What are The Louies?

The Louies funds documentaries about South Florida by Miami-based filmmakers. 

Through The Louie’s, six filmmakers will share $100,000 in funding to create or finalize their films. The Miami Film Festival will then screen them, providing a platform for local filmmakers and ensuring these documentaries are seen by the widest possible audience.  

The Louie’s will go to Miami-based filmmakers telling South Florida stories, in one of three categories:

Feature-length documentary: One filmmaker will receive $50,000 to create a documentary of 50 minutes or more; 

Short documentaries: Three filmmakers will receive $10,000 each to create a short film of 8 to 12 minutes; 

Finishing funds: Two filmmakers will receive $10,000 each to complete a feature-length documentary in the post-production phase. 

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants must be full-time residents of Miami-Dade County, 18 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Feature documentary applicants will have previously completed, at minimum, a short documentary.
• Short documentary applicants can be first time directors but must have previously crewed on a short film and received a credit on the film.

What are the application dates?

Applications will be open Sept. 18, 2024 and close Nov. 3, 2024 11:59 p.m. ET.

Where can I get support during my application process?

You can join The Louies Information Session on Tuesday, October 1 at 6:00PM EST by registering HERE. You can also book a 15 minute one-on-one Zoom during our Virtual Office Hours (October 4, 11, & 18 3:00-4:30PM EST) – book your meeting HERE.

When does the film need to be completed?

Short documentaries and Finishing Fund winners must complete their films within six months of receiving support. 

Feature-length documentary winners have up to 18 months to complete their films.  

I live in Broward, am I eligible to apply?

Currently, this application is only open to residents of Miami-Dade County. 

Proof of residence may be requested. Proof of residence can be provided in the form of a utility bill, voters registration, and/ or vehicle registration. 

How many films do I need to have completed before applying?

Feature documentary applicants will have previously completed at minimum, a short documentary.

Short documentary applicants can be first time directors but must have previously crewed on a short film and received a credit on the film.

Can films be hybrid documentaries or do they need to be traditional documentary films?

Films can be hybrid documentaries that combine traditional and experimental elements.

What stage of my project should I be in when applying?

Applicants for Feature or Short documentary categories can be proposing new films, but they must be feasibly completed in the timelines below: 

• Feature Documentary – 18 months production start to screening 
• Short Documentary – Six  months production start to screening

Finishing Funds applicants must have assembled an edit.

What do you mean by a South Florida story?

A South Florida story should highlight the history and culture of South Florida, the ingredients that make our region special. This can include features on significant individuals, places in South Florida, historical events, or stories that make South Florida unique. 

Can my film be made in a language other than English?

Yes! We do expect subtitles in English to be incorporated into the film in advance of the first screening.

Who will determine who wins funding?

A jury of noted filmmakers and film programmers will judge the entries and determine the winners. Selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to use the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives at no cost, and the jury will consider the archive’s use as a factor in the selection process.

What is the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation? 

Established by Lynn Wolfson in 2014, the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation’s two-part mission provides support for education that furthers vocations in film, video, and broadcasting, as well as funds the arts in South Florida. The founding family’s success in media propelled interest in supporting education for the betterment of all related industries. Louis Wolfson II served as senior vice president of Wometco Enterprises, a paragon of the business community and media industry in South Florida and nationally until his passing. Lynn Wolfson initiated the Wolfson Florida Moving Image Archives now housed at Miami Dade College and supported all forms of arts in South Florida. Now guided by the next generations of the Wolfson family, the foundation is pleased to partner with the Miami Film Festival on The Louies.

What is the Wolfson Archive?

Founded in 1984 and based at MDC’s Wolfson Campus, the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives houses over 35,000 hours of video tape and 23 million feet of film documenting Florida history.

The archives are devoted to preserving film and video that records the history and culture of Florida – from the bathing beauties of the 1920s to the expansion and civil rights crusaders of the 1950s; from the first Cuban exiles of the 1960s to the disco dancers of the 1970s, continuing into the 1990s and 2000s. The Archives’ preservation program includes presenting these historic images, and many more, to the public – ensuring their place in the cultural memory of all Floridians.

What is The Miami Film Festival?

Celebrating cinema in two annual events, Miami Film Festival GEMS (October 30 – November 3, 2024), and Miami Film Festival (42nd annual edition April 4-13, 2025), Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival welcomes more than 45,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. It is the only major festival housed within a college or university. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. For more information, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).

How do I access the Wolfson Archives?

You can learn more and browse the archives here: https://www.mdc.edu/archives/wolfson-archives/