From April 3 to 13, the Miami Film Festival, now in its 42nd edition, presents a rich program of U.S. and international movies. Among the festival sections— divided into competition, special events, and talks with celebrated talents such as Julie Delpy, Mark Duplass and Julia Stiles— for the first time, through a collaboration between the Festival and the Italian Cultural Institute in Miami, a Spotlight on Italy is included in the program, showcasing a selection of contemporary Italian cinema.
In the limelight we find the North American premiere of Diamanti (Diamonds) by Ferzan Özpetek, the director’s fifteenth film. With its ensemble cast featuring many of the most celebrated contemporary Italian actresses, Diamanti has become the most successful Italian film of 2024, achieving the best box office results of Özpetek’s career.
Ferzan Özpetek will be present at the screening, scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. After the screening, he will take part in an exclusive, already sold-out conversation with the audience, where he will delve into the unique cinematic perspective of this work, focusing on the world of costume design and fashion.
Among the titles in the Italian section, we also find a world premiere: Zoe, directed by Emanuela Galliussi and Dean Ronalds. With this film, Emanuela Galliussi, an actress and director from Friuli with extensive experience in the United States, presents a character engaged in a magical journey of self-discovery across Ibiza, London, and Paris.
The U.S. premiere of Clorofilla will also take place in Miami, a story about a unique summer spent in nature by Maia, a girl with green hair. Directed by Ivana Gloria, Clorofilla is competing for the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award, which the Miami Film Festival grants to the best debut feature film. Rounding out the Italian participation is Trifole by Gabriele Fabbro, a bittersweet fable set in Piedmont, revolving around the search for rare truffles as well as a sustainable way of life.
Italian directors in attendance at the Miami Film Festival:
- Trifole – Friday, April 4, at 6:30 PM (Coral Gables Art Cinema), with director Gabriele Fabbro
- Zoe – Friday, April 4, at 9:00 PM (Coral Gables Art Cinema, world premiere), with directors Emanuela Galliussi and Dean Ronalds
- Diamanti – Saturday, April 5, at 5:30 PM (Coral Gables Art Cinema, U.S. premiere), with director Ferzan Özpetek
- Chlorophyll (Clorofilla) – Tuesday, April 8, at 9:00 PM (Coral Gables Art Cinema, U.S. premiere), with director Ivana Gloria.
Finally, the lineup is completed by films from other countries that were shot as international co-productions with Italy, such as Casa en Flames by Dani de la Orden, Hambre (Hunger) by Joanna Nelson, El ladrón de perros (The Dog Thief) by Vinko Tomičić, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Eran Riklis, Duino by Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Soy Nevenka (I Am Nevenka) by Icíar Bollaín.
In the most recent editions, the Miami Film Festival has attracted over 45,000 attendees annually. Since 2003, the festival has been organized by Miami Dade College and is recognized in the United States for its commitment to discovering and showcasing emerging talents. Over the years, it has welcomed some of the most prominent figures in North and Latin American cinema.
For more information and ticket purchases: Miami Film Festival
