2022 MFF

Discover how short films become the launching pad for blockbuster streaming careers in this insider panel with industry leaders and award-winning creators.

Miami Film Festival and Variety present an International Feature Film Nominees Roundtable with the five filmmakers who receive Oscar nominations for the International Feature Films.

A brash inventor’s bulletproof vest saves thousands—but one tragic death exposes the dark truths behind his rise to fame.

After a heart transplant from a Puerto Rican drag queen, a fearful man must confront his prejudices and learn to embrace change.

Filmmakers Natalia and Oriol explore love through others’ stories while confronting the fractures in their own relationship.

A newly widowed matriarch’s $10,000 insurance check sparks family conflict and reveals hidden desires.

In a Sudanese village, 15-year-old Nafisa must navigate love, tradition, and her grandmother’s authority to choose her own future.

Four dentists escape to a tropical island, where jealousy and secrets ignite a wild weekend that changes their lives forever.

Explosions reshape the borderlands, risking the future of fragile ecosystems.

A desperate mother races against time and corruption to save her son from being sent to the front lines of a brutal war.

A restless woman caught between love and longing navigates a complicated triangle that challenges everything she thought she wanted.

A moving tribute to artist Michael Richards, whose powerful sculptures explored Black identity before his tragic death on 9/11.

Miami Film Festival proudly presents its acclaimed Art of Light (Composer) Award, presented by Alacran Group, to Chilean-born, Montreal-based composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

A raw and poetic self-portrait, filmmaker Rebeca Huntt confronts the inherited curses of race, family, and identity in a fierce journey toward healing.

A celebration of Black models and their powerful influence within the high-stakes world of luxury fashion.

A reclusive painter’s portrait session with a mysterious young man spirals into a tense battle for control and hidden truths.

A six-year-old Indigenous girl forms a bond with a young migrant boy lost on their shared journey across the Tohono O’odham Nation borderlands.

Torn between worlds and awakening desire, Camila must navigate love and rebellion in a conservative Buenos Aires high school.

Amidst Hurricane Gustaf, a high-society girl, a corrupt cop, and a drag queen unite to solve the mysterious death of a poet in Santo Domingo’s shadows.

A deep bond between Sara and her nanny Yarisa is shattered when a tragic accident forces them to confront the fragile ties that hold them together.

When young Fabiano’s love life flips from Drake vibes to Celine Dion tears, romance and comedy collide in Miami’s heart.

A filmmaker revisits his family’s past and confronts loss as his ailing father’s story unfolds amid the pandemic.

A Miami restaurateur dreams big to unite his community by crafting the world’s longest croqueta in this heartwarming culinary celebration.

A young nonbinary person comes to terms with a difficult new reality while giving a haircut to their father as he dies of cancer.

In a post-human Miami, D3C05 reimagines Art Deco architecture through a futuristic Latinx lens where language, ritual, and digital life intertwine.

A sarcastic teen balances football, video games, and the challenges of caregiving for his younger brother in this heartfelt short film.

A drug-cartel worker flees to Canada, seeking love and redemption while navigating a new life and haunting past.

A young boy’s journey through the violent shadows of rural Mexico reveals harsh truths about family, masculinity, and survival.

A young Chinese prostitute fights for freedom amid the violent 1885 anti-Chinese riot in Eureka, California.

A retired curator’s stroke ignites a tender and tense journey as his daughter grapples with his request to seek assisted death across the border.

A tribute to the guardians of cinema, revealing the vital work preserving our moving images—and our cultural heritage.

In vibrant detail, artist Firelei Báez transforms folklore and history into powerful paintings that redefine beauty and agency.

Two sisters are torn apart by war and separated for decades, connected only through the letters they write across continents.

Two old shepherds clash over a mysterious crash in the Andes, igniting a fierce duel of ambitions.

In the heart of turbulent Port-au-Prince, young Freda defies odds and expectations to forge her own path amidst Haiti’s unrest.

A daughter recreates her mother’s traditional meal, uncovering a bittersweet journey of memory, identity, and family.

GRAMMY® winner Gloria “Goyo” Martínez reimagines her favorite songs amid the vibrant landscapes of Colombia’s Chocó, blending music and personal history in a stunning visual journey.

A young gymnast’s desperate bid to please her mother unleashes a terrifying creature that turns her family’s life into a nightmare.

A young Puerto Rican mother struggles to rebuild her life while caring for her daughter and coping with her husband’s incarceration after Hurricane María.

A father’s paranoia turns deadly when a rescue at a remote lake spirals into a tense battle for survival.

After a painful breakup, Paula fights a biased legal system to secure custody of the son she loves but never legally claimed.

A Cuban immigrant in Miami dreams across the ocean, bridging two distant worlds through memory and dance at twilight.

InHospitable exposes the fight against UPMC’s restrictive care policies that jeopardize thousands of vulnerable patients in Western Pennsylvania.

Separated by continents, a fragile lie between two lovers strains to unveil a deeper truth.

In chaotic Venezuela, a brutal murder shatters the lives of privileged youth, revealing dark secrets sixteen years later.

The inspiring journey of Jose Feliciano, the groundbreaking Latin artist and Grammy-winning guitar legend behind timeless hits like Feliz Navidad.

A powerful documentary revealing the life and legacy of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, whose courage and humanity changed the world.

A Master Class with legendary indie producer Ruth Ganguzza, the ‘godmother’ behind groundbreaking films and global projects shaping cinema’s future.

A high-stakes boxing battle between two Mexican heroes becomes a powerful clash of identity, pride, and cultural legacy across borders.

Two estranged sisters reunite on Mallorca to sell an inherited bakery, unraveling family secrets and healing old wounds.

A revealing portrait of abstract expressionist Clyfford Still, exploring his art, relationships, and the fight over his legacy.

A Hispanic poet haunted by Lady Death struggles with anxiety and the blurred line between life and death until he finds peace in acceptance.

An estranged mother and daughter confront their fractured bond during a tense getaway in Central Florida.

A vivid portrait of Little Havana through the lens of Miami photographer Rainy Silvestre.

After battling postpartum depression, Luisa retreats into an elegant but isolating world where the facade of perfection hides her unraveling mind.

Madame Pipi reveals the resilience of Haitian female bathroom attendants in Miami nightclubs, whose labor supports their families and a nation amid hardship and uncertainty.

A grieving widow chooses forgiveness over vengeance when she agrees to meet the man who killed her husband, seeking hope amid heartbreak.

A former mechanic battles arthritis and his own demons to reclaim his purpose, risking everything to repair a family friend’s truck—and his fractured bond with his son.

At a prestigious New England university, three Black women confront the hidden terrors behind its elite facade—where tradition and racism collide.

Ana tries to escape her deepest pain but finds herself drawn ever closer to it.

Two Spanish lifeguards risk everything to rescue refugees crossing the Mediterranean, confronting a crisis ignored by the world.

In modern Brazil, a fierce girl squad enforces perfection by night—until one woman’s breaking point threatens to shatter it all.

Melting Snow unveils a forgotten moment of colonial spectacle in Puerto Rico, tracing a journey from a snowy gift to the looming storm of Hurricane Maria.

A young woman reconsiders her upcoming wedding after uncovering her family’s tangled web of secrets.

A passionate music manager and a rising singer navigate the challenges of identity, family, and dreams while seeking belonging through their Latinx roots.

When Debbie and Gene end their long-lasting relationship with each other, they imagine a heightened version of their romance. Their relationship plays out as a dream ballet set on a stage.

Siblings Cal and Erin return to their Montana family ranch to confront old wounds and an uncertain future as their father’s health and debts threaten to tear them apart.

A vibrant tribute to Walter Mercado, the legendary Puerto Rican astrologer whose flamboyant charm and message of love captivated the world—until his mysterious disappearance and triumphant return.

In 1992 Karachi, a father searches for his missing son amid brutal state violence and racial hatred.

Every December, the Nalujuit emerge to chase away winter spirits in this thrilling Inuit tradition.

A trans musician navigates coming out and self-discovery through heartfelt phone conversations and original song.

A delivery man’s dream of owning a motorcycle turns into a vibrant musical journey through the streets of Miami.

In a trans-dimensional sci-fi musical set across Rwanda’s past, present, and future, a subversive hacking collective and two cosmic souls ignite a revolution against an authoritarian regime and its brutal legacy.

When a night of unexpected romance reveals dark secrets, Ruthie must confront the truth and the man she barely knows.

A brother and sister uncover a celestial secret that catapults them into Reggaetón fame, forcing them to face the true cost of stardom.

Two best friends living in Miami journey through the most intoxicated and possibly last day of their lives, as they witness through television Argentina’s national soccer team take on Germany in the historic 2014 FIFA World Cup Final.

Afro-Cuban legend Omara Portuondo defies adversity and age to celebrate the soul of Cuba through her timeless music.

Alone in a foreign country, a young woman meets virtually with friends and family who are in different parts of the world.

During China’s Cultural Revolution, a prisoner’s desperate search for a stolen film reel reunites him with an orphaned girl, revealing the healing power of cinema.

Seven South Florida residents share powerful coming-out stories of courage, acceptance, and resilience in this impactful documentary short.

In the early 1960s, over 14,000 Cuban children escaped communism through a massive refugee exodus, guided by a compassionate priest and a nationwide network of foster families.

Stranded in Panama after a sudden policy change, Cuban migrants document their perilous journey through the Darién Gap in a raw and intimate chronicle of survival and hope.

A sound designer’s world unravels when her brain starts processing sound out of sync, forcing her to confront the fragile nature of perception and identity.

A powerful family and community portrait that celebrates resilience, history, and Black achievement in the heart of Pahokee, Florida.

In 1937, amidst a deadly purge targeting Haitians in the Dominican Republic, a pregnant woman races against time to reunite with her husband before it’s too late.

After her mother suddenly leaves, 8-year-old Nelly meets a mysterious girl named Marion in the woods, uncovering secrets tied to her family’s past.

Alicia, a high-end real estate agent in Panama City, confronts her isolation when a wounded homeless boy forces her to face the harsh realities beyond her privileged world.

Celebrated Iranian-American filmmaker Ramin Bahrani illuminates the immigrant experience and American dreams with poignant, award-winning stories.

Miami Film Festival proudly presents its prestigious Precious Gem Award to the immensely talented filmmaker Ryûsuke Hamaguchi.

Celebrate the fearless community of Mejunje, a Cuban cultural center that became a beacon for LGBTQ+ rights and resilience.

Raúl Monge reveals the art and collaboration behind cinematic worlds he helped create with master directors, sharing his journey from visionary designer to filmmaker.

A lively rural Indian storyteller reveals his quirky, supernatural encounters on a moonlit stroll.

A perfect couple’s idyllic Italian getaway unravels into a tense unraveling of trust and morality when a broken pool and an unwelcome stranger ignite their darkest impulses.

After the recent death of her husband, Marisol decides to skip the wake in an attempt to escape her newfound grief.

Two banished sirens battle deadly habits while chasing rock stardom in the Florida swamps.

A teenage father’s forbidden love spirals into betrayal and self-discovery as he confronts the shadows of his past.

In 1970s Miami Beach, a mysterious shark fisherman leads a group of teenage outcasts on a wild journey into adulthood.

Follow three former FARC fighters as they navigate reintegration into a society struggling to accept them after decades of conflict in Colombia.

Two friends reunite on a rooftop in Spain, confronting friendship, betrayal, and the passage of time in a neighborhood that shaped them.

A young faun challenges the harmony of her forest glade when her new taste in music clashes with her brother’s teachings.

Dive into the triumphs and struggles of young artists fighting for recognition, revealing what’s at stake when voices go unheard.

A disabled filmmaker attempts to rediscover his voice as a global pandemic halts production on his call to action documentary.

In 1901 Chile, a mysterious stop-motion film resurfaces, revealing a dark ritual that unearths the origins of authoritarian power.

A young boy confronts the ghost of his father in a cold industrial town, forging a fragile bond that unveils dark secrets beneath Mexico’s manufacturing industry.

Uncovering the untold impacts of hormonal contraception on women’s health, race, and reproductive justice.

When a long-deceased woman mysteriously resurfaces in a polluted Chilean river, her family must confront buried secrets and find unexpected healing.

A pregnant teenager hiding at a mountain retreat must confront a heartbreaking choice when the life she carries threatens to break a fragile pact.

A humble taxi driver steals a priceless painting to fight for the elderly, weaving a web of lies to protect the ones he loves.

A ruthless factory boss manipulates everyone around him to secure a prestigious award, unraveling dark secrets and explosive consequences.

A man in Djibouti risks everything to save his wife’s life, turning to a grim livelihood while holding onto hope and love.

A renowned director and his ex-wife navigate passion, danger, and ambition as they mount a musical where fiction and reality collide.

A sharp-witted World War II veteran turned Pulitzer-winning journalist sparks social change through fearless truth-telling in post-war Miami.

A young journalist’s search for a missing adoptee in the Dominican Republic uncovers a web of hidden stories in El Seybo.

A six-year-old boy’s solo journey from Shanghai to Miami sparks a fragile reunion and rekindles a family’s hidden pain.

A decade after moving into a Brooklyn brownstone, two friends reconnect with their landlord and his crew to share stories of growing up in a close-knit South Brooklyn neighborhood.

An unassuming dreamer shocks the golf world by entering The British Open with zero experience, proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

After an explosive hook-up, two men bond over their differing views on love, sex, and relationships.

Four polar opposite friends, mostly unemployed, meet daily to rant, bond, and hilariously try to fix the world.

In 1990s Mexico, a young boy and his siblings escape loneliness by weaving magical worlds from their mother’s nightly radio show and the tales told by their eccentric family.

A 90s Nintendo-inspired dream of a windy future in the mountains.

A lonely inspector in Havana becomes obsessed with the mysterious Red Woman, embarking on a haunting journey through the city’s shadowed suburbs.

In 1958 Kibbutz Yekhat, a woman grapples with heartbreak and self-discovery through letters from her husband’s new lover.

A young girl in Miami confronts cultural beauty standards as she fights to embrace her true identity.

Sixty years later, Bay of Pigs veterans recount their harrowing invasion, imprisonment, and enduring love for a homeland they long for.

Wade in The Water: Drowning in Racism dives into the untold story of Black Floridians’ fight to reclaim their right to swim amid segregation and resistance.

A couple’s desperate battle with infertility tests the limits of their love, hope, and sanity.

Director Liliana Torres embarks on a humorous and heartfelt journey, revisiting past loves across Mexico and Italy to unravel the complexities of her generation’s emotional struggles.

A tender glimpse into the everyday rituals and love within a Black diasporic family preparing for a joyful gathering.

A young woman’s fractured identity and search for belonging are reimagined amid the turmoil of the 2015 Paris bombings.