The Miami Film Festival is back this week, and this year’s lineup is putting a noticeable spotlight on Black and Caribbean stories, including several films rooted right here in Miami.
Running April 9 through 19, the festival includes a mix of documentaries and features that explore local history, identity and culture, from Liberty City landmarks to South Dade farming communities.
Among the Miami-centered projects is An Instrumental Start: A Model for the Nation, a documentary on the legacy of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center and its longtime leader Marshall L. Davis Sr. The film highlights how the program helped shape generations of Black artists who went on to institutions like Yale School of Drama and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Showing kicks off Friday, April 10th, 8pm at the Olympia Theater.
Another local story, The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium, focuses on the historic Liberty City field known for producing more NFL players than any other stadium in the country. Directed by Nicanson Guerrier, the documentary examines the stadium’s cultural impact beyond sports. Showing kicks off Sunday, April 12th, 12:30pm at the Olympia Theater.
South Dade’s history is also represented in Under the Mango Tree, directed by Symone Titania Major. The short documentary looks at the rise and decline of a once-thriving Black agricultural community in Goulds, offering a glimpse into a lesser-known part of Miami-Dade’s past. Showing kicks off Thursday, April 16th, 9pm at The Bill Cosford Cinema.
For Miami’s Haitian community, Dual Citizen follows filmmaker Rachelle Salnave’s effort to obtain Haitian citizenship, exploring family legacy and questions of identity. Salnave is also a past recipient of the festival’s Louies grant, which supports local documentary filmmakers. Showing kicks off Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30pm at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.
Caribbean storytelling is also showing up in Melodrama, a film set between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The story follows Sonia, a widow whose life shifts after she begins a relationship with Aimé, a Haitian construction worker played by Jimmy Jean-Louis. Their romance unfolds against the backdrop of the island’s complicated history, adding another layer to the film’s narrative. Showings include Friday, April 17th, 8:45pm and Saturday, April 18th, 12:30pm at the Silverspot Cinema – Room 13.
In addition to the local films, the festival will host the Florida premiere of If I Go Will They Miss Me, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernández and starring The Color Purple’s Danielle Brooks. The film, which premiered at Sundance, follows a young boy growing up in South Los Angeles and has already generated early awards buzz. Brooks is also set to receive the festival’s Art of Light Award. Showing kicks off Tuesday, April 14th, 6:45pm at Silverspot Cinema -Room 13.
Festival organizers have increasingly highlighted diverse storytelling in recent years, and this year’s selections continue that trend, with several films reflecting the experiences of Black and Caribbean communities in Miami and beyond.
Screenings and events for the Miami Film Festival will take place at venues across the city through April 19. To view the full program and to purchase tickets, visit miamifilmfestival.com.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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