Miami International Film Festival Celebrates 25th Anniversary

166 Films representing 54 Countries including 10 World Premieres and 51 International, North American & U.S. Premieres

The Silver Anniversary of the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), a Miami Dade College (MDC) cultural experience, will be take place from February 28 - March 9. Patricia Riggen's Under the Same Moon, a Mexican film about the indelible bond between a mother and son highlighted in the MIFF Abroad program, will open the Festival.

"We are very excited about this year's film program as well as the business and education programs," said Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, President of Miami Dade College. "Thanks to the MIFF team, our college's employees and our generous partners, we can continue to dazzle festival-goers and to provoke thought through film." The talent expected at this year's festival are Demi Moore, Helen Hunt, Kate Hudson, Kate del Castillo, Carmen Salinas, Patricia Clarkson, Matthew Broderick, César Troncoso, Amber Valletta, Carlos Santana, David Schwimmer, Harvey Keitel, Armand Assante, Tony Shalhoub, Alfred Molina, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Kate Beckinsale, Javier Bardem, Jim Broadbent, Fito Paez and Heather Graham among many others.

MIFF's 25th Anniversary edition program has experienced a 300% growth in film submissions since the 2007 edition and the Festival's film screenings have expanded nearly 20% in the same period. Among the 25th Anniversary program press conference topics will be the Festival's dynamic and developing film exhibition screenings and events and film production business and education elements.

"Our growth is a testament to MDC's and the City of Miami's commitment to the arts and to film as an industry," said Festival Director Patrick de Bokay. "We are simply a reflection of the communities we serve through film. Our team is both proud and humbled by our Festival's reception this year."

With the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, films in competition are eligible for a Knight Grand Jury Prize. The Knight Grand Jury Prizes carry a cash award of $25,000 each in the four categories judged by four different juries: Dramatic Features: World Cinema Competition, Dramatic Features: Ibero-American Cinema Competition, Documentary Features: World & Ibero-American Cinema Competition and the Shorts Competition. Films in competition are also eligible for audience awards. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 8.

For more information: www.miamifilmfestival.com