MIAMI, July 20, 2006 – The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), presented by Miami Dade College (MDC), announced today the appointment of Monika Wagenberg to the position of Senior Programmer, Ibero-American Programming. Wagenberg comes to the Festival from the highly acclaimed Cinema Tropical, which she co-founded, currently co-manages, and serves as the Director of Programming and Acquisitions.

“We are fortunate to be welcoming Monika Wagenberg to the MIFF programming team,” said Festival Director, Nicole Guillemet. “Monika’s programming experience, her relationships with Latin American filmmakers, her expertise and her knowledge all will support the Festival’s mission to showcase the best filmmakers from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.”

Wagenberg co-founded Cinema Tropical in 2001, a non-profit organization dedicated to programming, distributing and promoting Latin American cinema in the United States. She is widely known in the industry for programming and managing The Cinema Tropical Series, a monthly film series that runs in Manhattan before traveling the U.S. The series has grown from one venue in New York to ten prominent theaters and cultural institutions throughout the country. Since its inception, Cinema Tropical has established a library of more than 30 Latin American films for theatrical and non-theatrical distribution. In addition to establishing the Cinema Tropical library of film, Wagenberg has curated film programs for several other prominent organizations including The Americas Society, The King Juan Carlos I Spain Center at NYU, and AmericArtes – The Kennedy Center among others.

“I am very excited to be joining the programming team at the Miami International Film Festival,” said Wagenberg. “In just a few short years, MIFF has become one of the most important Festivals for Ibero-American Film and is becoming known as the place for filmmakers and producers from Latin America, Spain and Portugal to meet with industry representatives from the U.S.”

Having received her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania Wagenberg went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Cinema Studies from New York University. She also worked as a Distribution Associate at New Yorker Films, was a member of Gen Art's screening committee for their first and third annual Film Festivals, and served as the International Curator for the first and third New York International Latino Film Festivals. For the last five years, she served as Director's Liaison for the Film Society of Lincoln Center's New York Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center's New Directors/New Films Festival. Currently, she is also the Festival Director of Latin Wave, the annual Latin American Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Advisor for the Brazilian Film Festival of Miami and New York.

The Miami International Film Festival brings the best of world cinema to South Florida and plays a leading role in maintaining and further enriching its film culture. MIFF uses the unique geographical and cultural position of Miami to be a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and US films, with a special focus on Ibero-American cinema.

• More than 67,000 people attended the Festival in 2006
• In addition, more than 300 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry representatives from around the world attended the 2006 Festival to introduce their work to Miami audiences and industry professionals
• The 2006 Festival held more than 250 screenings, including features, shorts, Outreach and press

During the last four years, under the direction of Nicole Guillemet, the Festival has presented films from more than 60 countries, including 200 East Coast, US, and world premieres, scores of Oscar winners and nominees, and many international prizewinners.

Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings including The Miami Book Fair International, the Cultura del Lobo performing arts series, The Cuban Cinema Series, and the School of Entertainment and Design Technology in addition to the Miami International Film Festival. MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is nationally recognized for many of its academic and cultural programs. With an enrollment of more than 163,000 students, MDC is the nation’s top producer of associate of arts and associate of science degrees. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 200 distinct degree programs including baccalaureate degrees in education and public safety management.

For more information contact the Miami International Film Festival at (305) 237-3456 or visit www.miamifilmfestival.com. For more information on Miami Dade College, please visit www.mdc.edu.