Haven’t we grown tired yet of paying $9.00 to see blockbuster after blockbuster of explosions, AK-47s, and end of days scenarios? How can it be possible for anyone, male or female, to enjoy these tasteless productions that seem to capitalize on just one thing: Violence? Isabelle Lambert, creator and Executive Director of the Romance in a Can Film Festival came up with an incredible alternative; this original project that started with the idea of presenting audiences with non-violent movies, led her to launch Romance in a Can, a European but Miami-based film festival that is already in its fourth year.
“Miami is a place where it is easy to attract a very diverse audience,” says Lambert who is originally from France, “between local and native Miami people, to Latin and European, who are educated and refined and in need of events like our film festival.” The Romance in a Can Film Festival features romantic comedies and dramas from Europe with most of the films originating from The Cannes film festival and Locarno Film festivals. The people of Miami have responded to these selections over the past four years with an incredibly positive energy, open mind, and cultural thirst, appreciating the films screenings in their original languages.
Romance in a Can not only shows critically acclaimed foreign films, but also serves as a platform for indie student films, from Europe as well. Lambert’s non-profit organization, Red Chemistry, which she founded five years ago, serves as active endorser of these rookie films into the American industry and emerging circuit. “Bringing new indies from Europe and short films made by film students from European film school should be uplifting and lead film students from Miami to shoot and be more inspired!” says Lambert, “Also, techniques, editing, photography, and cinematography are very specifically distinct in Europe and film students here should get used to it and learn how to take the best of it to shoot their own.”
Red Chemistry will also be sponsoring a short film competition with the film students from Miami Beach Senior High School, which will be judged by acclaimed filmmaker David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada and Marley and Me).
Among the films participating in this year’s festival are 7 minutes, Mujer Invisible, El Angel del Accordeon, (Spain), Here and There, (Serbia), and Nothing Personal (France). The films will be screened at Tower Theater, The Miami Beach Convention Center, FIU’s Auditorium, The Miami Beach Cinematheque, and The Alliance Françoise of Miami.
“I hope that it will continue to grow, of course!” says Lambert of the festival, “The audience has been growing through the years and Miami seems to be more and more interested in European culture too!”
Romance in a Can is the first and only festival in the U.S. dedicated solely to European romantic films. The festival depicts how love is interpreted by today's independent European filmmakers. With more than 25 screenings around Miami and the Beaches, red carpet premieres and celebrity endorsements, Romance in a Can is an event with a rapidly growing following.
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