Mdc To Take Over Miami Film Festival

By Carolyn Hyppolite
Miami-Dade College officials today (10/16) are to announce plans to take over management of the Miami International Film Festival.

School President Eduardo J. Padron and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz plan to discuss the new sponsorship and details about the future of the festival, which had been sponsored by Florida International University for 14 years.

When the City of Miami learned that FIU would no longer run the event, MDC was identified as a replacement, said Robert Parente, director of the Miami Mayor’s Office of Film, Arts, Culture and Entertainment.

"Miami-Dade College has a rather impressive and growing film-arts program. They understand film and television production," Mr. Parente said Tuesday. "Their enthusiasm for film is going to be infectious and will be a positive for the festival."

FIU announced in August that it was withdrawing as the festival’s chief sponsor. It suffered an $800,000 deficit in the last two years. The school last was host to the even in February.

Mr. Parente said that the festival "will further cement (MDC’s) leadership in providing unique cultural opportunities." MDC also is host to Miami Book Fair International.

Officials at MDC would not comment about potential changes for the festival or its financial impact on the school.

The University of Miami wants to assist MDC with the festival, UM spokeswoman Margot Winick said Tuesday, but it is not yet clear what UM’s role would be.

The festival was begun 21 years ago by the Film Society of Miami.