Miami International Film Festival presents “MIFFecito” festival to open at Historic Tower Theater.

Tomorrow the Miami International Film Festival is beginning a very special, four-day event that provides a taste to next year’s upcoming 32^nd film festival. This small MiamiFF has been named MIFFecito, coming from the Spanish word “cafecito” meaning mini coffee. This mini event is in fact not so mini. MIFFecito will gather an international lineup of American, Bhutanese, Cuban, Italian, Mexican, Polish, and Spanish filmmakers. The event will be premiered at Miami Dade College’s Tower Theatre, a perfect Miami Location for such a star-studded gathering; each premier will be accompanied with in-person appearances by filmmakers and stars.

Guests of MIFFecito include:

Mariana Chenillo, Director of Paradise (Paraíso)

Jewish-Mexican filmmaker Mariana Chenillo is best known for her widely acclaimed first feature Nora’s Will (Cinco dias sin Nora), and the popular Mexican TV series “Soy Tu Fan“. Nora’s Will won numerous Ariel Awards (the Oscars of Mexico), including Best Picture. Her second feature film Paradise was produced by Mexico’s prolific Pablo Cruz of Canana Films.

Ernesto Daranas, Director of Behavior (Conducta)

Writer, Director and Documentarian Ernesto Daranas is an award-winning Cuban filmmaker with numerous writing and directing credits to his name, including his first feature, Fallen Gods (Los dioses rotos) (2008). His latest film, Conducta, screening at MIFFecito, is being described as “a virtually unprecedented social phenomenon” in Cuba.

Moisés Kaufman, Director of The Laramie Project

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Moisés Kaufman is now based in New York City. He is the founder of Tectonic Theater Project and has won numerous awards for his theatrical work, including a Tony nomination. In 2002, his film adaption of his play The Laramie Project had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. He is currently in Miami rehearsing for a November production of Teutonic’s adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen. The Laramie Project will screen at MIFFecito 2014 and be the subject of a moderated discussion about the film’s lasting legacy.

Hector Noas, Actor in Behavior (Conducta)

Hector Noas is an award-winning Cuban film actor, radio actor and film documentary voiceover narrator. He received a Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor from the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana. Conducta is his second project with Daranas, the first being 2008’s Fallen Gods.

Roberto Sanchez, Actor in Lake Los Angeles

Born in Havana, Cuba but raised in Little Havana, this Miami native has an astounding 79 acting roles to his credit in both network episodic television and feature films, including “Law & Order”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Days of Our Lives”, Prison Break and the John Singleton action film 2 Fast 2 Furious with the late Paul Walker. Before becoming an actor in 2002, Roberto was a distinguished Desert Storm war veteran (Navy) and professionally competed in European basketball. MDC’s Tower Theater, where all MIFFecito films are being screened, was a frequent destination during Roberto’s childhood, where he watched movies, sparking his dream of becoming an actor.