From April 9 to 19, the Miami Film Festival, now in its 43rd edition, offers a rich program of American and international works. Among the sections of the festival, divided into competition, special events, and meetings with renowned personalities such as Adam Scott, Bob Odenkirk, Danielle Brooks, Lili Reinhart, and Matt Bomer, a spotlight on contemporary Italian cinema stands out. Thanks to the collaboration between the Festival and the Italian Cultural Institute of Miami, “Spotlight on Italy” returns.
Guest of honor is Nicolangelo Gelormini, director of La Gioia (2025), who will introduce the screening of his film and take part in a conversation with the audience. With La Gioia, Gelormini (1978) directs his second feature film, following his debut Fortuna (2020); both works star Valeria Golino in the leading role. Gelormini also directed the fifth episode of the TV miniseries The Art of Joy, based on the novel by Goliarda Sapienza and directed in its other episodes by Valeria Golino.
Here are the Italian titles featured at the 2026 Miami Film Festival:
- La Gioia (2025), directed by Nicolangelo Gelormini, is inspired by the true story of teacher Gloria Rosboch. Gioia Montefiori, a kind but naïve French teacher, forms a trusting relationship with Alessio, a troubled student who convinces her to invest all her savings in a fake business project in Monte Carlo. Unfortunately, the young man disappears, and then he reappears later with a promise to return the money, persuading her to meet him again. From that moment on, the situation takes an increasingly disturbing turn, dragging the protagonist toward unpredictable consequences.
Screening: Saturday, April 11, 12:00 PM – Silverspot Cinema (300 SE 3rd St, Miami, FL 33131) - The Last One for the Road (2025), directed by Francesco Sossai, is set in the Veneto region and tells the story of Carlobianchi and Doriano, two fifty-year-old friends who live like eternal adolescents, drifting between drinks and endless nights, without money or a clear purpose. Their routine changes when they unexpectedly meet Giulio, a young architecture student with a gentle and dreamy spirit. This encounter becomes a surreal journey across the Venetian plains, through empty roads and neon lights, allowing Giulio to discover new ways of seeing the world, love, and the future.
Screening: Thursday, April 16, 9:00 PM – Coral Gables Art Cinema (260 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134) - Three Goodbyes (2025), directed by Isabel Coixet and based on the novel by Michela Murgia, tells the story of Marta, a woman living in Rome whose relationship with Antonio ends abruptly. Shortly afterward, she is diagnosed with incurable metastatic cancer. With the help of a gastroenterologist and the support of people around her, Marta gradually finds emotional balance and begins to appreciate life in a new way.
Screening: Thursday, April 16, 6:30 PM – Coral Gables Art Cinema (260 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134)
In recent editions, the Miami Film Festival has attracted more than 45,000 attendees annually. Since 2003, the festival has been organized by Miami Dade College and is recognized in the United States for its curatorial work and its discovery of emerging talents. Over the years, it has hosted many of the greatest names in North American and Latin American cinema.
For more information and tickets: https://miamifilmfestival.com/
