A Film Fest, an Art Bash, and Underwater Cars

The Culture Edit, October 27th-November 11th

Author

Susan Bannon
October 26, 2025

Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley star in “Blue Moon,” screening at this year’s GEMS fest.

This week, Miami Film Festival’s GEMS fest kicks off for eight days of pre-release screenings for Oscar contenders, plus director talks and celebrity sightings. Miami’s film lovers have snapped up a lot of these tickets already, but there are still a lot of interesting films to choose from - you just need to book them now.

Coming up next week, Bakehouse Art Complex is celebrating 40 years as an artist haven and incubator with a huge birthday bash and three-part survey exhibit of its past, present, and future. I spoke with Phil Lique, artist and curator of the “past” segment, who gave me the rundown on the art, film, food, drinks and dancing they have lined up (including a salsa session with Salsa Z). I’d say clear your calendar for Friday, November 7th and get there if you can!

Lastly, Miami Beach installed the first portion of its insanely cool new REEFLINE underwater sculpture trail - a line of cement “cars” by surrealist artist Leandro Ehrlich (the guy that built that mind-blowing swimming pool at PAMM in 2022) that provide nesting spots for new corals. This might be worth learning to scuba.

And, of course, it’s Halloween! You can celebrate with HistoryMiami’s annual historic graveyard walk or NuDeco’s Haunted Symphony or Filmgate’s Horror Fest - with or without a thin polyester costume.

Let’s get planning…

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Indie Cinema

Dead Man’s Wire with Director Gus Van Sant

As part of its annual autumn GEMS fest, the Miami Film Festival presents an award presentation and screening of Dead Man’s Wire with director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant). Van Sant’s new film is about a real-life hostage situation that captured the world’s attention in 1977.

Monday, November 3rd, 7pm, UM’s Bill Cosford Cinema, $33

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Vice City Pizza, Daniel’s, Matsuri | Drinks: Fox’s Lounge, Titanic (of course!)

Closing Night Screening: Wake Up Dead Man

The Miami Film Festival GEMS fest closes out with a screening of the highly anticipated new Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man. As expected, the film has a stacked cast, starring Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, and more, alongside our seemingly hapless detective, Benoit Blanc, played to the hilt by Daniel Craig. Even better, it’s screening in one of Miami’s oldest cultural venues, MDC’s Tower Theater, which opened in 1926, that just happens to be on Eighth Street, providing endless options for post-film entertainment.

Wednesday, November 5th, 7:30pm, MDC Tower Theater, $28

Neighborhood: Calle Ocho

 More Upcoming Indie Cinema:

Art Openings & Events

Bakehouse at Forty: Past, Present, Future

Bakehouse Art Complex kicks off a yearlong celebration marking the fortieth anniversary of the organization and the centennial of its iconic 1926 Art Deco-era bakery building with a birthday bash and new three-part exhibit showcasing its historic past, its decades as an artist-founded incubator, and its future plans for a transformed campus providing artist housing and services for the Wynwood Norte community. The party is technically a fundraiser, but at $40, it’s a pretty accessible way to participate in the future of Miami’s art ecosystem and have a great time in the process.

Friday, November 7th, 7-10pm, Bakehouse Art Complex, $40 in advance, $100 at the door

Neighborhood: Wynwood

Nearby Eats: Lira, Pastis, Pasta | Drinks: this party should have you covered, but if you want to keep things going, head to Gramp’s (til January!) or Higher Ground

Artist Adam Pendleton at ICA

ICA Miami welcomes acclaimed New York–based artist Adam Pendleton, a central figure in contemporary American painting, to share insights into his conceptually rigorous, formally inventive practice that blurs the lines between painting, drawing, and photography. ICA recently purchased some of Pendleton’s work for its permanent collection.

Saturday, November 8th, 4pm, Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, Free

Neighborhood: Design District

Nearby Eats: Mother Wolf, Cote, Mandolin | Drinks: Michael’s, Le Jardinier

More Art Events:

  • Saturday, November 1st: Yakne Seminoli, a collaborative exhibit between HistoryMiami and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum that showcases the work of Seminole artists and artisans, opens with a reception and fashion show of traditional patchwork, from 1-3pm.

  • November 6th-9th: the third annual Doral Art Fair brings galleries, artists, collectors, and art lovers together at the Doral Cultural Arts Center.

Music

NuDeco: A Haunted Symphony

NuDeco Ensemble, our genre-bending contemporary orchestra, returns to The Citadel lounge space for a thrilling Halloween celebration, featuring world-renowned multi-instrumentalist Munir Hossn. Headlining the program is Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, a piece forever etched into our brains thanks to this iconic Fantasia sequence, plus John Carpenter’s spine-tingling Halloween theme, and an orchestral reimagination of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Oct. 31st & Nov. 1st, 8:30pm both nights, the Citadel lounge, $35 or $85 VIP

Neighborhood: Little River

Beethoven X Beyoncé

New World Symphony brings back their wildly popular “Late Night” series with an ambitious melding of Beethoven and Queen Bey. Musical visionary Steve Hackman will lead the New World Fellows on a tour of Beyoncé’s hits from Destiny’s Child to Cowboy Carter, woven into Beethoven’s emotional Seventh Symphony. For these performances, New World Center transforms into a club-like setting where you can get up close to the orchestra or head upstairs for cocktails, comfortable seating, and a bird’s eye view of the concert. 

Friday, November 7th, 9pm, New World Center, $50

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Joe’s Pizza NYC | Drinks: Sweet Liberty, Water Lion at the Sagamore

More Upcoming Music Events:

  • November 1st-2nd: 90’s alternative band The Magnetic Fields celebrates the 25th anniversary of their classic three-volume concept album, 69 Love Songs, by playing the entire thing over two nights at the Arsht Center.

  • Sunday, November 2nd: the Miami Beach Bandshell presents Sol Ruiz and her Positive Vibration Nation, a rock guaguanco opera that invites us to journey back from 3050 to the present with the “ambassadors of the New Miami Sound,” at 7pm.

  • Friday, November 7th: as part of its Jazz Roots series, the Arsht Center presents Grammy-nominated trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in a celebration of the music of Miles Davis.

  • Saturday, November 8th: uber-cool poet and musician Aja Monet performs at The Ground downtown in collaboration with Live Arts Miami, at 7pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: the New World Symphony Fellows present a chamber concert of work by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen and Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 1, at 2pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: to celebrate 50 years of supporting up-and-coming opera stars, the Richard Tucker Foundation hosts its annual gala performance here in Miami for the first time, with performances by bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green and tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, at 7:30pm at the Arsht Center.

Book Talks

The Fashion of Clueless with Mona May

Books & Books and the Miami Film Festival welcome costume designer Mona May to discuss her new book, The Fashion of Clueless, a behind-the-scenes look at how she created an iconic on-screen world where teenagers casually rock Gaultier suits at school. One of the defining cultural artifacts of the 90’s (a decade that seems to be everywhere right now), Clueless is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but its fashion will never get old. As if!

Sunday, November 2nd, 11am, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Books & Books Café, Barista Café, Maman | Drinks: Books & Books Café, Cebada Rooftop

An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert

Books & Books and the Arsht Center welcome Elizabeth Gilbert, internationally bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, to discuss her life and work, and her forthcoming memoir. Her first non-fiction work in ten years, All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation chronicles her struggles to detangle love from addiction and self-destructive patterns. You can upgrade your ticket to get a signed book and/or a pre-talk author meet & greet.

Monday, November 3rd, 7:30pm, Arsht Center, $38-$111

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

More Literary Events:

  • Thursday, October 30th: former Knight Foundation and Miami Herald leader Alberto Ibargüen joins longtime local arts journalist Elisa Turner to discuss her new book, Miami’s Art Boom, at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, followed by a reception, at 7pm.

  • Wednesday, November 5th: bestselling author Cory Doctorow visits Books & Books to discuss his clearly titled book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, at 7pm.

Dance

Rennie Harris Puremovement

Street dance legend and award-winning choreographer Rennie Harris returns to the Arsht Center with his crew, the indefatigable dancers of Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. Harris’ three laws of hip-hop - individuality, creativity and innovation - will be on full display for a mix of moves from B-boying to house.

October 30th & November 1st, 7:30pm, Arsht Center, $70

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Saturday, November 8th

Dimensions Dance Theatre Fall Performance

Founded by former MCB principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra in 2016, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami has been shaking up classical dance in South Florida ever since with their contemporary ballet repertoire. My only complaint about this exciting young troupe is that we have so few opportunities to see them. So you don’t want to miss their fall performance if you can help it.

8pm, The Moss Center, $25-$45

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Not much! Grab dinner at Platea or Golden Rule Seafood on your way down there and have some rooftop cocktails at Ivy Rooftop or martinis at Fox’s on your way back.

More Dance Events:

  • Friday, November 7th: returning to Sanctuary of the Arts for a second year, 4×4 presents new work by four of Miami’s most notable choreographers, at 7:30pm.

  • Saturday, November 8th: influential flamenco choreographer and dancer Siudy Flamenco and her company celebrate 25 years of artistry with the premiere of an emotional new work and guest performer José Manuel Álvarez, at 8pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: Dance NOW! Miami kicks off its 26th season with a selection of modern works, including Winter’s Breath, in an open-air performance at the Miami Beach Bandshell, at 7pm. 

Theater

The Mother

The 2019 Off Broadway run of “The Mother” starred Isabelle Huppert and Chris Noth. Photo: Ahron R. Foster

To open the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series, Zoetic Stage presents The Mother, part of Florian Zeller’s searing, award-winning family trilogy (also including The Father and The Son). The play chronicles a fateful night in the life of the titular mother, as she wrestles with her place in the world once her duties as a mother are no longer needed and her husband is largely absent. If that sounds rather tame, reviews of this play during it’s acclaimed Off Broadway run (starring French ice queen Isabelle Huppert) indicate her growing rage and unraveling mind all but set the stage on fire.

November 6th-23rd, 7:30 evenings, 2:30 matinees, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht, $56-$61

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Gablestage: Harry Clarke

Gablestage opens its season with Harry Clarke, a wickedly funny, sexually charged one man show by Obie Award-winning playwright David Cale. Stage veteran Mark H. Dold (whom Gablestage audiences will recognize from last year’s Lehman Trilogy and Appropriate) delivers a mesmerizing, shape-shifting performance as shy Midwesterner Philip Brugglestein, who reinvents himself as the seductive, cocky Londoner Harry Clarke, moving to New York and charming his way into a wealthy family’s life.

Through November 12th, 7:30pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Actors’ Playhouse: The Spitfire Grill

Actor’s Playhouse opens its 38th season with The Spitfire Grill, a heartwarming musical based on the 1996 film about a young parolee who follows a page from an old travel book to a small town in Wisconsin in search of a fresh start. Featuring a gorgeous, soulful score that blends folk and Americana, The Spitfire Grill explores themes of community and second chances among the denizens of the titular diner.

Through November 2nd, 8pm evenings, 3pm Sunday matinees, Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $40

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

More Upcoming Theater:

  • Through November 2nd: Miami Lakes’ Main Street Players present Here, Chew-Chew, a new psychological horror play written by Miami playwright Armando Santana.

Planning Ahead

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. For the ultimate plan-ahead guide, you have my complete Highlights of the Fall Season, but if that’s too much trouble, you can just plan for these two…

November 16th - 23rd

Miami Book Fair

Each November, the Miami Book Fair takes over downtown for eight days to host hundreds of acclaimed authors in three languages, talking politics, pop culture, prose, poetry - and of course, selling autographed books. Check out the author list here to see who’s coming and reserve your seats. Big names include country music star Kenny Chesney, cookbook author Padma Lakshmi, and bestselling novelist Daniel Silva. And you don’t want to miss the street fair on the second weekend, featuring book stalls, food trucks, performances, and outposts of local favorites like Sweat Records.

Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus and environs, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown

Sunday, December 21st

Andrea Bocelli Holiday Concert

Adrienne Arsht Center presents Andrea Bocelli in concert for the holidays at the Kaseya Center this December. One of the most beloved voices in the world, Bocelli will perform songs from his No. 1 album, A Family Christmas, and his solo album, Believe. His concerts sell out every year, so if you want a ticket, yes, you need to book it now.

7:30pm, Kaseya Center, $101-$859

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

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