NEWSLETTERS

A MESSAGE FROM STEPHANIE MARTINO

Wishing everyone a season of growth and creativity as we welcome Fall here in sunny South Florida!

Over the last couple of months, there’s been an incredible outpouring of advocacy surrounding the protection of cultural grant funding and the preservation of Miami-Dade’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Our collective voices made a powerful impact—reminding the Mayor and County Commission just how essential the arts are to our community’s spirit and vitality. Thanks to this united effort, the arts budget was fully reinstated for the competitive grants cycle, allowing hundreds of local cultural organizations and independent artists to continue creating, inspiring, and thriving.

We’re deeply grateful to all of you who reached out with your support and took the time to contact your local commissioners. Your dedication to arts education and cultural preservation speaks volumes. Truly, it takes a village—and we felt the strength of ours.

Now, let’s catch you up on what’s been happening here at FFI!

We’ve had a dynamic few months, and we’re beyond thrilled to keep advancing our mission alongside our fabulous student filmmakers. It’s hard to believe, but FFI is celebrating its 33rd year of production! Who would have imagined back in 1992 that our vision would still be so relevant—and more needed than ever—in 2025?

Our flagship program, Cinematographers in Education and Media Arts (CINEMA), continues to make a lasting impact by providing young creatives with immersive, hands-on training in the art, business, and science of filmmaking. We are continually inspired by the original work our students produce and are proud to share their films with festivals across the country—and even around the world. The feedback we receive energizes us to keep pushing forward.

It’s an honor to still be at the helm of FFI after all these years. I’m endlessly thankful for the brilliant and dedicated staff who help make our vision a reality every day. Their leadership in and out of the classroom is what keeps this engine running. The 2024–25 school year was nothing short of phenomenal, and our 2025 Summer Film Camp was a huge success—yielding two powerful student films (more details below!).

Right now, we’re deep in production mode with our 2025–26 after-school CINEMA program, and the excitement is building as students begin developing, filming, and editing their newest projects. We can’t wait to see their stories come to life in the months ahead.

To all of our FFI family—students, staff, supporters, and friends—let’s continue to cultivate hope and work toward alignment in our communities and beyond. When we create together, we move closer to peace, unity, and positive change.

Scroll down for more inspiring updates and a glimpse into what’s ahead!

Arts & Culture Innovation Task Force

The Department of Cultural Affairs is seeking community input to help shape a long-term sustainability plan for the arts and culture in Miami-Dade County. They are convening an Arts & Culture Innovation Task Force to participate in 2-3 roundtable discussions with the Department. These sessions will focus on generating creative and sustainable solutions to support the local arts and culture sector.

Ideal task force members are:

• Active professionals in the cultural arts sector;
• Past or current Department grantees; or
• Cultural nonprofit organizations active for a minimum of 5 years through 25 or more years.

The Department will select participants from a pool of interested volunteers to support this effort. Those that are not selected for the first round, will have future opportunities to participate and provide input. To express your interest in serving, please click the button below:

Click Here To Complete The Form (New Tab)

2025 – 2026 After School CINEMA Program Update

We’re thrilled to announce that FFI is partnering with three outstanding Miami-Dade County Public Schools this year: John A. Ferguson Senior High, Miami Lakes Educational Center, and William H. Turner Technical Arts High School.

This year, we’re taking our award-winning CINEMA program to the next level with exciting new additions to the curriculum—designed to reflect the fast-evolving digital media landscape and the creative passions of our students.

Our talented student filmmakers will dive into hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional filmmaking. They’ll explore what it means to be a digital storyteller and social media content creator, gaining practical skills while developing real-world portfolios they can proudly share with a broad audience.

This is an immersive opportunity where students combine their love for film and social media to sharpen their creative voice, build marketable skills, and prepare for future careers in media, entertainment, and beyond.

We’re especially excited to introduce a brand-new project this semester: the Social Media Silent Story. In this unique challenge, students will craft short visual narratives without dialogue or sound—telling powerful stories using imagery alone. This exercise hones their visual literacy, directing, and editing skills in a fresh and compelling way.

From there, students will move into monologue-based films, allowing them to focus on character, performance, and emotional storytelling. And in the second semester, our CINEMA participants will take it up a notch—forming production teams to write, shoot, and edit their own original narrative short films.

We can’t wait to see the creativity and innovation that comes out of this year’s program—and we’re proud to be cultivating the next generation of storytellers, one frame at a time.

Here are some images of our CINEMA students in action learning about camera techniques, fundamentals in acting and conceptualizing their project ideas and themes.

2025 Summer Film Camp Update

This summer’s Film Camp at Coral Gables Art Cinema was nothing short of cinematic magic!

Kicking off in mid-June and running through the end of July, this year’s camp welcomed students ages 13 to 18, bursting with creativity and ready to take on every role behind the camera. FFI went big and produced two original films to ensure every student had a chance to rotate through key crew positions and gain hands-on experience in filmmaking from start to finish.

The results? Two unique student-directed projects: “DO YOU COPY?” and “STING.”
Both films are now gearing up for their journey across the international film festival circuit—so keep an eye out for exciting updates as they begin to make waves around the globe!

We hosted a special world premiere screening of both films on September 21st at Coral Gables Art Cinema, complete with a dynamic Q&A session where the student filmmakers shared their creative process, behind-the-scenes moments, and lessons learned. It was a joyful reunion and an inspiring celebration for both students and camp staff alike.

A special shoutout to our graduating seniors—we’re cheering you on as you apply to colleges and pursue your dreams, especially those aiming for top film schools across the country!

We’re already looking ahead to next summer and hope to welcome many of our talented campers back for another unforgettable filmmaking adventure.

Stay connected with us on social media for announcements on our 2026 Summer Film Camp, including registration details, important dates, and sneak peeks at what’s in store. You won’t want to miss it!

Film Fest News

We’re always thrilled to receive positive feedback on our CINEMA student films—it’s a constant reminder of the undeniable talent emerging from our programs!

From local showcases to national and international film festivals, our student-created projects continue to make an impact. Many of these films have not only been screened but are also currently under consideration for global recognition—a testament to the creativity, dedication, and hard work of our young filmmakers.

The FFI team couldn’t be prouder of the student casts and crews whose efforts are consistently earning well-deserved accolades. Their storytelling, technical skill, and teamwork shine through in every frame.

Below are some recent highlights from our narrative shorts, including standout pieces from both the Summer Film Camp and After-School CINEMA Program.

Want to explore more of FFI’s festival success and history? Visit our website for the full list of achievements and stories behind the films.

FFI CINEMA History

FFI STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Claudio Marcotulli

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Claudio Marcotulli is a Miami based artist and filmmaker whose practice spans film, sculpture, and installation. He holds a B.F.A. in Media Arts Production from Emerson College in Boston and an M.F.A. in Film Production from the Miami International University of Art and Design.

With over twenty years of professional experience, Marcotulli has directed and produced independent films and multimedia projects presented nationally and internationally. Alongside his practice, Marcotulli has extensive teaching experience, including five years at Miami Dade College. He joined Florida Film Institute in 2015, and since then, he has enjoyed helping students discover their own voices and explore the full expressive potential of the motion picture medium. For more info please check out Claudio’s website: www.claudiomarcotulli.com

Beyond his work as an artist and filmmaker, Claudio is passionate about teaching and inspiring the next generation of storytellers. In this spotlight, he shares what drives both his creative practice and his approach to teaching at FFI.

Q & A with Claudio:

What do you love about teaching filmmaking, especially working for FFI?
I love seeing students discover the craft of telling stories with film. At FFI, their energy and curiosity make every class exciting, and I enjoy helping them speak a new language, the language of motion pictures. It is inspiring to see them grow as storytellers, gaining confidence as they learn to shape their own stories.

What do you look forward to when creating projects and how do you incorporate this into your teaching style?
Each project is a chance to discover something new as the work takes shape. For example, experimenting with electromagnets, iron powder, and resin led me to create what I call a three-dimensional magnetic photography of invisible fields, later transformed through my artistic vision. I value the process as much as the result, since the most insightful ideas often appear through playful exploration rather than rigid technique. In the classroom, I try to give students that same freedom to play and experiment with cinema tools, supported by the technical skills they need to tell their stories.

What is the main thing you want students to learn from you?
The main thing I want students to learn is that the craft of filmmaking offers a universe in a can. Beyond technique, it is a language that allows them to imagine, explore, and express something deeply personal. I hope they leave my classes with the confidence to use cinema as a tool for telling meaningful stories.

What do you enjoy doing when not working?
Lately I have been listening to many audiobooks, and I especially enjoy the rewind button that gives me a second chance every time my mind wanders. I also enjoy eating delicious international food or a simple juicy burger with onion and cheese, and I love going to concerts, films, or art exhibits with my wife. To de-clutter from city life I often seek out places surrounded by nature, and I treasure time spent with good friends and family. I also write daily poems, thoughts, and ideas, which keeps me connected to my creative flow.

What is next on the creative horizon for you?
I am currently developing new installations that combine film, sculpture, and light, along with a new series of camera obscura inspired sculptures that explore existential questions. At the same time, I am expanding my filmmaking practice through collaborations, including a possible road movie project in Argentina with my cousin, and I am also working on a poetry book with illustrations. While filmmaking is still a passion of mine, I am also attracted to exploring the language of sculpture. The use of light is something that repeats in my work, and this may come from cinematography. I still make films at home but also spend a good deal of time in my studio in Little Haiti.

INSTAGRAM + FACEBOOK

Follow FFI on our INSTAGRAM + FACEBOOK pages to check out some awesome behind the scenes production pics:

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DONATIONS TO OUR ORGANIZATION

FFI is always seeking financial and in-kind support. In the event that you would like to donate dollars (or maybe just some sense!) please click HERE or contact the FFI office directly and speak with Stephanie.

Sponsored By

Sponsored in part by The Children’s Trust, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Miami Dade College School of Entertainment & Design Technology.