By Mary Damiano

	A scene from Beauty Remains by director Ann Hu, one of the films featured in the new film festival Romance in a Can

To my mind, the most wonderful words in cinema are ‘romantic comedy’.  A genre unto itself, those two words conjure up images of love found lost and found again, usually by Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts. The great thing about a romantic comedy is that there may be some tears, but there’s always a happy ending.

Now, just in time for Valentine’s Day, Red Chemistry Inc. is presenting Romance in a Can, a film festival comprised of romantic comedy films, with a focus on acclaimed European gems by independent filmmakers.  Screenings will take place at the Byron Carlyle Theater, Miami Beach Cinematheque and Coconut Grove’s Commodore Plaza Theater, February 9 to February 14.   The Quarterdeck in Miami Beach and Soya e Pomodoro restaurants will screen films and offer dinner menus.

To add to the festivities, a competition of romantically-oriented short films produced by senior film students at universities around the world will be held at the Miami Beach Cinematheque on Sunday, February 11 at 8:30 p.m. The winner will have their film shown on Valentine’s Day at the Byron Carlyle, and it will be shown again for the opening of the festival in 2008. The winning short film will be selected by a panel of local film industry and arts professionals.

The idea for Romance in a Can came from a desire to do something different.

“I was trying to look at all the festivals here in Miami and I found out that there was nothing very romantic around Valentine’s Day,” says Isabelle Landman, director of Romance in a Can.  “I wanted to do something refreshing and also bring new movies here.”

Romance in a Can is produced by Red Chemistry Inc., a new non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the art of film by providing opportunities for independent filmmakers to show there work in Florida, and also supporting young filmmakers. They’ve also teamed with the Make-A-Wish Foundation Southern Florida, and the proceeds from closing night party at the Byron Carlyle benefits Make-A-Wish.

“I wanted to work with Make-A-Wish and I admire what they are doing, fulfilling dreams,” says Landman, who is also executive director and founder of Red Chemistry.

	Nha Fala, from director Flora Gomez

Although the line-up at Romance in a Can does feature Doris Day, there’s nary a Meg or Julia chick flick to be found. Landman, who is French and has a background in scriptwriting and film in France, chose the films for Romance in a Can. She attended international film festivals to find what she calls “little gems.”

“I really wanted to bring these films to a wider audience,” she says.

In addition to screening films in theatres, Landman also came up with the idea to show films in restaurants, giving new definition to the term dinner and a movie.

“It’s based on the idea of romance,” says Landman.  “That’s something I’d like to expand next year.”

Film tickets, priced at $10 each; $7 for students with proper ID, will be available on a first-come first-served basis on-site or can be purchased by calling toll-free 877-836-4849 or online at romanceinacan.com. The Byron Carlyle opening and closing parties, including cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and film, are priced at $25 per person. The closing evening’s proceeds will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation Southern Florida.

Romance in a Can Schedule
Friday, February 9
Opening night at the Byron Carlyle Theater
7 p.m.                 Cocktail Time, catering by Soya e Pomodoro
8:30 p.m.            Short film, New Love, and the feature Young Love from Finland
10 p.m.               Q&A with the filmmaker Arto Lekhamo

Saturday, February 10
Screenings at the Byron Carlyle Theater
6:15 p.m.            Nynne, Denmark
8:30 p.m.            Escuela de Seduccion, Spain
10:10 p.m.          Beauty Remains, China

Dutch Evening: Commodore Plaza Theater, Coconut Grove
6 p.m. Ellis in Glamourland by Pieter Kramer
Reservations by phone: Call Hetty at 786-554-7981

Sunday, February 11
Byron Carlyle Theater
6:15 p.m.            A Man Like Me, Iceland
8:30 p.m.            Ellis in Glamourland, Holland
10:10 p.m.          Stella, Greece

Miami Beach Cinemathèque
8:30 p.m. International Short Film competition with juried panel
A Daum award (a glass piece numbered and signed by the artist) will be awarded for the best digital short movie and a second Daum trophy will be given to the winner of the classic short movie competition.
$10 for non-members; $6 for Miami Beach Cinematheque members.  mbcinema.com

Monday, February 12
Screenings at the Byron Carlyle Theater
6:30 pm              Tea for Two, homage to Doris Day
8:30 pm              Nha Falla, Cape Verde

Tuesday, February 13
Screenings at the Byron Carlyle Theater
6:30 pm:             Little Girl Blues, Switzerland
8:30 pm:             Il Bell’Antonio, Italy, homage to Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale

Wednesday, February 14 Valentine’s Day
Closing Night at the Byron Carlyle Theater
Evening dedicated to Make-A-Wish Foundation
7 p.m.                 Cocktail and hors d'oeuvres (thanks to Segafredo’s catering)
8 p.m.                 Poetry with Sara Montalia and Valeria Palma, teenagers from North Shore
                          Park  and Youth Center.
8:30 p.m.            Short film, Cut and feature film, Je Reste, with Sophie Marceau 

Valentine’s Day at the Miami Beach Cinematheque
8:30 pm:             Zouzou by Mark Allegret, homage to Josephine Baker
                          Champagne and chocolates courtesy of Wild Oats Market
                          and Ghirardelli chocolates.
Tickets are $15 for non members;$12 MBC members mbcinematheque.com

Valentine’s Day at Soya e Pomodoro: Italian Romance Program
7 p.m.                 Italian Buffet/hors d'oeuvres
8:30 p.m.            Il Bell’Antonio with Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale
Reservations: soyaepomodoro.com or 305-381-9511

Valentine's Day at Quarterdeck South Beach
Special menu for two including a complimentary bottle of wine per couple
7 p.m.              Dinner
8:30 p.m.         Tea for Two with Doris Day.
Reservations: 305-531-2441 or quarterdeckrestaurant.com