# Miami Film Festival Gems Announces Audience Award Winner Juan Cabral's supernatural drama Risa and the Wind Phone secures top festival honors. - **Source:** [Variety](https://variety.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/33837767-9a5c-44e0-b5c7-cd5c7f3dea2b ## Miami Gems Festival Winner The film Risa and the Wind Phone has officially secured the Audience Award at the Miami Film Festival Gems 2026. Directed by Juan Cabral, the narrative centers on a protagonist who discovers a supernatural ability to communicate with her deceased father, forcing her to confront deep-seated family secrets and emotional challenges. ## Runner-Up Film Selections The festival recognized two notable runners-up alongside the main winner. Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, depicts the true story of actor Andrew Scott portraying Hamlet while privately battling AIDS. Additionally, Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky explores the real-life journey of an unknown actor determined to write and star in the iconic film. ## American French Film Awards The American French Film Festival concluded its latest edition on November 8, announcing several major winners. The film De Gaulle, directed by Antonin Baudry, captured the top Audience Award and best film honor. Meanwhile, the Critics Award for best film was presented to La Gradiva, directed by Marine Atlan and Anne Brouillet. ## Diverse Award Categories The festival jury and student participants distributed awards across various specialized categories to recognize emerging talent. A Place For Her secured the First Feature Award, while Whispers In The Woods took the Documentary Film Award. Other winners included Alice: Pioneer Of Cinema for the Audience Series Award and Swapped for the Jury Series Award. ## Upcoming Diversity Film Festival The Distribution Collective is preparing to host the annual Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York. Scheduled from November 13 to November 15, the event aims to provide a platform for underrepresented voices. The program focuses on challenging perceptions and creating lasting opportunities for diverse artists within the industry. ## Industry Panel Programming A highlight of the upcoming New York event is the Universal Studio Group panel scheduled for November 14. Actors Hanako Greensmith, Zeeko Zaki, and David Ajala will discuss the legacy of Wolf Entertainment franchises. They intend to explore how to introduce new dimensions to beloved television series while maintaining their established cultural impact. ## Executive Board Appointments Amblin Entertainment CEO Jeff Small has been elected to the board of trustees for the Ronald McDonald House Westside Los Angeles. The organization is currently managing a $50 million capital campaign to transform a boutique hotel into a four-story facility, providing essential support services and healing environments for children requiring specialized medical care. ## Broader Philanthropic Engagement Jeff Small maintains an extensive portfolio of board service beyond his new role. He currently contributes to the Weingart Center and the Starlight Children’s Foundation, focusing on unhoused individuals and hospitalized children. His ongoing commitment includes advisory roles for the USC Shoah Foundation, the Keck School of Medicine, and various leadership committees at Stanford. ## Sources covering this story - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/film-news-in-brief-nov-9-2026-1236943218/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._