Connect with us

Events

39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Published

on

39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Kicked-off Opening Night.

Ray Romano & Twin Sons, Emily Bett Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Gavin Casalegno, John Savage, Bill Barrett, Jayce Bartek, Joe Cortese, Sofia Vassilieva and Bob Mackie.

November 17th, 2024

The 39th year of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) kicked off their 10-day festival with a star-studded opening night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The red carpet dazzled with talent and filmmakers from “Queen of the Ring,” the opening night film, “Romano Twins,” “Beyond the Rush,” “Here’s Yianni!” , “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion,” and more.

“We are thrilled to present over 100 films & documentaries, Including (8) world premieres and (17) U.S. premieres during the festival.,” says FLIFF President & CEO, Steve Savor.

The evening started with red carpet arrivals including:  Ray Romano (CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond”); Greg & Matt Romano (“Romano Twins”); Emily Bett Rickards (“Random Acts of Romance”, “Dakota’s Summer”, “Brooklyn”, “Axis”, “Funny Story”, “The Clinic”, “We Need to Talk”, Autumn and the Black Jaguar”, “Clamity Jane”); Francesca Eastwood (“Attention Attention”, “Running on Empty”, “Fargo”); Gavin Casalegno (“The Summer I turned Pretty”, “The Vampire Diaries”); Kailey Latimer (professional wrestler); Bill Barrett (“Fly me to the Moon”, “First Wives Club”); John Savage (“The Deer Hunter”, “The Onion Field” and “Hair”); Jayce Bartok (“The Cake Eaters”, “Now They See Us”);  Heather Aboff; Joe Cortese (“Green Book”, “American History X”); Sofia Vassilieva (“The Little Things, “My Sisters Keeper ”); Bob Mackie, fashion and costume designer for Cher, PINK, Carol Burnett and Tom Ford. Mackie has transformed the way fashion is perceived on screen, dressing iconic characters in films such as Barbie and has designed 47 Barbie Dolls for Mattel, turning Barbie into a fashion icon.

Following red carpet arrivals, guests watched a screening of the opening night film, “QUEEN OF THE RING,” the biopic of Mildred Burke, the first-ever million-dollar female athlete and champion pro-wrestler who pioneered the sport in a time when all girl wrestling was banned in most of America. Directed by Ash Avildsen, (“Paradise City”, “Human Capital”), who was joined on the red carpet by cast members, Emily Bett Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Gavin Casalegno), Kailey Latimer (professional wrestler). The Film’s co-stars include Josh Lucas and Walton Goggins.  *Following the film, guests enjoyed a cocktail party with live music by The Jersey Girls.

The 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) ran from Friday, Nov. 8th to Nov. 17th, offering a diverse array of galas, special presentations, film features, documentaries and short films.

Visit FLIFF.com for more information.

  • Lisa Griforian of FLIFF - center, with Joe McFate, left, and Bob Mackie of 'Naked Illusion' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Greg, Ray and Matt Romano of the 'Romano Twins' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Alexandra, Greg, Anna, Ray and Matt Romano of the 'Romano Twins' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Kailey Latimer of 'Queen of the Ring' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Producer Jennifer Stolo of 'No Address' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Heather Aboff of 'Beyond the Rush' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Entrance to the Premiere 'Queen of the Ring', 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • Francesca Eastwood receives an award for Star On The Horizon, from Steve Savor, during 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Bob Mackie signs autorgraphs prior to 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • Bob Mackie of 'Naked Illusion' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Emily Bett Rickards of 'Queen of the Ring' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Emily Bett Rickards, and Francesca Eastwood of 'Queen of the Ring' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Alexander Wrath, and Francesca Eastwood of 'Queen of the Ring' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Jayce Bartok of 'Beyond The Rush' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • 'Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion' Special Screening, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema, on November 9, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  • Gavin Caselegno of 'Queen of the Ring' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Bill Barrett of 'Beyond The Rush' attends 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Ash Avildsen, from left, Kailey Latimer, Amy Schoof, Emily Bett Rickards, Francesca Eastwood, Gavin Caselegno, and Alexander Wraith of 'Queen of the Ring' attends 'Queen of the Ring', 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Entrance to the Premiere 'Queen of the Ring', 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Joe Cortese, from left, Director Christina Eliopoulos, and Sofia Vassilieva of 'Here's Yianni!' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

  • Producer Candy Potts, from left, Heather Aboff, Director/Producer Roberth John Sayegh, John Savage, Bill Barrett, and Jayce Bartok of 'Beyond the Rush' attend 'Queen of the Ring' Premiere, 39th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8, 2024 in Hollywood, Florida

Welcome to South Florida Insider!

Events

Allstate Party at the Playoff Lights Up Miami Before College Football’s Biggest Game

Published

on

The Night Before the Spotlight Shifts to the Field, ESPN’s Allstate Party at the Playoff Puts Miami Culture, Music, and Sports Front and Center. (more…)

Continue Reading

Events

A Realm of Warmth and Wonder

Published

on

By

The Celtic Winter Faire: A Day of Merriment for Lords, Ladies and Little Ones.
(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Mindspace Wynwood Welcomes Casa Atelier Residency

Published

on

Mindspace Wynwood Welcomes Casa Atelier Residency, Bringing Global Art Into Its Creative Workspace.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Miami Art Week Unleashed: From Graffiti Origins to Art Basel’s Global Stage

Published

on

Miami Art Week Didn’t Happen in Galleries, It Happened in Motion, in Color, and Somewhere Between Chaos and Control.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Art, Light and Motion: Majeed’s Miami Beach Debut

Published

on

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club Debuts Hira Majeed’s Multidisciplinary Exhibition for Miami Art Week. (more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Miami Art Week Belongs to Art Hearts Fashion

Published

on

Five days. Four iconic venues. One production shaping the energy, glamour, and momentum of Art Basel.


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week has been building momentum by the hour, and Art Hearts Fashion is clearly the driving force behind the excitement. After stepping into the opening atmosphere at Kiki on the River, it became obvious that the production isn’t simply participating in Art Week. It’s leading it.

But the attention now shifts forward.
Tomorrow is December 5, and Friday’s programming is positioned to become the defining moment of the week.

Friday at Queen: The Night That Sets the Tone for the Weekend

Tomorrow night, Queen will turn into a couture theater. The venue itself is already built with the kind of Art Deco glamour Miami never tires of, but on December 5 it becomes something entirely different—a stage where designers and creative houses will set the style language for the rest of the weekend.

Friday’s runway features:

  • Capristan
  • Merlin Castell
  • Mister Triple X

Each brings a distinct point of view: editorial elegance, sculptural silhouettes, hyper-modern textures, and that unmistakable Miami boldness that has become the signature of this week.

Once the final look walks, the night transitions into its second act.
The crowd moves to LIV at the Fontainebleau, where Black Coffee will headline a packed after party that merges fashion insiders, artists, models, and the kind of Miami night owls who never miss a moment of the city’s cultural pulse.

Friday isn’t just busy. It feels like the center of gravity.

Saturday December 6 at 555 Studios Wynwood

555 becomes the creative heart of the weekend with two full runway blocks.

8 PM: Luxe Ilse, Marible JD, Slay Swimwear

9 PM: Chavelis Playhouse, Hiromi Asai, Sharnel Guy

10 PM: Bad Pink, Idol Jose, Pia Bolte

Afterward, the night moves again to LIV, where John Summit takes over. Saturday’s energy is expected to stretch deep into the night, blurring the edges between fashion event, art installation, and nightlife ritual.

Sunday December 7: The Finale

Sunday closes the week at 555 Studios Wynwood, beginning with a red carpet and Talent Awards hosted by Talent Management Agency. It’s a celebratory moment, but also a showcase of emerging creative voices defining the next wave of Miami and beyond.

Sunday’s runway includes:

  • Divaska
  • Isabel Original
  • Carolos Pineda
  • Giannina Azar

Then comes the final chapter: LIV on Sunday, the unofficial but undeniable conclusion to Miami Art Week’s most in-demand fashion program.

What’s increasingly clear is that Art Hearts Fashion has become the gravitational center of Miami Art Week. It moves with confidence, curates with intention, and delivers the blend of artistry, spectacle, and nightlife that defines Miami at its best.

Wednesday hinted at it.
Friday will confirm it.

For anyone planning their next move during Art Basel, this is the lineup that leads the conversation.

Full event details and guest list HERE

Continue Reading

Events

Kiki Becomes the Fashion Launch of Miami Art Week

Published

on

Art Hearts Fashion turned Kiki on the River into a living fashion scene, complete with yacht entrances, dancing models, champagne-filled tables, and a crowd dressed to be part of the moment.


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week did not ease in gently this year. It strutted in wearing sequins and a perfect tan, and it did it at Kiki on the River. Last night’s opening event felt like the moment the city remembered who it is. Art. Fashion. Nightlife. A little chaos. A lot of beauty. And a waterfront runway that refused to take itself too seriously.

The party started the moment the models arrived on a yacht. People actually gasped. It was theatrical in the best possible way. Lights on the water. Music carrying down the river. Everyone already reaching for their phones. Kiki looked like a scene from a fashion movie and the night had barely begun.

A Runway That Became a Party in Real Time

The dinner began with Greek spreads and Kiki Fries, which is the most peaceful the evening ever got. Because once the music shifted, the whole room woke up.

Mister Triple X sent out bold, confident looks that matched the mood of the night. Berry Beachy brought swimwear that felt like Miami sunshine turned into clothing. Diyanni Yacht Club showed pieces that looked even better under pink lights than anyone expected. The models owned every inch of the space. Some posed. Some danced. Some teased the crowd with little moments that made the room erupt.

Then came the platform moment. A group of models climbed onto a white pedestal and instantly turned the venue into a high fashion nightclub. Guests cheered them on. People got out of their seats. Bottles sparkled. It was impossible not to smile.

If anyone thought the guests would blend into the background, they were wrong. The room felt like a casting call for Miami’s best dressed. Linen looks. Metallic minis. Printed sets. Statement jewelry. Everyone arrived knowing this was the first major night of the week and no one planned on being forgettable.

Tables were covered in champagne flutes and bright cocktails. Friends leaned into each other for photos. Strangers bonded over their love of a runway look. People watched the show but they also watched each other. That is the real spirit of Miami Art Week.

Kiki Looked Like a Fashion Dream

The thatched ceiling, floral lanterns, and glowing lights made everything feel warm and dreamlike. The river breeze floated in just enough to remind everyone that they were eating dinner inside a living runway. Kiki’s signature glamour mixed with Art Hearts Fashion’s energy created an atmosphere that was part dinner party and part full fantasy.

It was romantic.
It was wild.
It was absolutely Miami.

The Perfect Start to an Over the Top Week

Kiki on the River delivered something that felt bigger than an opening event. It felt like a welcome ritual for the entire week. If last night is the starting point, the rest of Miami Art Week is about to get louder, brighter, and more unforgettable.

Art Hearts Fashion is clearly leading the conversation this year. A yacht entrance. A runway that never stayed still. A crowd that looked like it stepped out of a magazine. This is the beginning of a week that will be talked about long after the models go home.

And it all started on the river.

Continue Reading

Events

A Sunset Filled Evening at Copala Beach for the Daniel Dugan Swim Pre Launch

Published

on

Handcrafted details, warm coastal energy, and a boutique that felt like stepping inside an art piece


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week unfolded another beautiful chapter last night with the Daniel Dugan x COPALA Beach Swimwear Pre Launch, a soft glowing event that traded the runway for something far more intimate. Held inside Copala Beach on Collins Avenue, the evening blended fashion, craftsmanship, and coastal artistry in a way that made the boutique feel like its own creative universe.

From the moment guests walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and personal. Instead of floodlights or booming music, the room carried the mood of a handcrafted paradise. Shelves held colorful woven pieces, each one a reminder of traditional artistry. Tables displayed symbolic beadwork, feathers, carved tools, and pieces that looked like they belonged in an exhibition rather than a retail space. Every corner seemed to tell a story about the materials, the history, and the communities that inspire the Daniel Dugan’s brand.

Clean, natural, coastal inspired and deeply rooted in artistic expression. His work always blends precision and calm and the boutique made his designs feel alive. It became clear that this pre launch was not only a reveal but an immersion into the world that shaped the collection.

Guests wandered through displays of handcrafted jewelry, natural pigments, woven symbols, and artifacts that felt like treasures. It was the kind of room where you slowed down and actually looked, because every detail deserved a moment. The textures and colors pulled people in. The lighting warmed everything. It felt like walking through a living mood board.

His pieces shone shelves lined with oils, beaded necklaces draped like artwork, and carefully designed pieces arranged with intention. Nothing felt commercial. Everything felt curated.

At the center of the boutique stood a musician in a flowing printed dress, playing a guitar with the gentlest confidence. Her sound softened the room and made the evening feel like a cozy gathering rather than a fashion event. Guests listened, swayed, and smiled. It was charming, authentic, and perfectly aligned with the brand. The music added magic. It created a lull in the usual Art Week chaos and invited everyone to settle in and just enjoy the moment.

A Reminder of What Fashion Can Feel Like

In a week filled with neon lights, mega clubs, and high drama runways, the Copala Beach pre-launch offered a refreshing shift. It celebrated craft, culture, storytelling, and a slower beauty. It reminded attendees that fashion can be rooted in place and memory, that a garment can carry a narrative, and that a boutique can hold as much artistry as a gallery.

Daniel Dugan’s collaborative collection felt right at home in this space. Natural. Clean. Emotional. Pieces created to be worn but also admired.

The event was peaceful yet alive, luxurious yet grounded, and filled with the kind of thoughtful detail that gives Miami Art Week its depth. Guests left with smiles, full hearts, and a sense of having stepped into a secret pocket of creativity.

It was not a loud night. It was a beautiful one.

Continue Reading

Trending