FilmGate Comedy Festival 2024

Salutations FilmGatos!

Laughter is the best medicine, and we've got the prescription! Join us for a night of hilarity as we feature the funniest short films in Miami, celebrating the comedic talents of our local creators.

ABOUT US

FilmGate Miami is a non-profit organization with the goal to ensure the empowerment and growth of local creators and talent. Providing them with a platform in which they can showcase their art, reaching new audiences locally and internationally.

FilmGate Festival is the longest-running monthly short film series in Florida, created to celebrate local culture, diversity and regional creativity.  Every month, FilmGate Miami highlights Florida's community of actors, filmmakers, and video + audio production studios. We accept short films, documentaries, music videos and web series from Florida or made by a Florida citizen, 20 minutes or less.

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RULES:

• Only Florida directors and filmed in Florida can submit.
• Submissions must be of comedic nature.
• For submissions: https://filmfreeway.com/FilmGateFestival
• Length of the film must be 20 minutes or less.
• Those accepted must be able to represent their film at the event; failure to do so will remove you from eligibility. (Must be in person).
• In the case that a representative is not present, we reserve the right to withdraw your film from being screened
• Free submissions/waivers for Filmgate Miami members and students (Email info@film-gate.org with a photo of your student ID or proof of study at a education institution)

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OFFICIAL FILM SELECTIONS 

1. Urniture (Director Tyler Council)
2. Mmm Spa: F**k Them Kids (Director Megan Maher)
3. Love and Hunger (Director Gabriel de Varona)
4. He May Be Crazy (Directors Chris Molina & Cristina Argüelles)
5. Problem City (Director Chris Krider)
6. The Pompano Boys & the Gender Reveal Party (Director Eric Newcombe)
7. LATE. (Director Joshua Goodrich)
8. UNNESTED (Director Sabrina Federhofer)
9. Method Actor (Director Jason Land)
10. Just One Last Thing (Director Oswmer Louis)

MEET THE JURORS

• Katie Phang - Katie Phang, Esq. hosts “The Katie Phang Show” on MSNBC and serves as a Legal Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC. With a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and a BA from Yale University, she brings extensive trial experience to analyze legal issues worldwide. Phang's show explores the nexus of law, politics, and culture, while her columns on MSNBC Daily delve deeper into current affairs.
• Manny Garavito - Miami's own comedian and edutainer, founded MiamiComedy.com, fostering a vibrant comedy scene and nurturing upcoming  talent. As a comedy coach, he empowers individuals to discover their  sense of humor and create a lifestyle around it. Manny's content blends entertainment and education, encouraging audiences to see the world through their own unique, comedic lens.
• Mara Farina - Mara Farina, VP of Noticias Univision 24/7 News on VIX, began her career as an intern at MTV Latin America, later creating, producing, and directing “INDIE 101” on MTV Tres. Her work includes line producing children’s shows for Nickelodeon and launching channels like Mun2 and Fusion. Recognized for her leadership in production, she now leads a top streaming channel. Off-duty, Mara enjoys yoga, skateboarding, reading, and creative writing with her family.
• David Christopher - David Christopher, with over 20 years of improv and sketch comedy experience, is a founding member and is the Vice President of Education for Miami's home for improv and sketch comedy and 5-time Best of Miami winner, Just The Funny. David is responsible for creating the improvisation and sketch writing curriculum and program at Just The Funny, where he teaches and coaches all five levels of improv acting classes, along with both The Harold and sketch writing classes. He is also the co-creator of The South Florida Improv Jam, and is the executive producer of The Miami Improv Festival.
• Bianka Krausch - Bianka Krausch, with nearly 30 years in entertainment and 18 as an agent, is the founder of the award-winning, SAG AFTRA-franchised Talent Direct Agency, Florida’s premier talent agency established in 2006. Under her leadership, the agency has serviced high-profile projects such as "Burn Notice," "Shameless," and films like "Rock of Ages." Talent Direct also handles major commercial projects for brands including Coca Cola, Nike, and BMW. Bianka is an active speaker, a co-chair for WIFT FL's South Florida Branch, and a recognized figure in the business community.

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FILM COMMUNITY NETWORKER B4 AND AFTER

Enjoy meeting other creatives and film geeks during our film community networker before the screening. Grab some drinks, some grub, and start mingling!

We will also have networking at the end of the event so feel free to gush about the cool films afterwards too.

PERCOLATOR

Starting off the night, we have our Percolator. Sign up and tell the audience your skills or if you are looking for a professional in particular! You will have 1 minute to pitch.

FILMMAKER Q & A

After the screening, as our jury judges discuss the night's award-winning film, we will invite our featured filmmakers for a Q&A session about their creative process and inspiritations in creating their films.

AWARDS CEREMONY

At the end of the screening, we will present the jury's choice in the best film of the night! Our jury is a team of industry professionals that use their expertise to judge the techincal and artistic qualities of each film screened.

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PARKING

• Courtyard Marriott Downtown: $5 for 4 Hours (validation at FilmGate check-in desk)
• MET 3 Parking Garage: 250 SE 3rd Ave - $8 for 4 Hours (validation on first floor at entrance of Silverspot Cinema)

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