The first annual West of Cannes Film Festival (WOCFF) is a short film festival for South Florida filmmakers by South Florida filmmakers. The event will be open to the public and is scheduled for November 18 - 22 at The Main Street Playhouse, 6766 Main Street, in Miami Lakes. To purchase tickets, visit www.westofcannes.com/tickets.
Independent filmmakers from Southeast Florida counties have had the opportunity to submit their short films to be judged and potentially selected as one of five winners. The submission categories are for narrative, documentary, and experimental short films and winners will be named for Overall Grand Jury Winner, Overall Audience Award, Narrative Winner, Documentary Winner, and Experimental Winner. All five winners will be awarded with the West of Cannes “Neon Palm” Award, an homage, with a cultural Miami twist, to the Cannes “Golden Palm” Award.
Finalists’ films will be screened at the festival on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21 with the award ceremony following on Sunday, November 22. A jury of judges consisting of industry professionals including HBO producers, Univision directors, and local established filmmakers will select the winners for the event. Those not selected as finalists will have their short films screened in the days leading up to the event at the playhouse.
The schedule of events:
• Honorable Mention screenings on November 18-19 at 8 p.m. ($5);
• Official Selection Screenings November 20-22 (3 sessions screened four times over the course of the weekend) ($8 each, $15 for all three);
• FREE NYFA workshop, Independent Filmmaking Today - November 22 at 11 a.m.;
• Award Ceremony November 22 at 7 p.m. for filmmakers and judges;
• Special Feature Screening of “Breathless,” November 22 at 8:45 p.m. ($5).
WOCFF is made possible by Main Street Players and Samurai Snacks Productions, a nonprofit independent video production house based in Miami with filmmakers Alexander Casanova, Ashley Perdigon, Jason Lyzniak, and Ileana Hernandez.
For more information on the festival, visit www.westofcannes.com.