More than 160 projects will screen at this year’s Miami Film Festival.
Miami Film Festival photo
It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since the Miami Film Festival (MFF) brought the likes of Julie Delpy and Billy Zane to Miami theaters. Maybe it feels so recent because its sister festival, Gems, hosted Ethan Hawke and Dylan O’Brien in town back in October. Now, five months later, MFF has announced its anticipated 2026 lineup, and in addition to screenings of more than 160 projects from 45 countries — including 40 world premieres, two international premieres, and five U.S. premieres — this year’s schedule is stacked with special presentations and A-list guest appearances.
Here’s a look at what you can expect this year.
Opening and Closing Films
MFF’s opening and closing screenings are among the festival’s most anticipated showings. This year, Academy Award-winning director Daniel Roher’s (Navalny) Tuner — starring Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) as a young piano tuner whose heightened sense of hearing leads to exploits with criminals — gets the honor of kicking things off on Thursday, April 9.
Power Ballad, directed and co-written by John Carney (Once) and starring Paul Rudd as a past-his-prime wedding singer and Nick Jonas as a fading boy-band star, will close the festival on Sunday, April 19.
Special Presentations
Of course, MFF isn’t all about premieres. The festival also spotlights filmmakers and movies that have already made their mark. Exemplifying that tradition is John Waters’ 80th birthday celebration at the Arsht Center, which the groundbreaking filmmaker is scheduled to attend.
Another special guest? La La Land (2016) and Whiplash (2014) composer Justin Hurwitz. A year after the former got the live concert treatment at the Arsht Center, Whiplash will screen with accompaniment from an 18-piece jazz band conducted by Hurwitz.
Additional special presentations include the U.S. premiere of Milly: Queen of Merengue at the Miami Beach Bandshell, with director Leticia Tonos Paniagua and legendary Dominican singer Milly Quezada in attendance; and a 25th anniversary screening of The Princess Diaries at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
Guest Appearances
John Waters isn’t the only star filmmaker scheduled to attend MFF this year. Severance‘s Adam Scott, who stars in Hokum, making its Florida debut at the festival, will receive MFF’s Vanguard Award. Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black), and Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) will all accept festival awards, too.
Sesame Street‘s Sonia Manzano will receive the Impact Award following a screening of Street Smart: Lessons From a TV Icon, and Matt Bomer (American Horror Story) will receive the Vanguard Award and participate in a live recording of the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz.
Miami Film Festival 2026. April 9 to 19, 2026. See the complete schedule at miamifilmfestival.com.