Nearly 20 years after the death of River Phoenix, the actor’s final film, Dark Blood, made its North American Premiere last night at Olympia Theater’s Gusman Center for the Performing Arts as Dutch filmmaker George Sluizer was wheeled onto the stage by musician/actor James Michael Taylor to present the film. Perhaps the only thing more surprising than the film’s tumultuous two-decade journey to completion is the fact that Sluizer, now 81, was able complete it at all — against all odds. Following a life-threatening ailment Sluizer’s idea to finish the film became an urge, knowing there was not much time left. He had to restructure the story and add narration (using his own voice) to account for missing scenes. The film will go on to screen in only a few more cities, Hong Kong and Istanbul are next.
MIFF Happy Hour hosted by Argentine Consulate General in MIami at The Standard Spa (l to r:) Francisco José Miguel Talento Cutrin (Consul General) & Pablo Trapero (director, White Elephant) | Gabriel Nesci (director, Vinyl Days), Gonzalo Tobal (director, Villegas), Pablo Trapero (director, White Elephant), Carlos Sorin (director, Gone Fishing)
l to r: Maxx Maulion (actor, Tony Tango) | Jonathan David Kane (producer, Tony Tango) | Andres De Oliveira
(actor/writer/producer, Tony Tango)
Regal Cinemas South Beach saw another packed house with Miami based film, Tony Tango, by Manolo Celí, as “sexcellent” dancer Maxx Maulion (Tony Tango) and co-star Andres De Oliveira charmed moviegoers with their raucous personalities.
l to r: Brandy Alexander, Travis Williams, Dawn Porter (director, Gideon’s Army)
Two films in the Knight Documentary Competition category packed the Miami Beach Cinematheque, including Dawn Porter’s directorial debut, Gideon’s Army, where public defenders, including Florida native Brandy Alexander play a vital role in battling the odds to keep innocent people out of jail in the Deep South; followed by Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story by Miami-based filmmaker Brad Bernstein which details illustrator/chronicler of the absurd Tomi Ungerer’s multi-faceted career of children’s books, anti-Vietnam posters and extreme erotica. On display was proprietary artwork by Tomi Ungerer on loan to MIFF by World Erotic Art Museum (WEAM).
Eduardo Noriega (actor, A Gun in Each Hand) | Carlos Sorin (director, Gone Fishing)
MDC’s Tower Theater screened the North American Premiere of Cèsc Gay’s A Gun in Each Hand which brought the audience to out of control laughter with actor Eduardo Noriega in the house for the intro and Q&A; followed by the US Premiere of Director Carlos Sorin’s latest film, Gone Fishing, which follows Marco (Alejandro Awada) as he looks for redemption and reconciliation on a fishing trip in Patagonia. This marks Sorin’s fourth appearance at MIFF.
Dark Blood + Tony Tango After Party hosted by Haven | George Sluizer (director, Dark Blood), Simone Filippini (Consul General at Consulate General of The Netherlands in Miami)
Dark Blood + Tony Tango After Party hosted by Haven