Miami International Film Festival Announces 2016 Lineup and Unveils New Poster Art

Miami International Film Festival 's official lineup will include 12 world premieres, four by Florida filmmakers: Hearts of Palm (directed by Monica Peña), The Rebound (directed by Shaina Allen), Star Child (directed by Tommy Demos), and Sweet Dillard (directed by Jim Virga).for its .

The 33rd edition of the festival, which takes place March 4 through 13, will once again call the Olympia Theater in downtown Miami its home. Film screenings will also be held at the Tower Theater, Regal Cinemas South Beach, O Cinema Miami Beach, Cinépolis, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Miami Beach Cinematheque, and O Cinema Wynwood.

A total of 129 films from 40 countries, including 100 features and documentaries and 29 short films, will be exhibited during the ten-day run. A record 46 films are directed or codirected by women.

Films shot in Florida or by native filmmakers include I've Never Not Been From Miami (directed by Andrew Hevia, Joey Daoud, Jonathan David Kane, Monica Peña, Tabatha Mudra, Keisha Rae Witherspoon, Kenny Riches, Jacob Katel, Kareem Tabsch, and Tina Francisco); Hand Built Boat (directed by Ani Mercedes); Stripper Wars (directed by Giancarlo Loffredo); Swan Song of the Skunk Ape (directed by Brad Abrahams); This Modern Man Is Beat (directed by Alex Merkin); Tracks (directed by Logan Sandler); and Who Is Lou Gehrig? (directed by Gil Green).

MIFF will also host one international premiere, 16 North American premieres, and 13 U.S. premieres.

The new poster for the festival was also unveiled this morning during a press conference MAGIC (Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex) at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus. As Jaie Laplante, the festival’s executive director and director of programming explained, it was designed by photographer Stian Roenning and filmmaker Ronnie Rivera. The two were given the theme "magic" and the slogan "Projecting light in the Magic City."

Check out the finished product.
New this year is the addition of the Marquee Series, which features major film talent in an onstage conversation. Monica Bellucci, Iciar Bollaín, Gavin Hood, and Deepa Mehta will all receive tributes. Bellucci will discuss her latest film, Ville-Marie, ahead of its screening. Bollaín’s newest, The Olive Tree, will receive its world premiere after her conversation. Hood will speak about his latest film, Eye in the Sky, starring Dame Helen Mirren and the late Alan Rickman. And Mehta will discuss Beeba Boys before its screening.

“This year's lineup is like a prism that invites Miami to see the world with an illumination that only the cinema and the artists that create the work can provide,” said Laplante. “The programmers have populated the program with films and events that are essential to the complex, dynamic, ever-changing Miami of the now.”

Alex de la Iglesia’s My Big Night  will be the opening-night film. Spanish singer and actor Raphael, who also stars in the film, will make an appearance during the March 4 screening. Andrew Currie's comedy The Steps, starring James Brolin, will receive its U.S. premiere at the festival as the closing-night selection.

Miami International Film Festival
March 4 through 13. Tickets go on sale February 12. For a complete list of films and events, visit miamifilmfestival.com.