Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival unveiled the lineup for its 13th Miami Film Festival GEMS, the festival’s fall midseason event taking place from Oct. 29-Nov. 5. GEMS will open with A24’s “The Debut” from writer-director Jesse Eisenberg and close with A24’s “Club Kid” from writer-director and star Jordan Firstman. Julianne Moore stars in “The Debut” as Mona Friedman, a shy, unassuming housewife who is cast in a bit part at a small community theater and becomes a zealous method actor, ready to wage war on the show’s domineering director (Paul Giamatti) to protect the artistic integrity of her role.
The musical comedy also stars Halle Bailey, Eisenberg and Bernadette Peters, with music and lyrics by Eisenberg. In “Club Kid,” Firstman stars as Peter, a hard-partying New York City club promoter whose whirlwind lifestyle is upended by the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had. The film, which had its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, also stars Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva and Kirby Howell-Baptiste.
Centerpiece titles include “Being Heumann”, “Behemoth!”, “Bunker”, “Elsinore”, “Paper Tiger”, and “Wild Horse Nine.” The festival also places a focus on international submissions to the Academy Awards, and will feature submitted titles such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden”, Lukas Dhont’s “Coward”, and Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Minotaur.” Variety will also honor Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor, writer and director actor John Turturro with the Variety Creative Vanguard Award during the festival. The award will be presented as part of a moderated conversation about his illustrious career and his latest film, “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York”, hosted by Variety’s co-president and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh. Additionally, “Mouse,” from directors Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, will screen as part of the lineup, with the filmmakers receiving the Festival’s Art of Light Award.
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and comes from the filmmakers behind “Ghostlight.” Kyle MacLachlan will receive the Precious Gem Award at a special event in partnership with Books & Books in Miami to honor the release of his debut memoir “Fictional Self.” In honor of the 25th anniversary of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” the festival will host a special retrospective screening of the cult-favorite rock musical, followed by the Impact Award presentation and Q&A with writer, director and star John Cameron Mitchell. To be able to celebrate the work of incredible storytellers such as Danny Boyle, Martin McDonagh, James Gray, Pedro Almodovar, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Mike Leigh, Siân Heder, and Brad Bird all in one lineup captures the richness and resonance of world cinema today.” “Audiences can expect GEMS 2026 to be one of our most memorable editions yet,” said James Woolley, Executive Director of the festival. The festival will host a special 20th anniversary screening of Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
The festival will also present a 10th anniversary screening of Anna Biller’s “The Love Witch” in 35mm on Halloween. The festival will also host two preview night screenings before the festival dates. First will be “Fjord” directed by Cristian Mungiu, which will play on October 14 at Silverspot Cinema.
Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the film stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. The second Preview Night title is Sundance hit Wicker directed by Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson on October 20. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, Peter Dinklage & Richard E.
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