The cinemapalooza that is the Cleveland International Film Festival, CIFF50, returns to Playhouse Square bigger than ever on Thursday, April 9 with additional screening locations including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland State University’s School of Film and Media Arts and – the venue where it all began – the Cedar Lee Theatre.
This year’s festival kicks off – exclusively at Playhouse Square – with the documentary, “A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole,” directed and produced by Tony- and Emmy Award-winning producer Dori Berinstein, examining the in-your-face social activism of the fashion icon. Cole and Berinstein will be in attendance.
The Closing Night film, the Lionsgate comedy/drama “Power Ballad,” stars Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd as nearly-washed-up singers whose chance friendship may just be what they need to jump-start their careers.
Two additional music-related films will be screened this year, “Don’t Forget About Me”(screens at Playhouse Square April 10 at 7:20 pm, and the Rock Hall April 11 at 7 p.m.); and “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man,” (screens at the Rock Hall April 15 at 7 p.m., and Cedar Lee Theatre April 16 at 12:15 p.m.).
“At its core CIFF exists to connect people through film,” said CIFF Executive Director Hermoine Malone at a recent media briefing held at the Cedar Lee Theatre. “After five decades, this festival has brought global stories to Cleveland. Stories that challenge us, inspire us and remind us of our shared humanity.”
This year’s lineup consists of 326 films (90 features and 236 shorts) representing 57 countries, although, according to Programming Director Paul Sloop, that number may increase due to possible last-minute entries. Many of the films will screen at Playhouse Square and Cedar Lee – on different days. 107 screenings will be held at Cedar Lee throughout the 10-day festival.
Highlights include the world premiere of six feature films; a live Foley demonstration with Radio on The Lake Theatre on creating and performing sound effects for film; and, on Sunday, April 12, Bike Cleveland will host an Audience Mingle: a social bike ride prior to a 12:10 p.m. screening of Mark Hoffman’s “A Simple Machine”at Playhouse Square. Hoffman will join in on the ride. And on Monday, April 13, a cheese tasting at Marchant Manor Cheese will follow a Cedar Lee screening of the documentary “The Big Cheese.”
The Centerpiece film, “If I Go, Will They Miss Me?,” had its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will screen Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Playhouse Square. Director Walter Thompson-Hernandez will be on hand for a post-film discussion.
This year’s Flashback film, scheduled for Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. at Playhouse Square is a special treat for Clevelanders: the 2016 ESPN documentary “Believeland,” one of the most popular films in the Festival’s history, and celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
“‘Believeland’ premiered in the spring of 2016 and was altered later that same year when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship that summer,” said Sloop. “The screening will be followed by a lively conversation about Cleveland’s rich sports history, moderated by WKNR/ESPN radio’s Emmett Golden with panelists including director Andy Billman and former Cleveland Browns player Ernest Byner. We’re still confirming additional guests, and we expect there will be several past and current Cleveland athletes joining us for that conversation.”
Jon Forman, owner of the Cedar Lee Theatre, and creator of the Film Festival in 1977, was on hand to provide an abbreviated recap of the obstacles he encountered in the early days, trying to create interest for a Cleveland festival.
To pay homage to the Festival’s beginnings, a special “Spill the Tea” discussion is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m. at Sophie La Gourmande (2275/2277 Lee Road) featuring Forman, Alan Glazen and writer/actress/Cleveland native Ann Elder – who wrote for legendary comediennes Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence.
“CIFF is not just a film festival; it’s a major cultural engine for Cleveland,” said Malone. “Every year we welcome thousands of attendees and filmmakers from around the world to this beautiful city, support local artist organizations, and generate meaningful economic impact.”
Tickets and passes are on sale now. CIFF50 Streams – online access to the Festival’s biggest and best AFTER the initial run – begins April 19 and continues through April 26.
Keep our local journalism accessible to all
Reader support is crucial as we continue to shed light on underreported neighborhoods in Cleveland. Will you become a monthly member to help us continue to produce news by, for, and with the community?
P.S. Did you like this story? Take our reader survey!
