Miami Film Scene Celebrates Romance History And Diversity

February in Miami is always a lively time for film lovers, but this year, the city’s theaters and libraries are going all out. From sultry Valentine’s Day classics to groundbreaking international cinema and a celebration of Black film history, Miami’s February 2026 film calendar is brimming with events that promise to satisfy just about every cinematic craving.

The month kicked off with a bang on February 4, as A24’s much-buzzed-about romance Pillion made its stateside debut at AMC Sunset Place in South Miami and Paradigm Cinemas Gateway in Fort Lauderdale. According to Miami New Times, the film, directed by British filmmaker Harry Lighton, centers on a gay BDSM relationship between a rugged biker (played by Alexander Skarsgård) and a timid barbershop quartet singer (Harry Melling). It’s a provocative, boundary-pushing love story that had already scooped the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. The local LGBTQIA+ film festival Outshine hosted these early screenings, which were so popular that tickets were gone in a flash. Attendees were treated not just to the film but also to a free after-party at Eagle Bar in Wilton Manors, complete with a complimentary drink—an extra touch that made the night feel more like a celebration than just a movie outing.

But romance wasn’t the only theme dominating Miami’s screens. On February 7, Miami’s Main Library launched its AV Club’s Japanese Cinema Series, “Kintsugi: The Golden Age of Japanese Cinema.” Curated and hosted by local film critic Doug Markowitz, the series aims to introduce audiences to some of the most influential films from Japan’s cinematic legacy. The opening film was Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, a mesmerizing samurai adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth starring the legendary Toshiro Mifune. The series continued on February 21 with Woman in the Dunes, an atmospheric, Oscar-winning drama that’s as haunting today as when it first captivated audiences decades ago. Remarkably, all films in the series were screened on 16mm, offering cinephiles a rare opportunity to experience these classics as they were originally shown. Admission was free, making the program accessible to all—a nod to the library’s commitment to community engagement.

Meanwhile, the Miami Film Festival gave Elvis fans something to cheer about with an exclusive preview screening of Elvis Presley In Concert at the Koubek Center in Little Havana on February 10. Baz Luhrmann, who directed the 2022 biopic Elvis, has now compiled a concert film extravaganza from never-before-seen archival footage of the King’s early ‘70s comeback tour. This members-only event, as reported by Miami New Times, was a hot ticket, with even the lowest-tier festival membership offering access and additional perks. For die-hard Elvis devotees, it was a chance to see the King in action before the film’s wider IMAX release later in the month.

Valentine’s Day itself saw Coral Gables Art Cinema pulling out all the stops for hopeless romantics and cinephiles alike. On February 14, the theater screened the timeless classic Casablanca at 7 p.m., giving audiences a chance to swoon over the iconic pairing of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Later that night, the mood shifted to the 1980s with Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything…, a beloved teen romance forever immortalized by its boombox scene. As Miami New Times playfully mused, “What would the modern equivalent of that even be? Playing Mitski on a Bluetooth speaker, perhaps?” Tickets for both screenings were modestly priced, ensuring that lovebirds and movie buffs could enjoy a night out without breaking the bank.

For those craving something a bit more intense, Coral Gables Art Cinema also hosted screenings of the Oscar-nominated psychological drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You on February 17 and 19 as part of its Awards Season series. The film stars Rose Byrne as Linda, a mother battling adversity on all fronts—her daughter’s illness, an absent husband, and a rundown motel room that seems to close in on her sanity. The movie, produced by A24 and helmed by Mary Bronstein, has drawn comparisons to the Safdie brothers’ gritty storytelling, but as Miami New Times notes, it offers “a far more mundane, yet gripping story about the sacrifices mothers have to make.” Byrne’s performance was singled out as “stunning,” anchoring a story filled with quirky characters and mounting tension.

February also marked a milestone for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, which celebrated its 40th anniversary from February 20 to 28. Spanning four venues across Broward County—including new sites in Davie and Deerfield Beach as well as stalwarts Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood and Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale—the festival boasted a lineup of 69 films from countries as varied as Spain, Cuba, Morocco, Ireland, and Laos. According to festival organizers, documentaries this year spotlighted everything from Yellowstone mountain lions to Buddhist monks and Broward’s LGBTQ community. Special guests included actor Chevy Chase and fashion designer Guy Harvey, both featured in films screening at the festival. Individual tickets ranged from $8 to $13, offering access to a global cinematic journey right in South Florida’s backyard.

Amid all this, February’s film festivities also paid tribute to Black History Month, which has grown from its origins as Negro History Week in 1926—founded by historian Carter G. Woodson—into a monthlong celebration since 1976. As The New York Times recently highlighted, Black cinema has evolved alongside the observance, reflecting broader understandings of Blackness and the African diaspora. One film getting renewed attention this month is The Flying Ace (1926), a six-reel “race film” produced by Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida. Inspired by pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, the film stars Laurence Criner as Capt. Billy Stokes, a World War I veteran and pilot investigating a payroll robbery. The movie is a whirlwind of action, romance, comedy, and crime, culminating in a dazzling aerial dogfight crafted with what The New York Times described as “the definition of movie magic.”

These Black-centered films, which were often created outside the Hollywood system and marketed to Black audiences, laid the groundwork for the diverse, bold storytelling seen in contemporary Black cinema. The evolution of Black History Month—and the films celebrated during it—reflects a growing recognition of stories that were once marginalized, now embraced as part of the broader American cultural landscape.

All in all, Miami’s February film calendar is a testament to the city’s vibrant, diverse, and ever-evolving movie culture. Whether it’s a daring new romance, a samurai epic, an archival concert film, or a historical milestone in Black cinema, there’s truly something for everyone. The city’s theaters, libraries, and festivals have come together to offer not just entertainment, but a window into worlds both familiar and new—reminding us, once again, why the magic of movies endures.