Dreamers, Dissidents & Divorcées: 15 Must-See Movies at the 2017 Miami Film Festival

Let’s get right to the point: a new movie featuring Gloria Estefan will be premiering at this year’s Miami Film Festival. Yes, the “Conga” singer is returning to the big screen in a film produced by Emilio and focused on a curmudgeonly old white dude who may have to learn a lesson or two about the changing demographic of his Central Florida town before the credits roll. But even if the promise of bumping into Miami musical royalty at the annual fest doesn’t excite you, this year’s organizers have assembled enough features, events, and seminars to keep cinephiles and would-be filmmakers busy. In addition to its buzzy slate of films, the festival boasts a star-studded list of guests who will be hosting workshops and talks in support of their various projects.

Look out for Richard Gere, who stars in the Opening Night film Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer; be sure to nab tickets to “An Evening with Rossy de Palma,” where the Almodóvar muse is sure to dish more on her work with the famed Spanish auteur; and even stop by to see what Rashida Jones and her Miami collaborators have to say about their upcoming Netflix series, Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On. And finally, if you want some industry insights, you can check out panel discussions like “Learn From The Best: An Oscar-Winning Mentor” with The Devil Wears Prada’s David Frankel and first-time director Xavier Manrique. We know it’s a shame to waste Miami’s sunshine by being inside a theater, but this year’s fest will make it worth your while – we promise.

True to form, this year’s festival offers audiences a chance to see films from all over the Americas. And so, whether you want to watch the largest Bahamian production in history; an ambitious multilingual film set in Canada, Mexico, and Colombia; a New York-set family drama; or an intriguing documentary on an all-girls orphanage in Honduras, there’s no shortage options for you to choose from. Check out our top picks below.

The Miami Film Festival runs March 3–12, 2017