Third Horizon Film Festival to Showcase Bold Caribbean Storytelling in Little Havana This Weekend

Third Horizon Film Festival (THFF) is back in Miami for its eighth edition, continuing its mission to spotlight powerful, politically conscious films from the Caribbean, its diaspora, and the Global South. While the festival kicked off with an opening night celebration on May 29, the cinematic experience continues through Saturday, June 1, at the Koubek Center in Little Havana — bringing stories of resilience, resistance, and culture to the forefront.

Voted one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” THFF offers more than just film screenings — it’s a cultural movement rooted in Miami’s Caribbean identity.

Friday Night Feature: “Kouté Vwa”
On Friday, May 30 at 8:30 p.m., the feature film Kouté Vwa (Listen to the Voices) takes the screen. Set in French Guiana, the film follows 13-year-old Melrick during a summer stay with his grandmother as he uncovers long-held grief and seeks healing through drumming. The screening will be followed by a Q+A with co-writer Audrey Jean-Baptiste, offering an intimate look into the film’s creation and themes of memory, forgiveness, and cultural heritage.

Sunday Spotlight: Caribbean Women, Youth, and Freedom
Sunday, June 1 is packed with powerful programming that begins at 10 a.m. with Hija De Florinda, a poetic short film exploring indigenous teachings and generational wisdom in South Florida’s Everglades. It is part of the Your Hands Were Built from Memory shorts block.

At 12 p.m., Sugar Island, a Dominican-Haitian narrative infused with Afro-futurism, dives into the coming-of-age journey of Makenya, a teenager navigating unwanted pregnancy, mysticism, and cultural duality. Director Johanné Gómez Terrero will be present for a post-screening Q+A.

Later at 3:30 p.m., A Freedom Struggle: Looking for Lucrecia Pérez, a live performance by Génesis Valenzuela, reflects on identity, colonial legacy, and the murder of Lucrecia Pérez through images, sound, and performative art rooted in the Antilles. A Q+A will follow.

Archival Cinema for the People
Also on Sunday, THFF presents a retrospective series titled You Don’t Get Freedom, You Take Freedom: Caribbean Activist Cinema 1978–1985. This powerful program features four newly restored films centered around labor, resistance, and the everyday struggles of Caribbean people pushing against exploitative systems. A standout is West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (1979), which explores anti-colonial resistance through an innovative cinematic lens.

Not Just Film — It’s a Vibe
More than a film festival, Third Horizon is a cultural celebration. Attendees can expect legendary afterparties, soul-stirring panels with filmmakers, and short films that leave lasting impressions. As Executive Director Romola Lucas puts it, “The festival still feels like magic.”

Whether you’re Caribbean-born or simply Caribbean-adjacent, THFF invites you to immerse yourself in stories that are rebellious, rooted, and radically real. The festival runs through Saturday, June 1 at the Koubek Center, 2705 SW 3rd St, Miami.

For tickets and the full schedule, visit thirdhorizonfilmfestival.com.