Miami, FL (April 20, 2026) – “On the Road (En El Camino),” directed by David Pablos, took the festival’s top jury prize, the $10,000 MARIMBAS Award, at the 43rd edition of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival. The event ran from April 9 – 19, 2026. The award is an international competition for the jury-selected narrative feature film that best exemplifies richness and resonance for cinema’s future.
Additional winners include:
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The Made in MIA Feature Film Award was given to a jury-selected competition for any genre that features a substantial portion of its content (story, setting, and actual filming location) in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and/or Monroe counties) and that best utilizes their stories and themes for universal resonance. The winner of this award will receive a cash prize of $15,000.
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“The Old Man and the Parrot,” directed by Gabriel de Varona
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$10,000 Jordan Ressler First Feature Award, created by the South Florida family of the late Jordan Ressler and sponsored by the Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund, is presented to the jury-selected best film made by a filmmaker making a feature narrative film debut.
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“Second Victims,” directed by Zinnini Elkington
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The Audience Feature Film Award went to “Comandante Fritz,” directed by Pavel Giroud. First runner-up was “Milly, Queen of Merengue,” directed by Leticia Tonos Paniagua, and second runner-up went to “I Swear,” directed by Kirk Jones.
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The Made in MIA Audience Award went to “The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium,” directed by Nicanson Guerrier. First runner-up was “Tropical Park,” directed by Hansel Porras Garcia, and second runner-up was “An Instrumental Start: A Model for the Nation,” directed by Brian Bayerl & Mike Huter.
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The Documentary Achievement Award went to “TheyDream,” directed by William D. Caballero. Honorable mentions include “Revolution’s Daughter,” directed by Thaddeus D. Matula, and “Everybody to Kenmure Street,” directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra.
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The Audience Documentary Film Award went to “Runa Simi,” directed by Augusto Zegarra. First runner-up was “Revolution’s Daughter,” directed by Thaddeus D. Matula, and second runner-up was “Perseverance,” directed by Juan Carlos Martín.
Short Film Awards
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Made in MIA Short Film Award sponsored by ArtesMiami ($5,000) went to “September All Over,” directed by Kali Kahn. The runner-up was “Colada,” directed by Carmen Pelaez.
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Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000) went to “Ovary-Acting,” directed by Ida Melum, with “A Hand to Hold,” directed by Philip Clyde-Smith as runner-up. The award is given to a jury-selected short film (30 min. or less) of any genre from anywhere in the world.
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Reel South Short Award ($1,000) went to “If You Really Love Me, Outlive Me,” directed by Saskia d’Altena and Alejandro Ruax
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Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000), presented by the University of Miami School of Communication, Department of Cinematic Arts and co-presented with UM’s Bill Cosford Cinema, went to “Oh Whale,” directed by Winslow Crane-Murdoch.
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Florida Cinemaslam Award ($1,000), part of the Festival’s annual Florida college student film competition, went to “Ghost of The Marsh,” directed by Ross Widener.
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The Audience Short Film Award went to “One Last Order,” directed by Lauren DeFilippo & Sam Soko. First runner-up was “The Floor Remembers,” directed by Jayme Gershen, and second runner-up was “Beast of the Seine,” directed by Jon Portman.
