In partnership with Deering Estate, the MIAMI short FILM FESTIVAL (MIAMIsFF) presents: 𝑩𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝑬𝑺𝑻 2024 - Sunday, January 12, 2025, 7PM at Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33157. • Welcome Cocktail Reception at 7:00 PM • Screening - 7:30 PM ________________________________________________________________________"Unveiling the Best of Fest 2024: An Exclusive Night with the Winning Films of the 23rd MIAMI short FILM FESTIVAL" ____________________________________________________________________ ⦿ BEST NARRATIVE ~ LEES WAXUL - Dir. By Yoro MBAYE – Narrative – 21:00 Min – Senegal - (Subtitles) In his village, where bread is a luxury, Ousseynou, a former fisherman, has only the sale of stale baguettes to support his family. However, the opening of his sister-in-law Nafi's traditional bakery is an affront to him and gradually threatens his business. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ BEST DOCUMENTARY ~ Aqui y alla –Dir. By Isabella Breton – Documentary – 09:59 Min – USA Through a conversation with photographer Winston Vargas, we explore the evolution of the Dominican community that migrated from one island to another. We witness through his gaze the peculiar experience of the diaspora in Washington Heights, but most importantly the effect of the community on its new environment. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ BEST ANIMATION ~ In the Shadow of the Cypress - Dir. By Hossein Molayemi & Shirin Sohani– Animation – 19:33 Min – Iran – (No dialogue) A former captain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, lives with his daughter in a humble house located by the sea. Together, they live an isolated life and have to confront the challenges of a harsh life. One morning, their lives change forever when an unforeseen event occurs. Whether this event proves to be a newfound source of hope or an additional burden remains to be seen. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ BEST NARRATIVE USA/CA ~ As Easy as closing your eyes- Dir. By Parker Croft– Narrative – 21:43 Min – USA The story of a grieving mother who battles her addiction to a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ BEST LOCAL ~ Little Haiti, Miami, USA - Dir. By XF Serrano – Local – 08:50 Min – USA Erma arrives to Little Haiti with a painting. She needs to find the man in this painting. Unable to speak English, she enlists the help of Wilky. The two venture into the neighborhood on his electric scooter, showing the painting to locals, with hopes of finding the man ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ DIRECTORS CHOICE ~ Witness - Dir. By Aida Tebianian – Narrative – 15:00 Min – Iran - (Subtitles) Sharman, a young girl whose father has murdered her mother, strives to find several witnesses to testify in court according to Islamic laws, in order to save her father from execution. While she´s trying to save her father's life, she wanders in the difficult dilemma of choosing between fear and conscience. ________________________________________________________________________ Time Length: 94.85 Min ________________________________________________________________________This event will be held indoors in the Visitor Center Theater. * There is FREE PARKING in the Visitor Center parking lot, which is located on SW 168 Street, just west of 72nd Avenue. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ Sponsored in part by the County of Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach Arts & Culture and Funding Arts Network. ________________________________________________________________________ ⦿ 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏.