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Six Miami-based filmmakers are set to bring South Florida’s compelling untold stories to life as the inaugural winners of The Louies, an initiative of the Miami Film Festival sponsored by the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation.
These filmmakers will receive a combined $100,000 to create documentaries exploring South Florida’s history, cultural identity and iconic people and places. Two of the films will premiere at the 2025 Miami Film Festival, with the others debuting at future editions.
“We are thrilled to celebrate these talented filmmakers and the extraordinary stories they will tell,” said James Woolley, executive director of Miami Dade College’s acclaimed Miami Film Festival. “The Louies winners reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of South Florida. Their films will shine a spotlight on the history and culture that make this region so special.”
The winners and their projects include:
Feature-Length Documentary Winner ($50,000)
Margaret Cardillo — Jane Chastain: The Untold Story of the Nation’s First Female Sportscaster, a documentary about Jane Chastain, who made history as America’s first female sportscaster while capturing Miami’s growing sports culture of the 1960s and ’70s for Miami’s first TV station WTVJ.
“This [Jane’s] story is not just an untold piece of American history but of Miami history,” Cardillo said. “This documentary will explore why, of all the markets in the country, it was the city of Miami that fostered this pioneering talent.”
Short Documentary winners ($10,000 each)
Symone Titania Major — Under the Mango Tree, exploring a family’s deep connection to a mango tree in Goulds and its ties to the area’s rich agricultural heritage.
Gina Ann Margillo — Night Train Last Stop, a profile of Ted Grossman, whose Night Train radio show has preserved Miami’s connection to jazz and big band music for nearly 50 years.
Jayme Kaye Gershen — Adult Night: A Super/Hot Wheels Doc, a film capturing the culture of this iconic Miami roller rink and its enduring community impact.
“As a Monday night regular, I started documenting the heartbeat of this place and its people,” Gershen said. “This film captures the joy, culture, and soul of a treasured Miami landmark as it evolves, leaving its mark on generations of Miamians.”
Finishing Funds winners ($10,000 each)
Rachelle Salnave — Dual Citizen, a humorous and heartfelt exploration of Haitian-American identity and the journey to reclaim Haitian citizenship.
Emilio Oscar Alcalde — El Sonido de Miami, tracing the evolution of Miami’s signature Latin music sound, a fusion of Cuban and American influences.
“El Sonido de Miami” is a story that could only have taken place in South Florida. It is a love letter to the Cuban immigrants who were trying to find their place in Miami,” Alcalde said.
Special Jury Mentions
In addition, four filmmakers — Gaspar González, Kareem Tabsch, Matt Deblinger and Sasha Wortzel — received Special Jury Mentions for their submissions and will each receive a stipend and complimentary use of the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives to complete their projects.
A cornerstone of The Louies for all the winning filmmakers is access to the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives at Miami Dade College, housing over 35,000 hours of video and film chronicling Florida’s history. The archives’ robust footage will help winners bring their stories to life, from Miami’s cultural landmarks to pivotal historical moments.
The Louies, named for Louis Wolfson II, whose family started Miami’s first TV station WTVJ, were reimagined in 2024 to support South Florida’s documentary filmmakers. Established in collaboration with the Miami Film Festival and the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation, this initiative amplifies local voices by funding projects that celebrate the region’s vibrant culture and history. Winners were selected by a distinguished jury.
“We are thrilled to continue my family’s legacy of education and preservation of history,” said Randi Wolfson Adamo, trustee of the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation. “The Louies will ensure that South Florida’s stories are told, remembered and cherished.”
For more information about The Louies, visit www.miamifilmfestival.com/thelouies.
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