| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:June 4, 2012
Miami International Film Festival,
Produced and Presented by Miami Dade College,
Announces Call for Entries for its 30th Edition in 2013
The premiere showcase for Ibero-American cinema in the U.S. will award
more than $60,000 USD in cash and symbolic prizes in major categories
Miami, Florida – Organizers of the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), produced and presented by Miami Dade College, are now accepting official entries for the 30th edition of the prestigious event. Considered the top venue in the U.S. for Ibero-American cinema, the Festival seeks the latest works by debut, emerging and veteran filmmakers for various competition and non-competition categories and genres, including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental cinema and Florida-centric stories. The Festival, which runs March 1-10, 2013, will include a noteworthy awards ceremony to celebrate all Festival winners.
“In its first 29 years, Miami International Film Festival has presented the works of many great masters, and introduced many outstanding new talents to the United States,” said MIFF executive director Jaie Laplante. “For our 30th year, we are looking for compelling, fascinating projects that will fit the theme we have chosen to celebrate our third decade: Every character under the sun / Todos los personajes bajo el sol. We look forward to discovering the year’s most vibrant and striking new works of cinema.”
To qualify for MIFF 2013, all films must not have had their world premiere prior to March 2012 and may not be scheduled for theatrical release or commercial broadcast in the U.S. before March 15, 2013, except for titles submitted to the CinemaSlam competition category.
Grand Jury Competition categories include: Knight Ibero-American, Knight Documentary, Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima, Shorts and CinemaSlam. Non-competition categories include Red Carpet Galas, Cinema 360º, Doc-You-Up, REEL Music Scene, Florida Focus, Cutting the Edge, Mayhem and America the Beautiful.
Cash prizes totaling $50,000 USD will be awarded by the Festival’s long-time, valued partner, the Knight Foundation, in the Knight Ibero-American and Documentary Grand Jury competitions. An additional cash prize of $5,000 for screenwriting, awarded by the Jordan Alexander Ressler Foundation, will also be awarded in the Ibero-American Grand Jury competition category.
A cash prize of $5,000 USD will be awarded by the Festival’s official automotive sponsor, Lexus, in the Grand Jury Ibero-American Opera Prima competition category, which features films from first-time feature filmmakers from Spain, Portugal and/or Latin America.
Grand Jury Prize winners in the Knight Ibero-American competition category from recent editions of MIFF include:
- Bonsai (Bonsái) by Cristián Jiménez (Chile/Argentina/Portugal/France, 2012)
- Marimbas From Hell (Las marimbas del infierno) by Julio Hernández Cordón(Guatemala/Mexico, 2011)
- To the Sea (Alamar) by Pedro Gonzáles-Rubio (Mexico, 2010)
Grand Jury Prize winners in the Knight Documentary category from recent editions of MIFF include:
- The Imposter by Bart Layton (United Kingdom, 2012)
- The Interrupters by Steve James (USA, 2011)
- Sins of My Father (Pecados de mi padre) by Nicolas Entel (Argentina/Colombia, 2010)
Grand Jury Prize winners in the Jordan Alexander Ressler Screenwriting competition category from recent editions of MIFF include:
- Bonsai (Bonsái) by Cristián Jiménez (Chile/Argentina/Portugal/France, 2012)
- Jean Gentil by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán (Dominican Republic/Mexico/Germany, 2011)
- The Last Summer of La Boyita (El último verano de la Boyita) by Julia Solomonoff (Argentina/Spain/France, 2010)
The Grand Jury Prize winner in last season’s inaugural Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima competition category from MIFF 2012 was:
- Expiration Date (Fecha de caducidad), by Kenya Márquez (Mexico)
All films in the Festival are eligible for the Lexus Audience Award.
MIFF 2013 SUBMISSION FEES & GUIDELINES
Monday, June 25, 2012 | Early Deadline | $45.00 (SOS) | $65.00 (DVD)
Monday, July 23, 2012 | Regular Deadline | $55.00 (SOS) | $75.00 (DVD)
Monday, August 27, 2012 | Late Deadline | $65.00 (S0S) | $85.00 (DVD)
Friday, September 28, 2012 | Extended Deadline | $100.00 (S0S) | NO DVD ACCEPTED AFTER AUG. 27TH
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 | VeoMiami Deadline | $100.00 (SOS only)
Accepted exhibition formats: DCP, HDCam
To submit: Visit www.miff2020.wpengine.com for the official submission form via Withoutabox. For additional information: info@miamifilmfestival.com or +1 305-237-FILM (3456).
Competition categories include:
Knight Ibero-American Competition (Running time: 60 minutes or more)
This inspiring competition, open to all directors of any experience, features dramatic works from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, as well as Latino-themed works produced in the United States. Preference will be given to World, International and U.S. premieres, but must be at minimum a Florida Premiere at MIFF 2013. Films are eligible for a $30,000 USD Knight Grand Jury Prize that will be split between the filmmaker and the U.S. distributor of the film* (*funds will be awarded to the U.S. distributor on the condition of a minimum one-week commercial theatrical engagement in Miami-Dade County before March 10, 2014). If no U.S. distributor is secured before April 11, 2013, then the full award will be made to the filmmaker.
The Grand Jury, at its own discretion, will also award up to a total of $10,000 additional funds to two other films in the Knight Ibero-American Competition for distinctions of the Jury’s selection.
Knight Documentary Competition (Running time: 50 minutes or more)
Engaging and thought-provoking feature-length documentaries created by international filmmakers that examine social issues, diverse cultures, icons and/or inspiring people. Preference will be given to World, International and U.S. premieres, but must be at minimum a Florida Premiere at MIFF 2013. Films are eligible for a $10,000 USD Knight Grand Jury Prize. Open to all directors.
Lexus Ibero-American Opera Prima Competition
First-time feature filmmakers from Spain, Portugal and/or Latin America will compete for a $5,000 USD cash prize sponsored by Lexus
Jordan Alexander Ressler Screenwriting Award
Titles competing in the Ibero-American Competition category are eligible for a $5,000 USD Grand Jury Prize awarded by the Jordan Alexander Ressler Charitable Fund.
CinemaSlam (part of the Florida Focus category) via www.OpenFilm.com (Running time: 15 minutes maximum). Open to any student enrolled in a participating South Florida college/university on the completion date of the film.
Non-competition categories include:
Red Carpet Galas
Films from world-renowned directors and emerging filmmakers are showcased at the historic Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and given red carpet treatment. By invitation only.
Cinema 360° (Running time: 60 minutes or more)
Feature narratives from both masters and up-and-coming filmmakers, including an international selection of dramas, comedies, suspense thrillers, neo westerns, and innovative docudramas. Open to all directors.
Doc-You-Up (Running time: 50 minutes or more)
Engaging and thought-provoking feature-length documentaries created by international filmmakers that examine social issues, diverse cultures, icons and/or inspiring people.
REEL Music Scene (Running time: 50 minutes or more)
Narrative or documentary films with music-themed content
Florida Focus (Running time: any length)
Includes films partially or wholly shot in Florida or by a filmmaker (director/producer) who is a current resident of Florida.
Cutting the Edge (Running time: any length)
Provocative and stirring feature-length visual experiences guaranteed to test limits and take viewers to the extreme. Open to all directors.
Shorts (Running time: 30 minutes or less)
The latest in short films from around the globe, appropriate for any MIFF category.
Mayhem (Running time: 60 minutes or more)
Suspenseful Thrillers That’ll Rock your Cortex. Slashers, killers and all psychopaths are welcome.
America the Beautiful (Running time: 60 minutes or longer)
A masterful display of film Americana (US indie titles only).
VeoMiami, an on-site digital marketplace during the Festival open to all Industry & Sales guests. All official selections of MIFF 2012 will have the opportunity to participate. Additionally, producers have the option of submitting projects for consideration directly to VeoMiami. These submissions will be accepted until January 15, 2013.
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The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), celebrating its 30th edition March 1-10, 2013, is considered the preeminent Ibero-American film festival in the U.S. The annual Festival, produced and presented by Miami Dade College, attracts more than 70,000 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 East Coast, U.S. and World Premieres. MIFF’s special focus on Ibero-American cinema has made the Festival a natural gateway for the discovery of new talent from the region. Additionally, the Festival offers unparalleled educational opportunities to filmmakers and the community at large. For more, visit www.miff2020.wpengine.com or call 305-237-MIFF (3456).
Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings including The Miami Book Fair International, the Florida Center for the Literary Arts, the MDC Live! performance series, The MDC Tower Theater Cinema Series, nine visual arts galleries including The Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College and the School of Entertainment and Design Technology, in addition to the renowned Miami International Film Festival. MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is nationally recognized for many of its academic and cultural programs. With an enrollment of more than 174,000 students, MDC is the nation’s top producer of degrees. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer nearly 300 distinct degree programs including several baccalaureate degrees.
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org
Jordan Alexander Ressler Charitable Fund recognizes and supports young people as they embark on their careers as professional screenwriters. It was created by the family of Jordan Alexander Ressler, an aspiring screenwriter and Cornell University film studies graduate who, during his brief entertainment career, held production positions with the Tony award-winning Broadway hits 700 Sundays with Billy Crystal and Jersey Boys. He died in a tragic hiking accident while traveling in Nicaragua at age 23, before he realized his dream. By contributing to the growth of the cultural, educational and socially responsible landscapes of the communities in which they live, work and play, Jordan’s family hopes to create, shape and nurture the legacy he never had the opportunity to cultivate.
Lexus
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MIFF Media Contact: Tatyana Chiocchetti, 305-237-7879, tatyana@miamifilmfestival.com
MDC Media Contacts: Juan Mendieta – MDC’s director of communications – 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu; Tere Estorino, MDC director of media relations, 305-237-3949, testorin@mdc.edu; Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu; Tarnell Carroll at tcarroll@mdc.edu; or Alejandro Rios, 305-237-7482, arios1@mdc.edu.
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