By Karina Valdes

For three nights, the Bill Cosford Cinema is setting the stage for established and emerging short filmmakers to showcase their work during the Second Annual Shorts Miami International Film Festival (SMIFF). The juried festival awards cash prizes to the most engaging films, including a $2000 Best of the Festival award.

“We are proud to host this international film festival. This festival offers a range of diverse global perspectives, which may challenge and delight as we experience this special opportunity to witness the best contemporary short films produced across the world,” said Karin Wilkins, dean of the University of Miami School of Communication.

This year, festival organizers received 650 entries from 62 countries and territories. Of the 650 entries, 21 were selected as finalists, showcasing filmmakers from the United States, Japan, the Virgin Islands, Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Portugal, Indonesia, and Australia.

All film entries are juried by a panel of international industry professionals who deliberate to determine the finalists and award winners. This year’s jury is comprised of: Sope Aluko, “Black Panther” and “Wakanda Forever”; Gio Benitez, “Good Morning America” and ABC News; Nestor Carbonell, “Lost,” “The Morning Show,” and “The Dark Knight”; David Frankel, director of “The Devil Wears Prada”; Jaie Laplante, artistic director for DOC NYC; Phyllis McGrady, former senior vice president of “Early Morning,” “Primetime,” and news program development of ABC News; Antonio Mora, “Good Morning America”; Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show” and “Pipeline”; Byron Pitts, “Nightline”; Ira Rosen, “60 Minutes”; and Dennis Scholl, “The Last Resort with Kareem Tabsch.”

Finalists will be screened to an audience at the recently upgraded Bill Cosford Cinema. The venue houses a 70-square-foot screen, exhibiting in 35mm and a variety of high-definition digital formats. All films must be under 20 minutes and fall into one of the following categories: narrative, documentary, or Made in Miami.

The festival opens on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. with the Narrative Shorts Competition and Best of Narrative Award ceremony, followed by the opening reception at 8:30 p.m. on the Cosford Patio.

On Feb. 3, the Documentary Shorts Competition begins at 6 p.m., followed by the Best of Documentary Award, Best of Miami Award, and Best of Miami Documentary Award ceremony. At 8:30 p.m., guests are invited to attend a reception at the rooftop of the THesis Hotel.

The SMIFF closes on Feb. 4 with a 6 p.m. screening of the Miami Student Focus short films, followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers and Marco Giron, chief of film and entertainment for Miami-Dade County. The panel will be moderated by Rafal Sokolowski, assistant professor. The SMIFF’s closing reception begins at 8:30 p.m. on the Cosford Patio.

The Second Annual SMIFF takes place Feb. 2-4 at the Bill Cosford Cinema, 5030 Brunson Dr., Memorial Building Suite 225, Coral Gables, FL 33146, and is sponsored by the University of Miami School of Communication, the Department of Cinematic Arts, Tito’s Vodka, THesis Hotel, and Redbull. The THesis Hotel reception takes place on Feb. 3 at 8:30 p.m. and is located at 1350 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146. This event is free with registration.

Feb. 2 registration: https://events.miami.edu/event/shorts_miami_international_film_festival_2024#.

Feb. 3 registration: https://events.miami.edu/event/shorts_miami_international_film_festival_2024_8394.

Feb. 4 registration: https://events.miami.edu/event/shorts_miami_international_film_festival_2024_2419.