The 11th Miami Film Festival GEMS set to take place from October 30 to November 3, 2024, will feature 30 films from over 15 countries, kicking off with The Room Next Door, including three Centerpiece screenings of Emilia Pérez, Maria, and The Brutalist, and wrapping up with A Real Pain.
“This year’s GEMS is our biggest yet,” said Lauren Cohen, Director of Programming. “With over 30 prestigious titles, it’s our most diverse selection, including animation, documentaries, and narrative films. Having legends like Pedro Almodóvar and Alfonso Cuarón makes it truly special.”
James Woolley, Executive Director of the Festival, added, “GEMS offers a preview of what to expect at the Miami Film Festival in April. It has solidified its place as a must-attend event for award-season contenders, and we’re excited to welcome talents like Alfonso Cuarón and actor Sebastian Stan.”
The festival opens on October 30 with “The Room Next Door,” directed by Pedro Almodóvar and starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The film explores the reunion of two friends who reconnect under unusual circumstances after years apart.
Two Netflix films will be featured as Centerpiece Screenings. “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, about four women in Mexico on their quests for happiness, including a cartel leader seeking to live authentically. The film, which won awards at Cannes, stars Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña. “Maria,” directed by Pablo Larrain, features Angelina Jolie as the iconic soprano Maria Callas, reflecting on her life in Paris after a tumultuous public career.
The final Centerpiece is A24’s “The Brutalist,” a historical drama about architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) and his wife as they navigate post-war Europe and the rise of modern America, featuring a talented cast that includes Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce.
On November 1, acclaimed costume designer Arianne Phillips will receive the Precious Gem Award, celebrating her impressive career, including her work on “Joker 2” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
The festival concludes on November 3 with “A Real Pain,” directed by Jesse Eisenberg, which follows two cousins on a complicated journey through Poland to honor their grandmother.
After the festival, on November 9, there will be a marathon of Alfonso Cuarón’s new Apple TV+ show “Disclaimer,” featuring a conversation with Cuarón, who will receive the Precious Gem Award. The show centers on a journalist whose life is turned upside down when she becomes the subject of a novel exposing her secrets.
Audiences will get a sneak peek of what’s ahead during GEMS Preview Night on October 5, featuring Jason Reitman’s film “Saturday Night.” Set at 11:30 PM on October 11, 1975, this film chronicles how a dynamic group of young comedians and writers transformed television and culture forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and co-written with Gil Kenan, “Saturday Night” offers a real-time look at the behind-the-scenes events leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Filled with humor, chaos, and the magic of a nearly lost revolution, we eagerly anticipate those iconic words.
Additionally, the Festival will host the official U.S. premiere of “Heartland” on Sunday, October 27, with lead cast members Amber Marshall, Shaun Johnston, and Michelle Morgan in attendance. Set against the backdrop of the Rockies in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta, “Heartland” follows Amy and her family as they navigate the challenges of managing their horse ranch, which has been in the Bartlett-Fleming family for six generations. The beloved series has captured audiences in over 120 countries, ranking as one of the top 10 most-viewed shows on U.S. streaming platforms in 2023, with viewers logging 22.8 billion minutes.
Sebastian Stan will also receive the Precious Gem Award during a live taping of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, moderated by Executive Editor Scott Feinberg, on Nov. 3.
This year’s Festival will feature screenings at Silverspot Cinema Downtown, MDC’s Koubek Center, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Regal South Beach, and MDC Wolfson Campus. For ticket sales and the full GEMS 2024 lineup and schedule, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com.
Other notable films screening at the 2024 GEMS Festival include:
“All We Imaginee As Light” (Director: Payal Kapadia)
“Better Man” (Director: Michael Gracey)
“Bird” (Director: Andrea Arnold)
“Blitz” (Director: Steve McQueen)
“Bob Trevino Likes It” (Director: Tracie Laymon)
“Boca Chica” (Director: Gabriella Moses)
“¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!” (Director: Arthur Bradford)
“The Colors Within” (Director: Naoko Yamada)
“The Count of Monte Cristo” (Directors: Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre de La Patellière)
“Dig! XX” (Director: Ondi Timoner)
“Hard Truths” (Director: Mike Leigh
“Heavenly Creatures” (Director: Peter Jackson)
“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” (Director: Pat Boonnitipat)
“I’m Still Here” (Director: Walter Salles)
“La Cocina” (Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios)
“The Last Showgirl” (Director: Gia Coppola)
“Marco, the Invented Truth” (Directors: Jon Garaño & Aitor Arregi)
“Memoir of a Snail” (Director: Adam Elliot)
“Men of War” (Directors: Billy Corben & Jen Gatien)
“Mistress Dispeller” (Director: Elizabeth Lo)
“Nightbitch” (Director: Marielle Heller)
“Saturn Return” (Directors: Isaki Lacuesta & Pol Rodríguez)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Director: Mohammad Rasoulof)
“September 5” (Director: Tim Fehlbaum)
“Universal Language” (Director: Matthew Rankin)
“Unstoppable” (Director: William Goldenberg)