Cleveland Truly Independent Film Festival: Local Cinema, Unbound

“There’s a perception that indie rock is cool, but that indie film is not,” states Mike Goulis, the “judge, jury and executioner” of the very first Cleveland Truly Independent Film Festival, taking place on Sat 9/25.

Mike first conceptualized the idea after hearing about the Seattle True Independent Film Festival, a response to material being rejected by the Seattle International Film Festival. A Cleveland based actor and the lead of the locally produced Julio, Mike’s most important goal is to support the N.E. Ohio creative community.

According to Eric Swinderman, Executive Director of CINEMA Cleveland, the nonprofit charged with helping to keep filmmakers here, working on their projects, “We’ve wanted for a while to do a local film festival for local filmmakers.” And, while the organization has made several attempts to previously do this, between the few submissions and other logistical and cost-prohibitive obstacles, it didn’t happen. Thus, CINEMA Cleveland is excited the vision is finally being realized.

Adds Eric, “Mike came to us with the idea. And now we’re the co-sponsor and co-host of the event.”

The process has moved quickly. Mike and Eric first spoke only four months ago and, since then, prepared everything for the Festival, including securing the location and approving the submissions. According to Mike, “I started talking to individuals and tried to avoid what people have already posted online. There’s no charge for entries. For the criteria, (I looked for) overall strength. A bit of weakness in acting can be overcompensated by a really good soundtrack. So, if (there’s any) leeway in one aspect, (the film) needs to be tight elsewhere. I’m steering clear of politics, but I’m also being very choosy.”

Eric agrees, saying, “Cleveland has an inferiority complex. That we’ll play anything. (Instead), we need to set the bar high.”

Adds Mike, “We want to show really good stuff that’s being made. These up-and-coming filmmakers are people to watch. That is the nexus of the event.”

“I find it ironic that Cleveland wants to be in the spotlight,” continues Eric. “It wants the talent. It wants to claim people. It wants to be part of something. At the same time, people here don’t want to support you until you have already made it. The Russo Brothers were the Russo Brothers before they were the Russo Brothers.”

While there’s diversity in the film contributors’ ethnicity and ages, as well as in subject matter, the filmmakers skew heavily male. “(It’s) very one-sided in terms of gender. When the women will want to get involved, they will.”

This year, the Festival will not be offering any prizes. According to Mike, “I’m not into awards for a subjective medium. I don’t fill out ballots (at other festivals).”

Per Eric, “This is more a showcasing, making people aware that there are great filmmakers here. In the future we may have an audience favorite.” Eric’s enthusiasm for the event is genuine. “If you’re going to see a play, (then) come support (filmmakers) that are homegrown.”

Concludes Mike, “People go to Playhouse Square for live performances. People go to movie theaters to see Hollywood films. If people who weren’t involved in this festival showed up they would find themselves pleasantly surprised.”

“I’ve seen all the films. This is legit entertainment.”

The Cleveland Truly Independent Film Festival runs on Sat 9/25 from 1 – 4PM @ the Cleveland Institute of Art, located at 11141 East Blvd. Get info and tickets at http://CTIFF.homestead.com and http://Cinema.clevelandchoices.com.

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com. Poster Design: CTIFF.