“Miami Audiences made for the best screening we have had for Filly Brown”
Edwards James Olmos is in Miami for the South Florida premiere of Filly Brown. The opening film for the Hispanicize Festival was a collaboration with the Miami International Film Festival. In it, “Majo” Tonorio, aka Filly Brown (Gina Rodríguez), a Mexican-American hip-hop prodigy from Los Angeles, percolates with the raw energy of hope sprung from desperation and is recruited by a shady producer who offers her a crack at rap stardom. The late Jenni Rivera plays the part of Majo’s mother María, who is locked up in jail for drug trafficking. Lou Diamond Philips is the father who takes care of Majo and her younger sister.This is a drama where family has the power to destroy and ultimately save. The film is a co-directorial work of Yussef Delara and Michael D’ Olmos. The acting in the film is solid. Gina’s talent is very exciting and she has a bright future, no doubt.
The Miami International Film Festival has been enriching the community for the last 30 years, and this year was no different, with a film program that ran from March 1-10 and presented a whopping 117 feature length and short films from 41 countries. This year’s festival also featured numerous panel discussions and programs, including master class seminars with the directors of Cocaine Cowboys and Bonsai.
As I warmly recall the wild summer nights that I first hit the scene, when Jennys Was A Friend of Mine and together we discovered on the dance floor the kind of magic that took us to Such Great Heights and back again; I realize that no matter what the current trend is, Miami needs an indie dance party!
The District may not be around anymore but luckily The Vagabond has “reloaded” their weekly Friday party with an arsenal of indie dance magic; guaranteed to bring back that Electric Feel and give the Young FolkWhat You Want and the rest of us what we need – indie rock, dirty disco, house, and electro beats!
FILMGATE is an independent film festival for anyone interested in exhibiting a project that has interactive and multi-platform elements - film, ARGs, dance, live music, web series, comic books, opera, book, tv show, games, flash mob, blog, animation or other creative channel.
You’re only limited by your imagination, so choose your own adventure and invite the audience to dive in!
