The 30th Miami International Film Festival Begins March 1

The 30^th Miami International Film Festival

Attention, Downtown Miami cinephiles: the 30^th annual Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) begins this Friday, March 1 and runs through March 10 throughout South Florida. We’re in luck, with over 120 films from over 40 countries being screened in such a short time!

Best of all, residents of Downtown Miami will receive a $2.00 discount to all films screened at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. The discount can be used for online and phone advance purchased tickets with the code DWN13. This excludes Opening Night and Awards Night.

What to Do, What to See

The MIFF kicks off with the Ultimat Vodka Opening Night Party at the Alfred I Dupont Building at 9:30. Head over to the historic building on Friday for a taste fine local restaurants’ cuisine and cocktails courtesy of Ultimat Vodka.  But parties, while divine, aren’t everything. Look for self-taught artist Jean Marc Calvet’s CINEDWNTWN mural, located at 1140 North Miami Avenue in Downtown Miami, which is visible from the 395 exit.

There are so many movies, so little time. For Downtown residents, “Twenty Feet from Stardom” is a must on opening night. The film is part of CINEDWNTWN‘s 10 cinema screenings at Olympia Theater, presented by the Miami Downtown Development Authority. It promises to be an engaging inside view on the world of back-up singers and why they were overlooked for stardom, despite having immense talent. Insight from Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, and Mick Jagger is sure to make this intriguing.

Many films are generating plenty of buzz; other films to watch out for include the world premiere of “Calloused Hands,” a coming-of-age story about a baseball-loving Jewish teenager preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. Set during one summer, Josh learns how to deal with his mother, his mother’s new boyfriend, and what it means to become a man. This film will also be screened at the Olympia Theater.

Be sure to visit the Miami International Film Festival’s website for a more comprehensive list of all the films being screened across Miami. You can attend movies at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center, but also at O Cinema, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Regal South Beach Cinema, and Tower Theater.

Hurry and purchase your tickets quickly. These films do sell out!

Image: Official Miami International Film Festival Poster art via Miamifilmfestival.com