedom. It shows at the Miami film festival on Saturday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 9. (Photo courtesy of the filmmakers)
When participants arrive, they will choose their signature We Met in Miami wristbands: Green for people looking for love, blue for those seeking friendship and rainbow for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. (Yes, you can wear more than one!) The wristbands act as a subtle but powerful public pronouncement that says: I am open to making new connections.
After the mixer, a stroll down the street to Regal South Beach for a 7:30 p.m. screening of “The Idea of You,” starring Anne Hathaway. This film is already breaking records! The trailer has 125 million views, the most-watched of any original streaming movie. It’ll be available on Amazon Prime Video starting May 2, but you can see it early — and maybe even experience your own meet cute — thanks to this collaboration between the Miami Film Festival and We Met in Miami.
The festival closes with “Ezra,” directed by Tony Goldwyn, who will be in attendance on Saturday, April 13 and will receive the Art of Light Award for directing.
Alison Brie will also receive the Art of Light Award and “Sing Sing” director Greg Kwedar will be honored with the Impact Award.
The 2024 Miami Film Festival will celebrate more than 180 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from over 31 countries worldwide, featuring ten World Premieres, ten North American Premieres, five U.S. Premieres, and 11 East Coast Premieres, and 42 Florida Premieres.
The complete program is available at www.miamifilmfestival.com.
