Urban Film Festival brings free workshops and screenings to Overtown
The Urban Film Festival aims to bolster up-and-coming filmmakers — entirely for free.
The festival is celebrating its ninth year this weekend with a schedule of master classes, panels, networking opportunities and film screenings to help filmmakers from underrepresented communities break into the industry.
“The Urban Film Festival is more than just a celebration of film; it is a vital platform for underrepresented voices in the film industry,” said Marco Molinet, a festival cofounder, in a statement.
The festival kicks off Friday with a youth empowerment session with the 1st Take Youth Film Program at The Overtown Performing Arts Center. The festival is hosting a welcome celebration at 6 p.m. at Red Rooster hosted by Miami-Dade County Film Commissioner Marco Giron and sponsored by Film Miami and featuring DJ Epps.
On Saturday, events include master classes on writing, producing, acting and directing at Red Rooster and a panel on film distribution at Lyric Theater. Starting at 8 p.m. at Lyric Theater, is the world premiere of “The Reject,” a film directed by Bla G and Yonel Aris based on the life of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kionne McGhee, one of the festival’s sponsors.
The festival wraps up Sunday with film screenings at the Lyric Theater, Overtown Performing Arts Center and Dorsey Library, an awards ceremony at the Lyric Theater, and an official after party at Red Rooster.
Urban Film Festival 2024
When: Aug. 30 - Sept. 1
Where: Events at The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NW 2nd Ave., Miami; The Dorsey Memorial Library, 100 NW 17th St., Miami; Overtown Performing Arts Center, 1074 NW 3rd Ave, Miami; Red Rooster, 920 NW Second Ave., Miami; The D. A. Dorsey House, 250 NW 9th St., Overtown; The Urban, 1000 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Info: https://urbanfilmfestivals.com/
This story was produced with financial support from individuals and Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.