#1 Film & Media Event
The 35th incarnation of Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival festival snagged a new lead sponsor in MoviePass, a movie theater subscription service. It also honored actress Isabelle Huppert with its Gem–Icon Award and a screening of the film Souvenir. The just-wrapped festival focuses on Ibero-American cinema and draws more than 60,000 attendees, as well as more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals. Next: March 2019
#2 Film & Media Event
The event—first known as the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival when it launched in 1998, before joining forces with its Fort Lauderdale counterpart in 2015 as the MiFo L.G.B.T. Film Festival—has rebranded as Outshine. The 20th annual Miami edition leads the festivities in April, taking over Regal Cinemas South Beach and the Scottish Rite near Downtown Miami. The 10th Annual Fort Lauderdale Edition arrives in the fall at the Classic Gateway Theatre, Savor Cinema, and the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. Next: April 20-29, 2018
#3 Film & Media Event (up from #5)
The three-day conference is one of three Festival of Media events across the globe: The Miami edition brings together more than 1,200 representatives from a directory of Latin American media and entertainment entities. The event takes place at Aventura’s Turnberry Isle, bringing more than 300 brands and 55 speakers. A closing award ceremony honors achievements in technology, marketing, advertising, content, case studies, and e-commerce. Next: October 28-30, 2018
#4 Film & Media Event (up from #7)
In January, nearly 5,000 media executives and 200 speakers from more than 70 countries converged on the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc in Miami Beach for the three-day Natpe market and conference. Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and C.E.O. of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and television host and journalist Soledad O’Brien headlined the midweek keynote, A Changing Industry in a Changing World. The Natpe Streaming Summit also made its debut, featuring Facebook’s head of global and creative strategy, Ricky Van Veen. Next: January 2019
#5 Film & Media Event (up from #8)
The ninth annual Hispanicize, held at the JW Marriott Marquis, will bring together 3,000 Latino media professionals, content creators, tech innovators, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and digital disruptors. This year presenting sponsor Prudential will host Facebook Live sessions prior to the conference, and Wells Fargo is planning its own pre-event Twitter parties that warm up participants for its “perfect pitch” presentation. The second annual Hispanicize C.M.O. & Diversity Summit will also touch on the cultural challenges facing Latinos today. Next: April 17-19, 2018
#6 Film & Media Event (new to the list)
The 22nd annual American Black Film Festival is back in Miami, supporting and celebrating talent in front of and behind the camera. Programming for 2018 will be backed by HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, Turner, and TV One, among others. The workshops include opportunities for hosts, comedians, screenwriters, showrunners, and producers while also premiering pilots, television programs, and films. An awards presentation, after-party, and community day conclude the five-day schedule. Next: June 13-18, 2018
#7 Film & Media Event (up from #9)
The Miami Short Film Festival is dedicated to promoting the short film genre, showcasing films from one to 20 minutes long. The festival is international in scope, bringing exposure to independent and up-and-coming filmmakers and luring upwards of 2,500 patrons. Polaroid Sunglasses sponsored the 2017 edition, which awarded the best in class for documentary, narrative, experimental, and animation, among others. Next: November 8-11, 2018
#9 Film & Media Event
The festival celebrated its 21st anniversary in September and connected Miami-Dade County with Broward County via parallel screenings across four venues: New World Symphony’s Soundscape Park, Savor Cinema, Regal South Beach, and the Miami Beach Cinematheque. The closing-night Crystal Lens Awards featured a screening of 2016 film Elis, by Hugo Prata: The biopic chronicles the life of Elis Regina, considered to be Brazil’s top vocalist of all time. Next: September 2018
