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March 12, 2026 • 12 Pages • Volume 23 • Issue 39
Celebrating 23 Years 2002 - 2026
Hollywood Florida Film Festival Returns For Its 9th Edition With 97 Selected Films, Global Judges, And Glamorous Red-Carpet Events
South Florida Sun Times
Aug 27, 2025
The 9th Annual Hollywood Florida Film Festival Will Take Place From Friday, September 5th, 2025 – Sunday, September 7th, 2025, Welcoming Filmmakers, Artists, And Fashion Icons From Around The World For A Three-Day Celebration Of Cinema, Culture, And Creativity. This Year’s Edition Will Include An Outstanding 97 Selected Films From Across The Globe, Spanning Narratives, Documentaries, Shorts, Student Films, Alongside Over 30 Florida-Based Productions That Showcase The Region’s Thriving Creative Scene. We’ll Continue Our Mission To Support And Empower The Local Talent And To Spotlight Our Community As A Key Destination For Film, Drawing In New Creators To Collaborate And Grow With Us!
Screenings & Events Venues
• The Red-Carpet Opening Night Gala is Friday, September 5th and Closing Night Awards Ceremony will be Sunday, September 7th and will be hosted at the luxurious The Park – Weston Bonaventure in Weston, Florida, a premier event space with serene lakeside views perfect for a cinematic celebration.
• Film screenings will take place at the renowned Cinema Paradiso in Downtown Hollywood, running Friday morning, September 5th and all-day Saturday, September 6th, featuring international showcases, filmmaker Q&As, and curated blocks.
Tickets and passes are live exclusively on FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodFloridaFilmFestival/tickets
Community, Partners & Supporters
The 2025 festival is brought to life through the generous support of our valued sponsors and collaborators: H&M Development, Locality Bank, Broward County & Film Lauderdale, as community partners, Cinema Paradiso, The Park Bonaventure, Trailblazer Queen Productions, May One, Tadan Produzione, SSD Mag, Celebritime, Qwesty, Rooted Connections, Matteo’s, ETARU Restaurant, Rebel & Freak, Alexa Dumitru, B&B Capital and so many more.
International Judging Panel
Our panel of international judges will evaluate the 9th competition lineup.
Ioanina Pavel: Rose from freelance translator of scripts for United Kingdom Commissioners, to Head of Original Production at HBO Romania, to then co-founding May One, the production company known for its 2025 Netflix debut series SUBTERAN that hit #5 globally.
Federica Alderighi: From Rome to the world’s stage, Federica is an Italian screenwriter, author, and producer (Tadan Produzioni). She is also the visionary behind the Moscerine Film Festival, the world’s first international festival dedicated to short films created by children under 12.
Madalina Bellariu: Actress & producer with an international career in film and TV. She is known for her role in HBO's The Young Pope, starring alongside Jude Law and Diane Keaton. Madalina won Best Actress at the Milan International Film Festival for her role in Bad Wings.
Live Performance & Fashion Presentations
The Opening Night Gala will feature a special live opera performance by Haojin No, previous Florida Grand Opera canto singer, adding sophistication and grandeur to the festival’s launch.
In a unique intersection of film and fashion, two internationally acclaimed designers will present exclusive collections on the red carpet:
• Alexa Dumitru (New York, USA) is the designer behind W.A.S. Studio, redefining contemporary fashion with her bold use of natural fibers, meticulous craftsmanship, and visionary storytelling. From NY Fashion Week to showing at Yankee Stadium, her work captures both precision and emotion, offering timeless pieces that resonate on and off the runway.
• Jane of Rebel & Freak (Switzerland) is known for its bold, sustainable creations made from recycled materials – including clothing made from car tires, proudly worn on red carpets in Switzerland, Germany, Los Angeles, and Cannes Film festival.
“This 9th edition is our most diverse and vibrant celebration of cinema yet,” said Simona Muresan, Co-Founder & Festival Director. “From our stunning lakeside venue to an unforgettable lineup of films and fashion, this is a weekend not to miss.”