Sikumi is a 15-minute murder drama shot on the frozen Arctic Ocean off Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States. You gotta love the Miami Short Film Festival which is now in its seventh year for bringing such diverse programming to the bottom of the map. According to festival founder William Vela, 86 films from local to global will run through the weeklong event. This Mondays grand opening features a red-carpet gala (the Arquette brothers are confirmed attendees), a screening of shorts nominated for best in five categories, and an after-movie open bar and food reception where you get to hang with the lesser-known heroes of the short-film galaxy. They really stand behind local talent, says Franco Parente, hometown director of the erotic comedy Casper and Kitty. Robert Parente (no relation), director of the mayors office of film and cultural affairs, a longtime sponsor of the MSFF, terms the event attention deficit span theater. Get off the couch and sit with some other people in the dark and watch films you otherwise wouldnt have the opportunity to, he suggests. What are you waiting for? Get to the Bill Cosford Cinema at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17-22, 2008