Free Films, Big Dreams at Miami’s Urban Film Festival

Miami filmmaker Valentino Dors, director of the short film “Shades,” at right, works with cast and crew during production. “Shades” is part of the lineup in the Urban Film Festival happening in Overtown and downtown Miami from Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6. (Photo courtesy of Valentino Dors)

Isabel Bacigalupo feared she was running out of time.

The Miami-based filmmaker had just wrapped up shooting for “May Death Connect Us Apart,” a sci-fi short film starring Michele Lepe, Xavier Corone, Katherine Wright and Bacigalupo’s daughter, Oriana Fifer.

The plot centered on a grieving woman who reconnects with her late husband using AI.

Back in  2014 when Bacigalupo came up with the concept, the premise seemed far-fetched, but with each technological advance she wondered whether her film would be rendered obsolete.

“I was racing against the clock.”  Bacigalupo said. “I started to realize that this is not going to be sci-fi anymore; this is becoming reality.”

Limited resources also hampered production timelines.

“The budget was definitely a challenge because there was none,” she said.

Director Isabel Bacigalupo and Actress Oriana Fifer in “May Death Connect Us Apart.” The sci-fi short film is about a grieving woman who reconnects with her late husband using AI. (Photo courtesy of Isabel Bacigalupo)

But the generosity of those who surrounded her propelled the project forward. And of course, faith always helps, because that’s practically all Bacigalupo had when she worked up the nerve to reach out to Lepe.

Known to a generation of preschoolers as the host of PBS Kids Sprout’s “The Good Night Show,” Lepe was a dream casting choice for Bacigalupo and Fifer, who grew up watching the program. They were thrilled when she agreed to take the role.

But hopes, dreams and pixie dust can only take you so far. This is where the hard work began.

After the film was finished shooting, it then took an entire year of editing for it to be complete.

Turns out it came out in the nick of time.

Shooting a scene from “May Death Connect Us Apart,” a sci-fi short film starring Michele Lepe, Xavier Corone, Katherine Wright and Oriana Fifer. (Photo courtesy of Isabel Bacigalupo)

“May Death Connect Us Apart” is one of nearly 200 films set to be featured during the 11th annual  2026 Urban Film Festival (UFF).

One of the largest free film festivals in the country, Urban Film Festival has free screenings during Labor Day weekend from Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6 in Overtown and in downtown Miami.

As part of the event, A Welcome to Miami Party will be held at Red Rooster Overtown. Filmmakers, industry professionals, educators and students will also benefit from networking and educational opportunities.

Marco (“Mall”) Molinet, founder of Florida FilmHouse International and Urban Film Festival, believes that the sessions are a great way of supporting those who may feel that there’s no hope in sight.

He knows because he’s been there.

“We started our festival because we couldn’t get into any festivals,” Molinet said.

Looking back, Molinet said he is proud of how much the festival has grown since it began in 2015 and that it received an enthusiastic response right from the beginning. Part of the draw, he said, is offering a supportive environment for those who are starting out in the industry.

Molinet watches every movie that is submitted and said he has personally seen the evolution of many filmmakers, particularly those who joined the festival from the outset.

George W. Cannon III, left, is the director of “Verified.” The film was made by students in the Film Over Gun Violence Program. (Photo courtesy of George W. Cannon III)

“We started off with about 60 to 70 films, and a lot of those films were pretty horrible,” Molinet admitted. “They weren’t really great films. But I just saw something in the filmmaker or something in the film. And a lot of those filmmakers are still with us to this day. Now their films have gone to a whole other level.”

For Molinet, that early willingness to take a chance on unpolished work was part of the festival’s purpose from the beginning.

“They just needed someone to give them a shot and keep them in the game. We look at it like we’re keeping young filmmakers motivated because it’s very important that every genre has their own people to tell their story.”

This includes young filmmakers.

The festival’s opening day will also spotlight young filmmakers enrolled in the 1st Take Youth Film Program, a year-round initiative that introduces teens to the filmmaking process through hands-on training in areas including screenwriting, producing, cinematography and editing. Students in the program will premiere their films Friday, Sept. 4 at the Overtown Performing Arts Center.

The 1st Take students aren’t the only young filmmakers getting a chance in the spotlight. The festival will also showcase work created by students from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Filmmaker George W. Cannon III, center, watches a playback of a scene with members of the Film Over Gun Violence team during production. (Photo courtesy of George W. Cannon III)

St. Croix filmmaker George W. Cannon III directed “Verified,” a film created by young participants in the Film Over Gun Violence summer program. The film follows a teen struggling with the pressure to seek validation through social media.

“We do this summer program called Film Over Gun Violence where we have high schoolers come, and we basically have them write their own film,” Cannon explained. “We help them shoot it. We teach them elements of storytelling and how to write scripts and we show them how to use the camera.”

For Cannon, having the students’ work screened in Miami gives them an opportunity to see where those newly developed filmmaking skills can lead.

Miami filmmaker Valentino Dors, whose film “Shade” will be shown at UFF, encourages others, both young and old, to do the same. He realizes how much he has learned from launching “Shade.”

Directed by Valentino Dors, “Shade” is about a South Florida videographer. (Photo courtesy of Valentino Dors)

“Chase your dreams. Chase your aspirations. A perfect film doesn’t exist,” he emphasized. “Go out and film, even if all you have is an iPhone. If you don’t know how to write a script, start with a line a day. Take it day by day and just go out and film.”

It is that kind of persistence that Molinet hopes the festival will continue to encourage in emerging filmmakers.

“All of these filmmakers are on the cusp of being the next big thing,” Molinet said. “They all have what it takes to be great.”

WHAT: 2026 Urban Film Festival

WHERE: Various locations. On Friday, 1st Take Youth Film Program will premiere their films at Overtown Performing Arts Center, 1074 NW 3rd Ave, Miami. Welcome to Miami Party will be held at Red Rooster Overtown, 920 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, On Saturday and Sunday, the festival moves to Silverspot Cinema, 300 SE 3rd St #100, Miami

WHEN: Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sept. 4 through Sunday, Sept. 6

COST: Free

INFORMATION: For full schedule and times, urbanfilmfestival26.eventive.org

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