Many people were introduced to South Florida’s film scene through blockbuster hits like “Moonlight” and “Waves,” but there is a vast world of smaller films to enjoy as well. Distraction takes a deeper look at South Florida’s rich film culture and some of the diverse narratives that shape it.

Setting the Scene

From Miami to Palm Beach, South Florida possesses an infectious charm which seeps right through the silver screen, luring audiences and filmmakers alike. But when it comes to the region’s rich cinematic history, what does its story look like visually, and who gets the opportunity to tell it?

The South Florida Film Canon

In order to be a part of the South Florida film canon, movies are shot on location and written and directed by people who live or lived here. For University of Miami sophomore and Miami-native Isabella Cely-Garcia, the aesthetics and storylines of South Florida films are incredibly personal.

“I can recognize all the landmarks and settings in ways that I rarely see in Hollywood,” Cely-Garcia said. “Sometimes it feels like every movie is set in LA or NYC, and that leaves out a lot of really raw stories. That’s why movies like ‘Moonlight’ are so highly awarded. It’s fresh.”

Must-Watch Documentaries

In her documentary film “Razing Liberty Square” (2023), Oscar-nominated, Miami-based filmmaker, Katja Esson, centers the demolition and redevelopment of Liberty Square, a public housing development in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood.

As Miami’s flood-prone coastlines drive investors towards the higher-elevation ground of inland neighborhoods like Liberty City — one of South Florida’s most predominantly African-American neighborhoods — the testimony of its residents captures resilience in the face of climate gentrification.

Haitian-American, Miamian and filmmaker, Monica Sorelle, takes viewers through a similar journey in her film “Mountains” (2023). She tells the story of demolition worker, Xavier, and his family as the threat of demolition creeps closer and closer to their own backyard. She describes the feature film as a “Caribbean, Miami film,” for and by the people it aims to represent. In fact, Sorelle estimates that the film’s characters speak Haitian-Creole for about 80 percent of the film.

Crime and Action

If after watching some documentaries you’re in the mood for comedy or crime, don’t worry. South Florida cinema has got you covered there too.

Start with “Pain & Gain” (2013), an action-packed film based on articles about the Sun Gym Gang, a group of bodybuilders ex-convicts convicted of violent crimes in Miami in the 90s.

Or, take a look at Larry Clark’s “Bully” (2001), based on the true story of the 1993 murder of Bobby Kent, for a story that pushes Broward County, the Everglades, teen sexuality and crime into the limelight.

Kelly Reichardt’s “River of Grass” (1994), set in the Broward and Miami-Dade Counties between the City of Miami and the Everglades, subverts common crime drama and road movie tropes all while producing a suffocating sense of listlessness. Reichardt grew up in the part of South Florida where the film is set and describes “River of Grass” as a “road movie without the road, a love story without the love, and a crime story without the crime.”

South Florida Film Festivals

Film festivals are the perfect way to immerse yourself in the South Florida indie film scene, and explore a part of the region that isn’t a beach or club. Miami Film Festival, organized by Miami Dade College, offers a vibrant variety of new, local and global talent.

One of the festival’s most recent standout features is “Honeyjoon” (2025), a dark comedy about a grieving mother and daughter holidaying in the romantic Azores, directed by writer, filmmaker, artist and Miami-native Lilian T. Mehrel. The festival even featured the University of Miami’s first undergraduate feature film “Rope Tied” (2026).  In the film, directed by Chiara Padejka and Evan Friedmannan, an artist and his muse test the limits of coexistence.

University of Miami Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Creativity, Dia Kontaxis said, “The Miami Film Festival continues to be a vital platform for independent voices, with a terrific slate of Miami premieres this year… including premieres like ‘Tropical Park,’ ‘Dual Citizen’ and ‘Eva y Adán en Miami,’ films that refuse to flatten the city into a single story.”

Kontaxis is also an acclaimed producer, editor, educator and filmmaker. FilmGate Festival, Florida’s longest-running short film series, featured one of Kontaxis’ own films: “George V” (2025). Directed by Kontaxis and Dennis Scholl, the film foregrounds the legacy of self-taught Ukrainian artist, George Voronosky, based in South Beach in the 70s.

The festival also featured 2024 short film, “Ana y la Distancia.” The 11 minute short film, directed by queer, Cuban-born, Miami-based artist and filmmaker Hansel Porras Garcia, tells the story of a Cuban mother exiled in Miami as she waits for the arrival of her son, who attempts to cross the border to reach her.

Supporting Independent Cinemas

While festivals make for valuable seasonal spotlights for standout cinema, South Florida’s independent cinemas operate year-round to provide the screens to display the region’s most personal stories. Visiting brick-and-mortar institutions like O Cinema South Beach and Cinema Paradiso Hollywood is a great way to experience South Florida on film.

The University of Miami’s own Cosford Cinema is “an invaluable resource for the indie scene,” Kontaxis said. “Its ‘Indie Nights’ program regularly gives local filmmakers a dedicated screen and a real audience, which is rarer than it should be in a city this size.”

As we look toward the future of South Florida on the silver screen — and binge its past — it’s clear that the region’s films represent far more than palm trees, beaches and neon skylines. South Florida’s cinema preserves its diverse narratives, just as vibrant and layered as the region itself.

words_rosibel mercedes. photo_ethan dosa. design_charlotte deangelis.

This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2026 print issue.

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