Miami International Film Festival Celebrates
24th Year
Director’s Departure Marks the End of an Era

By Mary Damiano

Black Book, the opening night film

On the eve of celebrating a quarter century, the Miami International Film Festival will see an end of an era.  The 10-day festival, which opens Friday March 2, will see the departure of its director, Nicole Guillemet, who has served as festival director for five years.  Guillemet’s split with MIFF is amicable; she’s leaving for personal reasons.

While MIFF searches for a new director, we still have the movies.  This year’s festival, which runs through March 11, includes more than 100 films, including many premieres. Lots of celebrities will attend, including photographer/filmmaker Bruce Weber, and actors Viggo Mortensen and Catalina Sandrino Moreno.  Events include after parties as well Reel Seminars, which will cover many aspects of filmmaking and television production as well as marketing strategies for filmmakers.

Nicole Guillemet, the outgoing director of the Miami International Film Festival

More than 67,000 people attended the festival in 2006; more than 300 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry representatives from around the world attended the 2006 festival to introduce their work to Miami audiences and industry professionals. During the last four years, under the direction of Guillemet, MIFF has presented films from more than 50 countries, including 200 East Coast, U.S., and world premieres, scores of Oscar winners and nominees, and many international prizewinners.

The Miami International Film Festival is presented by Miami Dade College.  This year’s films will be screened in six different venues: Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami, Tower Theatre in Little Havana, the Colony Theatre and Regal South Beach in Miami Beach, Cosford Cinema in Coral Gables, and the Sunrise Cinemas Intracoastal in North Miami Beach.

Miami International Film Festival Highlights

Opening Night
Friday, March 2, 7 p.m., Gusman
The festival begins with Black Book, from Paul Verhoeven, director of Basic Instinct.  Black Book takes place during World War II, and concerns a Jewish torch singer who joins the Dutch resistance.  After the film, the opening night party will be held on the second floor of the newly refurbished Freedom Tower in downtown Miami.

Director Luc Besson

A Tribute to Luc Besson
Wednesday, March 7, 7 p.m. Gusman
Luc Besson, director of such films as La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element, The Professional and Unleashed, will be saluted for his career achievement by the Miami International Film Festival.  Besson’s work is characterized by action, violence, style and unique stories.  The tribute will feature a montage of clips from Besson’s films.  Besson will attend the event and will take part in an onstage Q&A before the screening of his new film Angel-A, a romance-fantasy set in a highly stylized Paris.

Awards Night
Saturday, March 10, 7 p.m., Gusman
The MIFF celebrates its nearly quarter of a century with a screening and a gala.  Ira & Abby stars Jennifer Westfeldt and Chris Messina as a neurotic Manhattan couple who impulsively marry six hours after meeting, and whose relationship is complicated by parents and therapists.  The romantic comedy also stars Judith Light, Frances Conroy, Jason Alexander, Robert Klein and Fred Willard and was written by Westfeldt, who co-wrote Kissing Jessica Stein.  Several awards will also be announced, including the Knight Grand Jury Prize.  After the screening, MIFF will party across the street at the Alfred I. DuPont Building.

Abby & Ira, the awards night film

“Being Homeless” Student Short Film Competition
Sunday, March 4, 4 p.m., Tower Theatre
The Miami Coalition for the Homeless and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools will screen the top student-produced short films on “Being Homeless” that educate and edify the community, show compassion towards people who are homeless and engage the community’s youth. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by local community leaders. The winning short will be screened prior to the film Red Like the Sky, which will premiere at Gusman Sunday, March 11, 6 p.m.