The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), a Miami Dade College (MDC) cultural experience, opens its submissions on August 1st 2008. The festival will take place March 6 – 15, 2009.
The Miami International Film Festival brings the best of world cinema to South Florida and plays a leading role in maintaining and further enriching its film culture. MIFF’s unique geographical and cultural position in Miami makes it an ideal premiere venue for the exhibition of international and US films, with a special focus on Ibero-American cinema.
The Festival has presented films from more than 60 countries, including 200 East Coast, U.S. and World Premieres, scores of Oscar winners and nominees, and many international prizewinners.
- More than 75,000 people attended the Festival in 2008
- In addition, more than 350 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry representatives from around the world attended the 2008 Festival to introduce their work to Miami audiences and industry professionals
- The 2008 Festival held more than 250 screenings, including features, shorts, Outreach and press
PRIZES
A Knight Grand Jury Prize of $25,000 will be awarded to each of the winning directors of the Dramatic Features - World Cinema Competition and the Dramatic Features - Ibero-American Cinema Competition.
A Grand Jury Prize of $25,000 for the Documentary Features - World & Ibero-American Competition and a Grand Jury Prize of $2,500 for the Short Films Competition will also be awarded to the winning directors in each category.
A screenwriting award within the Ibero-American Cinema Competition category will be added to the slate this year. The Jordan Alexander Ressler Award will be presented to the winning screenwriter, and a juried prize of $5,000 will be awarded.
Submission deadlines and fees are as follows:
· Early Submissions (Aug. 1 - Sept. 15): Features $35, Shorts $20
· Final Submissions (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15): Features $45, Shorts $25
Florida Filmmakers pay the Early Submission fees through the final submissions deadline.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2008. Films must not have been publicly broadcast or exhibited commercially in the U.S. prior to the Festival.