The Miami Film Festival presents “Welcome to Miami: Florida Doc Shorts” program at 9:00 p.m. Thursday, April 16th.
There is no place like home. Featuring a diverse range of Made in MIA short documentaries, this program reminds us that Miami really is one of a kind.
Featured films are:
“The Floor Remembers”:On Monday nights at a historic Miami roller rink, skaters gather beneath neon lights and the music that raised them, returning to a wooden floor that holds the memory of a city that is constantly changing.
“One Last Order”: After 37 years turning drive-thru orders into personal connections, Sighle Williams expects a quiet farewell from a Florida burger joint—but her town has other plans.
“Nail Tech: Portrait of an Artist”: “Nail Tech: Portrait of an Artist” (2025) explores the life and cultural impact of Miami Florida-based nail artist Kro Vargas, whose trend-setting designs have graced the pages of Vogue and the fingertips of major musical artists like Ice Spice and Ivy Queen. The film also explores the friendships and salons that have shaped Vargas’s career, like Optima Lite and Spring with Friends. The documentary highlights how nail art is a meaningful form of cultural expression. Telling the story of nail techs is telling a history of style, migration, and women’s entrepreneurship in Miami.
“The Poor Man’s Titanic”: The SS Valbanera was so close to Havana, but port master turned the ship away because of an approaching hurricane. The year was 1919 and the ship was no match for Mother Nature. The ship sank, and everyone onboard died. The so-called “Poor Man’s Titanic” was lost to history…until now.
“The Last Console”: This is not just a console, but a story of love, honor, memory, and the enduring power of sound.
“Under The Mango Tree”: Deeply rooted in the soil of his family’s mango tree, a man reflects on the rise and fall of the agriculture industry in Goulds during the early 1900s, a story of a thriving African American community, and forces that shifted it.
“Test of Time: Frankie’s Pizza”: Amid Miami’s ever changing skyline, Test of Time uncovers the untold stories of the city’s longest standing restaurants and bars, exploring their resilience, legacy, and the family traditions that have kept them alive for over 30 years. In this episode, we follow the Pasquarella family and their beloved institution, Frankie’s Pizza, as they navigate decades of challenges, proving that true community staples are built to last.
“Beach Towel Art Show”: Local artists converge on Miami Beach during Art Week, forging a grassroots creative gathering that prioritizes community over spectacle.
Tickets are $15.50 for the general public and $14.50 for students, military and seniors (62+) with ID. Click on the link above.
