Happyend (2024)
Directed by Neo Sora.
I can't really say I was especially excited to see any of the films at the festival. SORRY. There were plenty that seemed interesting or I wanted to watch, but there was none I was MOST looking forward to. But I was excited for this one. And let me tell you, this film BLEW ME AWAY. The primary note I have is that this film is beautiful. The cinematography is stunning. I feel like they must have started by walking around the city, finding cool photographs, and then sticking the actors in afterwards. I mean... duh, that's kinda how that works. I mean that their priority in certain scenes was to get the most beautiful-possible shot, complex, creative shot they could. Every scene was like a photograph, gruelingly captured. Plus they did really fun stuff, like in the way characters walked on or off, certain reveals, blocking, that served the story so well and was just... interesting. I'm struggling to describe it without being able to show it.
Apart from the cinematography, the story itself was great too. A coming of age film about a group of friends as they face high school during an era of wide-spread fear. Fear of crime, fear of immigrants, fear of the youth, all pushed by a manipulative government. High-tech security camera systems get installed which track their every move, but end up severely burdening all of the students. Still, this is not what the main plot is about. The story is primarily about two best friends beginning to feel a rift between them as one becomes painfully aware of the political struggles they're facing (he himself being an immigrant) while his best friend chooses to remain childish and ignorant, choosing solo late-night DJ sessions at a warehouse over joining his friend in a protest. I love the way the story sits amongst the premise. They work together, but the film doesn't lose focus on what it is truly about and what is truly at stake: their friendship. At times genuinely hilarious, at others painfully realistic, Happyend surprised me in how much it had to say, and how beautifully it told it. And of course, the actors were incredible as well.
4.5/5
Rains Over Babel (2025)
Directed by Gala del Sol.
In complete transparent honesty, this was the film I was least excited to watch at the festival. In fact, it was not even my original choice, but I needed to fit another event into my schedule, and since I was watching a movie at the same theater at 6:30PM it would be easiest to just stay for the 9:00PM showing. So I booked the ticket a little reluctantly. And let me say,
I was BLOWN AWAY.
Probably my favorite film I saw at the festival. I loved the way the story follows multiple different characters, whose stories interweave, all around a common plot. Each character has a compelling character arc, satisfying conclusion, and each story is genuinely interesting. I loved the direction that the film went it, the blend of the punk and fantastical aesthetic were incredible because they added so much to the plot of the film. The actors did an incredible job and the film truly kept me enthralled the entire time. The film did a great job balancing the absurd with reality. From the talking lizard helping the protagonist break into a sex-dungeon-version of the underworld to the compelling and emotional story of a guy trying to balance his queerness with his parent’s religious expectations, which they were able to do tastefully all throughout the film.
5/5
The Python Hunt (2025)
Directed by Xander Robin.
I wanted to include my review of The Python Hunt, because while there were other movies, this one was unique in that it was the one I was most disappointed by. I guess I was let down by my own expectations. Having heard the premise of the film, I was expecting something truly batshit crazy.. and it wasn’t. Mind you, it’s a documentary, so I should’ve had more realistic expectations… but I guess it’s the way it was marketed and the way people were talking about it that set it up to be something more than what it was? It just follows some weird characters in the Everglades for days looking for pythons and not really finding any. I don’t know, I guess I just didn’t connect with it. The cinematography was good for what it was, the direction was great too. You can tell they put a lot of effort into presenting the story as a message about the Everglades, the sense of community, the reality about the pythons and their relationship to the local ecosystem (since they are invasive). But ultimately, nothing too interesting ended up happening. That’s what lost my interest.
2.5/5
April 5th, 3:30PM-7:30PM
April 6th, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Coral gables art cinema volunteering
I had a great time! I already knew I loved this theater as I had been here many times to see smaller films/international films with limited releases. But I had a great time. I met some really cool people, some MDC students from Wolfson and Kendall campuses respectfully, and had a great talk about film, what passions us, our creative processes, etc. We all shared each other's Instagrams. They were all around my age, coming from different backgrounds and experiences, different career interests, but it was cool to get the chance to talk to them, talk about how film school has gone for us, projects we want to work on in the future and share our inputs on it.
Completely random side-note, but I made semi-acquaintances with an employee at the theater. She was really sweet and very easy to talk to, though slightly awkward and really only speaks Spanish. Anyways, I bring her up because every time she would walk by the volunteers, she would wave "hi" at each of us. And I mean EVERY TIME. I think we all said "hi" to her 7-8 times each day I volunteered there. It was just funny. But she did give us free popcorn, drinks, and coffee. Mind you, the theater offered it in general, but she would keep checking up on us to see if we were okay. And then I ran into her as I was going to watch Mistura. We talked briefly about Reinas, which I was originally really tempted to watch but it ended up not fitting in my schedule. Just made volunteering at the theater a slightly better experience.
I also volunteered at the Koubek Center where I hit 11 volunteer hours... but I don't have much to share about it. I really just stood around... handed some tickets... only worked with other students from the class.
hoy como ayer
On Tuesday Night I rushed over from my screening of The School Duel over to Hoy Como Ayer (which I thought was the name of the party, not the bar). I went with my girlfriend and two non-film affiliated friends who just also wanted to go. It started off slow, the place being mostly empty when we arrived. But as people started coming in I found myself in a predicament. In fact, I was able to see the future: I might just be stuck sitting at the same table all night with my friends. Never getting up, never trying to talk to anybody. Just... sit there all night and leave. I think it's the kind of thing that would happen if I were to just casually go to a bar with friends (I wouldn't know, I hadn't gone to a bar before). But I was determined! I had a goal: to meet people. Anyone.
But luckily, I didn't have to try too hard. Going to the bar to grab water, waiting in line, these two guys just randomly asked me how I was doing... GENIUS! Why didn't I think of that? That's such an easy way to open conversation. If the person wants to talk, they respond and the conversation goes from there. If they don't, they just say "I'm good" and that's it, no further expectations. Well, we started talking, and we kept the conversation going outside (because we couldn't hear each other). They were friends, one a video editor and the other a sound designer, both recently moved to Miami for a short stay. We got to talking, talking about film, production/post-production, the festival and our experiences so far, etc.
The conversation actually ended up being very insightful, as I was just in the middle of post for my Film 4 project, so it was great to get insight from others on what it's like and how working with a director usually goes. What works for them, what they like, what they don't, etc.
They were just looking for work and trying to make connections. Well, we got connected. We ended up hanging out for most of the rest of the night, shared socials, and spent most of the night talking about SuperCon and other nerdy things. Until, out of the corner of my eye...
I saw Zander Gikas from The School Duel, standing around awkwardly! Mind you, I didn't know his name at the time, but I just saw him in the film and thought he was funny in it. So I went up to him and told him exactly that (look at how social I'm being!) Well, he opened up immediately, and it spilled over into a conversation with the star of The School Duel, Kue Lawrence, and his sister (though she wasn't in the film). Both of them (and Harrison's eyeball) in the picture on the right.
I had a great time speaking to them. I asked them about what it's like acting, what they're up to now, how they stumbled upon the project, what production was like, how they were accommodated on set (especially considering the amount of small children that were on set while they were using blank-firing guns, stunts, etc.), etc. It was incredibly insightful hearing them... because they're so...
normal.
Just like me. Hell, Zander and I went off on a tangent about gaming PCs at one point. They're just normal kids who also happen to be in films with Timothy Chalamet or having premieres in France. And yet despite that they're still acting in student films, small projects, etc.
They're just acting. They're putting in the work. And that's all it takes. That's the difference between someone who's active and in the industry and someone who isn't, one of them is actually doing it. That initial dive is essential. And they're still trying to figure it out. They talked about how they want to move to Atlanta because of the saturated market/hectic environment in LA. Overall, a very interesting, fun, and insightful conversation with three actors at various ages. Absolutely loved getting to meet them.
Closing Night Party
Much less conversation-focused. I knew going into this party that most people wouldn’t be looking for conversations or to network, but I still tried because I wanted to meet new people. I was able to meet a group of really nice people who worked on one of the short films during the festival. I didn’t get the name of it but I was able to get a description of the short film. It revolved around a man who loves to end up on the Jumbotron at different games. I talked to Ben (the main actor) about it for like 30 minutes. Mind you, he came up to me and just started talking about his experience. Trying to understand where the idea came from, how they went about filming it and it was awesome to hear that they filmed it during actual baseball games. They would have the crowd quiet down, have the actor run on to the field and then they would stop the moment the game went to start. They did that multiple times to get each shot. He was a strange guy but entertaining to talk to. Otherwise, Angel introduced me to the lady in charge of the Screeners with the festival, alongside a few other employees and some of the theater managers he had met. That little social butterfly. I did try talking to people, but admittedly, I had a hard time making the first move... did not have that issue at Hoy Como Ayer, but then again, the environment seemed very different.
There was some great food and drinks. And I mean some. Was NOT a fan of the fancy homemade pasta that one booth was over-hyping. Tasted bland to me. The music was great. They had a good DJ, people were overall walking around, grabbing food, maybe having a quick chat here and there, but overall it was very busy. Lots of people, lots of movement, lots going on. Still, being able to speak with people I had either previously met at the festival's events/screenings was fun. I met up with the editor and sound designer again (included in the picture on the left) and we really went into detail on future projects we would love to work on together. Overall, I really enjoyed myself and enjoyed seeing everyone just hanging out and having fun.
Reflection
Before attending the festival, I did not really have high hopes for what experience I was going to gain. I mean, I knew I would watch cool films, but that's about it. I did not have high hopes for getting to talk to anybody or meet anybody new... that's just the truth. I am a fairly awkward person, at least when it comes to just talking to somebody I've never met before and trying to introduce myself. It's all very new to me. But through trying and trying and trying, it became easier. At parties, screenings, volunteer shifts, etc. I found myself having an easier and easier time talking to people. Introducing myself, but being genuinely invested in who they are, what their story is, what they're doing, etc.
I think there are two main things I gained from this festival:
- Connections. I met some new people: local actors, professional actors, DPs, editors, a sound designer, a director, a producer. I had conversations with them, in some cases shared socials with them, and even genuinely got to planning future ideas out. For example, at Hoy Como Ayer, the editor and sound designer I talked to made some early plans to want to try out the Miami 48 Hour Film Competition.
- Insight. Talking to all these people taught me tons, from the perspective of various different positions in film. I learned that film is difficult and is something I should have patience with, because it's about the journey, not the destination. I learned that for everybody at the festival, the journey to success started with taking the first step. Actors starting off in student films and slowly making their way, getting footage for reels, submitting to agents, getting slightly larger and larger roles. Directors starting in film school, meeting some valuable collaborators, and eventually making shorts and shorts until they made a feature. That's the most important part: making that first step on the road. From editors and sound designers, I learned what their experiences are like working with directors. What information they need, what their biggest pet peeves are. It was absolutely incredible getting to talk to all of these people, make some connections, and some plans that may or may not pan out.
Otherwise, I had some pretty memorable moments. I will never forget the image of Harrison going around the Closing Party waving around women's underwear with a cube of LED ice in his mouth. In fact, I will never forget the image of doing anything I saw him doing at the parties. I was honored to be able to have a phone call with the director of The School Duel, Todd Wiseman Jr. Talking with the cast of The School Duel was insanely casual, fun, and inspiring as well. Never got the chance to talk to professional, working-in-the-industry actors before, so that was a great experience.
Watching the films were great too. I loved talking to the people sitting next to me and learning they were some producer or family of the actor or whatever. I loved seeing the films in general though... the ones I watched were of a very high caliber (minus one example). So I wouldn't say that I felt like it was the kind of thing I could've put together... I wouldn't say that at all. However, I do love seeing the immense amounts of artistic expression in each film. From Happyend (which I've already gone into some detail on) to The School Duel, which is a deeply interesting film with a very important political message, it was incredible seeing these different genres, different political appeals, different perspectives. The biggest change in perspective for me comes from Rains Over Babel. A very, very gay film (in the best way possible) which was a ton of fun. I don't tend to watch movies about drag queens or punk sex dungeons, so it was really cool to see a story told in a way I probably would've never thought I'd be interested in... only to find out it is 100% my thing. It's a lesson in art appreciation. The importance of seeking other people's views and perspective, stepping out of my comfort zone, and support local creators who have incredible visions and stories they want to tell.
After this festival, I can safely say I do not want to wait long before following-up and continuing to try and find local film events, screenings, etc. Hollywood feels so distant, so to be able to find a community of very passionate and talented people right at my doorstep who are just trying to create art... I think this class opened a door for me that I never would've opened myself.