Thursday, March 5------The Miami International Film Festival has a unique place in the whirlwind of film festivals in North America. Now in its 26th year and under the auspices of Miami-Dade College, one of the largest universities in the United States, the Festival’s mission is to bridge cultural understanding, endorse tolerance and encourage artistic development and excellence within a vigorous academic setting by provoking thought through film. By bringing the best of world cinema to Miami, MIFF presents the city and the film industry with a singular platform that fosters creative and technical talent.

Miami is perhaps the most multi-cultural city in the U.S., a community that finds common ground in the beautiful setting, cultural heritage and historical roots of its cluster of communities. A gateway city to not only Latin America, but to Europe as well, the Festival has created a “melting pot” tradition of showcasing new and exciting works from both established film talents and new artists finding new ways of visual expression.

This cultural diversity is reflected in the diverse screening venues that showcase MIFF films and provide on-going cultural programs throughout the year that go beyond the visual arts into music, poetry, dance and other artistic expressions. The Festival’s prime venue is the historic Gusman Center for the Performing Art, a grand movie palace in downtown Miami that evokes the golden age of Hollywood. Other venues include the Colony Theater on Lincoln Road in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco district; and the Tower Theater in Miami’s culturally vibrant Little Havana neighborhood. The Festival also screens films at the University of Miami’s lush central campus in Coral Gables at The Bill Cosford Cinema, along with other arthouse gems in Miami’s sprawling neighborhoods to the north and west.

The Festival has gone through various changes in the past few years, including 3 different directors over the past three years. This year’s session is being helmed by Tiziana Finzi, a veteran of key European film festivals who brings her unique “European sensibility” to this year’s events. Aside from the offerings from emerging Ibero-American filmmakers, look for the latest gems from established film talents and a host of new initiatives highlights up-and-coming film auteurs. This Spotlight will offer our readers all the glitz, glamour and cinematic highlights from one of North America’s most unique and artistically satisfying film events.

 Sandy Mandelberger, Miami FF Spotlight Editor