Sick of only seeing movies with guys in Spandex or Tom Cruise trying to relive his glory days?
Well, there is a chance to escape Hollywood’s mainstream film industry and embrace the talent in your own backyard.
The Indie Film Club Miami (IFCM) will host the interactive media festival, FILMGATE Miami.
The festival will celebrate the visual story tellers through interactive screenings, workshops, master classes, director talks and music.
The event, which is for the independent content creator, will span three days.
“This festival not only embraces the age we live in, but anticipates what the future holds,” said Diliana Alexander, creative director for FILMGATE.
Alexander believes there is a lot of potential for film in Miami.
“[IFCM] hopes Miami filmmakers will create interactive projects alone or alongside IFCM this year,” Alexander said.
Workshops are a big part of the Festival.
“Much like the Miami Heat, in our first year, we wanted to bring some big names to show we mean business,” Alexander said.
British Filmmaker Philip Bloom will be teaching a one-day master class.
The workshops will cover everything from inexpensive, independent producing to coaching actors and legal matters.
YouTube sensation MysteryGuitarMan and director of “Meridian” Joe Penna will be one of the many directors at the festival.
“Awareness is everything. Anything that keeps people motivated and excited about making their own projects is great for the industry,” said Penna about the FILMGATE festival.
Penna’s career-making YouTube videos star him and his own creative ideas.
“What made me ultimately decide to be in the YouTube business was the one-on-one interaction with the creator and the audience,” he said.
FILMGATE Miami is a representation of the impact that IFCM hopes to have on the film industry in South Florida.
“Playing an active part in Miami’s film movement, making it easy for filmmakers to stay here and create South Florida stories. We don’t want to move to LA!” Alexander said.
The IFCM sees FILMGATE as an event that will help show all the filmmakers and directors Miami has to offer.
The IFCM encourages collaboration and reflects the diversity of the city.
If you go:
Where: Venues for events vary from O Cinema, MB Cinematheque, Vagabond and Kill Your Idol
When: 6-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
For more information: film-gate.org and indiefilmclubmiami.com