Local Heroes, Global Setting: The Cleveland International Film Festival

Local Heroes, Global Setting
Cleveland International Film Festival

The 36th Cleveland International Film Festival commences at Tower City on Thu 3/22 and runs through Sun 4/1. Viewers can partake in hundreds of films representing 60 countries, more than most people will ever visit in their lifetimes.

Yes, the lines are long, the parking scarce and, sometimes, the seating limited. But all that tension is worth it and, in a way, creates the building tension of the characters on the big screen. Whether a work of fiction or a documentary, a long form or a short, a tragedy or a comedy, domestic or foreign, any film we watch at the Festival will transport us to someplace new, like Eastern Europe, Israel, Italy, Greece, Albania, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Chile, China, Japan, Argentina or Columbia.

No passport is required, but patience, an official schedule (paper or app), strong planning skills and a discretionary leisure fund for tickets, nosh and donations will make the experience entertaining and fun. No matter what, be sure to arrive at Tower City a good 45 minutes before the start time of each film and if you park in the adjacent garage, get the parking ticket stamped before leaving the theater.

With all the international cinema making its way to Cleveland, there’s also a nice focus on neighboring filmmakers. There’s the Local Heroes Competition, sponsored by Cleveland State University, “highlighting films made about Ohio, in Ohio or by Ohioans.” The competition will “yield a $5,000 cash prize winner announced at the Closing Night Reception.” Additionally, CSU, in conjuncture with the CIFF, is offering Interactive Panel Discussions with Visiting Filmmakers, giving students, local professionals and enthusiasts the opportunity to learn more about the filmmaking process directly from the experts.

With film such an emerging industry in this town, in tremendous result due to the work of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and the community’s support, it’s meaningful to have the CIFF approach the four decade mark, being ahead of trend. As CIFF Co-Founder Alan Glazen shares, “It’s come an amazingly long way from Jon Forman and me hanging out in our living room, but somehow they’ve retained that personality and coziness.”

The high caliber of CIFF’s cinematic selections has also ensured a prestigious industry reputation. L.A. filmmaker Doug Blush, co-director with Lisa Klein of Of Two Minds, will be hosting a forum at the Sun 3/25 screening of their feature documentary, which focuses on people struggling with bipolar disorder. According to Blush, “Cleveland is an especially close place to our hearts for our premiere, as it’s the longtime hometown of our beloved producer and Cleveland arts scene legend Kristin Chambers, who we lost to a long battle with cancer this past summer. Kristin was a huge help and inspiration in getting the film done over our long haul, and her warmth, encouragement and humor kept us going through even the hardest patches. She was excited about every new twist or half-finished scene as we went along, and we proudly dedicate this Cleveland premiere to her memory and wonderful spirit, along with the love shared with her great family and circle of friends.”

At a time when Cleveland is finally letting go of its past and embracing the evolving economic universe of the present — global, tech-savvy, creative and innovative — the CIFF offers the perfect glimpse into how others live and view their part of the world. And the more far-reaching the destinations, the more universal the themes.

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com.