Los Frikis directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz won the top jury prize, the $20,000 MARIMBAS Award, at the 41st edition of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival.

Inspired by shocking true events, Los Frikis is a powerful coming-of-age story set in early 1990s Cuba. Gustavo (Eros de la Puente), 18, idolizes his older brother Paco (Héctor Medina) and his punk, “Frikis” bandmates. When word reaches the Frikis of a potential reprieve from the effects of the economic crisis that plunged much of the country into poverty, they do the unthinkable: inject themselves with HIV to live at a government-run treatment home.

The $25,000 Made in MIA Feature Film Award went to “Mountains” directed by Monica Sorelle; the $10,000 Jordan Ressler First Feature Award went to “In The Summers” directed by Alessandra Lacorazza; and the Documentary Achievement Award went to “Daughters,” directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae.

The Audience Feature Film Award went to “The Shadow of the Sun” directed by Miguel Angel Ferrer and the Audience Documentary Film Award went to “Skywalkers: A Love Story” directed by Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina.

Award Winners of 2024 Miami Film Festival

$25,000 Made in MIA Feature Film Award.
“Mountains,” directed by Monica Sorelle

$10,000 Jordan Ressler First Feature Award.
“In The Summers” directed by Alessandra Lacorazza.

Documentary Achievement Award
“Daughters” directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae.

Audience Feature Film Award
“The Shadow of the Sun” directed by Miguel Angel Ferrer.

First runner-up: “The Performance” directed by Shira Piven
Second runner-up: “Los Frikis” directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz.

Audience Documentary Film Award
“Skywalkers: A Love Story” directed by Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina.

First runner up: “Stories from the Lighthouse” directed by Deborah Dickson
Second runner-up: “Women of Iran” directed by Anonymous.

Short Film Awards

Made in MIA Short Film Award ($10,000)
“Konpa,” directed by Al’lkens Plancher
Honorable mention given to “Jack and Sam,” directed by Jordan Matthew Horowitz.

Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000)
“The Anne Frank Gift Shop,” directed by Mickey Rapkin

Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000)
“Audio & The Alligator,” directed by Andrés I. Estrada.

Reel South Short Award ($2,000)
“Over the Wall,” directed by Krystal Tingle

PBS documentary series Reel South and its producing partner South Florida PBS debut a new award at the Miami Film Festival honoring the best in Southern short-form filmmaking.

Cinemaslam Competition Award ($1,000)
“Retrospection Of A Home (once upon a time),” directed by Sebastian Marcano-Perez.

Audience Short Film Award
“Objects of Desire” directed by Alejandro Renteria

First runner-up: “Not Rod,” directed by Becca Greene and Alex Pollck
Second runner-up: “Yuck” directed by Loic Espuche.