Lights, Camera, Miami: The 42nd 'Miami Film Festival' Returns April 3-13, 2025
The 42nd edition of Miami Dade College’s acclaimed Miami Film Festival will take place from April 3-13, 2025, offering an exciting platform for emerging and established filmmakers to present their work to a dynamic and diverse audience. This prestigious event consistently attracts international, American, and Ibero-American films, as well as a lineup of cinematic icons. Over the years, the Festival has welcomed luminaries such as Nicolas Cage, Sophia Loren, Pamela Anderson, Antonio Banderas, Anne Hathaway, Danny Glover, Shirley MacLaine, Spike Lee, Pedro Almodóvar, Alfonso Cuarón, and Andy Garcia.
Festival Highlights
In past years, Miami Film Festival has drawn approximately 45,000 attendees, including over 400 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals from around the world. The 2025 edition is expected to showcase more than 100 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films spanning a broad array of genres and hailing from 60 different countries.
Heather Graham_2024 MFF
Commitment to Local Talent
With over $50,000 in cash awards and $60,000 in Panavision equipment rental for filmmakers, Miami Film Festival demonstrates its commitment to nurturing local filmmaking talent. Through marquee screenings and significant cash prizes, the Festival provides a vital platform for Miami-based creators to gain international recognition.
Lauren Cohen, Tony Goldwyn, James Woolley, Maria Carla Chicuen
A highlight of this commitment is The Louies, a new documentary initiative in partnership with the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation. Six Miami-based filmmakers receive $100,000 in funding to create films rooted in South Florida’s culture and history. These films will premiere at future editions of the Festival, offering audiences a deeper connection to the local community and providing filmmakers access to the Wolfson Archives at Miami Dade College.
MFF happy hour at Casa Florida
Venue and Experience
Screenings and events are hosted at multiple venues across Miami, including the Silverspot Cinema, Miami Dade College’s Koubek Memorial Center, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Cosford Cinema, PAMM, and O Cinema South Beach. New venues this year will include the New World Symphony, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Manuel Artime Theater. In addition to film screenings, attendees can expect an array of world-class events, such as:
Masterclasses led by industry leaders
In-depth conversations with legendary filmmakers
Awards presentations
Workshops and panel discussions covering a wide range of industry topics
Gala parties and networking events
Ray Romano, Daniella Levine Cava, MDC President Madeline Pumariega, Marco Giron, Maryam Laguna Borrego
Educational and Community Engagement
Unique among major film festivals, Miami Film Festival is housed within Miami Dade College, providing educational opportunities for students and community members. Attendees can participate in tailored workshops, filmmaker Q&A sessions and student competitions such as CinemaSlam, which showcases the best student films from South Florida.
Sheryl Lee Ralph_2024 MFF
Sponsorship and Support
The Miami Film Festival is made possible through the generous support of major sponsors, including Miami-Dade County, Miami Downtown Development Authority, Silverspot Cinema, the Historic Alfred I DuPont Building, NBC 6, Telemundo 51, and Tilia Companies, and the City of Miami Beach. The Festival’s headquarter hotel is the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.
Tom Hiddleston_2024 MFF
Stay Connected
Individual tickets for all Festival events will go on sale to the general public on March 6, 2025. For more information and updates, visit the Miami Film Festival website and follow the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Engage with the Festival using the hashtag #MiamiFF.
