Miami International Film Festival Day Five Highlights

Day 4 began on a cool wave with a magnificent student screening (courtesy of Miami Dade College and FIU Latin American & Caribbean Center) of Unfinished Spaces, by Alysa Nahmias and Ben Murray at the Wolfson Auditorium where young minds followed the three architects in this absorbing documentary as they reunite on the National Art Schools’ grounds and try to imagine fulfilling their decades old vision of completing their decades old project of transforming the grounds on the edge of Havana into a complex to celebrate music, dance, theater and visual arts.

Filmmakers, industry execs, select Miami Film Society members and VIPs mixed it up during a Viendomovies-hosted lunch at Piola South Beach for a classic Italian spread as invited guests gathered for another exciting round of cinema trade tête-à-tête. And speaking of mixing it up, apparently Uggie, the canine star from The Artist, has received enough attention, causing Casey, the dog star from Darling Companion, to make an appearance at the by-invitation-only MIFF filmmaker/industry Happy Hour.

Just as the setting sun transformed the city into a brilliant shade of orange, the red carpet welcomed a new round of well-heeled talent for the World Premiere screening of The Diary of Preston Plummer, by Sean Ackerman, who was thrilled to be back in Florida for the first time since shooting the film on Amelia Island. Director Ackerman, actors Robert Loggia, Rumer Willis and Trevor Morgan, producer Jane Kosek were in the house to present the feature following a brilliant Tribute to Robert Loggia (Scarface, Jagged Edge, Psycho II, Independence Day, Lost Highway). The cast and crew enjoyed an exquisite private celebration at Downtown’s Fratelli Milano after the screening.

Last but not least, as if traffic isn’t enough to contend with during Miami’s high season… one of the official MIFF vehicles was waiting to transport another round of filmmakers, and a coconut fell onto the front windshield and shattered it causing our transportation coordinator to nearly go over the edge!

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