Experience curated screenings from the library's 16mm film collection and participate in guided discussions about film, history, and archives. Join guest curator and writer Doug Markowitz for a special lineup of films. For more information, please contact the branch at 305-375-5572 or specialcollections@mdpls.org. Ages 19 yrs. +
About the guest curator
Douglas Markowitz currently contributes to the Miami New Times as film and art critic. A writer and journalist covering art, music, film, travel, and other topics, his work has appeared in Resident Advisor, Hyperallergic, Miami New Times, Grammy.com, the Miami Herald, the Sun Sentinel, Burnaway, and many other publications. He previously served as culture editor at the Phoenix New Times. He graduated with honors from the University of North Florida (B.S. in Communication) in 2017 and attended Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan on foreign exchange in 2016. He holds Canadian citizenship through his father, who was born and raised in Montreal. In 2023 he was named a finalist for the Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards. His favorite films include Drive My Car, High and Low, Heat, and Kiki's Delivery Service.
About the Division of Special Collections & Archives
Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Division of Special Collections & Archives holds rare and irreplaceable historical documents for the benefit of the public and scholarly community. They oversee the Helen Muir Florida Collection, 16mm Film Collection, Cuban Collection of Rare Books & Ephemera, Genealogy Collection, Vasari Project, and rare & antiquarian books from as early as the 17th century. The Division's primary goal is to provide the public with the contents of the vault at their request. Its collections include rare books, original manuscripts, over 18,000 photographs, prints, artifacts, audiovisual resources, and electronic media.
About the Film Collection
The 16mm film collection has been part of the Library's holdings for over 55 years. Its first films were part of the City of Miami’s public library and began in the 1960s before there was a county library system. When MDPLS was formed, the County supplemented its local funding for films with Federal LSCA grants (Library Services and Construction Act). Apart from leased feature films, all films were purchased for free exhibition for the life of the print. Subjects within the collection include experimental/avant-garde art films, non-narrated films, children’s films, Black history, Floridiana, and local history. Today, there are over 4,000 films within the collection.
AGE GROUP: | Adult (19+) |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Event | Special Collections | Movies | In-Person | History |