With director Julie Delpy in attendance to receive the Impact Award, the 42nd Miami Film Festival taking place from April 3-13, 2025, will open with her latest film, Meet the Barbarians.
The French comedy drama film follows the story of Brittany’s Town, which has unanimously decided to accept Ukrainian refugees in exchange for government subsidies. However, instead of seeing Ukrainians arrive, they now see Syrian migrants, which has caused some conflicts.
The Festival will close with On Swift Horses, directed by Daniel Minahan, and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle, on Saturday, April 12. On Swift Horses follows Muriel and her husband Lee who are beginning a bright new life in California when he returns from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past. When Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for, Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into a secret life of her own, gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible.
This year’s festival lineup includes over 198 narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from over 45 countries worldwide including 35 World Premieres..
Film highlights include The Salt Path, starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson, Edson Jean’s Miami-set Know Me – The Untold Miami Bath Salts Phenomenon, and The Wedding Banquet, starring Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone.
Also at the festival Paul Feig will be honored with the Precious Gem Award at a special Marquee screening of his latest film, Another Simple Favor; Mark Duplass will be honored with the Impact Award following a screening of his show, Good American Family; Roger Ross Williams will receive the Impact Award following a screening of his acclaimed 2023 documentary Stamped from the Beginning; and Billy Zane will also receive the Art of Light Award following a screening of his latest film, Waltzing with Brando.
Melanie Lynskey will receive the Precious Gem Award and participate in an in-depth conversation about her career, including her acclaimed two-time Emmy nominated performance in Yellowjackets, along with Heavenly Creatures, Don’t Look Up, The Last of Us and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
The festival will host Anniversary screenings for Before Sunrise – 30th Anniversary Screening; Center Stage – 25th Anniversary Screening of the cult classic dance film; Picnic at Hanging Rock – 50th Anniversary Screening; and Pride & Prejudice – 20th Anniversary Outdoor Screening.
Three MARQUEE screening presentations will be presented with talent in attendance for post-screening Q&As. These include Another Simple Favor directed by Paul Feig, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively; Oh, Hi! directed by Sophie Brooks, starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, and John Reynolds; and Two Women directed by Chloé Robichaud.
Three CINEDWNTWN Gala screening presentations will take place at the historic Olympia Theater with talent in attendance. These include:
Chirino (Cuba, United States, directed by Jorge A. Soliño), the story of Willy Chirino, one of the greatest musicians in the history of Cuban music. This film is part of the Spotlight on Cuba program, supported by ArtesMiami. -– World Premiere
Ethan Bloom (United States, directed by Herschel Faber), following the story of an awkward teen wrestling with the loss of his mother who secretly sets out to become a Catholic while juggling first love and a father who is pushing him to have a bar mitzvah. – World Premiere
Selena y Los Dinos (United States, directed by Isabel Castro), delves into the life and enduring impact of Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music. Through never-before-seen archival footage, personal photographs, and heartfelt interviews, the film paints a vivid portrait of Selena’s journey from a young girl in Corpus Christi to an iconic superstar whose voice continues to resonate across generations.
Special Presentations
A House on Fire (Spain, directed by Dani de la Orden) – East Coast Premiere
A Line of Fire (United States, directed by Matt Shapira) – World Premiere
Borderland | The Line Within (United States, directed by Pamela Yates)
Boys Go to Jupiter (United States, directed by Julian Glander)
Centered: Joe Lieberman (United States, directed by Jonathan Gruber)
Diamanti (Italy, directed by Ferzan Özpetek) – North American Premiere
Duino (United States, directed by Juan Pablo Di Pace & Andres Pepe Estrada) – Florida Premiere
Hambre (Venezuela, directed by Joanna Nelson) – East Coast Premiere
Happyend (Japan, directed by Neo Sora – Florida Premiere
I Am Nevenka (Spain, directed by Iciar Bollain – East Coast Premiere
Interstate (United States, directed by Oscar Corral & Haleem Muhsin) – World Premiere
Mistura (Peru, directed by Ricardo de Montreuil) – Florida Premiere
Motel Destino (Brazil, directed by Karim Aïnouz) – Florida Premiere
Pavements (United States, directed by Alex Ross Perry) – Florida Premiere
Pink Narcissus (United States, directed by James Bidgood) – Florida Premiere
Queens of Drama (France, directed by Alexis Langlois) – Florida Premiere
Reinas (Switzerland, directed by Klaudia Reynicke) – Florida Premiere
Rent Free (United States, directed by Fernando Andrés) – Florida Premiere
River of Grass (United States, directed by Sasha Wortzel) – Florida Premiere
Samaná Sunrise (Spain, directed by Rafa Cortés) – North American Premiere
Silent Partners (United States, directed by Jorge “Jokes” Yanes) – World Premiere
Spermageddon (Norway, directed by Tommy Wirkola & Rasmus A. Sivertsen) – Florida Premiere
Tatami (Georgia, directed by Guy Nattiv & Zar Amir)
The Goldsmith’s Secret (Spain, directed by Olga Osorio) – International Premiere
The Inn Between (United States, directed by Ondi Timoner) – Florida Premiere
The Luckiest Man In America (United States, directed by Samir Oliveros) – East Coast Premiere
The Other Way Around (Spain, directed by Jonás Trueba) – Florida Premiere
The Surfer (Australia, directed by Lorcan Finnegan) – Florida Premiere
The Things You Kill (Turkey, directed by Alireza Khatami) – Florida Premiere
The Threesome (United States, directed by Chad Hartigan) – Florida Premiere
The United States of Elie Tahari (United States, directed by David Serero) – Florida Premiere
The Wedding Banquet (United States, directed by Andrew Ahn) – Florida Premiere
Two Islands (United States, directed by Humberto Ochoa) – World Premiere
Waltzing with Brando (United States, directed by Bill Fishman) – Florida Premiere
Wish You Were Here (United States, directed by Julia Stiles) – Special event with director Julia Stiles in attendance
AWARD COMPETITIONS
MARIMBAS Award
Adios Cuba (Spain, directed by Rolando Díaz) – World Premiere
Aguadilla (United States, directed by Alexander Zeke Musca & Tom Musca) – East Coast Premiere
Cherri (Cuba, directed by Fabián Suárez) – World Premiere
El Casero / The House Sitter (Argentina, directed by Matias Lucchesi) – North American Premiere
Escape (Spain, directed by Rodrigo Cortés) – North American Premiere
Espina (Panama, directed by Daniel Poler) – World Premiere
Four Mothers (Ireland, directed by Darren Thornton) – Florida Premiere
Meet the Barbarians (France, directed by Julie Delpy) – Florida Premiere
Reading Lolita in Tehran (Italy/Israel, directed by Eran Riklis) – Florida Premiere
The Dog Thief (Bolivia, directed by Vinko Tomičić Salinas) – Florida Premiere
The Exiles (Spain, directed by Belén Funes) – East Coast Premiere
The Last Meal (Le dernier repas) (Canada, directed by Maryse Legagneur) – International Premiere
The Summer Book (United States, directed by Charlie McDowell) – Florida Premiere
The Virgin of The Quarry Lake (Argentina, directed by Laura Casabe) – Florida Premiere
Trifole (Italy, directed by Gabriele Fabbro) – East Coast Premiere
Two Women (Canada, directed by Chloé Robichaud) – East Coast Premiere
Undercover (Spain, directed by Arantxa Echevarría) – East Coast Premiere
Waves (Czech Republic, directed by Jiří Mádl) – Florida Premiere
Zoe (Italy, directed by Emanuela Galliussi & Dean Ronalds) – World Premiere
Made in MIA Award
A Weird Kind of Beautiful (United States, directed by Gabriel Mayo) – World Premiere
Becoming Vera (United States, directed by Sergio Vizuete) – East Coast Premiere
Edge Of Hope (United States, directed by Dudley Alexis) – North American Premiere
El Sonido de Miami (United States, directed by Emilio Oscar Alcalde) – World Premiere
Ethan Bloom (United States, directed by Herschel Faber) – World Premiere
Hablando con Chago (United States, directed by Emilio Oscar Alcalde) – World Premiere
Know Me – The Untold Miami Bath Salts Phenomenon (United States, directed by Edson Jean) – Florida Premiere
News Without a Newsroom (United States, directed by Oana Liana Martisca) – World Premiere
The Python Hunt (United States, directed by Xander Robin) – Florida Premiere
Made in MIA Short Film Award
“Ana y La Distancia,” directed by Hansel Porras García
“Blue Mirror,” directed by Angela Rio – World Premiere
“Boat People,” directed by Al’Ikens Plancher
“Florida Boys,” directed by Nicholas Gelakis – Florida Premiere
“Hermano Hermana,” directed by Rodrigo Cuartas, Jonathan Cuartas & Michael Cuarta – World Premiere
“La Última Memoria,” directed by Felipe Carlos Barandiaran – World Premiere
“Little Haiti,” directed by XF Serrano
“Manny & Papo,” directed by Andres Monsalve Roca – Florida Premiere
“Pollo Punch,” directed by Alec Castillo – Florida Premiere
“Selfness,” directed by Isis Masoud
“The Big Time,” directed by Tristan Wauchope – Florida Premiere
“The Crack in my Heart,” directed by Harrison Lum
“George V.,” directed by Dennis Scholl & Dia Kontaxis – World Premiere
“Night Train Last Stop,” directed by Gina Margillo – World Premiere
“Test of Time,” directed by Julian Alicea & Common Interest – World Premiere
Jordan Ressler First Feature Award
An Autumn Summer (United States, directed by Jared Isaac) – East Coast Premiere
Arenas (France, directed by Camille Perton) – Florida Premiere
Chlorophyll (Clorofilla) (Italy, directed by Ivana Gloria) – US Premiere
Corina (Mexico, directed by Urzula Barba Hopfner) – East Coast Premiere
DJ Ahmet (North Macedonia, directed by Georgi M. Unkovski) – Florida Premiere
Fury (Spain, directed by Gemma Blasco) – East Coast Premiere
Hot Milk (United Kingdom, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewic) – East Coast Premiere
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (France, directed by Laura Piani) – Florida Premiere
Loveable (Norway, directed by Lilja Ingolfsdottir) – Florida Premiere
Magic Hour (United States, directed by Jacqueline Christy) – Florida Premiere
Malecón (Spain, directed by Carlos Larrazabal) – World Premiere
Olivia & Las Nubes (Dominican Republic, directed by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat) – East Coast Premiere
Omaha (United States, directed by Cole Webley) – Florida Premiere
On Swift Horses (United States, directed by Daniel Minahan) – Florida Premiere
Rains Over Babel (Colombia, directed by Gala del Sol) – Florida Premiere
The Fisherman (Ghana, directed by Zoey Martinson) – East Coast Premiere
The Party’s Over (Spain, directed by Elena Manrique) – Florida Premiere
The Salt Path (United Kingdom, directed by Marianne Elliott) – Florida Premiere
The School Duel (United States, directed by Todd Wiseman Jr) – North American Premiere
Transplant (United States, directed by Jason Park) – Florida Premiere
Documentary Achievement Award
42nd Street (Dominican Republic, directed by Jose Maria Cabral) – Florida Premiere
A Photographic Memory (United States, directed by Rachel Elizabeth Seed) – Florida Premiere
All God’s Children (United States, directed by Ondi Timoner) – Florida Premiere
Apocalypse in the Tropics (Brazil, directed by Petra Costa) – Florida Premiere
Balomanía (Denmark, directed by Sissel Morell Dargis) – Florida Premiere
Checkpoint Zoo (United States, directed by Joshua Zeman) – Florida Premiere
Chirino (Cuba, directed by Jorge A. Soliño) – World Premiere
Chronicles of the Absurd (Cuba, directed by Miguel Coyula) – Florida Premiere
Googoosh – Made of Fire (Germany, directed by Niloufar Taghizadeh) – Florida Premiere
Heightened Scrutiny (United States, directed by Sam Feder) – Florida Premiere
Isla Familia (Cuba, directed by Abraham Jimenez Enoa & Claudia Calviño) – Florida Premiere
La Noche Eterna de Cuba (Cuba’s Eternal Night) (United States, directed by Jordan Allott) – World Premiere
Out of Plain Sight (United States, directed by Daniel Straub & Rosanna Xia) – Florida Premiere
Predators (United States, directed by David Osit) – Florida Premiere
Sally (United States, directed by Cristina Costantini) – Florida Premiere
The Dating Game (United States, directed by Violet Du Feng) – Florida Premiere
The Librarians (United States, directed by Kim A. Snyder) – Florida Premiere
The Perfect Neighbor (United States, directed by Geeta Gandbhir) – Florida Premiere
Included in this year’s Documentary program is a spotlight on celebrated documentarian Ondi Timoner. The Festival will showcase the Florida Premiere of two of her latest films – All God’s Children and The Inn Between, as well as retrospective screenings of acclaimed documentaries DIG! XX and Last Flight Home.
Miami International Short Film Award
“Ask A Punk,” directed by Kevin Contento – World Premiere
“Attachment Theory,” directed by Katherine Jackson
“Capitanes,” directed by Kevin Castellano & Edu Hirschfeld
“Complications,” directed by Ivar Aase
“Die Bully Die,” directed by Nathan Lacey & Nick Lacey
“Dirty Towel,” directed by Callie Carpinteri
“Flash Warning,” directed by Allegra Leguizamo – World Premiere
“French Lessons,” directed by Anna Maguire & Kyle Greenberg – North American Premiere
“Frenesi,” directed by Natasha Elías – World Premiere
“Gender Reveal,” directed by Mo Matton – Florida Premiere
“Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites (Chao Somnop Chet),” directed by Chheangkea – Florida Premiere
“hija de Florinda,” directed by Shenny de Los Angeles and Amanda Morell “iiritu” – East Coast Premiere
“Invincible Summer,” directed by Arnaud Dufeys – US Premiere
“Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” directed by Julia Aks & Steve Pinder
“Jeff,” directed by Julia Hebner – World Premiere
“My Best Friend,” directed by Elina Street
“Neuro,” directed by Wes Ellis – East Coast Premiere
“Not Today,” directed by Christian Meola – World Premiere
“On a Sunday at Eleven,” directed by Alicia K. Harris – Florida Premiere
“Or Forever Hold Your Peace,” directed by Babalola – World Premiere
“Queen of Samba,” directed by Stacy Pascal Gaspard – North American Premiere
“RAT!,” directed by Neal Suresh Mulani
“Sandra,” directed by Jen Chuck & Hannah Levy – East Coast Premiere
“She and Her Good Vibrations,” directed by Olivia Griselda & Sarah Cheok – Florida Premiere
“Swamp Angels,” directed by Emily Kobert
“Teen Mary,” directed by Ali Rosenthal – North American Premiere
“The Bullfighter,” directed by Giselle Bonilla
“The Sacrifice,” directed by Christopher Werner
“This Edible Ain’t Shit,” directed by Frank Volk
“Trois Vagins Qui Crient,” directed by Alexia Roc – US Premiere
“Wassupkaylee,” directed by Pepi Ginsberg – Florida Premiere
“What to Expect,” directed by Gabriela Garcia Medina – East Coast Premiere
Short Documentary Film Award
“Confessions of a Jumbotron Addict,” directed by Mickey Duzyj – Florida Premiere
“Don’t Cry For Me All You Drag Queens,” directed by Kristal Sotomayor
“Que Hay Allí Afuera,” directed by Mateo Formoso-DeLucia
“Stud Country,” directed by Lina Abascal & Alexandra Kern
“The Boricua’s Dilemma,” directed by Sebastian Nazario-Colon – Florida Premiere
“View From the Floor,” directed by Megan Griffiths & Mindie Lind – Florida Premiere
“Foreverglading,” directed by Gregory Pesochin & Rey Jaffet – World Premiere
“Open Dialogues: Gen QueerZ,” directed by Freddy Rodriguez – World Premiere
“Chasing The Passage of Time,” directed by Dennis Scholl & Ed Talavera – World Premiere
“Tiger,” directed by Loren Waters – Florida Premiere
Cinemaslam Competition
Taking part in the annual Florida student film $1,000 Cinemaslam Competition will be:
“¡Que Colombianada!,” directed by Samuel Vargas
“Consummation,” directed by Van Galex
“Dirt Therapy,” directed by Sebastian Valencia – World Premiere
“Gag,” directed by Lex Morales
“Phantom Contact,” directed by Andres Eduardo Gonzalez Campillo – World Premiere
“Prélude,” directed by Paolo Cesti – World Premiere
“Purple Grooves: a Funky Tragedy,” directed by Larry Flores II
“The Brother and Sister Duo,” directed by Perry Feder