Miami, August 9, 2022 – As Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Film Festival prepares for its 40th anniversary, to be held from March 3-12, 2023, it announces a brand-new film competition in collaboration with Goya Foods for short films that use cinema to showcase the point where food and community meet. The Goya Quick Bites Competition will offer a $2,500 cash prize to a jury-selected short film that features a strong focus on food, culture, mealtimes, or the way the culinary experience spices up our daily lives.
The intersection between cinema and culinary arts as a vital part of Miami’s cultural landscape. In the past, the Festival has collaborated with Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival for special screenings and special event pairings, and in recent years has hosted its own Culinary Series while partnering with local restaurants. This new program sponsored by Goya creates a deeper connection with the culinary arts and new stories that can be told through them.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Goya Foods on this unique cinematic spotlight and competition,” said Miami Film Festival Interim Executive Director Nicolas Calzada. “Food-inspired films are often the most cinematic, appealing to all the senses, and are also often an entry point into exploring different cultures and communities. We couldn’t be happier to join forces with Goya to elevate a new generation of culinary films.”
Goya Foods will also have a presence at various Miami Film Festival and GEMS Film Festival (November) events throughout the year as a Producing Sponsor of the Festival.
“At Goya, we have always believed that food is art, which is why we are excited to partner with Miami Film Festival for the first time and to continue supporting the arts within our community,” said Cynthia Chipi, Marketing Director of Goya Foods of Florida. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this opportunity to filmmakers during the Goya Quick Bites competition.”
Submissions for Miami Film Festival 2023 are open now through Nov. 9. Films can be submitted for consideration at https://filmfreeway.com/MiamiFilmFestival. Films that are selected to be a part of this competition will be screened during Miami Film Festival 2023 through its various Shorts Block screenings. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit films to this competition at no extra submission fee when entering into other short films competitions. The winner of the competition will be announced at Miami Film Festival’s Awards Night Ceremony along with all other Awards announcements.
The 40th Miami Film Festival will feature films from around the world competing in the Festival’s first Goya Quick Bites Competition. Together, Miami Film Festival and Goya will highlight a diverse group of films throughout the Festival’s programming and find unique ways to engage with audiences throughout the screenings and other Festival events. This is an exciting anniversary year for Miami Film Festival and in partnership with Goya Foods, if it’s Goya, it has to be good.
About Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival
Celebrating cinema in two annual events, Miami Film Festival (March 4-13, 2022) and Miami Film Festival GEMS (November 3-9, 2022), Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival welcomes more than 45,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. It is the only major festival housed within a college or university. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. Major sponsors of Miami Film Festival GEMS include Knight Foundation, American Airlines, Estrella Damm, Telemundo, NBC6, and Miami-Dade County. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. For more information, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).
About Goya Foods
Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world. The combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.