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Little Haiti, South Beach, and Miami’s Design District are distinctive, yet a city is only as strong as the sum of its parts. The idea of community is the base of the Design District’s inaugural film festival, Reel Creative Cinema.
The idea of a film festival isn’t incongruous to the District. Reel Creative Cinema is a natural progression. It offers a taste of what the District represents.
Taking place Friday through Sunday, August 5 through 7, at Palm Court (140 NE 39th St., Miami), this free event — developed by Miami Design District director of cultural programming, Tiffany Chestler, and director of experimental marketing and events, Sandra Santiago — offers a collection of features, a documentary, and short films, which have been chosen by prominent figures of the Design District. A group of four curators was selected to pick four films that have influenced them and their work.
The films represent different genres and eras, such as the surrealist 1928 Buñuel/Dalí short film Un Chien Andalou (screening Friday at 7:15 p.m.), Japanese Western Tampopo (Saturday at 7:15 p.m.), and AWOL (Saturday at 1:30 p.m.), a gripping love story about a lesbian teen that deals with cultural and socioeconomic issues (which will be introduced Saturday by the director, Deb Shoval). Other entities, such as Parmigiani Fleurier and Giorgio Armani (which will screen Films of City Frames: Frames of Life for the first time in the United States), aim to add another level of exclusivity, interest, and prestige to a festival that promotes talents from the past and fosters young filmmakers.
Reel Creative Cinema looks to be an event that drives more people to the District to visit and check out a film, visit the stores, and dine at one of the many restaurants. Chestler encourages folks to escape the August heat; grab a glass of rosé from Château d’Esclans; enjoy complimentary curry-, cheddar-, and za’atar-flavored popcorn from chef Michael Schwartz; and take in the Design District's atmosphere.
For more information, film schedules, and to RSVP, visit miamidesigndistrict.net.