Back to Back Film Fests

The Culture Edit, November 4th-17th

Author

Susan Bannon
November 03, 2024

Today is the final day of Miami Film Festival’s “GEMS” mini-fest, with ten different screenings (including Kieran Culkin’s new film A Real Pain) and a live podcast recording with actor Sebastian Stan. But we have more films coming, with the Miami Short Film Festival hosting three days of short films starting this Friday. MSFF’s selections come from all over the world, with special screenings for shorts from Spain, China, Iran, and the Caribbean. Other screenings focus on dystopian technologies, personal struggles, and one for student and local filmmakers. You won’t get a better opportunity to experience the short film format this year.

This week is also your last chance to catch Zoetic Stage’s The Pillowman in the Carnival Studios Theater at the Arsht Center, which has been getting rave reviews (like this one in the Miami Herald) for its immersive “in the round” staging and powerful performances. If it seems like this production just started, well it did. That’s the only downside of the intimate CST space - the Arsht Center is busy, busy, busy, so productions can’t stay very long. So if you’re reading this and want to see it, drop everything and book a ticket.

In restaurant news, it looks like the Design District’s new Mother Wolf outpost will not be the only L.A. pasta place storming our (better) beaches. According to the Miami New Times, Jon & Vinny’s, a “down-to-earth yet insanely hip” spot known for its “California-Italian” cuisine, will be branching out into the old Leku space at the Rubell Museum, probably in time for Art Basel. I’ll be rooting for Jon & Vinny’s, despite my reflexive mistrust of imported restaurant concepts, if only because we need more spots in Allapattah to feed us when the galleries on 22nd Street have exhibit openings.

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Ongoing Theater

The Pillowman - Final Week!

To open the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series, Zoetic Stage presents The Pillowman, a truly scary play by Martin McDonagh, the award-winning writer-director of The Banshees of Inisherin and In Bruges. The plot centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state, who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories - stories that just happen to echo a series of actual child murders in his town. This Olivier- and Tony-award winning play is NOT for children and designated 18+.

Performances thru November 10th, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht, $56-$61

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

King James at Gablestage

Gablestage’s season opener is a basketball story, or at least a story about how basketball can help two Lebron superfans from Cleveland navigate their tumultuous relationship. A clever, fast-paced comedy by Pulitzer finalist Rajiv Joseph, King James is told over twelve years, from James’ rookie season for the Cavaliers through the championship.

Performances through November 24th, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, November 7th

Seraphic Fire: Contemporary Jewish Voices

For the second installment of its season-long “Music 101” series, Seraphic Fire presents a program of contemporary a cappella works by Jewish composers. Headlining the program is Shirim L’yom Tov, a set of celebratory songs by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Shulamit Ran. You can take a listen to songs on the program here.

7:30pm, Bet Shira, $45-$65

Neighborhood: Pinecrest

Nearby Eats: Platea, Anacapri, Ghee Indian Kitchen | Drinks: drive a little north to Fox’s Lounge or Ivy Rooftop at the Thesis Hotel

Also on November 7th: a conversation with artist Germaine Barnes, hosted by MOCA North Miami and Nina Johnson Gallery, on his “Play-House” installation at MOCA.

Friday, November 8th

Miami Short Film Festival: Opening Night

The 23rd edition of the Miami Short Film Festival brings us three days of short films from all over the world, curated by MSFF’s team of filmmakers and screenwriters. The opening night screening, Silk Road Stories, is a selection of films under 20 minutes from China and Iran, highlighting the storytelling traditions of these two ancient civilizations. Other screenings include selections of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean shorts. Screenings are hosted by O Cinema South Beach, Silverspot Cinema, and the Deering Estate.

Opening Night Screening 8pm, O Cinema, $40 (or $125 for a 3-Day Pass)

Neighborhood: South Beach

Nearby Eats: Macchialina, Orilla, Tropezón | Drinks: Swizzle Rum Bar, Bamboo Room by Trader Vic’s

Also on November 8th: the Miami Film Festival presents a special screening of Alfonso Cuarón’s classic Y Tu Mamá También at the Koubeck Center.

Saturday, November 9th

Veterans Day Concert: A WWII Journey

Bestselling author and historian James Holland joins New World Symphony to host a special concert honoring veterans, part of their season-long series Resonance of Remembrance, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the Holocaust. A pre-concert chat with Holland and WWII veteran Richard Jessor, who spent 28 days on Iwo Jima in 1945, is open to all ticket holders. The concert program includes Strauss’ poignant Four Last Songs, with soprano Emily McGee making her NWS debut, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and Shostakovich’s “Leningrad” Symphony No. 7.

7:30pm, New World Center, $40-$150 or free WALLCAST in adjacent Soundscape Park

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Mister O1, Barceloneta, Sweet Liberty | Drinks: Water Lion at the Sagamore, Brother’s Keeper

Also on November 9th:

  • The Miami Film Festival welcomes legendary director Alfonso Cuarón for a conversation and marathon showing of his new limited AppleTV series, Disclaimer, starring Cate Blanchett.

  • Three separate selections of short films, screening at Silverspot Cinema downtown for the Miami Short Film Festival.

  • A panel discussion on memory and childhood in contemporary art, with artists Luis Cruz Azaceta and Carlos Estévez, at Pan American in the Design District.

  • Award-winning journalists Yardena Schwartz and Rick Hirsch discuss Schwartz’s new book, Ghosts of a Holy War, on the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict, at Books & Books.

Sunday, November 10th

Fall for Dance NOW!

Dance NOW! Miami has been pushing forward modern and contemporary dance in our city since its founding in 2000. This year, the company celebrates its 25th season with a slate of international collaborations and world premieres. Their season opener, Fall for Dance NOW!, will present excerpts from new works in development, including Clara, a reimagining of the Nutcracker.

7pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, $23 ($12 for Miami Beach residents)

Neighborhood: North Beach

Also on November 10:

  • A second chance to see New World Symphony’s commemorative Veterans Day Concert, including a pre-show chat with WWII veteran Richard Jessor.

  • The final day of the Miami Short Film Festival, with screenings at Silverspot Cinema and the Deering Estate.

  • City Theatre and Books & Books present City Reads: Power Plays, professional readings of four short plays on the theme of power struggles.

Happening NEXT Week:

Because maybe your friends are busy this week. Or you're busy this week. Or this week just seems too soon to pull your act together and make a plan.

Wednesday, November 13th

Opening Night: Tick, Tick… Boom!

Actor’s Playhouse opens its 37th season with Tick, Tick… Boom!, the “other” musical by Jonathan Larson (who also wrote Rent and tragically died of a heart defect the day it opened). Packed with great songs like Therapy, this autobiographical work follows Jon, a young composer trying to balance the need to create with life’s complications and heartbreak. Performances run through December 8th.

8pm, Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $40

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, November 14th

An Evening with Author André Aciman

Books & Books presents an evening with Call Me By Your Name author André Aciman, to discuss his latest book, Roman Year: A Memoir. This new work is a follow-up to his acclaimed memoir, Out of Africa, about his colorful Sephardic Jewish family and their eventual expulsion from Egypt as “foreigners.” Aciman will be in conversation with James Woolley, the new Executive Director of the Miami Film Festival.

7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, $30 for two guests (includes one copy of Roman Year)

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on November 14th: Legendary designer Bob Mackie visits O Cinema South Beach for a cocktail reception and special screening of the new documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion.

Friday, November 15th

Anora

Here’s your chance to see the movie everyone’s talking about! Coral Gables Art Cinema presents Anora, a “Pretty Woman”-esque tale of a sex worker and the rich guy that falls for her, which won the Palm D’Or and a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival this summer. Part screwball comedy and part gut-wrenching social commentary, Anora has been called the best American movie of the year by just about every publication that’s reviewed it, and features a breakout performance by Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as the title character. CGAC will have six days of screenings if you can’t make this one, including one November 21st on 35mm film.

8pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $11-$13

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on November 15th:

  • Books & Books welcomes former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan and former U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to discuss Sullivan’s new book, Midnight in Moscow.

  • The New World Symphony Fellows play the score of one of the most popular video games in the world, The Legend of Zelda, using the impressive video and lighting tech at New World Center to immerse you in Zelda’s world.

  • Jimena Fama, aka “Electro Dub Tango”, takes over the Thompson Plaza at the Arsht Center for an evening of her New Generation Tango.

Saturday, November 16th

Dimensions Dance Theatre Fall Performance

Founded by former MCB principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra in 2016, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami has been shaking up classical dance in South Florida ever since with their contemporary ballet repertoire. My only complaint about this exciting young troupe is that we have so few opportunities to see them. So you don’t want to miss their fall performance if you can help it.

8pm, The Moss Center, $25-$45

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Not much! Grab dinner at Platea or Golden Rule Seafood on your way down there and have some rooftop cocktails at Ivy Rooftop or martinis at Fox’s on your way back.

Also on November 16th:

  • The Florida Grand Opera opens their 2024-25 season with a gala opening night performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Break out that ballgown!

  • The South Florida Symphony Orchestra celebrates 100 years of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with a special performance at New World Center.

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas Concert, with jazz pianist Dr. Zachary Bartholomew and his trio, brings Vince Guaraldi’s iconic holiday music to life at the Moss Center.

  • Nu Deco Ensemble welcomes Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ledisi for an outdoor concert of reimagined hits from Chaka Khan and Michael Jackson at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Sunday, November 17th

The Magic Flute

Florida Grand Opera opens its season with Mozart’s The Magic Flute, an imaginative opera classic that features one of the most famous, and demanding, arias of all time - “The Queen of the Night.” Director Jeffrey Marc Buchman used inspiration from the world of gaming to bring the fantasy elements to life in this new staging.

2pm, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $30-$250

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on November 17th:

Planning Ahead:

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. For the ultimate plan-ahead guide, you have my complete Highlights of the Fall Season, but if that’s too much trouble, you can just plan for these two…

November 17th - 24th

Miami Book Fair

Each November, the Miami Book Fair takes over downtown for eight days to host hundreds of acclaimed authors in three languages, talking politics, pop culture, prose, poetry - and of course, selling autographed books. The street fair on the second weekend features book stalls, food trucks, performances, and outposts of local favorites like Sweat Records and Dale Zine. With the addition of The Lost Chapter, a pop-up rooftop cocktail lounge with local DJ’s, it’s a proper party.

Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus and environs, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown

December 5th - 22nd

Black Santa

City Theatre and the Arsht Center present the Southeastern Premiere of Black Santa, an absurdist comedy about the ways racial assumptions can claim even our most benign cultural figures. After a 3rd grader named Sharifa publicly declares to fellow classmates at her exclusive private school that “Santa Claus is a black man from Detroit,” all hell breaks loose and the school’s sole black teacher is tasked with creating an ad campaign to make Santa white again.

Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center, $56-$61

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

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