Renowned actor, writer, and comedian John Leguizamo is set to receive the highly esteemed Impact Award at the 40th edition of the Miami Film Festival, hosted by Miami Dade College (MDC). The festival, which runs from March 3-12, 2023, will honor Leguizamo on Saturday, March 11, with an award presentation that recognizes his impressive contributions to film, theater, and television.
In addition to the award ceremony, the festival will host a screening of John Leguizamo Does America, a captivating six-episode series produced by NBC News Studios that follows Leguizamo as he travels across the United States to celebrate Latino history, culture, and communities. The Miami Film Festival screening will showcase the world premiere of the Miami episode from the series, which promises to captivate audiences with Leguizamo’s unique blend of humor, energy, and intellect.
Throughout his storied career, Leguizamo has become known for his intricate approach to creativity, defying categorization with his work in various genres. His recent contributions include a co-starring role in Mark Mylod’s film The Menu, and an upcoming starring role in Amazon’s The Power alongside Toni Collette. Additionally, his directorial debut, Critical Thinking, was selected to premiere at SXSW Film Festival, further solidifying his reputation as a true force in the entertainment industry.
John Leguizamo has received numerous accolades throughout his illustrious career, including an Emmy Award and a Drama Desk Award. He has also been nominated for Tony Awards and Golden Globes, and received a Special Tony Award at the 2018 Tony Awards for Latin History for Morons, his most recent one-man show. With more than 75 film credits to his name, including roles in critically acclaimed films such as Carlito’s Way, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! Leguizamo has established himself as a true icon of stage and screen.
Other honorees at the 2023 Miami Film Festival include Nicolas Cage (Variety Legend & Groundbreaker), Diego Luna (Variety Virtuoso Award), and Nicholas Britell (Art of Light Composer Award, presented by Alacran Group). For more information on the festival’s complete program, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com.
Miami Dade College is proud to be a part of the NBCUniversal News Group’s prestigious NBCU Academy program, which provides students from underrepresented communities a pipeline into newsrooms across media and technology. Since its inception in 2021, NBCU Academy partners have received funding, resources, training and development — in addition to access to the News Group’s world-class journalists.
Miami Dade’s Miami Film Festival
Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival is an annual event that celebrates cinema in two major events. The 40th annual edition of the festival will be held from March 3 to 12, 2023, and the Miami Film Festival GEMS will be held in November 2023. The festival is recognized as the leading film festival in the U.S. for showcasing Ibero-American cinema and serves as a significant launchpad for international and documentary cinema. With over 45,000 audience members and 400 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals in attendance, the festival is the only major festival housed within a college or university. Over the last five years, the festival has presented films from over 60 countries, including 300 world, international, North American, U.S., and East Coast premieres. The festival has major sponsors such as Knight Foundation, Telemundo, American Airlines, Estrella Damm, Telemundo, NBC6, and Miami-Dade County.
In addition, the festival provides unique educational opportunities for film students and the wider community. For more information about the festival, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-FILM (3456).
