Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) announced the films selected to screen during its 31st edition of the annual 10-day event, which runs March 7 to 16, 2014. The Festival will open with the North American premiere of ELSA & FRED directed by Michael Radford. Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer play the titular characters originated by China Zorrilla and Manuel Alexandre in this remake of the 2008 release of the Argentine/Spanish film of the same name. Also in the cast are Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden; as well as George Segal, Chris Noth, James Brolin, Wendell Pierce, Jaime Camil and Osvaldo Rios.
The Festival‘s annual Awards Night gala will wrap with the World premiere of ROB THE MOB directed by Raymond De Felitta and starring Andy Garcia. Rob the Mob also stars Michael Pitt, Ray Romano, Burt Young, Griffin Dunne, Frank Whaley, Cathy Moriarty, Aida Turturro, Yul Vazquez and Nina Arianda.
This year’s Career Achievement Tribute will be presented to actor and filmmaker John Turturro. Turturro, will present his latest directorial achievement, FADING GIGOLO, which also stars Woody Allen, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara.
Festival Competition Categories:
The Knight Competition, open to dramatic works from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, as well as Latino-themed works produced in the United States, will feature 10 films eligible to receive $40,000 in achievement recognition from the Festival, courtesy of James L. & John S. Knight Foundation. The 10 films competing in this category are:
Knight Documentary Competition, open to engaging and thought-provoking feature-length documentaries created by international filmmakers that examine social issues, diverse cultures, icons and inspiring people, will feature 10 films eligible to receive $10,000 in achievement recognition from the Festival, courtesy of James L. & John S. Knight Foundation. The 10 films competing in this category are:
The Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima Competition for first-time feature filmmakers emerging from Spain, Portugal and Latin America will feature four films eligible to receive $5,000 in achievement recognition from the Festival, courtesy of Lexus; and an additional $5,000 in achievement recognition for screenwriting from the Festival, courtesy of Jordan A. Ressler Foundation. The four films competing in this category are:
Papi Shorts Competition presented by Macy’s will present 10 accomplished short films from around the globe, eligible to receive $1,000 in achievement recognition from the Festival, courtesy of Papi and Macy’s. The 10 films competing in this category are:
The Festival also unveils a number of films in non-competitive categories:
CINEDWNTWN GALAS PRESENTED BY MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: WORK IN PROGRESS FROM CUBA
Filmmaker Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt (Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel) will attend the Festival for a“Work in Progress from Cuba” presentation. He will present clips from his forthcoming feature documentary Havana Motor Club, about Cuba’s top underground drag racers of classic American cars, and a quest to mount the first official car race since the Revolution’s ban on the sport. Perlmutt will discuss the issues and plans for shaping the final film.
Lee Brian Schrager’s Culinary Cinema presented by Plymouth Gin
These titles join the preview to this program, the previously announced Soul of a Banquet (USA, directed by Wayne Wang), which screens on February 23rd at the New World Soundscape as part of Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Florida Focus
Other Florida Focus films announced in other categories are the CINEDWNTWN title Deep City: Birth of the Miami Sound (USA, directed by Marlon Johnson, Dennis Scholl, and Chad Tingle) and the Papi Shorts Competition presented by Macy’s title “Chub” (USA, directed by Samuel Albis).
Mayhem
These 3 films join Witching and Bitching (Las brujas de zugarramurdi) (Spain / France, directed by Álex de la Iglesia), previously announced in this category.
America the Beautiful
Visions
REEL Music
In addition, the Festival will soon announce 10 selected music videos that will compete in the MTV/TR3S Music Video Art Competition. The Festival is partnering with MTV and Tr3s to present the program and the videos will be reviewed by a panel of MTV Latin America judges.
CINEMA 360° PRESENTED BY VIENDOMOVIES
Two films have been added to the Cinema 360° presented by Viendomovies program, joining those previously announced on January 14th. The two newly added films are:
CLOSE-UPS ON NATIONAL CINEMAS: CHINA (presented by ByeJoe), GERMANY and MEXICO
This year, the Festival has created special CLOSE-UPS on national cinemas, China, Germany and Mexico. Each of these prolific film-producing nations is represented in a variety of the Festival’s programs.
Close-up on China presented by ByeJoe
Close-up on Mexico (all titles previously announced as part of other Festival sections)
Close-up on Germany (all titles previously announced as part of other Festival sections)
A From The Vault special presentation in collaboration with Miami Beach Cinematheque this year will feature a 45th anniversary screening of John Schlesinger’s Oscar-winning classic, Midnight Cowboy. The screening will be preceded by the footage of the original screen tests that Jon Voigt made to win the role, presented by the late Schlesinger’s partner Michael Childers. Miami Beach Cinematheque will also present a photo exhibit of Childers work as part of a month-long tribute to Schlesinger.
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