Miami Film Festival Announces Three Additional Feature Films to 2014 Line-up

Last week we announced the “final” line-up for our 31st edition, landing at a total 94 feature and 44 short films from 38 countries. But NOT SO FAST – MIFF has some additional treats in store, and this week announces three exciting new additions to the 2014 line-up, to bring the total number of features up to 97.

(left) Marc A. Buoniconti, Gloria Estefan, Nick Buoniconti, Emilio Estefan; Elijah Wood and Sasha Grey in Open Windows

Two thrilling films join our CINEDWNTWN GALAS presented by Miami Downtown Development Authority presentations. On Tuesday, March 11th, MIFF will screen An Unbreakable Bond, a world premiere documentary produced and directed by Miami’s own Emilio Estefan. The film is an inspirational story of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti and his son, Marc A. Buoniconti, who suffered tragedy at the age of 19 on the football field when a tackle left him paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury.  Marc and his family rallied to turn this painful event into a force for good through The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and The Buoniconti Fund. An Unbreakable Bond is narrated by Gloria Estefan and features Academy Award Winner Tommy Lee Jones, Award Winning journalists Tom Brokaw and Bob Costas and NFL’s Winningest Coach Don Shula.  This red carpet presentation will feature Emilio & Gloria Estefan in person, as well as Marc A. Buoniconti and Nick Buoniconti among numerous other notables.  View trailer.

Julián Villagrán in Extraterrestrial; MIFF executive director Jaie Laplante & director Nacho Vigalondo at MDC’s Tower Theater

Also joining the CINEDWNTWN GALA program, on Sunday, March 16th, is Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo’s contemporary thriller Open Windows, debuting in Miami only a few days after its world premiere at the SXSW Festival. Vigalondo, a former Oscar nominee for his short “7:35 in the Morning” (2003), presented his hilarious previous feature Extraterrestrial as a MIFF special presentation in 2012.  

Vigalondo’s new film stars Elijah Wood as Nick and Sasha Grey as Jill in a high-tech 21st century story, loosely reminiscent of the classic Hitchcock thriller Rear Window. However, instead of our hero watching the action unfold through a glass apartment window, the “windows” of the title are in fact multiple browser windows on Nick’s laptop.   Nick has won an online contest to have dinner with Jill, a popular actress – or has he?  As a mysterious hacker penetrates Nick’s computer, Nick’s world is turned on its head and he enters a race to save Jill from grave peril.  View trailer. 

In our America The Beautiful section celebrating American independent visions, the actor-turned-director John Stockwell will world premiere his new film, Kid Cannabis.  The true story of two Idaho border-dwellers who built a multimillion-dollar business by illegally running marijuana (that was legally purchased a few miles away in Canada) into the United States. This high-energy, original film is a cross between Stand by Me and Scarface and features a terrific cast, including Ron Perlman, John C. McGinley and Kenny Wormald (the 2011 Footloose remake). View trailer.

Tickets will go on sale for all 97 features and 44 shorts this Friday, February 7th for Miami Film Society members only.  Avoid disappointment with sold out screenings, join the Miami Film Society now to enjoy the luxury of advance, pre-public ordering days.  

Tickets to all screenings will be available to the general public on Friday, February 14th.  View MIFF 2014 Ticket Guide.