It’s always interesting to see which films are able to keep up their film festival momentum after buzzy premieres at early-in-the-year fests like Sundance and SXSW. Two to keep an eye on? Cole Webley’s Sundance premiere “Omaha” and Xander Robin’s SXSW crowdpleaser “The Python Hunt,” both of which just notched new wins over the weekend at the 2025 Miami Film Festival.
“The Python Hunt” picked up the Made in MIA Feature Film Award, sponsored by Panavision, which is designed to honor films “of any genre that prominently feature South Florida in their story, setting, and filming location, and best utilize South Florida’s story and theme for universal resonance.” Robin’s film, a documentary about snake-hunters in the Everglades, sure sounds like it fits the bill.
And Webley’s deep-feeling John Magaro-starring family drama, “Omaha,” earned the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award, created by the South Florida family of the late Jordan Ressler and sponsored by the Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund, which is presented to the jury-selected best film made by a filmmaker making a feature narrative film debut.
The festival’s top jury prize, the $15,000 MARIMBAS Award, went to Maryse Legagneur’s “The Last Meal.” The award is an international competition for the jury-selected narrative feature film that best exemplifies richness and resonance for cinema’s future.
This year’s festival, the 42nd edition, took place April 3 – 13 in Miami. Other highlights included honors for Mark Duplass, Paul Feig, Melanie Lynskey, Roger Ross Williams, and Billy Zane, plus anniversary specials include “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” “Center Stage,” and “Pride & Prejudice.” New films of note included Feig’s own “Another Simple Favor” and “The Wedding Banquet.”
Additional winners include, with all language provided by the festival:
- The Audience Feature Film Award went to “Espina” directed by Daniel Poler, which had its World Premiere at the Festival. First runner-up was “Adiós Cuba” directed by Rolando Díaz, and second runner-up went to “Magic Hour” directed by Jacqueline Christy.
- The Documentary Achievement Award ($2,000) went to “Checkpoint Zoo,” directed by Joshua Zeman.
- The Audience Documentary Film Award went to “Selena y Los Dinos” directed by Isabel Castro. First runner up was “Chirino” directed by Jorge Soliño, and second runner-up was “The Librarians” directed by Kim Synder.
- Made in MIA Short Film Award ($5,000) went to “Little Haiti, Miami, USA,” directed by XF Serrano.
- Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000) went to “Gender Reveal,” directed by Mo Matton. The award is given to a jury-selected short film (30 min. or less) of any genre from anywhere in the world.
- Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000), presented by the University of Miami’s School of Communication, went to “View from the Floor,” directed by Megan Griffiths & Mindie Lind.
- Florida Cinemaslam Award ($1,000), part of the Festival’s annual Florida college student film competition, went to “Dirt Therapy,” directed by Sebastian Valencia.
- The Reel South Short Film Award ($2,000) went to “George V.,” directed by Dennis Scholl & Dia Kontaxis.
- The Audience Short Film Award went to the drama “Night Train Last Stop” directed by Gina Margillo. First runner-up was “Test of Time: The Big Cheese” directed by Julian Alicea, and second runner-up “Confession of a Jumbotron Addict” directed by Mickey Duzyj.
