“Risa and the Wind Phone,” directed by Juan Cabral, has won the Audience Award at Miami Film Festival GEMS 2026.
The film follows Risa, who, after her father’s death, discovers she can communicate with him from beyond the grave. As she explores this supernatural connection, she faces emotional challenges and family secrets that will test her faith in what she thought was possible.
Festival audiences chose the Centerpiece title, “Elsinore,” as first runner-up. “Elsinore,” from director Simon Stone and writer Stephen Beresford, tells the true story of actor Ian Charleson (Andrew Scott), who, in 1989, stepped into the role of Hamlet at London’s National Theatre while privately battling AIDS, in a performance that became the triumph of his career. The film also stars Olivia Colman, Billie Piper and Johnny Flynn.
The second runner-up was “I Play Rocky,” directed by Peter Farrelly. A true account of an unknown actor who believed he wasn’t meant to just write “Rocky”, but to play Rocky Balboa. Facing constant rejection, Sylvester Stallone risks everything, refusing to give up the lead role against impossible odds. Anthony Ippolito stars as Sylvester Stallone, alongside AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell, P. J. Byrne, Jay Duplass, Matt Dillon, Stephan James, and Tracy Letts.
Miami Dade College’s (MDC) 13th Miami Film Festival GEMS took place from Oct. 29 – Nov. 5. GEMS featured 50 films from over 20 countries and with A24’s “The Debut” from writer-director Jesse Eisenberg opening the festival and “Club Kid” from writer-director and star Jordan Firstman closing.
The Festival also honored John Turturro (Variety Creative Vanguard Award), Guitarricadelafuente (Variety Virtuoso Award), Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Visionary Director Award) and Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson (Art of Light Award).
Past Miami Film Festival GEMS Audience Award winners, including “I’m Still Here,” “Society of the Snow,” “King Richard,” “Sound of Metal,” “The Two Popes” and “Parasite,” all went on to receive Academy Award nominations or wins.
Miami Dade College’s 44th edition of the Miami Film Festival will be held April 1-11, 2027.
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