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98 MIAMI LIVING SPECIAL: FILM FESTIVAL GUIDE It is an exciting time to be in Miami as the Magic City goes to the movies, Hollywood- style, for not one, not two, but three film festivals. Up first is the Miami International Film Festival on March 6-15, 2009. MIFF, as we call it for short, will be once again hosted by Miami-Dade College. A new director, Tiziana Finzi, is on board for the festival's 26 th edition, which promises to offer a program rich in international and American films with a focus on Ibero- American cinema, as well as to bring to town a Who's Who of stars. Last year, Kate del Castillo (Under the Same Moon), Fito Páez, Chris Cooper, and Patricia Clarkson (Married Life), Helen Hunt (Then She Found Me), director David Gordon Green (Snow Angels) Demi Moore (Flawless), and Marisa Tomei, at the premiere of Cutlass, Kate Hudson's directorial debut, made the scene at MIFF. And Gloria and Emilio Estefan celebrated the premiere of 90 Millas. "I look forward to building on the great successes of the first quarter-century of the Miami International Film Festival so that we can chart a course for the next 25 years that will expand the art of film to new audiences, and, more importantly, the role of film as an educational tool," said Finzi, a seasoned professional whose more than 20 years of experience include her recent post as deputy director of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, which she joined in 1999. "I am extremely pleased such a respected festival is housed in such a renowned academic institution [MDC]. This arrangement makes the possibilities endless. And I also look forward to connecting with Greater Miami's dynamic community." For more information about MIFF, call (305) 237-FILM or visit www.miamifilmfestival.com. April brings the launch of a new festival, the Miami Latin Gay Film Festival, scheduled for April 16-19. The brainchild of festival organizer and executive director Jim Dobson, MLGFF will coincide with Miami Gay Pride Weekend. "I am thrilled to be able to bring this exciting venture into South Beach filling a much-needed gap in alternative programming for the Latino gay community," Dobson said. "Through my six years of working with the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, I have noticed a huge demand for Latino gay films and programming that did not always meet it. The few Latin films programmed were always the first to sell out, which proved a definite interest by the community." MLGFF will open on Thursday, April 16, with a Gala Premiere presentation at the Colony Theater on Lincoln Road, followed by an after-party, natch, also on Lincoln Road. The Festival will continue with screenings, panels, music events, and surprises along the way. Lights, Camera … Miami! It's film festival time in the Magic City Words by Martin Haro