Action Thriller Miami Nights Featuring Terrence Howard Debuts in Fort Lauderdale

6:00 PM – February 21, 2026

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Savor Cinema503 SE 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

WORLD PREMIERE OF THE THRILLER
MIAMI NIGHTS

Language: English
Runtime: 107 minutes
Genre: Action / Crime / Thriller
Sponsored by: Drama Free Films

CAST (Appearing at the Premiere)
Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane, Jeremy Sumpter, Sydelle Noel, Manu Bennett, Sofia Pernas, Danay Garcia

Members of the cast are scheduled to attend the world premiere for a special red-carpet appearance and audience introduction.

DIRECTOR
Justin Steele

SCREENWRITERS
Amanda Konis, Steven Lloyd Bennett

PRODUCERS
Darryll C. Scott, John Lewis, Natalie Kline

TICKETS
Tickets are available through the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival at Savor Cinema. Guests may purchase tickets directly through the festival’s official ticketing platform.

ABOUT THE FILM
Miami Nights is a gripping action thriller that follows U.S. Marines Mason Lane (Jeremy Sumpter) and Lisa Gardner (Sydelle Noel), who return home after rescuing kidnapped war journalist David Wolfe (Terrence Howard) in Afghanistan. Struggling to adjust to civilian life, they take minimum-wage security jobs under a former Naval Captain (Jeremy Piven).

Their latest assignment — transporting the priceless “Yun Diamond” to an auction house — quickly turns dangerous. When Mason reconnects with an old flame (Sofia Pernas), he is ambushed by her powerful new boyfriend, Miami crime lord Ricardo (Manu Bennett). With everything at stake, Mason must devise a risky plan to steal the diamond, survive the criminal underworld, and protect the only person he can trust — Lisa.

Shot on location in Miami, the film delivers high-intensity action while exploring the emotional reality of veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

Fronting the ensemble cast are Oscar-nominated Terrence Howard (Empire, Crash, Iron Man), Emmy Award-winning Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan), and Sydelle Noel (GLOW), joined by Sofia Pernas (Blood & Treasure), Danay Garcia (Fear the Walking Dead), Manu Bennett (Spartacus), Thomas Jane (The Punisher), and John Lewis (Den of Thieves).

The film features an original score by Serj Tankian, Grammy-winning frontman of System of a Down.

Directed by Justin Steele (Gutshot Straight, Death and Cremation) and written by Amanda Konis and Steven Lloyd Bennett, the film is produced by Darryll C. Scott (Bosco), Natalie Kline (The Fall), and John Lewis (Lullaby).

Miami Nights serves as a flagship release for the Los Angeles-based production company Drama Free Films. Under the leadership of Lead Producer and CEO Justin Steele, the studio continues to deliver bold, character-driven stories. Recent productions include Bosco (starring Tyrese Gibson and Vivica A. Fox), one of Peacock’s top-viewed films of 2023, and Cipher (starring Terrence Howard and Paula Patton), currently in post-production.

Justin Steele is a filmmaker known for slice-of-life storytelling with a gritty, suspenseful edge. His work spans global ad campaigns, music videos, and acclaimed short films, including The Heeler starring J.K. Simmons.

He has directed the features Gutshot Straight (Stephen Lang), Death and Cremation (Brad Dourif), and the upcoming Miami Nights (Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane), scheduled for theatrical release in early 2026.

For attendance and interview requests:
Charmaine Blake
Charmaine Blake PR Firm
310-926-5864