The 2011 Miami International Film Festival, produced and presented by Miami Dade College, kicked off its 28th year with the Gusman Gala Red Carpet and thePremiere of the Festival’s first ever animated musical feature, Chico & Rita. Directors Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando charmed the crowd with a warm-hearted intro and an insightful Q&A as they detailed production of the film using live actors for portions of the animation.
Inside the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, the festival’s executive director, Jaie Laplante, welcomed the packed house of movie lovers to Opening Night and thanked themfor their continued support of the festival.
For the Festival’s Opening Night After-Party at the Freedom Tower, Miami’s historical landmark, Miami Dade College’s art gallery exhibition space was transformed into a Tropicana-like nightclub and bistro bar in just mere hours to become the evening’s hottest ticket in town.
More than 2,000 people mingled among the animated artwork re-created from Chico & Rita, and noshed on the likes of empanadas and facturas from La Estancia Argentina, chicken and mashed potatoes soufflé from the Hard Rock Café, pumpkin ravioli with sage butter from La Loggia Ristorante, sushi and beef and potato curry from Soi Asian Bistro, and imbibed the sweet nectars of Rums of Puerto Rico, reds and whites courtesy of Estancia wines and Illy coffees.