The last day of the 25th edition of the Miami International Film Festival is here and we still got a full day of wonderful films ahead of us, including the documentary “One Water” -produced by the University of Miami- tonight at 6:30 pm at The Colony theatre in Miami Beach.

AND THE WINNERS ARE….

Audience Award for Dramatic World Feature: BLISS (Turkey-Greece)

Audience Award for Ibero American Feature: LA ZONA (Mexico)

Audience Award for Best Documentary: VENGO DE UN AVION QUE CAYO EN LAS MONTAÑAS (Uruguay)

Knight Grand Jury Awards:

World Dramatic Feature: TRICKS ((Poland)

Special Mention, Best Actor: IT IS HARD TO BE NICE (UK, Slovenia, Serbia, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina)

Special Mention, Best Script: FOUL GESTURE (Israel)

Ibero American Dramatic Feature: (tie) COCHOCHI (Mexico) and EAT FOR THIS IS MY BODY (Haiti, France)

Special Mention: PARPADOS AZULES (Mexico)

Special Mention: LAS NIÑAS (Chile)

World and Ibero American Documentary: SANTIAGO (Brazil)

Special Mention: RUE SANTA FE (Chile, Francia)

Special Mention: UN TIGRE DE PAPEL (Colombia)

Shorts Competition: HOMECOMING (Canada)

Honorable Mention: TRAUMATOLOGIA (Spain)

Special Mention, Best Animated Short: MADAME TUTLI PUTLI (Canada)

Special Mention, Best First Time Director: OVERNIGHT A ROSE ( Taiwan)

FIPRESCI Jury Prize: FOUL GESTURE (Israel)

Vladimir and Jorge -two school friends already in their mid twenties- cross paths after many years. While Vladimir is a bohemian and has just been evicted from his apartment because he’s fallen behind on his rent, Jorge is a very disciplined chemistry professional, who holds a steady job, has a girlfriend and still leaves with his parents. They talk while sharing a cocktail called Scrambled Beer (dark beer and raw eggs blended together). At some point in the conversation they decide to rent a house together. And here is when things get interesting…

Besides the obvious problems of two radically different personalities adjusting to live together, something weird happens: Vladimir begins to experience temporal displacements and his life gets really complicated. At the same time Jorge… well, let’s say he has a surprise hidden up his sleeve.

Outrageously funny, this first film of Chilean director Cristobal Valderrama is yet another example of the fresh breeze this new generation of filmmakers is bringing to the big screen. This is a small story about human relationships, friendships, love and why not, some mystical undertones. Using the disguise of a comedy the director explores the darkest corners of his character’s souls. But do not be fooled. This is the kind of comedy in the best tradition of directors like Alex de la Iglesia, visually rich, conceptually paradoxical and sharp as a 2 sides sword. The film narrative is nothing but lineal and keeps jumping forward to the future and then back to the past to the point you’ll loose track when is the present. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last moment.

Get ready to relax, laugh and… enjoy!

Siatta Scott Johnson, journalist, was devastated about the images of her country -of the decade plus long lasting civil war- going around the world. “It saddens me that when people thinks of Liberia, these are they images that come to their minds” she says on the begining while showing those very same images of the war.  During 2005 the country was in the middle of an election campaing and the two main contenders were ex-football star George Weah and long time politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, fondly dubed “the Iron Lady”.  According to the BBC, during the run-off her supporters used to say Ellen had 2 advantages over Weah: she was better educated and she was a woman.  Needless to say she won the elections on 2005 becoming the first female leader of Liberia as well as the first woman president in Africa.

Siata and her team of journalists asked the Iron Lady to allow them to document in film her first year in the presidency, and she said Yes.

Iron Ladies of Liberia is a documentary film that shows that first year of deep struggle and huge challenges to begin the process of taking a country devastated by the civil war back on its feet, liderated by Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf as president and her team of iron ladies as heads of the Police, Commerce, Finance and Justice ministries.

Liberia, a country founded in 1847 by freed slaves from the US, is reach in some very sought after natural resources as rubber, gold and emeralds but has been torn appart by corrupt leaders and civil wars. “The men of this country have failed us -says Siatta at one point. There are few things they can do and the ones they can are not nice”.

Can a woman do a “man’s job”? you may ask. Well… as of the end of 2007 there were 11 women elected in power, in countries all around the world (Ireland, New Zeland, Finland, The Philippines, Mozambique, Germany, Liberia, Chile, Switzerland, India and Argentina).  In the case of Iron Ladies of Liberia, I’d say go watch the movie and judge for yourself. It is worthy.

Charlie lives in Mexico with his son, Pedro. After being released from jail both have to move back to Chile where his father -whom he hasn’t seen in more than 30 years- is willing to receive them and help them on a fresh start.  As if that whole moving wasn’t stressful enough, Charlie discovers at the airport that his father is a “maraca” (derogative for gay) -as he calls “them”- and worst of all, he lives with his partner.

With a less than perfect resume, the only job he finds is as waiter at Lokas. The exterior makeover he has to undergo is just the tip of the iceberg of his deep turmoil. In the meantime, Pedro tries to adjust to the new reality, to understand the relationship between his granfather Mario and this “uncle” Flavio. While missing his mother he focus on helping his father addapt and cope with his prejudices -non the lesser because of family relationship.

Outrageously funny it is, nevertheless, the kind of comedy that makes you wonder -what am I laughing about? when it takes a deep plunge to explore the intricacies of the human soul. On their own style, at their own pace, each character has to deal with their own conflicts and find a way to resolve them within the small community of the family -”ok, not the standard family, but the only one i got” - as Pedro expresses in his own words, from the fresh innocence of his young years.

Gonzalo Justiniano’s eighth film is certainly a wonderful option to begin the the last weekend of the Festival with a smile and a nice subject to talk about during the dinner afterwards. Enjoy!!!

Director Rodrigo Marin makes a very promising debut with this film telling the story of two girls -Antonia and Sophie- and the conflictive relationship between them. One of them is liable to have breast cancer and this stirs the dinamic of their relationship in a new way.  It is an intimate film -uncomfortably intimate at some moments since Marin manages the camera angles and close-ups in a way that takes the viewer right in the middle of the relationship.

The action occurs in Sophie’s small appartment. The constrains and discomfort of the space seem to be the reflection of the ones on the relationship. Along the 3 acts of the film the story develops and we get a better idea of what goes on between them with the help of contextual interviews with friends, ex-boyfriends, teachers. As in a gestaltic game these interviews take place on open spaces, creating an outrageous contrast with the oppresive intimacy of the relationship between Antonia and Sophie. The final act will reveal the hidden element creating the conflict…

Rodrigo Marin wrote and directed using experimental techniques. The main actresses had been rehearsing separately without meeting of knowing about the other one. They actually met at the set the first day of the production.

Oh! did i mentioned it is in black and white? yeah…

A small story but a refreshing one and a very good example of the vision of this new generation of chilenean filmakers.

After some technical difficulties I am back with some reviews for you :) The Festival ends on Sunday and there still are plenty of wonderful films to watch.

I must say, the level of quality of the films as well as the overall performance of the different areas that make it possible for the public to enjoy the Festival experience has been outstanding and really worthy of a bright 25th anyversary.

Make sure to check the festival official website for complete screening schedule at www.miamifilmfestival.com and enjoy the experience!

Hermoso domingo one Miami, aún mas brillante gracias a la presencia del 25to Festival Internacional de Cine de Miami.
Este año marca un hito muy importante en la historia del Festival y también en la historia y evolución de Miami, mostrando al mundo un reflejo del ultimo cuarto de siglo en esta ciudad.
Miami ha recibido el apelativo de ¨la puerta de las Americas¨y el nombre realmente le sienta.
El Festival de Cine de este año refleja esta realidad ofreciendo 160 films de todo el mundo, con una importantísima presencia de producciones Latinoamericanas. De modo que hay algo para cada uno, cubriendo todos los gustos e intereses cinematograficos.
Para obtener una Guia completa de los films en exhibición, por favor dirijase a la pagina del festival: www.miamifilmfestival.com
Por mi parte, estare escribiendo criticas de algunos de los films regularmente durante esta semana. Nos vemos en el treatro… Disfruten!!!

This is a wonderful Sunday, made even brighter by the presence of the 25th Miami International Film Festival. 2008 is certainly a wonderful milestone not only in the evolution of the festival but also -and more importantly- in the way the festival reflects the last quarter century of the history and evolution of Miami as a city.
Miami is being called “the Hub of the Americas” and the name fits. This year’s festival also reflects that.
With 160 films from all around the world and a massive presence of Latin American productions the festival offers options for all cinematic tastes and interests.
For a complete Film guide please check on the Film webiste www.miamifilmfestival.com
I’ll be posting reviews of some of the films regularly during the festival.
See you at the theatre and enjoy!!!

This beautiful documentary, produced and directed by Jeremy Stulberg and Randy Stulberg, is running during the film festival and I highly recommend going to go see it. Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa explores a community of radicals, misanthropes and the off-kilter that has sprouted in the New Mexico desert. Among them is Stan, an incredibly sweet and gentle craggy old pig farmer who takes in run-aways; and Maine, a vet (there are many in this community) who is dying of cancer but just wants the government and medical establishment to leave him the hell alone. You can tell the Stulbergs have found a way to fall in love with their subject-matter: they manage to capture the photographic beauty of these grim homesteads and to tell these people’s stories not just without condescension, but with tribute. Just a really great movie. Check it out. The next screening is on Thursday night:

This Thursday, March 8th at 6:00 pm

@ the Bill Cosford Cinema
University of Miami, Memorial Building
Coral Gables, FL 33146

The After Party will be at Spider-Pussy at 11pm
@ Circa28, 2826 North Miami Ave.
Corner of North Miami & N 29th Street.
in the Wynwood Art District

And check out the rest of the Miami International Film Festival and its offerings.

“Worth every penny” is how food enthusiasts are rating those $300 passes to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival–hose hefty prices kept us away, sadly, but we’re already saving our pennies for next year’s event. Apparently, it’s a can’t-miss affair, and we love all the stories:

* Festival-goers enter the huge tent and are promptly handed a wine glass, which they carry from station to station and sample all the different vintages of the moment. True wine tasters are supposed to employ the “swirl, suck, and spit” method, not swallowing anything which would taint the pallete. Of course, everyone sucked their glasses dry and swallowed every drop.

* Food was also available for the tasting; the most common offering? Ceviche.

* The Food Network flew its most popular personalities down for the festival to host live cooking expos, with Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse and the rest of the clan. In an informal poll of festival-goers, we found Paula Deen’s expo to be most popular. Suspected of having a little too much of the wine herself, she took the stage and promptly announced “I don’t feel like cookin’!” and just talked to the audience the whole time. It makes us wonder what is in that bottle in the picture above…

* Martha Stewart’s cooking expo was described as “like an elementary school classroom,” with everyone sitting politely watching her methodical placement of each knife, spoon and dish exactly where it needed to go. It was refreshing for some, while others were unnerved by the audience’s silence: “Everyone just sat and stared. It was an outdoor tent in South Beach, and you could hear a pin drop.” Perhaps she should have had a little of what Paula was drinking, no?

* For photos of the event, click here.

TV adds sizzle to South Beach celebration [Palm Beach Post]