Miami, FL (April 14, 2025) – “The Last Meal,” directed by Maryse Legagneur, took the festival’s top jury prize, the $15,000 MARIMBAS Award, at the 42nd edition of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival. The event ran from April 3 – 13, 2025. 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:
- The Made in MIA Feature Film Award, sponsored by Panavision, was given to a jury-selected film of any genre that prominently feature South Florida in their story, setting, and filming location, and best utilize South Florida’s story and theme for universal resonance. The winner of this award will receive Panavision camera equipment rental package, valued at $60,000.
- “The Python Hunt” directed by Xander Robin.
- $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.
- “Omaha” directed by Cole Webley.
- The Audience Feature Film Award went to “Espina” directed by Daniel Poler, which had its World Premiere at the Festival. First runner-up was “Adiós Cuba” directed by Rolando Díaz, and second runner-up went to “Magic Hour” directed by Jacqueline Christy.
- The Documentary Achievement Award ($2,000) went to “Checkpoint Zoo,” directed by Joshua Zeman.
- The Audience Documentary Film Award went to “Selena y Los Dinos” directed by Isabel Castro. First runner up was “Chirino” directed by Jorge Soliño, and second runner-up was “The Librarians” directed by Kim Synder.
Short Film Awards
- Made in MIA Short Film Award ($5,000) went to “Little Haiti, Miami, USA,” directed by XF Serrano.
- Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000) went to “Gender Reveal,” directed by Mo Matton. The award is given to a jury-selected short film (30 min. or less) of any genre from anywhere in the world.
- Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000), presented by the University of Miami’s School of Communication, went to “View from the Floor,” directed by Megan Griffiths & Mindie Lind.
- Florida Cinemaslam Award ($1,000), part of the Festival’s annual Florida college student film competition, went to “Dirt Therapy,” directed by Sebastian Valencia.
- The Reel South Short Film Award ($2,000) went to “George V.,” directed by Dennis Scholl & Dia Kontaxis.
- The Audience Short Film Award went to the drama “Night Train Last Stop” directed by Gina Margillo. First runner-up was “Test of Time: The Big Cheese” directed by Julian Alicea, and second runner-up “Confession of a Jumbotron Addict” directed by Mickey Duzyj.
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About Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival
Celebrating cinema in two annual events, Miami Film Festival (42nd annual edition April 3-13, 2025) and Miami Film Festival GEMS (November 2025), Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival welcomes more than 45,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. It is the only major festival housed within a college or university. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. For more information, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).
