Miami Film Festival to Honor Sheryl Lee Ralph and Michael Showalter

The 41st edition of the Miami Film Festival will honor Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph and director, writer and producer Michael Showalter at the festival that runs April 5-14.

Ralph will be honored with the Precious Gem Award on April 13, following a conversation about her career. Showalter receives the Art of Light Award on April 8, following a screening of his film “The Idea of You.”

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“We are so excited to add the incredible talents of Sheryl Lee Ralph and Michael Showalter to our slate of exceptional honorees for this year,” said Miami Film Festival Programming Director Lauren Cohen. “Both have made such outstanding contributions to their craft, and we know our audience will be enamored with their stories. We are so thrilled to be able to honor both Sheryl and Michael at the 2024 Miami Film Festival.”

Ralph won an Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series in 2022 for her portrayal of Barbara Howard in ABC’s “Abbot Elementary.” She was also nominated for the series’ second season.

Past honorees of the Precious Gem Award have included Penélope Cruz, Rita Moreno, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Ramin Bahrani and Pedro Almodóvar.

Showalter’s new film “The Idea of You” stars Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, and will be released by Amazon on May 2. His other films include “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “The Big Sick,” and he directed and produced Hulu’s “The Dropout,” which was nominated for six Emmys. He’s the co-creator of “Wet Hot American Summer.”

The 2023 Art of Light honoree was “Moonlight” composer Nicholas Britell.

Ralph and Showalter join previously announced honorees Molly Ringwald (Variety Creative Vanguard Award), Tom Hiddleston (Variety Virtuoso Award), Tony Goldwyn (Art of Light Award), Alison Brie (Art of Light Award) and Greg Kwedar (Impact Award).

The festival will open with “Thelma,” starring June Squibb and close with “Ezra,” directed by Tony Goldwyn.

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