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Miami Film Festival GEMS Announces Major Award Season Contenders Parallel Mothers, King Richard, Flee and More

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Miami, FL — Miami Dade College’s (MDC) renowned Miami Film Festival today unveiled the line-up for the eighth annual edition of its acclaimed Miami Film Festival GEMS, expanding to seven days from its traditional four-day format. Legendary Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers starring Penélope Cruz will open the Festival. King Richard, produced by and starring Will Smith, will be the Centerpiece screening, while Denmark’s Oscar submission shortlist candidate Flee will close the event. The festival will hold its screenings at MDC’s Tower Theater Miami from November 4-10.

“This year’s GEMS program demonstrates the ongoing vitality and vibrancy of cinema – we expanded the festival due to the increasing number of outstanding films that GEMS has attracted,” said Executive Director Jaie Laplante. “We are grateful to return to our home theater, Tower Theater Miami, and are excited to welcome patrons back to share the communal theater experience.”

Opening GEMS 2021 on November 4 is Parallel Mothers from acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, whose Pain and Glory opened GEMS 2019, and who was awarded the Festival’s highest honor, Precious Gem – Master Award, at the 38th edition of the Festival earlier this year. Parallel Mothers was nominated for a Golden Lion for Best Film at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, where Penélope Cruz won for Best Actress.

The Centerpiece Screening will take place on November 6. King Richard (United States) is produced by and starring Will Smith in the true story of the hard-driving father of tennis superstars (and South Florida residents) Venus and Serena Williams. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Raising early excitement for the Festival’s official opening will be Pablo Larraín’s critically revered Spencer (US/UK/Chile/Germany), which will be featured as the GEMS Preview Night on October 27. The drama stars Kristen Stewart (a front-runner for this year’s Best Actress Oscar) as Princess Diana, at the moment when she decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles.

Closing the Festival on November 10 will be Flee (Denmark), the acclaimed animated documentary that won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Shortlisted for Denmark’s Oscar submission selection, this timely film about an Afghani émigré with a secret is directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen.

GEMS 2021 will include the first three selections of the season competing for the Festival’s prestigious awards. Paris, 13th District (France), a drama directed by Jacques Audiard, will compete for the GEMS Festival’s top prize, the $25,000 Knight MARIMBAS Award, supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. This is a juried prize for a film that best exemplifies richness and resonance for cinema’s future. Audiard previously won the top Award at MFF in 2016 for Dheepan.

Competing for MFF’s Ibero-american Feature Film Award is Chilean filmmaker Claudia Huaiquimilla’s second feature, My Brothers Dream Awake. The film was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 2021 Locarno Film Festival.

The first selection to compete in the $10,000 Knight Made in MIA Short Film Award, supported by the Knight Foundation, is the world premiere of the short documentary “A Date, with History” (United States), an unexpected glimpse into the complex social history of Miami in 1955, directed by Gaspar González. “A Date, with History” reclaims a historical incident that occurred at the Historic Hampton House in 1955, and will be paired with a retrospective screening of Regina King’s adaptation of Kemp Powers’ One Night in Miami, which also reclaims a Hampton House historical night.

Many of films being presented as Special Presentations in the GEMS 2021 selection are anticipated to be official submissions to the 94th Academy Awards for the International Feature Film category. The complete list of films screening as Special Presentations include:

  • 7 Prisoners (Brazil), a drama spotlighting the plight of human trafficking, directed by Alexandre Moratto. Moratto is returning to MFF’s Official Selection, following his first feature Socrates winning MFF’s 2019 Jordan Ressler First Feature Award.
  • Belfast (United Kingdom/Ireland/United States), a drama set in Northern Ireland during the turbulent late-1960s, directed by Kenneth Branagh, winner of TIFF’s People’s Choice Award.
  • Dear Mr. Brody (United States), a documentary directed by Keith Maitland that tells the strange tale of Michael Brody Jr., a 21-year-old hippie millionaire who in 1970 promised to give away his $25 million inheritance in an effort to usher in a new era of world peace. This screening will take place in a special outdoor setting at Moxy South Beach.
  • Happening (France), a tense, gripping thriller about a student in 1960s France who seeks an abortion at a time when it was illegal, directed by Audrey Diwan. *Winner of the Golden Lion, top prize of the 2021 Venice Film Festival.*
  • A Hero (Iran/France), a drama/thriller about a man on leave from debtors’ prison, directed by Asghar Farhadi, winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival.
  • Huda’s Salon (Palestine/Egypt/The Netherlands), a new drama about blackmail and double-agents in the Palestine occupied territory, from double-Oscar nominated filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad.
  • Julia (United States), a documentary spotlighting legendary cookbook author and television icon Julia Child, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West. The screening will be accompanied by a post-screening Julia-inspired dinner at Michelle Bernstein and Julio Cabrera’s popular restaurant Café La Trova.
  • Lingui, The Sacred Bonds (Chad/France/Germany/Belgium), the story of a woman in Chad navigating the severe legal and religious choice restrictions for her 15-year-old daughter’s unplanned pregnancy, directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun.
  • Mothering Sunday (United Kingdom), which tells the story of a maid coming to terms with her sexuality in post-World War I England, directed by Eva Husson.
  • The People Upstairs (Spain), a comedy about two couples exploring the complexities of modern-day relationships, directed by Cesc Gay, starring 2021 MFF Precious Gem Awardee Javier Cámara.
  • Red Rocket (United States), a comedy/drama that follows a washed-up porn star returning to his small Texas hometown, directed by Sean Baker.
  • A Tale of Love and Desire (France), a romantic drama about an Algerian-French teenager who falls in love with a young Tunisian girl, directed by Leyla Bouzid.
  • The Worst Person in the World (Norway/France), a comedy/drama on the travails of a young woman navigating her love life and career path, directed by Joachim Trier, winner of the Best Actress award at Cannes for Renate Reinsve.

A selection of films, including the three titles in juried competitions, will be available for 72-hour viewing windows in the Festival’s concurrent Virtual platform.

GEMS 2021 was programmed by co-directors of programming Lauren Cohen and Jaie Laplante, with additional contributions by Ibero-american specialty programmer Carlos Tejera.

All Spanish-language films in Miami Film Festival GEMS are supported by Viendomovies, found on Xfinity, and FlixLatino. AIDS Healthcare Foundation, dedicated to exploring discussions of health and sexuality, will sponsor A Tale of Love and Desire. All French-language films are supported by TV5Monde USA.

The full line-up and schedule of GEMS 2021 will go live at www.miamifilmfestival.com beginning October 8, with tickets on sale exclusively to Miami Film Society members the same day. Tickets to the general public will go on sale beginning October 14.

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Entertainment

160+ Bands, 5 Stages: Welcome To Rockville Returns to Daytona International Speedway May 7–10 with Expanded Fan Experience

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3 weeks ago

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April 15, 2026

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160+ Bands, 5 Stages: Welcome To Rockville Returns to Daytona International Speedway May 7–10 with Expanded Fan Experience

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN) — Music set times have been released for the 15th anniversary of Welcome To Rockville, Florida’s largest rock, metal and punk festival, set for May 7–10, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway.

Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the four-day event will feature more than 160 bands performing across five stages, marking the festival’s largest lineup to date.

HEADLINERS AND DAILY LINEUP

This year’s festival will be headlined by Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance, Guns N’ Roses and Bring Me The Horizon.

  • Thursday, May 7: Guns N’ Roses, Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Staind
  • Friday, May 8: Foo Fighters, Turnstile, The Offspring, Parkway Drive
  • Saturday, May 9: Bring Me The Horizon, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White, Lamb of God
  • Sunday, May 10: My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember, Rise Against, Yellowcard

FESTIVAL EXPANSION AND NEW FEATURES

Organizers announced several enhancements for 2026 aimed at improving the fan experience. A new “Pit Stop” fan zone near the Apex Stage will feature artist interviews, special performances and interactive experiences.

In addition, the Garage Stage will be fully tented for the first time, offering expanded shade coverage and upgraded production for attendees.

SPECIAL EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES

Festivalgoers can kick off the week with a pre-party on May 6 featuring performances by Fuel, Local H and others.

A new crossover event, “Blood4Blood,” will also take place at the Ocean Center, combining live music with bare-knuckle fighting, including a headline bout featuring Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail.

TICKETS, ACCESS AND ATTENDANCE

Festival gates will open daily at 11:30 a.m. Organizers are offering a range of ticket options, including single-day, weekend, VIP and camping packages. A new Camp to Coast shuttle will provide transportation between the speedway and nearby beaches.

With expanded attractions, including rides, themed bars and interactive zones, Welcome To Rockville 2026 is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to Daytona Beach, reinforcing its role as a major driver of Florida’s tourism and live entertainment economy.

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Orlando International Fashion Week Partners with Orlando Fringe Festival for 35th Anniversary Avant-Garde Showcase

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3 weeks ago

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April 12, 2026

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Orlando International Fashion Week

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Orlando International Fashion Week (OIFW) has announced a new creative partnership with the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival as the festival celebrates its 35th anniversary this May.

As part of the collaboration, OIFW will present a special avant-garde fashion showcase on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., during the two-week festival. The curated runway will feature bold, experimental designs that reflect Fringe’s spirit of artistic freedom, individuality and innovation.

PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES CREATIVE COLLABORATION

Organizers say the partnership reflects a natural alignment between two nonprofit organizations committed to supporting artists and expanding access to creative spaces.

“Fringe and OIFW share a commitment to creating platforms where artists can take risks and express themselves freely,” said Rob Henlon, executive director and co-founder of OIFW. “This collaboration allows fashion to exist within a broader artistic conversation.”

John Payne-Rios, an OIFW advisory board member, added that the partnership strengthens Orlando’s creative ecosystem by bringing together fashion, theater and community engagement.

Festival organizers echoed that sentiment, noting the addition of fashion enhances the Outdoor Stage experience and introduces new artistic energy to the event.

DESIGNER CALL AND MODEL CASTING UNDERWAY

In conjunction with the partnership, OIFW has opened its designer registration call for creatives interested in participating in the Fringe showcase.

Designers are encouraged to submit collections that emphasize:

  • Avant-garde concepts
  • Artistic storytelling
  • Bold, experimental design

Models can also audition for both the Fringe showcase and upcoming OIFW runway shows. Casting calls are scheduled for April 12 and April 19 at CityArts Gallery in downtown Orlando from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The casting is open to ages 4 and up, with no prior experience required.

FRINGE FESTIVAL MARKS 35 YEARS OF ARTISTIC FREEDOM

For 35 years, the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival has provided an inclusive platform for artists to present original work in an unjuried and uncensored environment. The festival is the longest-running Fringe festival in the United States and returns 100% of ticket sales directly to artists.

Each May, the festival transforms Orlando into a hub of live performances, visual art, music and interactive experiences that celebrate diverse voices and creative expression.

What’s Next for OIFW?

The Fringe collaboration serves as a lead-in to OIFW’s signature summer event, Orlando International Fashion Week Presents: 626 Euphoria, scheduled for June 6, 2026, at the Winter Park Events Center.

Organizers say the upcoming season will continue to focus on:

  • Expanding fashion as a cultural platform
  • Strengthening cross-industry partnerships
  • Elevating emerging and diverse designers

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Entertainment

Trick Daddy Threatens Tiffany Moore Russell Mayoral Race After AKA Show Shut Down

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4 weeks ago

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April 9, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — A performance by Miami street legend rapper Trick Daddy ended abruptly Friday night during the 73rd South Atlantic Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated after event organizers said the artist ignored agreed-upon performance guidelines.

The incident, which occurred after the conference’s Step and Stroll competition, has sparked debate online about event vetting, audience expectations, and artistic responsibility.

The event was overseen by South Atlantic Regional Director Tiffany Moore Russell, who also serves as the elected Clerk of Courts for Orange County, Florida and is currently a candidate for Orange County mayor.

Conference Performance Ends Early

Conference attendees from across the South Atlantic region gathered in Orlando for the sorority’s five-day leadership and networking event.

Friday evening’s program featured step teams and strolling performances before transitioning to live entertainment. Organizers booked Trick Daddy, the Miami rapper known for hits including “Nann” and “Thug Matrimony,” to perform a curated list of songs.

However, the performance ended mid-set after organizers said the rapper used language and lyrics that violated previously discussed guidelines.

Russell addressed the incident in a statement distributed to conference attendees.

“We met several times with him and his team to detail our requirements, including attire, language, and specific songs,” Russell said. “Unfortunately, our requirements were ignored. The language, lyrics, and comments made by the artist were not acceptable. I ended the performance because of the disrespect for our organization and our brand.”

Viral Video Fuels Online Debate

Videos posted on social media showed audience members reacting with surprise and discomfort during the performance.

In one clip, attendees could be seen leaving the room as the rapper used explicit language and interacted with the crowd in a manner some attendees described as inappropriate for the event.

The video quickly spread online, fueling debate over whether the performer or the event organizers were responsible for the mismatch between the artist and the audience.

Some critics argued the booking itself raised questions about vetting.

Questions About Booking and Vetting

The controversy has prompted broader discussion about event planning and audience expectations.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is one of the nation’s oldest historically Black sororities, known for its emphasis on scholarship, leadership, and community service.

Critics on social media questioned why an artist known for explicit hip-hop lyrics was booked for a conference audience largely composed of professional women and long-time sorority members.

Supporters of the organizers say the issue was not the booking itself but whether the performer honored the agreed-upon content guidelines.

Russell emphasized that the step teams and conference participants represented “creativity, discipline, and excellence,” adding that she regretted the performance overshadowed their work.

Trick Daddy Responds: “They Booked Me, Trick Daddy Dollars” [VIDEO]

Following the incident, Trick Daddy posted a video response denying that he violated the agreement and accusing organizers of damaging his reputation.

Trick Daddy video responding to AKA Director statement telling her not to give him a playlist, this isn’t her wedding and not to defame his characte, according to the video.

the video further that he states that anybody in there that was saddity and sanctified should not have been in there once I grabbed the MF’in mic.

He also referenced Russell’s political ambitions, saying: “I heard you’re running for some type of office or something. I’ll get on you every day until you don’t win. Don’t play with me.”

The comments intensified the controversy as the incident shifted from a performance dispute to a potential political crisis for Russell’s Orange County mayoral campaign.

What Happens Next? Reputation, Politics and Public Reaction

For Trick Daddy, the dispute raises questions about how the controversy could affect his public image and performance bookings.

For Tiffany Moore Russell, the issue arrives as she prepares for a campaign for mayor in Orange County, Florida, potentially drawing political scrutiny to the situation.

Whether the rapper follows through on his pledge to publicly attrack Russell’s mayoral campaign remains unclear.

For now, the moment stands as a cautionary tale about entertainment programming at professional events—where audience expectations, artist identity, and brand reputation must align.

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