There was an error in our film festivals column in our March 27 issue. Somehow we were sent last year’s line-up of films, perhaps it was a belated April Fool’s joke. At any rate, among the almost 200 films to premiere at the festival, there are eight LGBTQ feature films and 10 shorts. Here are the films that are truly running at this year’s festival.
For dates, locations, and tickets, go to miamifilmfestival.com.
Cherri
Directed by Fabián Suárez, Cherri is gay, obese, and loves dancing. He lives with his husband Luis, an elderly man who can no longer fend for himself. Cherri thinks he has found love with handsome trade, but has he? Takes place April 5.
Chlorophyll (Clorofilla)
Directed by Ivana Gloria, this fantasy/romance centers on green-haired Maia, who is tired of city life and decides to spend the summer picking oranges. Takes place April 8.
Duino
Directed by Juan Pablo Di Pace and Andres Pepe Estrada and executive produced by the late Norman Lear, the film follows filmmaker Matias as he struggles to finish editing a movie that was inspired by his elusive first love – a Swedish boy named Alexander – whom he met at a boarding school in 1997. He decides to reopen Pandora’s box by coming face-to-face with Alexander, discovering life imitating art, and confronting the sneaky power of memory. Takes place April 8.
Queens of Drama
Directed by Alexis Langlois is set in the near future and Steevyshady, an obsessive Mimi Madamour stan, tells us of their idol’s mad destiny from the very peak of her career in 2005, all the way down to the pits of hell, a downfall brought about by her love story with punk icon Billie Kohler. Takes place April 9.
Rent Free
Directed by Fernando Andrés the film focuses on best friends since childhood, Ben and Jordan, two young men living in a rapidly changing Austin, where they navigate low-paying jobs, fraught relationships, and their own emotionally codependent friendship. When they suddenly lose their apartment, they come up with a last-ditch plan to spend the rest of the year “rent free.” Takes place April 10.
The closing night film, on Saturday, April 12, will be On Swift Horses, directed by Daniel Minahan. Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California when he returns from the Korean War. But their newfound stability is upended by the arrival of Lee’s charismatic brother, Julius, a wayward gambler with a secret past. A dangerous love triangle quickly forms. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, and Diego Calva star in this Toronto Film Festival breakout about the American West and queer love.
Short Stuff
The following are the short films running at the festival that have LGBTQ themes, for dates, locations, and tickets go to miamifilmfestival.com.
Ask A Punk
From Everglades art to punk rebellion, flamingo love stories to Miami street culture – this package delivers fresh, bold, and unexpected stories straight from South Florida’s indie scene!
Capitanes
During a hard-fought, tense cup semi-final, the two captains of a football team have an argument that ends up revealing a secret buried in the dressing rooms of the first division: the silence of homosexual footballers.
Don’t Cry For Me All You Drag Queens
Pays homage to the legendary Mother Cavallucci by weaving together the present and past to provide a striking portrait of belonging and memory.
Gender Reveal
Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realizes that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for and their ability to survive the event comes into question. Screens with Arroz Con Mango.
Gen Z Queerz
Captures the LGBTQ+ narratives of eight South Florida students from Generation Z. Directed by Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Freddy Rodriguez "Open Dialogues: Gen QueerZ" is the fourth film in the "Open Dialogues" series.
Invincible Summer
One hot summer evening. Alone at home, by the pool, 16-year-old Clément is killing boredom by swiping guys' profiles on a dating app. Determined to lose his virginity, he lies about his age on his date with Naël, a young man 8 years his senior. Screens With Fade Into You.
My Best Friend
Clara is reeling from a breakup. Lea just opened up about her relationship with her boyfriend. The events of one fateful night together challenge the constraints of platonic friendship and the true depths of intimacy. Screens With Fade Into You.
Stud Country
A documentary film captures the human spirit, and this diverse block of films captures all of that. UM Documentary Short Award Presentation. Screens with Who We Are.
Teen Mary
Mary is a teenage girl living in Nazareth in the year 1 B.C. (but speaking in modern dialogue). She's a normal teen: horny, mean to her mom, and thirsty for fame. It's fun being the hottest 15-year-old in town until you get knocked up by a married shepherd and might get stoned to death for adultery! When their town runs out of people to stone and is on the hunt for sinners, Mary and her gay best friend Joseph (who's hooking up with a Roman soldier) find themselves endangered. They hatch a plan to save their lives in this cuckoo patriarchal town. How? They'll convince everybody that GOD made Mary pregnant... with the new Messiah. And that they've been chosen to raise Him. Screens with Arroz Con Mango.
¡Que Colombianada!
A Colombian family is forced to celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time after their eldest son invites the man he likes to a holiday celebration at their house, causing tension among the family members.
