‘The Last Meal,’ ‘Omaha’ & ‘The Python Hunt’ Lead the Pack at Concluding 42nd Miami Film Festival

Maryse Legagneur\’s drama
The Final Dinner (Le Dernier Repas)
Has secured the premier accolade at the Miami Film Festival, claiming the $15,000 Marimbas Prize in the global contest. This honor, selected by judges, is bestowed upon a narrative feature film that epitomizes depth and relevance for the advancement of cinema.

\”Following two decades of silence, as Reynold lies dying, he requests that his distant daughter, Vanessa, join him for his last meal,\” according to a synopsis provided.
The Last Meal
As she cooks the traditional Haitian meals from his childhood, the well-known tastes evoke difficult, long-buried recollections of his experiences and hardships during the Duvalier regime.

In contrast to this background of collective past,
The Last Meal
is a poignant tale of reconciliation, exploring the power of food, cultural memory, and confronting the past to heal fractured family bonds within the Haitian experience. A beautifully crafted film about legacy, healing, and the stories we carry in our bodies and kitchens.”

The Miami Film Festival, which ran from April 3-13, unveiled the juried and audience award winners on Monday following its conclusion of its 42nd edition.

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instance of the cinema highlight reel on Sunday.

The Made in MIA Feature Film Award was presented to the documentary.
The Python Hunt
, directed by Xander Robin. Consider it akin to a realistic adaptation of
The Purge
In this instance, the state of Florida permits a 10-day “competition” aimed at eradicating invasive pythons from the Everglades, drawing together a diverse group of hunters.

The Made in MIA award, supported by Panavision and selected by a panel of judges, is presented to a movie from any category that significantly showcases South Florida as part of its narrative, backdrop, and shooting locale, while effectively leveraging South Florida’s storyline and themes for broader appeal. The victor gets a Panavision camera equipment rental kit worth $60,000. Keep scrolling to see the complete array of honors bestowed during the Miami Film Festival.

Omaha
, helmed by Cole Webley, was awarded the $10,000 Jordan Ressler First Feature Prize. This award, established by the South Florida-based Ressler family following the passing of Jordan Ressler, is intended for \”a movie chosen by a panel of judges from among those who have undertaken their first full-length narrative film project.\”

The film by Webley, first shown at Sundance, centers on two young brothers, Ella (played by Molly Belle Wright) and Charlie (portrayed by Wyatt Solis), as they are suddenly dragged into a journey across the country with their dad (acted by John Magaro).

The $2,000 Documentary Excellence Award was bestowed upon
Checkpoint Zoo
Directed by Joshua Zeman, this film focuses on the creatures residing in a Ukrainian zoo situated near the Russian border, which found themselves trapped following Russia’s comprehensive invasion.

The People\’s Choice Award for documentaries was won by
Selena y Los Dinos
Isabel Castro’s depiction of the late singer Selena Quintanilla along with her family members who comprised the group Selena y Los Dinos.

The second-place winner in that category was
Chirino
Directed by Jorge Soliño; the second runner-up was
The Librarians
directed by Kim Synder.

The Audience Feature Film Award was received by
Espina
Directed by Daniel Poler, this dramedy stars Jonathan Benaim as himself, portraying a young disabled individual embarking on an adventurous and emotional journey to Panama alongside unexpected companions, all in pursuit of confronting the physician responsible for his condition.

The first alternate for that category was
Adiós Cuba
Directed by Rolando Diaz; the second-runner up was
Magic Hour
directed by Jacqueline Christy.

The Miami Film Festival, organized by Miami Dade College, is recognized as “the leading event in the U.S. for highlighting Ibero-American cinema” and serves as a significant platform for both international and documentary films. Every year, this festival attracts over 45,000 attendees along with around 400 creators such as filmmakers, producers, artists, and business experts from the field. Notably, it stands out as the sole prominent film fest held inside an educational institution.

The accompanying Miami Film Festival GEMS event will take place in November of this year.

Here is the complete list of winners for the 42nd event:

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Miami Film Festival:

Short Film Awards