BRAFF Miami will hold a film competition and Tribute to Brazilian Women Directors with screenings of their most relevant work in cinema. All segments of the festival will present approximately 20 films during the 8-daylong event. A couple highlights:

Marias
Marias is a film about the feminine. Visiting the celebrations of the Virgin Mary’s (Marias) from Brasil, Cuba, México, Peru and Nicarágua, the director Joana Mariani observes the similarities and disparities among their cultures, and listen to women who have their very particular stories about life, faith and devotion. The result is a very singular film that shows that the image of the Virgin Mary (Maria) is a lot more than a religious figure or the mother of Christ.

Campo Grande
Eight-year-old Ygor and six-year-old Rayane are left by their mother on Regina’s doorstep in the upscale Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Ipanema. The sudden and unexpected arrival of these lower class kids in Regina’s world and the search for their mother in a city rendered almost unrecognizable by massive modernization will change their lives forever.

Miami: Sept. 17 - 24. Full details on their website.