2017 program guide - Cleveland International Film Festival [PDF]

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Mar 30, 2017 - 2017 PROGRAM GUIDE ... Program Guide were printed on sustain- ably sourced paper. ...... festival/updates or the CIFF iPhone/Android mobile apps for up-to-date schedule changes and programming updates. MAKE A ...
2017 PROGRAM GUIDE

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Welcome ...to the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival! presented by CONTENTS

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Our Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Media Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Neighborhood Outreach . . . . . . . . . 7 Plan Your Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Where Do I? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Festival Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CIFF Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Challenge Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Planned Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 FilmForums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 FilmSlam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Community Engagement. . . . . . . . 27 CSU Filmmakers on Filmmaking . . 29 George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition . . . . . 31 New Direction Competition . . . . . . 32 Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Global Health Competition . . . . . . 34 American Independents Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Local Heroes Competition. . . . . . . 35 Music Movies Competition . . . . . . 36 ReelWomenDirect Award . . . . . . . 37 Roxanne T. Mueller Award . . . . . . 38 Director’s Spotlight Award . . . . . . 40 Distinguished Award of Appreciation, Awards Artists . . . 41 Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Sidebars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Neighborhood Screenings . . . . . . . 48 Opening Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Closing Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 The Fine Print/Seating Policy . . . . 58 Films A-Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Films A-Z, continued. . . . . . . . . 109 Shorts Awards/Jurors/Selection . . 170 Shorts Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Board, Committees, Volunteers . . 186 Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Special Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Ticket Information . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Ticket Order Form . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Country List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Film Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

We are delighted to again be Presenting Sponsor of the CIFF, a nationally recognized film festival that attracts an increasing number of students, filmmakers, and film lovers to the CLE each spring. It is because of the passion and commitment of the CIFF staff, volunteers, and Board that CIFF members, sponsors, community partners, and Festival attendees are able to gather and be enlightened by the stories shared throughout this world-class Festival. Thank you for 41 years of illuminating our lives through film! Bill Elliott EVP, Regional Lending Director, Dollar Bank

Lisa King VP Marketing, Dollar Bank CIFF Board Member & Co-Chair, CIFF Marketing Committee

For the 41st CIFF’s marketing campaign, we chose the word ILLUMINATE. While ILLUMINATE is a nod to the literal illumination on the screen, playing off light and motion, it also references how topics and issues are spotlighted in our films. Time and again we hear from people who have been inspired by what they have seen at the Festival and who have taken that inspiration into their own lives and communities as a result. And that’s what the CIFF is all about— a ripple effect of change going beyond the theaters and beyond the 12 days of the Festival. We hope you will be illuminated by the 41st CIFF’s 200 feature films and 216 short films from 71 countries. New sidebars (groupings of films) this year include Race Relations, The Sports Section, and Voices of the Arab World. And our Perspectives exhibition space returns with an expanded schedule. So on each day of the Festival you will be able to experience virtual reality and immerse yourself in the other interactive programs we have curated. Once again we will be joined at the Festival by nearly 300 guest filmmakers, including Steve James who will be the recipient of our Director’s Spotlight Award. Mr. James is the acclaimed producer and director of numerous documentaries, including the groundbreaking “Hoop Dreams.” The goal for our Challenge Match has been increased to $150,000. Like every year, we choose to conduct our annual campaign live and in person. So please stop by the Challenge Match area to make your tax deductible donation. We know your generosity will once again enable us to reach— and even exceed— our goal. Our 500+ screenings will culminate on Closing Night (Sunday, April 9th) when we announce our award winners and present our inaugural Distinguished Award of Appreciation to A.O. Scott, film critic at The New York Times. When writing about the year’s best films from 2016, Mr. Scott said, “They stirred my curiosity, troubled my sleep and increased the range of my understanding. Sometimes they just made me feel better.” We hope the 41st CIFF has that kind of impact on you. We hope to ILLUMINATE. Nancy Callahan President, Board of Directors

85,000 copies of the 41st CIFF Program Guide were printed on sustainably sourced paper. If you are finished using your guide, please recycle. The Cleveland International Film Festival and FilmSlam are registered trademarks of the Cleveland Film Society.

Marcie Goodman Executive Director

MISSION The Cleveland International Film Festival promotes artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the life of the community. VISION The Cleveland International Film Festival is a leader in helping the world discover the power of film arts to educate, entertain, and celebrate the human experience.

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The 41st Cleveland International Film Festival is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors and funders.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

DIAMOND SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

SAPPHIRE SPONSORS

www.clevelandfilm.org

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GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

HOSPITALITY SPONSORS

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MAJOR INDIVIDUAL DONORS

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

www.clevelandfilm.org

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MEDIA SUPPORT

NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PARTNERS

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PLAN YOUR DA DAY AYY When you plan your day at the Cle v eland In t er n a t ion al Film Fe s t i v al, don’t forget to plan your trip downtown so you can be in your seat at least 20 minute s before show time. The easie st way? Ride RTA and arrive inside Tower Cit y C enter. Or take the scenic route on t wo wheels (your hear t will thank you). I f y ou do plan t o dr i v e, GI V E YOURSEL F P L EN T Y OF E X T R A T IME and be pr ep ar ed t o fi nd a ne ar b y lo t (co s t s v ar y) i f t he limi t ed p ar k ing available a t To w er Ci t y Cen t er is f ull. -XVWDV\RXSODQ\RXUÐOPVFKHGXOHEHVXUHWRSODQ\RXUWUDYHO VFKHGXOH8VHWKHUH VRXUFH VRQWKHIROORZLQJSDJH VWRÐJXUHRXW what will work be st for you.

Wee llook W ook forward ffoor ward to to seeing seeing you you at at the th e F Fe Festival! e s t iv a l!

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RIDE RT RTA, A, IT’S THE EASY WAY WAAY W Riding RTA trains is easier than ever before. And with the crowds we’re expecting GRZQWRZQGXULQJWKH)HVWLYDOLWÂVGHÐQLWHO\WKHHDVLHVWZD\WRJHWWR7RZHU&LW\&HQWHU Ther e ar e 8,0 0 0 FREE RTA parking space s loca t ed t hr oughou t t he ar ea. We’ ve highligh t ed key s t a tions f or you on t his map. The Red, Blue, and Green train lines of the Rapid Transit system provide direct ser vice to Tower City Center. They run seven days a week. The Red and Blue Line trains operate past midnight each day. The last Green Line train depar ts Tower City at 9PM.

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Leave the parking s tr e s s behind. Hop on RTA and ge t a ride dir ec tly t o Tower Cit y Cen t er. Imagine all t he time you’ll have t o r ead film d e s c r i p t i o n s a n d p i c k f a v o r i t e s w h il e r e l a x i n g o n t h e t r a i n .

RTA CLE MOBILE TICK ETING APP The RTA CLE mobile ticketing app for iOS and Android devices allows customers to set up a secure account to purchase, save, and use tickets for RTA bus and rail trips right from their smar tphone. Using this free mobile app eliminates the need to stand in line at fare vending machines or at the Customer Ser vice Center. The ability to purchase RTA fare any where at any time using a smar tphone and credit card is a valued convenience for all customers. Mobile fare purchases include All Day, 7-Day, and Monthly Passes. S i m p l y s h o w y o u r li v e t i c k e t s c r e e n s e s s i o n t o o p e r a t o r s o r h a v e i t r e a d y w hen boar ding RTA vehicle s.

W W W.RIDERTA.COM / CIFF WWW.RIDERTA.COM/CIFF RTA R TA ANSWERLINE ANSWERLINE ((216.621.9500) 216.621.9 50 0 )

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FIND YOUR OWN W WAY WA AY Planning to drive to the Festival? Be sure to give yourself plent y of ex tra time. :HDVN\RXWRDUULYHDW\RXUÐOPDWOHDVWPLQXWHVHDUO\VRSOHDVHEHVXUHWRZRUN LQWLPHIRUÐQGLQJSDUNLQJDQGJHWWLQJIURP\RXUFDUWRWKHWKHDWHU7RZHU&LW\&HQWHURIIHUV LIMITED PARK ING HQWHUDW&DQDO5RDGDFURVVIURP6KHU ZLQ:LOOLDPV GXULQJWKH)HVWLYDO EXWWKRVHVSDFHVÐOOXSTXLFNO\6RKDYHD3ODQ% GPS ADDRESS FOR C IFF S E L F - PA R K I N G CIFF SELF-PARKING 7 37 C anal R oad 737 Canal Road C leveland, O H 4 4113 Cleveland, OH 44113

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PLAN TO STAY

HOTEL PARTNERS

Downtown Cleveland has more to offer than ever before. So once you get here, why not plan to stay for a meal, for fun, or even overnight. OFFICIAL HOTEL

OFFICIAL JURY HOTEL Hilton Cleveland Downtown

100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44114 216.413.5000 www.hiltoncleveland.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland

1515 W. 3rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 Located onsite at Tower City Center 216.623.1300 www.ritzcarlton.com /cleveland Presenting the most luxurious and convenient accommodations for Festival guests, The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland directly adjoins Tower City Center, bringing all the excitement of the event within a moment’s indoor walk. The city’s only Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond hotel has created a customized cocktail and quick-bite Film Festival menu to illuminate the taste buds! Allow us to roll out the red carpet for you! CIFF Overnight Package : From $389 USD per night deluxe accommodations, two CIFF vouchers, breakfast for two, overnight valet parking, film-themed amenity and poster, and in-room Internet access.

Renaissance Cleveland Hotel

24 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113 216.696.5600 www.RenaissanceCleveland.com Located in the heart of downtown on Cleveland’s Public Square, the Renaissance Cleveland is connected to Tower City and within walking distance to many local attractions. Step into this iconic hotel with beautiful historic architecture and enjoy 491 guest rooms and suites with upscale amenities and award-winning dining at Sans Souci.

To book please call worldwide reservations at 1.888.236.2427 and request CIFF Room Block.

OFFICIAL CRAFT BREWERY

Great Lakes Brewing Company

2516 Market Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113 216.771.4404 www.greatlakesbrewing.com

Open Late! Mon–Sat 11AM–2:30AM Kitchen Open Mon–Thu 11AM–11PM Fri & Sat 11AM–12 Midnight

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel

2000 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115 216.357.3250 www.theschofieldhotel.com

OFFICIAL BAR & GRILLE

Tower City Center Tower Court Level 3 230 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113 216.348.0023 www.lincolntaphouse.com

CIFF Package: Offering 20% discounted sleeping rooms during CIFF. Please enter FILM20 into the GROUP Code box when booking online or mention to your guest services agent.

CIFF Guest Room Rate : $139 per night for room accommodations.

Reservations: 216.623.1515 or www.ritzcarlton.com.

Lincoln Tap House

The brand new 600-room, 32-story hotel offers CIFF visitors unparalleled service in the heart of downtown Cleveland with a sleek contemporary design showcasing breathtaking views of Lake Erie all within a short walking distance from Terminal Tower. Guests can enjoy a local art collection, an indoor pool and fitness center, multiple dining destinations on site including grab-and-go options, a lobby bar, a full-service restaurant and rooftop bar on the 32nd floor.

Located just three blocks from the Cleveland International Film Festival. Complimentary daily wine hour plus coffee each morning in our living room. Enjoy your stay in a true boutique hotel. CIFF Package: Rooms start at $159 plus tax, singe/double includes a deluxe room and two vouchers to redeem for CIFF tickets.

Mon–Thurs 11:30AM–10:30PM (Bar 12 Midnight) Fri & Sat 11:30AM–11:30PM (Bar 1AM) Sunday Closed Mon–Fri Happy Hour 4PM–7PM

The Westin Cleveland Downtown

SHOPPING & FOOD

777 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 216.771.7700 www.westincleveland.com CIFF PACK AGE: Starting at $169/night Package Includes: $40 breakfast voucher daily, complimentary valet parking, and four vouchers to redeem CIFF tickets.

Located next to the JACK Casino in Tower City Center, Lincoln Taphouse features an incredible craft beer selection with 24 drafts and over 100 bottles.

Tower City Center Shops & Restaurants

Room Only Rate : $119/night

230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, OH 44113 216.771.0033 w w w.towercit ycenter.com

Please use the code 502009 when requesting the room only rate online.

Over 75 specialty shops, fine dining, and casual eateries, a 10-screen cinema, two hotels, and indoor access to JACK Casino and The Q. Guest Services is located on Level 1–near the JACK Casino Buffet Entrance.

The Cleveland Hostel

Tower City Center Retail & Food Court Hours: Mon–Sat 10AM–7PM Sun 12PM-5PM Family Friendly Shopping Hours begin at 2:30PM daily. For complete information, visit www.towercitycenter.com/ parent-involvement.

2090 West 25th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 216.394.0616 www.theclevelandhostel.com The Cleveland Hostel offers private and shared rooms with free parking, free wifi, kitchen, lounges, laundry, and a roof deck with great views of the city. The hostel is located in the heart of the vibrant Ohio City neighborhood and just one stop away on the RTA Red Line Train to the Festival. CIFF patrons will receive a 20% discount by using promo code CLEFILM17.

AT THE FESTIVAL, WHERE DO I… FIND TOWER CITY CINEMAS?

FIND OUT WHICH THEATER THE FILM IS BEING SHOWN IN?

Tower City Cinemas is located in the southeast corner of Tower City Center, just beyond the Food Court.

Each screening at the Festival has a corresponding color-coded WKHDWHUWKHÐOPZLOOEHVKRZQLQDW7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDV79 screens throughout Tower City Cinemas provide a guide for where screenings and their corresponding colored theaters can be located within Tower City Cinemas during the current EORFNRIWLPH3OHDVHQRWHWKHDWHUFRORUVFKDQJHORFDWLRQ throughout the day.

PURCHASE TICKETS, GIFT CERTIFICATES, AND MEMBERSHIPS PRE-FESTIVAL (MARCH 10-MARCH 29)? Box Office: Located to the right of the main entrance as you enter the Tower City Cinemas lobby, open Monday–Saturday, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM and Sunday, 12 Noon-5:00 PM.

FIND THE LATEST SCHEDULE AND PROGRAMMING UPDATES? PURCHASE TICKETS, GIFT CERTIFICATES, AND MEMBERSHIPS DURING THE FESTIVAL (March 30–April 9)? Box Office: Located inside the lobby of Tower City Cinemas at WKHPDLQER[RIÐFHopen Sunday–Thursday, 8:30 AM–10:00 PM and Friday–Saturday, 8:30 AM–12 Midnight.

PURCHASE STAND BY TICKETS? Stand By: Located in the hallway across from the main entrance to Tower City Cinemas.

PICK UP WILL CALL TICKETS? Duke Desk: Located in the hallway outside of Tower City Cinemas, to the left of the main entrance to the theater.



Daily Schedule and Latest Updates: Located in the hallway outside of Tower City Cinemas across from Stand By.



CIFF Website: &KHFNWKH&,))ZHEVLWHDWclevelandfilm.org/ festival/updates or the CIFF iPhone/Android mobile apps for up-to-date schedule changes and programming updates.

MAKE A DONATION? Challenge Match: Located to the left of the concession stand as you enter the Tower City Cinemas lobby, across from the Merchandise Store.

BUY MERCHANDISE? Merchandise Store sponsored by Closet Factory: Located to the left of the main entrance to the Tower City Cinemas lobby, across from the Challenge Match.

PICK UP PASSES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MAILED? Patron Services: Located to the right of the Film Festival %R[2IÐFHDV\RXHQWHUWKH7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDVOREE\

FIND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS & REPRESENTATIVES AFTER A FILM? Community Engagement Corner: Located immediately to the left of the main entrance to Tower City Cinemas.

LINE UP IF I’M A TICKET HOLDER? Line up at least 20 minutes before showtime in the hallway outside of Tower City Cinemas, to the right of the main entrance and behind the sign with the coordinating title RIWKHÐOP\RXKDYHSXUFKDVHGWLFNHWVIRU

LINE UP IF I’M A STAND BY TICKET HOLDER? Line up at least 15 minutes before showtime in the hallway outside of Tower City Cinemas and behind the Stand By sign ZLWKWKHFRRUGLQDWLQJWLWOHRIWKHÐOP\RXKDYHSXUFKDVHG D6WDQG%\WLFNHWIRU

SIGN IN AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER OR CORPORATE SPONSOR? Patron Services: Located to the right of the Film Festival Box 2IÐFHDV\RXHQWHUWKH7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDVOREE\

GET MY TOWER CITY CENTER SELF-PARKING TICKET VALIDATED FOR THE $5 DISCOUNT PRICE? •

Box Office: Located inside the lobby of Tower City Cinemas.



Challenge Match: Located to the left of the concession stand as you enter the Tower City Cinemas lobby, across from the Merchandise Store.



Merchandise Store sponsored by Closet Factory: Located to the left of the main entrance to the Tower City Cinemas lobby, across from the Challenge Match.



Patron Services: Located to the right of the Film Festival %R[2IÐFHDV\RXHQWHUWKH7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDVOREE\



Will Call/Duke Desk: Located in the hallway outside of Tower City Cinemas, to the left of the main entrance to the theater.

LINE UP IF I’M A PASSHOLDER? Line up at least 20 minutes before showtime outside RIWKHWKHDWHUZKHUHWKHÐOP\RXZLOOEHDWWHQGLQJ is screening.

RECOVER ITEMS AT THE LOST AND FOUND? •

Patron Services: Located to the right of the Film Festival %R[2IÐFHDV\RXHQWHUWKH7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDVOREE\



Please note we are not responsible for lost or stolen goods. Unclaimed items will be donated on April 10, 2017.

www.clevelandfilm.org

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FESTIVAL STATIONS

HOURS OF OPERATION BOX OFFICE March 10–March 16: For Members Only Monday–Saturday 11AM–7PM Sunday 12Noon–5PM March 17–March 29: For the General Public Monday–Saturday 11AM–7PM Sunday 12Noon–5PM March 30–April 9 Sunday–Thursday Friday–Saturday CHALLENGE MATCH March 30–April 9 MERCHANDISE STORE March 30–April 9 PATRON SERVICES March 30–April 9 Sunday–Thursday Friday–Saturday WILL CALL / DUKE DESK March 30–April 9 Sunday–Thursday Friday–Saturday

8:30AM–10:00PM 8:30AM–12Midnight

10:30AM–11:30PM

10:30AM–10:00PM

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Tower City Center Food Court

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Stand By Ticket Holder Lines

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Daily Schedule and Latest Updates

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Will Call/Duke Desk +

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Stand By

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Ticket Holder Lines

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Patron Services +

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Box Office +

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Tower City Cinemas Concessions

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Community Engagement Corner

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Challenge Match +

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Merchandise Store +

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Restrooms

# Theaters (Westside & Eastside) 8:30AM–10:00PM 8:30AM–12Midnight

Parking Validation Parking Pay Stations: $5

8:30AM–10:00PM 8:30AM–12Midnight

Located by the Food Court elevators and escalators to self-parking

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CIFF HAPPENINGS FREE FILMS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS The CIFF is offering F R E E m o r nin g , m a t in e e, a n d l a t e ni g h t s c r ee ning s fo r colle ge s tudent s when they pre s ent their valid colle ge I.D. )UH HÐOPVZLOOE HV FUH HQHGRQH DFKZH HNGD\RIWKHV W&,)) E HW ZH HQ DPDQG SP7KH\ZLOODOV RE HV FUH HQHG DI WHU SPRQ)ULGD\ VDQG6 DWXUGD\ V 

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$150,000 CHALLENGE MATCH $3,005,850 cash expenses + $1,363,110 in-kind donations = $4,368,960 total production budget + $500,000 Tower City Cinemas digital projection conversion Entirely paid for by the CIFF with a loan from The George Gund Foundation

TOTAL

$4,868,960 This Year

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THE CHALLENGE MATCH IS OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN and we choose to do it live and in person during the CIFF! The generous support provided by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), which is funded by the residents of Cuyahoga County, must be matched annually. Your contribution can ensure our continued success. Since 2008 the CIFF has received nearly $1.5 million from CAC. The CIFF is proud of its exceptional ratings from these charity evaluators:

MAJOR INCOME SOURCES* Corporate Sponsorships 16% Ticket Sales 19% Foundation Grants 18% Merchandise Sales 1% Entry Fees 4% Memberships 13% Government Grants 8%

Board of Directors Donations 10% Individual Donations/Challenge Match 11%

*Tower City Cinemas concession and café sales of food and drink 0%

HOW CAN YOU HELP? YOUR GENEROSITY HELPS THE CIFF IN THESE WAYS: Each seat costs the organization close to

$50

Illuminate Brilliant Young Minds: The average ticket

$100 underwrites 20 FilmSlam CMSD student tickets

price is between

Illuminate the Excitement of New Media Storytelling:

$14 and $16.

$250 underwrites a Perspectives virtual reality equipment station

Your donation of

Illuminate Fascinating Community Conversations:

at least $35 will

$500 underwrites the presentation of a FilmForum

help us make up

Illuminate Extraordinary Talent:

the difference.

$1,000 underwrites travel and accommodations for a guest filmmaker

Illuminate the Screens in our Tower City Cinemas Home: $180,700 underwrites the balance due on our loan to pay for digital projection conversion

Please stop by the Challenge Match area in the Tower City Cinemas lobby to make your tax-deductible donation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

18

Cleveland International Film Festival

FOREVER FUND PLANNED GIVING

WHAT IS THE FOREVER FUND? The Cleveland International Film Festival Forever Fund is an important source of revenue for the organization as we plan for our future.

“ The Cleveland International Film Festival is a rocket’s red glare across the

WHAT ARE SOME GIVING OPTIONS? The Forever Fund offers donors a wide variety of giving options. You can give now through cash or stocks. You can give later through a bequest LQ\RXUZLOORUE\GHVLJQDWLQJWKH&,))DVDEHQHÐFLDU\RI\RXUIRA, life insurance policy, or retirement plan. A charitable gift annuity will provide you with a guaranteed income stream for life while the organization invests your assets.

HOW ARE GIFTS USED? Gifts are used for either general support or endowment building, as determined by the donor. General support ensures the day-to-day operations of the organization will continue. Endowment building acts as a reserve for the CIFF, with only the earnings being used annually so the principal can be invested and grow over time. An endowment can be funded during your lifetime or through your will or trust. It can be in your name or in the name of someone you want to honor or remember. 0DQ\FRPSRQHQWVRIWKH&,))FDQEHHQGRZHGÀIURPDZDUGVWRÐOP categories, to educational programs.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT? If you or your advisors would like more information about making a gift to the Forever Fund, or to schedule a meeting, please refer to the contact LQIRUPDWLRQEHORZ$OOGLVFXVVLRQVDUHFRQÐGHQWLDODQGZLWKRXWREOLJDWLRQ

Patrick Shepherd Associate Director 216.623.3456, ext. 23 SDWULFN#FOHYHODQGÐOPRUJ

American cultural firmament. I was blown away by the magnitude and artistry of the operation you conduct.” Elliot Thomson, Director, LE REFUGE, 39th CIFF

OUR FOREVER FUND FRIENDS The CIFF would like to recognize and thank: • Jules Belkin • Anne Bloomberg • Adelaide Crnko • Lauren Rich Fine • Marcie Goodman • Lynn Gottlob • Dean Ilijasic • Jinny Johnson • Jared P. McGrath • David K. Ream • Mark K. Smith

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BE A PART OF THE

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For more than a century, you have invested in the arts, education, health, neighborhoods, the economy and so much more. You see the bigger picture of what our community can—and should—be. Invest in the future by partnering with the Cleveland Foundation to make your greatest charitable impact.

(877) 554-5054 clevelandfoundation.org/give

I M P A C T S TA R T S H E R E

22

A yearlong celebration of Carl and Louis Stokes’ lasting contributions to Cleveland and the nation. Inspire a new generation to continue their legacy. Stokes50cle.com/events ■ #stokes50cle

Conveners Conveners

16-0332

(as of Jan. 12, 2017)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

FilmForums Sponsored by:

FilmForums are moderated and interactive panel discussions that feature filmmakers, community leaders, and scholars who are knowledgeable about the topic at hand. FilmForums offer CIFF patrons unique opportunities to explore important, relevant, and complex social issues that cannot and should not be ignored. Please look for the FilmForums icon in the A-Z listings to identify the screenings.

Media Partner:

Presented with support from:

“We try to stay away from politics, per se. We stay focused on what are the stories being told by artists.” — Robert Redford, 2017 Sundance Film Festival

WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH Thursday, March 30 6:50 PM I Code WALK30 See description on page 161 What is the job of the judiciary in times of social change?

A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS Friday, March 31

Romeo is Bleeding FilmForum – 40th CIFF

4:00 PM I Code FOUR31 See description on page 140

RESISTANCE IS LIFE

DOLORES

Tuesday, April 4

Saturday, April 8

What can we learn about our own democracy by watching one being born?

6:50 PM I Code REST04 See description on page 138

11:35 AM I Code DOLR08 See description on page 83

What can we do to champion the courage of refugees?

How do we bring hidden figures into history books?

Sunday, April 2

UNTOUCHABLE

WHOSE STREETS?

3:40 PM I Code FOOD02 See description on page 86

Thursday, April 6

Sunday, April 9

6:30 PM I Code UNTC06 See description on page 159

1:50 PM I Code STRE09 See description on page 165

Is it possible to put civil rights and sex offenders in the same sentence?

How loud must a protest be in order to be heard?

FOOD EVOLUTION

Can minds be changed about GMOs?

CITY OF JOY Monday, April 3 6:30 PM I Code CITY03 See description on page 76

REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK

How do we support the journey from unspeakable pain to unleashed power?

Friday, April 7 4:10 PM I Code RUNN07 See description on page 138 Knowing the health risks, should we stay in the game?

24

FilmSlam

®

25th Anniversary FilmSlam 2016 Stats

Nearly 8,500 students 100 schools (including two from Pennsylvania)

17 counties represented 19 CMSD schools (which included over 2,400 students)

FilmSlam for Students Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31 Plus Monday – Friday, April 3 – 7 Mornings Students from Northeast Ohio middle, junior high, and high schools have the extraordinary opportunity to see new films by some of the world’s most innovative filmmakers. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, FilmSlam is the Cleveland International Film Festival’s media literacy program and mini-festival of films for students. FilmSlam aims to educate students about evaluating and critiquing the messages they perceive while viewing films. Film can be less intimidating than many other art forms because of its prominent role in American culture. Therefore, it is a logical conduit through which social messages (such as the importance of the prevention of domestic violence and the eradication of discrimination) can be sent to young audiences. FilmSlam serves as an effective program to provide students with deep learning opportunities that go beyond the acquisition of basic skills. These include: the ability to foster thought-provoking discussion, analysis, and awareness of media communication forms and genres; critical thinking; curiosity; and social emotional growth.

FilmSlam participants at the 40th CIFF

A volunteer committee of over 100 students helps select the FilmSlam program, which consists of documentaries, feature films, and short films. This selection process engages students in a meaningful and relevant project, allowing them to collaborate with their peers and apply their knowledge of what constitutes as appropriate films for FilmSlam attendees. And all films are linked to curriculum strands. Study guides (including an introduction to media literacy) are provided to teachers, and speakers are available after the screenings. FilmSlam tickets are $5 each. For more information, please contact Beth Steele Radisek, FilmSlam Director, at 216.623.3456 ext.13 or [email protected].

FilmSlam 25th Anniversary support provided by:

FilmSlam Student Selection Committee

www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

Scenarios USA FilmSlam Awards FilmSlam attendees vote to determine the winners for the Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film and Student Choice Award for Best Short Film. Previous winners are as follows: Best Feature Film 2016 I ROMEO IS BLEEDING Directed by Jason Zeldes; USA Best Short Film 2016 I AN ENCOUNTER Directed by Miguel Berzal De Miguel; Spain Best Feature Film 2015 I BECOMING BULLETPROOF Directed by Michael Barnett; USA Best Short Film 2015 I SUPER PIMP Directed by John Jivan, Dustin Lee, Terry Geer, Ledion Isufaj, and Eric Schilling; USA

With generous support from:

Claire Forrestal Joshua Frank Zoe Friend Eddie Furtado Emma Gallipoli Kristen Gould Faith Green Jeremiah Green Alison Guerini Danny Gutierrez Millicent Houston Coriana Howard James Huffman Cole Hughes Joanna Rindfleisch Huntley Angelina Insana Adam Issa Roger Johns Samantha Johnson Gabrielle Kim Jordan Kostura Monica Kronstain Emma Legeay Jabri Little Elliot Lockshine Ella Mathewson Kathleen McGarry Abigail McKenna Gabrielle Merimee Eric Miller Dima Moissis John Monihan Veronica Montani Abigail Murray Shea O’Flaherty Lindsay O’Keefe Ela Passarelli Emma Picht

Scenarios USA for Students Tuesday, April 4 7:10 PM I Code SCEN04

FilmSlam Student Selection Committee Sara Adamson Nate Apodaca Matthew Arehart Connor Baker Jack Baker Leah Baloun Hailey Barnett Kiara Bates Sarah Bene Gryphon Beyerle Maxwell Boise Mia Boland Celeste Bonham Eleanor Boru Jacob Bretzin Gwen Bueche Rachel Carp Matthew Carson Casey Chanter Casey Cipollone Jordan Clark-Banks Michael Cobb Samira Colbert Megan Crellin Annie Cvelbar Blaze Davis Iyana Davis Elijah DeBerry Lanae DePriest Genna DiPippo Hannah Dougall Aerin Doughty Dyson Dudsak Tre’von Edwards Camryn Ellis Max Evans Taylor Feaster Dom Fiore Kayla Fitchpatrick

Split Persona: Mayraleeh Nelson (L) Bradley Rust Gray (C) Jessica Nelson (R)

Victoria Piper Tristan Polderman Elizabeth Pressman Bobbi Reagins Alyssa Reinhardt Dainis Renerts Charles Ripepi Grace Ritchie Alyssa Rodriguez Anthony Ross Max Rotatori LeighAnn Rupp Sophie Sajen Olivia Savona Grace Schumann Shannon Scott Menaz Shaik Richa Sharma Marjorie Shaw Bernadette Sherman Julia Shin Adrian Slovenec Elizabeth Smith Julianna Sulzer-Boone Meghana Tandon Christian Thomey Paul Twarog Abigail UpDyke Kaitlin Vasil Billy Vidmar Bronson Waide Caroline Washington Toni Watterson Meadow Yates Sarah Young Macy Zalud Keelan Zeigler Wallace Zickes

Scenarios USA is a national nonprofit organization that uses writing and film to foster youth leadership, advocacy, and self-expression in students across the country with a focus on marginalized populations and underserved communities. This year’s SCENARIOS USA program will include the screening of two new films and behind-thescenes footage.

Split Persona (Cleveland) is the story of two sisters struggling to balance the pressures of school and home while their mother deals with managing her depression and parenting. “Split Persona” was written by a high school student in response to the Scenarios USA REAL DEAL curriculum and writing contest about issues very close to her personal experiences. Mayraleeh Nelson is currently a Senior at Facing History New Tech. Directed by Bradley Rust Gray. Cut In Half is a story of two Muslim sisters and their family as they experience and cope with the Leukemia diagnosis of Layla, the eldest daughter, and her decisions about life and death. “Cut In Half” was written by a high school student in response to the Scenarios USA REAL DEAL curriculum and writing contest about issues very close to her personal experiences. Leen Shumman is currently a junior at BCS in Brooklyn, New York. Directed by Susan Seidelman. These films will be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video that explores the issues presented in the stories and the making of the films.

Wee aare W re h honored onored aand nd p proud roud ttoo ssupport upport tthe he

CLEVELAND C LEV E L A N D AT IONA L INTERNATIONAL I N T E R NA F FILM IL M F E S T I VA L FESTIVAL INSURANCE IS SOLD SOLD.. TR TRUST UST IS EARNED EARNED..

Business Insurance Preferred programs for your Home & A Auto uto Health & Life Insurance Tailor-made policies polic according to your needs

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www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

Strassman Insurance Services Community Engagement Program The Strassman Insurance Services Community Engagement Program builds and strengthens partnerships with other nonprofits by connecting them to films in the Festival. As a result, the CIFF continues to embed itself into the fabric of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Northeast Ohio. The partnering entities agree to publicize Festival films in exchange for visibility at the Festival and a platform to talk about their missions and promote their causes. This Community Engagement Program is launched each January through our Movie Match-Up Meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to connect confirmed CIFF feature films with potential partners. Here is the list of the 160+ Community Partners for the 41st CIFF: AARP Cleveland Achievement Centers for Children After-School All-Stars The Alive Inside Foundation Alzheimer’s Association America SCORES Cleveland American Cancer Society American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Anti-Defamation League Artists Archives of the Western Reserve Autism Speaks Be the Match Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging Brite Winter BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence CANAPI Canton Film Festival Canton Palace Theatre Carmella Rose Health Foundation Center for Arts-Inspired Learning The Center for Health Affairs The Centers for Families and Children Chagrin Documentary Film Festival ChamberFest Cleveland City Club of Cleveland Cleveland Area Mensa Cleveland Arts Education Consortium Cleveland Asian Festival Cleveland Comedy Festival Cleveland Council on World Affairs Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center Cleveland Hiking Club Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank Cleveland Leadership Center Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland Print Room Cleveland Public Library Cleveland Public Theatre Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Cleveland State University Diversity Management Program

Cleveland-Bratislava Sister Cities Community Assessment and Treatment Services Community Partnership for Arts and Culture Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park Consolato d’Italia Detroit Consolato On d’Italia Cleveland & Ohio Consulate of Sweden Cleveland Ohio Contemporary Art Society of the Cleveland Museum of Art Countryside Conservancy Cuyahoga River Restoration CWRU AIDS Clinical Trails Unit DANCECleveland Dartmouth Club of Northeast Ohio Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio Dobama Theatre Earth Day Coalition Engage! Cleveland Equality Ohio Equality Toledo Foundation Center Midwest Global Cleveland Global Ties Akron Graffiti HeArt Great Lakes Science Center Great Lakes Theater Greater Cleveland Film Commission Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival GroundWorks DanceTheater HandsOn Northeast Ohio Heights Arts Heights Christian Church Heights Community Congress Heights Libraries/Friends of Heights Libraries Heights Youth Theatre The Hispanic Roundtable HOLA Honorary Consulate General of Romania in Ohio Human Rights Campaign ICA–Art Conservation Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence

Ingenuity Cleveland International Institute of Akron InterReligious Task Force on Central America & Colombia IPM (International Partners in Mission) Irish Network Cleveland, Ohio The Junior League of Cleveland Kol Israel Foundation Lake Erie Ink LATINA, Inc. League of Women Voters of the Akron Area Legal Aid Society of Cleveland Leukemia and Lymphoma Society LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland Lifebanc The Links, Incorporated, Cleveland Chapter Malachi House Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish FilmFest Margie’s Hope Metro Catholic School Milestones Autism Resources MOCA Cleveland MotivAsians The Music Settlement National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Cleveland National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland National Organization for Women– Cleveland Chapter Nature Center at Shaker Lakes North Coast Men’s Chorus North Union Farmers Market Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle East Studies Northeast Ohio Sierra Club Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center OCA– Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Cleveland Chapter Ohio Fair Trade Network Ohio Regional Music, Arts, and Cultural Outreach Old Stone Church Our Lady of the Wayside PFLAG Cleveland Plexus LGBT and Allied Chamber of Commerce

Please contact Patrick Shepherd at [email protected] if your organization is interested in applying to be a Community Partner for the 42nd CIFF in 2018.

Polish-American Cultural Center Progressive Arts Alliance Recovery Resources The Refugee Response Refugee Services Collaborative of Greater Cleveland Rescue Village River’s Edge Rock & Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Rocky River Public Library Roots of American Music Saint Martin de Porres High School Seeds of Literacy Sistah Sinema Social Justice Institute of Case Western Reserve University Society of Professional Journalists, Cleveland Chapter Sokol Greater Cleveland SPACES A Special Wish Foundation Cleveland Chapter Stocker Arts Center Stokes: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio SVU Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences Cleveland Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce – Greater Ohio Region Swedish Cultural Society Ten Thousand Villages Towards Employment Tyrian Network The Up Side of Downs of Northeast Ohio Urban Squash Cleveland U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Valley Art Center Vasa Order of America: Nobel-Monitor Lodge 130 Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio Waterloo Arts West Side Catholic Center Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society Western Reserve Land Conservancy Windsong, Cleveland’s Feminist Chorus Women’s Happy Hour (WH2) Young Latino Network YWCA Greater Cleveland Zonta Club of Cleveland

YOUR CURTAIN CALL AWAITS Cleveland State University’s nationally recognized College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences offers arts programs to fit a variety of interests.

POPULAR ARTS PROGRAMS AT CSU: FILM, TELEVISION, AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA » MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING » MUSIC THERAPY » MUSIC COMPOSITION » ART EDUCATION » DIRECTING AND PLAYWRITING

engagecsu.com

CLEVELAND ND ST STATE TA ATE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF COMMUNICA COMMUNICATION OMMUNICA ATION TION PRESENTS: PRE

A series of interactive panel discussions with visiting filmmakers from the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival Cleveland State University’ University’ss School of Communication, in partnership with the Cleveland International Film Festival, is proud to host a daylong event featuring visiting filmmakers whose works are being shown at CIFF CIFF. FF F.. Members of CSU’s CSU’s faculty will participate as they moderate discussions on the art, craft and business of moving image production for both narrative and documentary forms. Each panel will include an audience Q&A component.

SATURDAY, SA AT TURDA AY, APRIL 8 M – 11:30 A AM M 10:00 AAM PANEL PANEL 1: PRE-PRODUCTION AND FUNDING ESSENTIALS

11:45 AM – 1:15 PM PANEL P ANEL 2: INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCTION

Which concepts make the transition from idea to production? What are the steps along the way? The range of activities necessary to take a film from conception to production will be explored in this panel, including the initial development of the project, the writing process for fictional works and documentaries, the logistics of casting, crew, crew, locations, and scheduling, and the many additional planning steps necessary before shooting begins. Funding options will be considered, including crowdfunding, deferrals, product placement, pre-sales, tax incentives, various investor models, grants, and the traditional studio route.

What are the critical procedures in the production of an independent film, be it narrative or documentary? This panel is dedicated to the complex process of production, including the variety of techniques used for the direction of actors/subjects, camera and lighting, production design and art direction, and other production choices. The roles of the director, director, producer, producer, director of photography, photography, production sound crew, crew, and other key production personnel will be discussed, including aspects of the relationship of the production crew to the post-production team.

1:45 PPM M – 3:15 P PM M PANEL PANEL 3: THE DOCUMENT DOCUMENTARY ARY — PRESENT AND FUTURE

3:30 PPM M – 5:00 P PM M -PRODUCTION — EDITING AND MORE PANEL PANEL 4: POST-PRODUCTION POST T-PRODUCTION

How has the documentary form emerged as one of the most vital and exciting branches of filmmaking today? Advances in technologies for acquisition, editing, and innovative distribution have changed the face of documentary filmmaking. This panel will explore the expanding repertoire of production formats available to the documentarist. The growing popularity of true-crime documentaries (e.g. “Making a Murderer”) will be discussed, as will the introduction of hybrid narrative/documentary forms to film and television. The panel will consider future trends in documentary topics, production styles, and distribution mechanisms in this fast-changing marketplace of ideas.

For further information about the panels and additional programming at CSU during the 2017 Cleveland International Film Festival, visit csuohio.edu/class/com. For panel updates, visit clevelandfilm.org/filmmakerpanels.

What happens to a film after production has wrapped? Post-production includes the manipulation and collation of image and sound to create an integrated whole. While editing is the backbone of the post-production process in filmmaking, other vital post-production aspects will be considered as well. These include music scoring and music rights, post-production sound (e.g. ADR, Foley), animation, and both digital visual effects and optical/practical special effects (which seem to be making a bit of a comeback). Technological Technological developments have brought about changes in post-production workflow options, tools, and platforms that have made the highly collaborative process of postproduction even more complicated and dynamic.

The April 8 panels are free and open to the public. They will be held at Cleveland State University’ University’ss School of Communication, MU 107 Auditorium, Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid A Ave., ve ve., Cleveland, OH 44115. 44115 Parking is available on the streets surrounding the Music and Communication Building and in lot “CG” behind the building, at East 19th Street and Chester A Avenue. venue.

engagecsu.com CSU is an AA/EO institution. © 2017 / 170020

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George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition Twenty-seven years ago at the 14th CIFF, we launched a special focus on films from Central and Eastern Europe, the native lands of many Clevelanders. This year the CIFF is proud to present the 15th Central and Eastern European Competition. And, for the fifth year, we are deeply honored to present this competition in loving memory of George Gund III with the support of an endowment from The George Gund Foundation. This competition not only gives recognition to the films coming to us from Central and Eastern Europe, but it also awards one filmmaker a $10,000 cash prize that will be announced at our Closing Night Reception. We are honored to have these remarkable jurors join us this year: Jim Kolmar programs international and documentary films for South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW). He also leads the Experiential Storytelling program for interactive storytelling and is a contributing writer to sxsw.com and SXSWORLD magazine. He has worked with Austin Film Society (AFS), Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Austin Asian American Film Festival, and in various areas of film production. In 2013, he programmed a series of Welsh films for AFS. Jim has participated in numerous juries, panels, and committees, including IDFA, Nordisk Panorama, Ventana Sur, Ambulante, Cinema Eye Honors, Sónar+D, and DocsDF. Marian Masone is a film festival programmer and media strategist, currently working as a film curator for the worldrenowned art fair Art Basel and as a producing consultant for Jump Cut Creative. For over 25 years at the Film Society of Lincoln Center she programmed new and retrospective series and monthly programs, organized education initiatives, established

programs for emerging filmmakers, and served on the selection committees for the New York Film Festival and, with the Museum of Modern Art, New Directors/ New Films. Marian is on the film panel of the Princess Grace Foundation, which awards scholarships and fellowships to emerging artists, and she is a member of New York Women in Film and Television, serving on the committee for NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund. She has been a panelist and juror for numerous national and international organizations and festivals and has lectured at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Cinéfondation Residence in Paris, and the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. She has an M.A. in Cinema Studies from NYU and writes on film and media for various publications. Carl Spence began his festival career at the Seattle International Film Festival in 1994, helping grow the Festival to become one of the largest film events in North America over the past two decades. He also led SIFF’s expansion into year-round exhibition, making SIFF the leading independent arthouse exhibitor in Seattle by saving two historic cinemas along with the

With generous support from:

George Gund III (1937-2013)

creation of a new flagship Film Center. He most recently held the position of Festival Director and Chief Curator at SIFF prior to starting his own consulting firm, CCS Arts, in late 2016. He also held Director of Programming positions with the Palm Springs International Film Festival and with the San Francisco International Film Festival. In 2014 he helped create the Orcas Island Film Festival as a Festival Co-Director and Chief Curator. He spends most of his free time cooking, reading, and watching films with his husband and two boys.

Included in this year’s George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition are: FILM TITLE

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AFTERIMAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 ANISHOARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 THE FIXER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 GLORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE . . . . . . . 97 KILLS ON WHEELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE. . . . . . . . . 115 NIGHTLIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 ON THE OTHER SIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 PARADISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 THE SPY AND THE POET . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Jim Kolmar

Marian Masone

Carl Spence

THE STUDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 THE TEACHER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 WAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 ZOOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

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Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU Director’s Award

For 12 years, the CIFF presented the Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition. This year we are excited to celebrate the life and work of our longtime board member and friend Mark Schwartz with a sharper focus on portrait documentaries. The subjects in these documentaries are determined, dedicated, and daring. The films themselves are artistic, passionate, and insightful. This competition celebrates people, places, and things that exemplify the characteristics that remind us of Mark himself. Nesnadny + Schwartz (www.NSideas.com) is a renown graphic design studio committed to providing clients what they least expect. Nesnadny + Schwartz is very proud to continue their support of the Cleveland International Film Festival and to sponsor a program that has such social, artistic, and popular appeal. Portrait documentaries in competition that are screening in the Festival will be viewed by our panel of jurors throughout the week. The winner will be announced at our Closing Night Reception, receiving a cash prize of $10,000.

Our esteemed jurors this year are: Doug Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, writer, and cinematographer whose work includes over 80 feature and television projects. His film “Of Two Minds,” co-directed with his wife Lisa Klein, screened at the 36th CIFF. Doug co-owns MadPix Inc., a production and post-production company in Los Angeles. He is also a longtime film educator with classes and seminars at USC, UCLA, Syracuse University, and the YoungArts Foundation in Miami. In addition, he has participated in exchanges and panels in Indonesia, Brazil, Armenia, Malaysia, China, Netherlands, and more. Sarafina DiFelice is the Associate Director of Programming at Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary film festival, conference, and market. She has sat on numerous documentary film funds, juries, and panels internationally. She previously curated for the online subscription service SundanceNOW and worked with the Toronto International Film Festival as the Associate Programmer for documentary. An Assistant Professor of Film at SUNY Purchase, Festival Programmer at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, and Contributing Editor of Filmmaker Magazine, Brandon Harris lives in Brooklyn, New York. The Cincinnati native’s criticism and journalism have appeared in The New Yorker, The Guardian, Vice, New Republic, and N+1. “Redlegs” (2012), Harris’s directorial debut, is a New York Times’ Critic’s Pick. His memoir Making Rent in Bed-Stuy will be released in June by Amistad Books.

Doug Blush

Sarafina DiFelice

Brandon Harris

Mark Schwartz (1956-2014)

Included in this year’s Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition are: FILM TITLE

24 x 36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS . . . . . . . . AMERICAN ANARCHIST . . . DOLORES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . . . . . . . . . THE LAST DALAI LAMA?. . . LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD . THE NINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE PEACEMAKER. . . . . . . QUEST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SACRED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SANTOALLA . . . . . . . . . . . . SHALOM ITALIA . . . . . . . . . SPETTACOLO . . . . . . . . . . . SUPERGIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN . . . . .

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New Direction Competition With generous support from:

At the 39th CIFF we premiered our most ground-breaking program to date: New Direction. Focusing on debut directors whose innovative films transform the traditional notions of cinematic storytelling, New Direction is back once again. Thanks to the support of CoverMyMeds, we are proud to present our second New Direction Competition. Screening within this competition are films created by emerging filmmakers who we believe will define the future of filmmaking. Films in competition that are screening in the Festival will be viewed by our panel of jurors throughout the week. The winner will be announced at our Closing Night Reception, receiving a cash prize of $7,500. Our esteemed jurors this year are:

Charles Poekel is an independent filmmaker based in New York City. He began his career producing and photographing theatrical documentaries including “Making the Boys” (2010), “Fake It So Real” (2011), “Hey Bartender” (2013), and “Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead” (2015)— 39th CIFF. He served as PostProduction Supervisor on the Gothamnominated “Kati with an I” (2010) and assisted on “An Omar Broadway Film” (2009). His narrative directorial debut, “Christmas, Again” premiered at Locarno in 2014 and went on to play the Sundance Film Festival, New Director/ New Films, and the 39th CIFF. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 2016.

Eve M. Cohen is a cinematographer whose work ranges from independent feature films to television series, documentaries, and cinematic virtual reality. She entered the world of filmmaking through the study of fine art and subsequently cinematography at UCLA. Her cinematography work has screened in festivals and theaters around the world, as well as on various television and digital channels. Eve is currently in production on a documentary series for CNN, pre-production on a long form docu-narrative VR project (dir. James Kaelan), and in post-production on the second season of a narrative web-series. She is also a co-founder at crowdfunding and distribution company Seed&Spark, where they believe the art of storytelling is about expanding imagination, shining a light on a world inside, and deepening empathy for the world outside.

Dan Schoenbrun is the co-founder and co-creator of The Eyeslicer, a new variety television series with a mission of connecting provocative filmmakers with new audiences. He recently produced and curated “collective:unconscious” (2016)— 40th CIFF. Dan currently writes Continue Watching, a biweekly column for Filmmaker Magazine covering the changing ways in which we discover and consume art. Previously, he worked as the Senior Film Outreach Lead at Kickstarter, where he helped independent filmmakers raise over $14 million for new projects and consulted on many of the largest crowdfunding film projects in history. Before joining Kickstarter, Dan worked as the Associate Director of Programming at IFP (our country’s oldest and largest filmmaker support organization) and as the Associate Editor of Filmmaker Magazine.

Dave Made a Maze

The White King

Included in this year’s New Direction Competition are: FILM TITLE

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ALL THE BEAUTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 ALL THIS PANIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 ALOYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 DAVE MADE A MAZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 DAYVEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 FRAUD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! . . . . . 94 ICAROS: A VISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 KATI KATI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 LOVETRUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 MURDEROUS TALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Eve M. Cohen

Charles Poekel

Dan Schoenbrun

MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA. . . . . . . . . . . . 124 THE TRANSFIGURATION. . . . . . . . . . . . 156 THE WHITE KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

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Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition With generous support from:

In 2005 The George Gund Foundation granted the CIFF with an endowment to create the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition as a tribute to Greg Gund. Greg’s friends and family described him as “intensely creative and talented, and wholly without pretension.” For five years Greg lived in Playa Negro near Tamarindo, Costa Rica where he immersed himself by becoming part of the local community. As much as he deeply loved his home there, Greg was also an extensive world traveler with an adventurous spirit and an insatiable curiosity about different cultures and people. He lived by this Mahatma Gandhi quote inscribed in his passport: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Greg died at the age of 32 in a small plane crash off the Pacific Coast on July 16, 2005. Our Standing Up Competition includes “films with a conscience.” Standing Up started as a sidebar to focus on films with the mission to change the world and grew into a celebration of activism and the fight for social justice. Many of these films highlight personal stories featuring individuals who set out to teach lessons on how to live a better life. One of the aspects all these films share is the impact they make on viewers long after the credits roll. Through the films, Standing Up honors Greg Gund— as well as others with a different view of the world— and the continual fight to make it better. Based on audience vote, the winner of this competition will be announced at our Closing Night Reception and receive a $7,500 cash prize.

Resistance Is Life

Included in this year’s Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition are: FILM TITLE

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ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL. . . . . 62 BE RELENTLESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 BIG SONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 THE CHOCOLATE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 CITY OF JOY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 THE FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Whose Streets?

THE FOUNDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 THE GOOD POSTMAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 THE GROWN-UPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 LAST MEN IN ALEPPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART . . . 120 NOWHERE TO HIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 OUT RUN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 RESISTANCE IS LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . 140 TEMPESTAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 TICKLING GIANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 UNTOUCHABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 WAITING FOR GIRAFFES . . . . . . . . . . . 161 WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 THE WAR SHOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 WHOSE STREETS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 ZAATARI DJINN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

In Memory of Greg Gund May 26, 1973 - July 16, 2005

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Global Health Competition Presented by:

The CIFF has always recognized the power of film to change people’s viewpoints about the world. This competition includes films that delve into human health-related issues (both mental and physical) and films about the health of the environment. The films in this competition will introduce our audience to an entire array of health-related issues and encourage us to question the true definition of health as it relates to individuals and the planet. This year the CIFF is proud to present our fourth Global Health Competition. Based on audience vote, the winner of this competition will be announced at our Closing Night Reception and receive a $7,500 cash prize. Included in this year’s Global Health Competition are: FILM TITLE

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THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES . . . . . . . . 64 BUGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US. . . . . . . . . 82 FOOD EVOLUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY. . 87 I AM ANOTHER YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 LETTING GO OF ADELE . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 MIXED MATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 MONSTER IN THE MIND . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Bugs

PRISON DOGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 REENGINEERING SAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK. . . . . 138 RIVERBLUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 STUMPED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Tale of a Lake

TALE OF A LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 THE UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 UNREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 VEGAS BABY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 WHEN I STUTTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Letting Go of Adele

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American Independents Competition With generous support from:

TOM PIRAINO and BARBARA MCWILLIAMS With big dreams and small budgets, these films represent the finest in contemporary American independent cinema. Based on audience vote, this year’s competition in celebration of independent films made in the United States will yield a cash prize of $7,500 to the winner announced at our Closing Night Reception.

Included in this year’s American Independents Competition are: FILM TITLE

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BUSTER’S MAL HEART. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 CARRIE PILBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 DEAD AWAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 DEAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? . . . . . . . . . . . 83 DOMAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 THE HERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 THE LOST CITY OF Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 MENASHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 MILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 THE NIGHT WATCHMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER . . 127 PUSHING DEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 SEPTEMBER 12TH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Miles

SIGNATURE MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 SOME FREAKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 THRILL RIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 WOMEN WHO KILL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 WOVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Local Heroes Competition With generous support from:

MIKE and NICKI CANCELLIERE

Included in this year’s Local Heroes Competition are: FILM TITLE

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Local Heroes is our annual celebration of films made about Ohio, in Ohio, or by Ohioans. We are honored to once again support these films and filmmakers, hoping to empower the already booming independent film community of Cleveland and Ohio alike. Based on audience vote, this year’s competition will yield a $7,500 cash prize to the winner announced at our Closing Night Reception.

BEAUTIFUL GARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 BREAKING BALLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 BURN THE SHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND . . . . . . . 82 IN THE RADIANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 A MORE CIVIL WAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 VOICES OF THE HILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Local Heroes Films sponsored by:

In the Radiant City

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Music Movies Competition At the 30th CIFF we launched our Music Movies Sidebar, which has since grown into a grouping of some of our most popular films each Festival. For the fourth year in a row, we’re happy to showcase these film as we continue the Music Movies Competition. Comprised of documentaries and narratives, this competition is based on audience vote and awards the winner with a $7,500 cash prize, which will be announced at our Closing Night Reception.

With generous support from:

JULES and FRAN BELKIN

Included in this year’s Music Movies Competition are: FILM TITLE

PAGE

CONTEMPORARY COLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 JEFFREY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 STRANGERS ON THE EARTH . . . . . . . . 148 Score: A Film Music Documentary

STRONGER THAN BULLETS . . . . . . . . . 149 SYMPHONY IN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Competitions and Awards at the CIFF At the Cleveland International Film Festival, we are honored to present numerous Competitions and Awards that recognize our talented filmmakers with cash prizes (ranging from $1,000 to $15,000) for their work on features and shorts. Many of the feature films at the CIFF are eligible to be screened in competition (note: each eligible film can only be screened in one competition). Three of these competitions—the George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition, the Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition, and the New Direction Competition —are juried by a panel of industry professionals. The other five competitions — the American Independents Competition, the Global Health Competition, the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition, the Local Heroes Competition, and the Music Movies Competition— are decided by audience vote. In addition to these competitions, we have the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film and the ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman. Every feature film in the CIFF is eligible for the Roxanne T. Mueller Award. And every feature film in the CIFF that is directed by a woman is eligible for the ReelWomenDirect Award. Both of these awards are decided by audience vote. Because we like to spread the love and accolades (and cash!) to as many films and filmmakers as possible, each film can only win one award. If a film in the five audience-vote based competitions wins the Roxanne T. Mueller Award or the ReelWomenDirect Award, the film with the next highest average vote will receive the prize for that specific competition. Of our 17 awards for shorts, 11 are determined by a panel of three jurors, five are decided by audience vote, and one is selected by our short film programmers. For the lists of previous feature film competition and award winners, please visit clevelandfilm.org.

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ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman We are thrilled to once again celebrate female filmmakers at the CIFF. The ReelWomenDirect Award, based on audience vote, will be presented to a woman director at our Closing Night Reception, accompanied by a $10,000 cash prize. In an industry historically dominated by men, we are honored to showcase these women filmmakers and the empowered female perspectives they provide within their films. With generous support from:

DEBORAH BACHMAN RATNER Ovarian Psycos

Eligible films for this year’s ReelWomenDirect Award are: FILM TITLE

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FILM TITLE

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FILM TITLE

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29 + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

KING OF THE BELGIANS . . . . . . . . . . . 111

TAMARA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

ALBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD . . . . . . . . . . 114

TEMPESTAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

ALL THE BEAUTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

LETTING GO OF ADELE . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD . . . . . . 153

ALL THIS PANIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA. . . . . . . 117

TICKLING GIANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

ANISHOARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

LITTLE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

TONIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

BIG SONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

UNREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

BURN THE SHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

BUSTER’S MAL HEART. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

LOST IN PARIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

CARRIE PILBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

LOVETRUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

VEGAS BABY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

THE CHOCOLATE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART . . . 120

VOICES OF THE HILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

CITY OF JOY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

MONSTER IN THE MIND . . . . . . . . . . . 122

THE WAR SHOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND . . . . . . . 82

NELLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

THE WHITE KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

FANNY’S JOURNEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

THE NINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY. . 87

NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

WHOSE STREETS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

WOVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

THE FOUNDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

PERSONAL AFFAIRS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

ZAATARI DJINN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE . . . . . . . . . . 89

PLAY THE DEVIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

POP AYE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

GLORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK. . . . . 138

THE GROWN-UPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 I AM ANOTHER YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

ICAROS: A VISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . 140

IN BETWEEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

IN LOVE WITH LOU— A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

WOMEN WHO KILL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

PRISON DOGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

SAMI BLOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

IN THE RADIANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

SHALOM ITALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

JEFFREY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

SIGNATURE MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 SPETTACOLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 STUMPED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 SUPERGIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

The Revival: Women and the Word

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Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film – 30th Anniversary Roxanne T. Mueller served as the film critic at The Plain Dealer from 1983 until 1988 when she lost a six-month battle with cancer at the age of 36. Mueller was a strong supporter of the Festival and, through her writing, helped to raise the general level of film appreciation in Cleveland. She was an exceptionally engaging writer who managed to weave personal insights into her film reviews, whether she was covering popular Hollywood fare or sophisticated foreign cinema. In its 12th year, the CIFF established the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film to help bring this important Festival friend back into focus a bit each year. Festival patrons rate each film they see and the most popular film is announced at our Closing Night Reception. The Callahan Foundation, started in 1968 by Cleveland nuclear engineer, inventor, and businessman Joe Callahan, joins us in celebrating the 30th year of this renowned award with a $15,000 cash prize to the winner.

Sponsored by:

2016 (40th CIFF)

ROMEO IS BLEEDING

Joe Callahan, Founder of The Callahan Foundation (1923 - 2013)

Directed by Jason Zeldes, USA

PAST WINNERS

2015 (39th CIFF) — BECOMING BULLETPROOF Directed by Michael Barnett, USA 2014 (38th CIFF) — MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE Directed by Michele Josue, USA 2013 (37th CIFF) — GOOD OL’ FREDA Directed by Ryan White, USA/United Kingdom 2012 (36th CIFF) — UNDER AFRICAN SKIES Directed by Joe Berlinger, USA/South Africa 2011 (35th CIFF) — VINCENT WANTS TO SEA Directed by Ralf Huettner, Germany

2010 (34th CIFF) — LOUDER THAN A BOMB Directed by Jon Siskel and Greg Jacobs, USA

2002 (26th CIFF) — AUTUMN SPRING Directed by Vladimír Michálek, Czech Republic

2009 (33rd CIFF) — CHERRY BLOSSOMS – HANAMI Directed by Doris Dörrie, Germany/Japan

2001 (25th CIFF) — BIG EDEN Directed by Thomas Bezucha, USA

2008 (32nd CIFF) — ONE BAD CAT: THE REVEREND ALBERT WAGNER STORY Directed by Thomas G. Miller, USA 2007 (31st CIFF) — DARIUS GOES WEST: THE ROLL OF HIS LIFE Directed by Logan Smalley, USA 2006 (30th CIFF) — LIVE AND BECOME Directed by Radu Mihaileanu, France/Israel 2005 (29th CIFF) — MAD HOT BALLROOM Directed by Marilyn Agrelo, USA 2004 (28th CIFF) — BORN INTO BROTHELS Directed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, USA 2003 (27th CIFF) — SPELLBOUND Directed by Jeff Blitz, USA

2000 (24th CIFF) — THE BUTTERFLY (AKA “THE BUTTERFLY’S TONGUE”) Directed by José Luis Cuerda, Spain 1999 (23rd CIFF) — RETURN WITH HONOR Directed by Terry Sanders and Freida Lee Mock, USA 1998 (22nd CIFF) — CHARACTER Directed by Mike van Diem, Netherlands 1997 (21st CIFF) — SHALL WE DANCE Directed by Masayuki Suo, Japan 1996 (20th CIFF) — FIDDLEFEST (AKA “SMALL WONDERS”) Directed by Allen Miller, USA

1995 (19th CIFF) — THE SUM OF US Directed by Kevin Dowling and Geoff Burton, Australia 1994 (18th CIFF) — BACKBEAT Directed by Iain Softly, United Kingdom 1993 (17th CIFF) — INTO THE WEST Directed by Mike Newell, United Kingdom 1992 (16th CIFF) — ENCHANTED APRIL Directed by Mike Newell, United Kingdom 1991 (15th CIFF) — CROSS MY HEART Directed by Jacques Fansten, France 1990 (14th CIFF) — CINEMA PARADISO Directed by Guiseppe Tomatore, Italy 1989 (13th CIFF) — THE BEAST Directed by Kevin Reynolds, USA 1988 (12th CIFF) — GRAND HIGHWAY Directed by Jean-Loup Hubert, France

41ST CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

1400 E . 30th Street #304 Cleveland, OH 44114

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ph: 216 7 13 0117

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[email protected]

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Director’s Spotlight Award Steve James With generous support from:

LAUREN RICH FINE and GARY GILLER

In 2003 at the 27th CIFF we launched our Director’s Spotlight Award. The purpose of this program is to showcase directors with distinguished careers by featuring a retrospective of their past films and screening their most recent work available. Over the years we have celebrated filmmakers who have had their talent embraced around the country and the world. This year we are proud to present the Director’s Spotlight Award to Steve James.

Previous recipients of the CIFF’s Director’s Spotlight Award are:

I Kurt Kuenne I Jan Hˇrebejk 2008 I John Sayles 2007 I Rolf de Heer 2006 I Freida Lee Mock 2005 I Todd Solondz 2003 I Goran Markovic

2012

2010

At the Death House Door

Born in Hampton, Virginia in 1954, Steve James is recognized as one of the most acclaimed documentary filmmakers of his generation. He regularly collaborates with the Chicago-based nonprofit production studio Kartemquin Films. The first such collaboration was “Hoop Dreams” (1994), which was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Film Editing. The film was also the winner of every major critic’s prize as well as a Peabody and Robert F. Kennedy Award. It was most recently selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. James’ other award-winning films include: “Stevie” (2002)—27th CIFF, winner of the Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award, IDFA Grand Jury Prize, and the Yamagata Mayor’s Prize; the Independent Documentary Association Award-winning miniseries The New Americans; Tribeca Film Festival Grand Prize winner “The War Tapes” (2006), which James produced and edited; “At the Death House Door” (2008), co-directed with Peter Gilbert; “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” (2010)— 34th CIFF for ESPN’s Peabody winning 30 for 30 series; and “The Interrupters”

(2011)—35th CIFF, which won an Emmy, Independent Spirit Award, and the DuPont Columbia Journalism Award. James’ film “Life Itself” (2014) was named the best documentary of the year by over a dozen critics associations, Rotten Tomatoes, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the National Board of Review, and the Producers Guild of America and was nominated for Emmy awards for Best Documentary and Outstanding Editing: Documentary and Long Form. James has also directed the feature film “Prefontaine” (1997) and numerous other documentaries and short films throughout his career. James’ most recent film ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. His current projects at Kartemquin include “Generation Food,” a transmedia collaboration with author Raj Patel that looks at solutions to fixing the broken global food system, and To Bridge the Divide, a series that follows the stories of a dozen students grappling with how to address what is commonly called a “racial achievement gap.”

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

Films Screening at the 41st CIFF: ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL (2016), p 62 AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR (2008), p 69 HOOP DREAMS (1994), p 94 LIFE ITSELF (2014), p 116

Life Itself

Hoop Dreams

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DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF APPRECIATION Special Presentation Saturday, April 8 2:30 PM I Code SCOT08 Tickets $35 Program details below

With generous support from:

LAUREN RICH FINE and GARY GILLER The Cleveland International Film Festival is proud to present its inaugural Distinguished Award of Appreciation to A.O. Scott, film critic at The New York Times and a frequent contributor to the paper’s Book Review and Sunday Magazine. Mr. Scott was selected by the CIFF to be the first recipient of this award because we would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for his genuine appreciation of film festivals—a topic Mr. Scott has often written about. The award will be presented to Mr. Scott at our Closing Night Reception on Sunday, April 9th. On Saturday, April 8th the Film Festival will host a Special Presentation: A One-on-One Conversation with A.O. Scott and The Plain Dealer’s Joanna Connors. The event will take place at 2:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland. Tickets are $35 each and include a paperback copy of Mr. Scott’s book, Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth, which was published to wide acclaim in 2016. Mr. Scott will be available after the program to sign copies of his book (additional copies will be available for purchase).

2017 AWARDS ARTISTS Born and raised in Colorado, Trevor Cain is a woodworker in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in History, which inspired a passion for artistry in historical architecture. He creates work ranging from furniture design to wall art and is inspired by art deco and arts and crafts design. Chelsey Cain is a graphic designer. Over the last 15 years she’s worked for multiple agencies and taught college design courses. In more recent years, she’s operated her small business, Cypress Collective. Together the Cains run Citizen Woodshop, a local woodworking business. They have a studio at 78th Street Studios, which showcases some of their current work—all made with local hardwoods or reclaimed lumber. Previous awards artists include: Anna Arnold, Mark Brabant, Kate Budd, Scott Goss, Hildur Jonsson, Michael Loderstedt, Shannon Okey, Alexander Pakis, Ben Parsons, Angelica Pozo, Eric Rippert, Beth Ryan, John Ryan, Mark Smith, Barney Taxel, and Mark Yasenchack.

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Presented with generous support from:

PERSPECTIVES An interactive/immersive exhibition/expo/experience

Perspectives is back and bigger than ever! We’re delighted to present year two of our immersive storytelling exhibition, where we’ll be continuing to showcase interactive media, virtual reality, and more. As technology evolves, so too does the way we tell stories. W ith a new generation of creators, comes innovative collaboration and the capacity to envision multiple perspectives within a single story. We invite you to navigate this new and exciting terrain with us and experience how immersive storytelling continues to evolve.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA: The Dig: Season 1

Flint Is a Place

Created by: The Skin Deep + Murmur

Created by: Zackary Canepari

An interactive episodic series that explores the shift of intimate relationships via dynamic stories covering asexuality, co-parenting, sex dolls, cyborgs, and transgender families.

A powerful, stylized portrayal of the pride, hope, and pent-up anger felt by the people of Flint, Michigan, a symbol of all that can go wrong with the American Dream. Flint Is a Place is part of a cross-platform project that also includes the virtual reality film Policing Flint .

Possibilia Created by: DANIELS From the directors of Swiss Army Man comes an interactive love story in which a young couple is contemplating breaking up. You witness the event from any of 16 different perspectives.

Everything Created by: David O’Reilly A game in which everything you see is a playable character, allowing you to be anything you want— from animals to galaxies—and to experience the universe through thousands of points of view.

#uploading_holocaust Created by: Georg Tschurtschenthaler A multimedia web project to find out how teenagers deal with the remembrance of the Holocaust today and how they imagine a modern commemorative culture in the digital age.

W omen for Sale: Human Trafficking in Argentina Created by: Fernando Irigaray A transmedia documentary that exposes the various stages of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women in Argentina.

Far From Noise Created by: George Batchelor A single-player narrative game in which you play a young woman stuck, balanced precariously over the edge of a cliff in an old rusting car. Through a strange conversation you can attempt to discover your reasons for being there, your relationship with nature, and if you’ll make it out alive.

With additional support from:

43 PERSPECTIVES LOCATION AND HOURS Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) Thursday, March 30th through Saturday, April 8th, 11am to 7pm and Sunday, April 9th, 11am to 5pm Perspectives is free and open to the public. Curated interactive media and virtual reality will be available for viewing on a first-come, first-served basis. No one under the age of 13 will be admitted.

VIRTUAL REALITY: Aftershock: Nepal’s Untold Water Story

My Mother’s Wing

Created by: Catherine Feltham

Created by: Gabo Arora, Ari Palitz

WaterAid’s first VR film follows plumber Krishna Sunuwar as he works to repair his Nepalese village’s water system after the 2015 devastating earthquakes.

This VR experience follows a mother attempting to cope with the loss of her two children, both victims of a shelling attack on their school in the Gaza Strip.

Orbital Vanitas Created by: Shaun Gladwell A VR meditation on our own mortality and the sublime beauty of the Earth and surrounding galaxy.

Pearl Created by: Patrick Osborne

Flint Is a Place: Policing Flint

Follow a girl and her dad as they crisscross the country, chasing their dreams in their home, a beloved hatchback.

Created by: Zackary Canepari Step inside the Police Department of Flint, Michigan to see how officers confront budget cuts and a struggling city in the face of public distrust. Policing Flint is part of a cross-platform project that also includes the interactive media series Flint Is a Place.

haunt Created by: Lilian Mehrel A VR journey about presence and the afterlife, experienced through the eyes of a ghost.

The Possible: Hello Robot & Listening to the Universe Created by: Within A VR documentary series that explores cutting-edge science and engineering. Go face-to-face with the world’s most advanced robots from Boston Dynamics’ top secret lab or travel billions of light years away and witness two black holes collide with the scientists of the Laser Interferometer GravitationalWave Observatory.

Home: Aamir Created by: Rufus Norris, Toby Coffey, Erfan Saadati Experience the inhumane conditions of the Calais “jungle” and travel with Aamir from South Sudan via Libya and across the Mediterranean to his new “home.”

Kinoscope

Ray

Created by: Philippe A. Collin, Clément Léotard From Chaplin to Tarantino, a lively and colorful animated exploration of the history of cinema.

Mule

Created by: Rafael Pavón Immerse yourself in Lucy’s room the night when a nosy beam of light comes to visit her dreams in this VR fairytale.

Created by: Guy Shelmerdine

Under the Net

A thrilling journey through the last moments of a man’s life. Choose your ending— do you want to be buried or cremated?

Created by: Justin Perkinson In one of the world’s largest refugee camps in Tanzania, where malaria is the number one killer, the lives of an 11-year-old girl named Amisa and her ill-stricken family are changed forever by the simple gift of mosquito bed nets.

Join us in our Chat Room, across from Perspectives, for a panel discussion about this new world of interactive media and virtual reality. The Perspectives Panel will feature creators, artists, and industry professionals —both national and local. The panel is free and open to the public. PERSPECTIVES PANEL

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Friday, April 7th

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5:30 PM CHAT ROOM

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Sidebars

10% Cinema

African Diaspora

This long-standing sidebar features films focusing on the issues, topics, and stories from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities.

These remarkable films feature stories made by and about Africans and people of African descent from around the world.

Ready for your mind to be blown? Prowl the Festival and feast on these dark, mysterious, thrilling, and bizarre films.

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

PAGE

After Hours

PAGE

PAGE

10% SHORTS PROGRAM . . . . . . 177

THE CHOCOLATE CASE . . . . . . . . 75

78/52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

CENTER OF MY WORLD . . . . . . . . 75

CITY OF JOY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? . . . . . . 83

CLASH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . 177, 178

HEARTSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

DAYVEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

ALOYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

BUSTER’S MAL HEART . . . . . . . . 73

JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE . . . . . . . 85

DAVE MADE A MAZE . . . . . . . . . . 79

MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART . . . . . . . . . . . 120

THE FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

DEAD AWAKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

KATI KATI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

DOMAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

MILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

PLAY THE DEVIL . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

LAKE BODOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

OUT RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

QUEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

THE LIBRARY SUICIDES . . . . . . 115

PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO. . . . 132

THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

MURDEROUS TALES . . . . . . . . . 124

PLAY THE DEVIL . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 PUSHING DEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

CAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA. . . . . . . 124 THE NIGHT WATCHMEN . . . . . . . 125

SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS . . 145

PSYCHO RAMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

SIGNATURE MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . 146

TICKLING GIANTS . . . . . . . . . . . 155

RAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

TAMARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

VOICES OF THE HILL . . . . . . . . . 160

REALIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN . . . . . . . . . 158

WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH . . . . . . . . . 161

THERAPY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

WOMEN WHO KILL . . . . . . . . . . 165

WHOSE STREETS? . . . . . . . . . . . 165

YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE . . . . . 167

WOVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

THE TRANSFIGURATION . . . . . . 156 WOMEN WHO KILL . . . . . . . . . . 165

Lake Bodom

Women Who Kill

Kati Kati

Choosing the films you want to see among the immense array of 200 feature films at the 41st CIFF can be a daunting task. To prevent your brain fizzing out from information overload, every year we place films in the Festival within our Sidebar categories, which cover a variety of interests and topics. The films that will be screened in each of the sidebars are listed here.

www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

Sponsored by:

Rochelle and Harley Gross

Jewish and Israeli Visions

Cinema en Español

Family Films

This eclectic array of Spanishlanguage films explores a multitude of subjects that range from the culturally specific to the universal.

You can take a family trip around the world without leaving the city. These family-friendly films are great for kids and young adults, but please check the descriptions.

Focusing on topics including painting, literature, and dance, these films explore a range of artists and the artistic process. Some of these films also highlight animation—an art form in and of itself.

These films from—or about —Israel and the Jewish diaspora enlighten with their unique cultural perspective.

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

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Film Is Art

PAGE

ALBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

44 PAGES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

BE RELENTLESS . . . . . . . . . 70

BARKLEY* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

DOLORES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

PAGE

PAGE

24x 36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS. . . . . . . . . . . 60

BIG SONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

78/52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . 88

THE GROWN-UPS. . . . . . . . . 92

FAMILY SHORTS PROGRAMS*. . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

AFTERIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

MENASHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

ICAROS: A VISION . . . . . . . . 95

FANNY’S JOURNEY . . . . . . . . . 85

ALL THE BEAUTY . . . . . . . . . . 65

MOOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

JEFFREY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE. . . 89

BARKLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

HALF TICKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

DAVE MADE A MAZE . . . . . . . . 79

THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS . . . . . 118

JEFFREY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

MURDEROUS TALES . . . . . . . 124

NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER . . . 127

TALE OF A LAKE* . . . . . . . . . 151

PARADISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART . . . . . . . 120

THRILL RIDE* . . . . . . . . . . . 154

MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA . . . . 124

ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND* . . . . . . . 169

THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

SHALOM ITALIA . . . . . . . . . 144

*We recommend these films for the little ones

SHOT! THE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

THE WOMEN’S BALCONY . . 166

THE OLIVE TREE . . . . . . . . 129 OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . 131 SANTOALLA . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 THE SHEPHERD. . . . . . . . . 145 TAMARA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

PERSONAL AFFAIRS. . . . . . 133 SUPERGIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

SPETTACOLO . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Afterimage

TEMPESTAD. . . . . . . . . . . . 153 X500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

FANNY’S JOURNEY. . . . . . . . 85

Icaros: A Vision

YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND. . . . . . . 169

Fanny’s Journey

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Sidebars

Pan-Asian Films

Race Relations

The Sports Section

Focusing on films from the Pacific Islands and the entire continent of Asia, along with stories of AsianAmericans, these films feature modern tales from ancient cultures.

The films in this sidebar expand the discussion about race and ethnicity and the impact racial identity has on individuals and society as a whole.

These films focus on sports competitions and individual athletes, making any spectator feel the emotions involved.

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

PAGE

29 +1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

PAGE

PAGE

ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

BE RELENTLESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 BURN THE SHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

AFTER THE STORM . . . . . . . . . . . 63

DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

APPRENTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

DOLORES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

AREA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE . . . . . . . 85

BARKLEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

THE FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

DESTINY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

MIXED MATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

MERCENARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . . . . 131

MILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

GODSPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

QUEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . . . . 131

HALF TICKET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

REENGINEERING SAM . . . . . . . . 137

ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

THE LAST DALAI LAMA?. . . . . . . 113 LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA . . 117 OLD STONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 OUT RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 POP AYE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 PSYCHO RAMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 RAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 A WEDDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? . . . . . . . 164

RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD. . . . . . . . . 141 SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS . . 145 VOICES OF THE HILL . . . . . . . . . 160

BREAKING BALLS . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 CONTEMPORARY COLOR . . . . . . . 77 FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 THE FOUNDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 SIGNATURE MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . 146 SUPERGIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH . . . . . . . . . 161 WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? . . . . . . . 164 WHOSE STREETS? . . . . . . . . . . . 165 X500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Rage

Burn the Ships

Walk With Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith

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Your Logo Could Go Here! Voices of the Arab World

Women of the World

World Tour

These films, hailing from many different countries, share the same language and exemplify dynamic cultures that have impacted history while continuing to mold the world’s dialogue.

Once again we are proud to feature this collection of films that celebrate empowered women.

Every year the CIFF brings the best films from around the globe to screen in the World Tour sidebar. This year our films represent more than 71 countries.

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

FILM TITLE

PAGE

PAGE

29 +1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

AFTER LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

ALBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

AMERIKA SQUARE . . . . . . . . 67

CLASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

ALL THIS PANIC . . . . . . . . . . 65

THE COMMUNE. . . . . . . . . . . 77

IN BETWEEN . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

ANISHOARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

THE COUNTRY DOCTOR. . . . . 78

LAST MEN IN ALEPPO . . . . 113

AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

DARK FORTUNE . . . . . . . . . . 78

LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD . 114

BE RELENTLESS . . . . . . . . . . 70

EVERYBODY HAPPY . . . . . . . . 84

NOWHERE TO HIDE . . . . . . 128

BIG SONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. . . . . . . 93

PERSONAL AFFAIRS. . . . . . 133

BURN THE SHIPS . . . . . . . . . 73

KING OF THE BELGIANS . . . 111

A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . . . . . . . 140

CITY OF JOY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

LANTOURI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

STRONGER THAN BULLETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

DOLORES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

LOST IN PARIS . . . . . . . . . . 119

THE FOUNDERS . . . . . . . . . . 88

OPEN AT NIGHT . . . . . . . . . 130

GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

EL REVENGE . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

ICAROS: A VISION . . . . . . . . . 95

THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

WAITING FOR GIRAFFES . . 161 THE WAR SHOW. . . . . . . . . 162 ZAATARI DJINN . . . . . . . . . 168

IN BETWEEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 IN LOVE WITH LOU — A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE . . . . . . 96

Patrick Shepherd Associate Director 216.623.3456, ext.23 or [email protected].

PAGE

BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

TICKLING GIANTS . . . . . . . 155

For Sidebar and other CIFF sponsorship opportunities, contact:

SAMI BLOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

TONIO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD . . 114

VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD . . . . . . . . . . 160

LIKE CRAZY . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

THE YOUNG OFFENDERS . . 168

LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 LITTLE WING. . . . . . . . . . . . 117 NELLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . 131 THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD . . . . . . . . . 139 A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . . . . . . . 140 SIGNATURE MOVE. . . . . . . . 146 Barakah Meets Barakah

SUPERGIRL. . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 AN UNHEARD WOMAN . . . . 156 VEGAS BABY . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 WAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 A WEDDING. . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 WOMEN WHO KILL . . . . . . . 165 THE WOMEN’S BALCONY. . . 166

Lost In Paris

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Neighborhood Screenings The Cleveland International Film Festival is delighted to explore and introduce our audience to neighborhoods by adding Festival screenings throughout the area to complement our Downtown Cleveland hub at Tower City Cinemas.

Neighborhood Screenings at the 41st CIFF Thursday, March 30

Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque

Friday, March 31

Downtown Akron

Saturday, April 1

Downtown Akron

Sunday, April 2

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

Wednesday, April 5

Cedar Lee Theatre

Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque Peter B. Lewis Theater in The George Gund Building 11610 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

Thursday, March 30 7:00 PM

78/52 Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe

Thursday, April 6

Capitol Theatre

NEIGHBORHOOD SCREENINGS FAQs Where can I purchase tickets for neighborhood screenings?

USA 2017 91 minutes I Code SEVN30 (see page 61 for film description)

9:30 PM

24 x 36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS Directed by Kevin Burke

Tickets can be purchased in advance online, by phone, or in-person at the CIFF Box Office at Tower City Cinemas. Day of show tickets can be purchased on-site beginning one hour prior to the start of the first screening at each neighborhood location.

USA, CANADA 2016 82 minutes I Code TWEN30 (see page 60 for film description)

When can I pick up my Will Call tickets for neighborhood screenings?

Parking CIA’s campus has three lots, all of which can be accessed from E. 117th Street off Euclid Avenue. CIFF patrons should try to park in Lot 73, located in the rear of the complex and encompassing the CIA loading dock. It’s the closest lot to the Cinematheque entrance (Entrance C). But if it is full, additional parking is available in CIA’s annex lot on the other side of E. 117th, along the railroad tracks. Parking is free.

If you don’t already have your tickets, Will Call will open one hour prior to the start of the first screening at each neighborhood location.

78/52

Ride RTA to the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque via the HealthLine, which runs 24/7.

24 x 36: A Movie About Movie Posters

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Burn the Ships

Voices of the Hill

Do You Take This Man?

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Akron Art Museum

The Nightlight

60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326

1 South High Street, Akron, OH 44308

30 North High Street, Akron, OH 44308

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Saturday, April 1

7:00 PM

12:00 Noon

BURN THE SHIPS

FAMILY SHORTS PROGRAM 2

2:00 PM 6:15 PM

Directed by Danielle Miller, Julia Thorndike USA 2016 88 minutes I Code BURN31 (see page 73 for film description)

INTERNATIONAL 2016 95 minutes I Code AFAM01 (see page 179 for program description)

2:15 PM

THE NEXT WEBISODE 73 minutes I Code NEXT01 (see page 180 for program description) Additional support provided by:

4:15 PM

THE GOOD POSTMAN Directed by Tonislav Hristov BULGARIA, FINLAND 2016 82 minutes I Code GOOD01 (see page 91 for film description)

6:30 PM

VOICES OF THE HILL Directed by Carla LynDale Carter Media Partners:

USA 2016 73 minutes I Code VOIC01 (see page 160 for film description)

8:30 PM

THE FORCE Directed by Peter Nicks

Community Partners:

USA 2017 93 minutes I Code FORC01 (see page 87 for film description)

10:40 PM

AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 4 INTERNATIONAL 2016 95 minutes I Code AART01 (see page 178 for program description)

I TAKE01 I DMAN01

DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? Directed by Joshua Tunick USA 2016 92 minutes (see page 83 for film description)

4:00 PM 8:20 PM

I DOMA01 I MAIN01

DOMAIN

Directed by Nathaniel Atcheson USA 2017 97 minutes (see page 84 for film description)

10:30 PM

AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 4 INTERNATIONAL 2016 95 minutes I Code ANIG01 (see page 178 for program description) FREE PARKING Convenient and free parking can be found at the High & Market Deck (down the street from The Nightlight, across the street from the Akron Art Museum, and directly connected to the Akron-Summit County Public Library).

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Playlist — Because I’m Me

Miles

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

Rick Whitbeck Evening at the Cedar Lee Theatre

15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110

2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Sunday, April 2

The Cleveland International Film Festival returns to its original home (1977-1990) for the 12th consecutive year.

6:00 PM

Wednesday, April 5

PLAYLIST MUSIC VIDEOS PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL 2016 76 minutes I Code LIST02 (see page 181 for program description)

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

USA 2016 93 minutes I Code SCOR05 (see page 143 for film description)

SEPTEMBER 12TH Directed by David Heinz USA 2017 96 minutes I Code SEPT02 (see page 144 for film description) Parking The Beachland Ballroom has a small parking lot available to patrons; however, that fills up fast on busy nights. Additional parking is available on most nearby side streets. Media Partner:

SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY Directed by Matt Schrader

9:00 PM

MILES Directed by Nathan Adloff USA 2016 87 minutes I Code MILE05 (see page 121 for film description) Parking Metered parking is available on surface lots and in a garage behind the theatre. Free evening parking is available in the lot on the corner of Cedar Road and Edgewood Road.

This event is presented in loving memory of Rick Whitbeck (1946-2008). One of the founders of the Film Festival, Rick filled many staff roles over the years and served as the organization’s first Board President. The Rick Whitbeck Evening at the Cedar Lee Theatre provides us with an annual opportunity to honor Rick’s devotion to his family, his friends, and the Film Festival. Remarks will be shared before the first screening.

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A More Civil War

Capitol Theatre 1390 West 65th Street, Cleveland, OH 44102 (West 65th Street and Detroit Avenue)

Thursday, April 6 6:00 PM

A MORE CIVIL WAR Directed by Geoff Yaw USA 2017 113 minutes I Code MORE06 (see page 123 for film description)

8:45 PM

DAVE MADE A MAZE Directed by Bill Watterson USA 2017 80 minutes I Code DAVE06 (see page 79 for film description) Parking A parking lot is located next to the theatre off of West 65th Street. Additional parking is available one block south of the Capitol (behind Gypsy Bean). Parking is also available one block east on Detroit Avenue.

clevelandfilm.org

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Proud to be part of your community. University y Hospitals is pleased to support the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival.

Our expertss will w see you now. 1-866-UH4-CARE | UHhospitals.orrg © 2017 University Hospitals COM 00554

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W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 9

OPENING NIGHT GALA California Typewriter Directed by Doug Nichol USA 2016 104 minutes

Wednesday, March 29 7:00 PM

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Code TYPE29

With the rise of computers and smart phones, typewriters are teetering on the edge of obsolescence — much to the chagrin of nearly everyone profiled in this insightful mash note to the analog machine. CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER is named after a cozy store in Berkeley, California that plays a major role in the documentary. Run by Herbert Permillion III and his family, the business is depicted trying to balance financial security with its decadeslong passion for selling and restoring typewriters. They aren’t the only engaging characters, however. There’s artist Jeremy Mayer, who uses typewriter parts to assemble human-like sculptures, and expert Martin Howard, who’s on a quest to add a legendary, rare Sholes and Glidden machine to his collection. Nuanced typewriter testimonials from super fans Tom Hanks (who has over 250 machines in his collection), musician John Mayer, playwright Sam Shepard, and author David McCullough add incisive perspective. CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER is a love letter to the enduring societal, historical, creative, and artistic value of these machines. — A.Z. Producers~Doug Nichol, John Benet Cinematography~Doug Nichol Editing~Doug Nichol Print Source~American Buffalo Pictures / [email protected] / californiatypewritermovie.com About the Director~Doug Nichol was born in Southern California. He holds a degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He also produces, writes, and edits. Nichol began his career as a cinematographer and was a director of photography for Madonna’s “Truth Or Dare” before directing music videos and documentaries for artists such as Sting, Aerosmith, and Pulp. He has also directed commercials for major national brands. Nichol is currently a director at the production company Partizan. Filmography~CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER (2016)

TICKET I N F O R M AT I O N pages 196 -197

CIFF members at the Movie Mogul, Executive Producer, and Director levels are invited to join us for a Gala Reception at Post Office Plaza immediately following the film. For others who would like to join us, Opening Night Gala tickets gain admission to the film, the Gala Reception, and complimentary selfparking (when available) at Tower City Center. Opening Night Gala Tickets $175 CIFF Members $200 Non-Members

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S U N D AY, A P R I L 9

CLOSING NIGHT FILM AND RECEPTION With generous support from:

The Hero Directed by Brett Haley USA 2017 93 minutes

Sunday, April 9 7:00 PM

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Code HERX09

Made famous by his iconic role as a heroic cowboy in the 70s and 80s, Lee Hayden’s present-day career is dismal. Between infrequent voiceover gigs, he passes the time getting high with his former co-star and hesitantly falls into a new romance with Charlotte, a bold stand-up comic half his age. After receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Appreciation and Preservation Guild, his colorful acceptance speech thrusts him back into the limelight, flooding him with promising new job prospects. His career and love life gain a second wind while the recent news of his unfortunate medical diagnosis has him in a state of serious contemplation. At 71 years old, Lee dwells on his legacy — not only in his role as an actor, but also as an ex-husband, absent father, and aging man. With a star-studded cast including the legendary Sam Elliott as Lee Hayden, THE HERO portrays a man reflecting on the lasting mark he’s made on this world while attempting to make peace for his remaining days ahead. — A.B. Producers~Houston King, Sam Bisbee, Erik Rommesmo Screenwriting~Brett Haley, Marc Basch Cinematography~Rob C. Givens Editing~Brett Haley Principal Cast~Sam Elliott, Laura Prepon, Nick Offerman, Krysten Ritter, Katherine Ross Print Source~The Orchard / theorchard.com About the Director~Brett Haley grew up in Key West and Pensacola, Florida. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Directing from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Haley has also edited, produced, and acted in numerous short and feature films. Filmography~“The New Year” (2010), “I’ll See You in My Dreams” (2015)—39th CIFF, THE HERO (2017)

Everyone in attendance at any of the films showing on Sunday evening is invited to join us for the Closing Night Reception and awards presentation program around The Fountain at Tower City Center. These 41st CIFF competition and award winners will be announced: American Independents Competition Distinguished Award of Appreciation FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Short Film George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition Global Health Competition Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition Local Heroes Competition Music Movies Competition Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition New Direction Competition ReelWomenDirect Award Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film

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THE FINE PRINT PROGRAM Visit www.clevelandfilm.org for program updates. Programs DQGVFKHGXOHVDUHVXEMHFWWRFKDQJHZLWKRXWQRWLFH7KH )LOP)HVWLYDOUHVHUYHVWKHULJKWLQUDUHLQVWDQFHVWRSRVWSRQH UHVFKHGXOHRUFDQFHODQ\VFUHHQLQJ

SEATING POLICY AT TOWER CITY CINEMAS* •

Passholders and ticket holders must arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled start of any screening for admission. However, early arrival does not guarantee a seat.

Program length is based on the best available information at the WLPHRISULQWLQJDQGGRHVQRWLQFOXGH4 $VHVVLRQVRUUHPDUNV IURPWKHVWDJH3OHDVHDOORZIRUWKLVZKHQVHOHFWLQJ\RXUÐOPV

RATING SYSTEM



General admission seating for ticket holders, which is limited to 100 spaces per screening, is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Most independent and international films are unrated by the M.P.A.A.; therefore, viewer discretion is advised and any content warnings should be heeded. No person under the age of ten will be admitted—except for Family Film screenings. All children must have a ticket.



Passholder seating is also limited to 100 spaces per screening and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

REFUND POLICY



Patrons are encouraged to fill middle row seating first in order to minimize any disruption as the remainder of the audience arrives.



Seat saving is not permitted.



Theater personnel may refuse to permit late seating.



All patrons must leave the theater following each screening and take any personal belongings.

*

Seating policies are enforced at neighborhood screening locations, although the number of available seats for ticket holders and passholders will vary among the locations.

7LFNHWVFDQQRWEHUHIXQGHGRUH[FKDQJHGH[FHSWLQWKHFDVH of a cancelled screening. Refunds for cancelled screenings ZLOOQRWEHJLYHQDIWHU$SULO8QXVHGWLFNHWVDQG vouchers cannot be refunded.

LOST & FOUND We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. 7KH)LOP)HVWLYDOORVWDQGIRXQGZKLFKLVORFDWHGDW3DWURQ 6HUYLFHVHQGVZLWKWKH)HVWLYDO$OOXQFODLPHGLWHPVZLOOEH donated on April 10th.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES SPECIAL ASSISTANCE Assisted Listening Devices are available for hearing-impaired SDWURQV3OHDVHLQTXLUHDWWKH%R[2IÐFH

The use of electronic devices (including messaging) is not permitted during screenings. For the courtesy of other patrons, please turn off all devices while a film is being shown.

'XHWRWKHQDWXUHRILQGHSHQGHQWÐOPPDNLQJÐOPVVKRZQ DWWKH&,))DUHQRWIRUPDWWHGIRUFORVHGFDSWLRQLQJ+RZHYHU ZHVFUHHQDZLGHVHOHFWLRQRIIRUHLJQÐOPVWKHPDMRULW\ RIZKLFKDUHVXEWLWOHG

RECORDING DEVICES

7RZHU&LW\&LQHPDVLVZKHHOFKDLUDFFHVVLEOHDQGPRVW theaters offer companion seating.

Audio or visual recording devices of any kind are prohibited inside Film Festival theaters.

Sponsored by:

6HFXULW\ZLOOHQIRUFHWKLVSROLF\DWDOOVFUHHQLQJV$Q\SHUVRQ LQSRVVHVVLRQRIDUHFRUGLQJGHYLFHZLOOEHLPPHGLDWHO\UHPRYHG IURPWKHWKHDWHU7KHUHFRUGLQJGHYLFHDQGDQ\UHFRUGDEOH PHGLXPZLOOEHVHL]HGE\WKHDWHUVHFXULW\DQGWXUQHGRYHU WRODZHQIRUFHPHQWDXWKRULWLHV Additional anti-piracy security measures will be in effect.

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A Z TO

Program Synopsis Writers Brenda Benthien (BB) Amy Brown (AB) Eddie Fleisher (EF) Clint Rohrbacher (CR) Tyler Whidden (TW) Annie Zaleski (AZ)

PA G E S 6 0 - 1 6 9

“ To understand pictures, we still need words.” —Richard Corliss (1944-2015), TIME Film Critic

PA G E S 9 8 - 1 0 8

SCHEDULE

SHORTS PROGRAMS PA G E S 1 7 0 - 1 8 1

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24 x 36: A Movie About Movie Posters

29 + 1

Directed by Kevin Burke

Directed by Kearen Pang

USA, CANADA 2016 82 minutes

HONG KONG 2016 110 minutes

Thursday, March 30 9:30 PM

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Code TWEN30

At CIA Cinematheque (see page 48)

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

9:50 PM

4:45 PM

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Code TWEN07

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Code TWEN09

In the early days of cinema, and even into the 80s, movie posters were works of art. Often designed by brilliant illustrators, they were sometimes more memorable than the films themselves. Many of the artists who made these masterpieces were unknown to the general public due to film companies prohibiting them from including their signature. This restriction led such artists as John Alvin to find unique ways to hide his name within the poster. In the 90s, things began to change as technology presented new tools for creating posters. There was a shift from illustrations to photoshopped heads of the film’s star actors. As you’ll see in 24x36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS, this bland tactic became hilariously overused. While the industry moved on, die-hard movie fans took their love of illustrated poster art to the internet, leading to a highly competitive collectors’ market. This inspired young artists to revive the artform, designing new posters for vintage flicks as well as for today’s independent films. Featuring local movie poster connoisseur Matthew Chojnacki— author of the Alternative Movie Posters books — this lively documentary explores the history of this illustrated art form and its unexpected comeback. — E.F. Producers~David Lawson, Graham Lee, Andrea Butler, Richard Chan, Kevin Burke Cinematography~Richard Chan, Kevin Burke Editing~Kevin Burke Print Source~FilmRise / [email protected] / filmrise.com About the Director~Kevin Burke is a filmmaker from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He studied digital film and television production at Toronto Film School. He’s the owner of Post No Jokes Productions. Filmography~24x36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

7:10 PM

2:45 PM

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Code PLUS08

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Code PLUS09

Christy Lam is about to turn 30. Beautiful and successful, she runs her life with precision and efficiency. Until now. Just as she receives an unexpected promotion, one with greatly increased responsibility, she is given an eviction notice. Unwilling to move in with her boyfriend (and his hostile cat) she is forced to temporarily sublet an apartment. This apartment belongs to Wong Tin-Lok, a joyous young woman who is everything Christy is not: plain-looking, care-free, and happy. Thirty, it is said, is the transitional age for a woman. Christy hasn’t taken much time to consider where her life is leading. As she reads Wong’s diaries and lives among the evidence of a life fully lived, Christy finds the eve of her 30th birthday may indeed be transitional in ways she never expected. 29 + 1 is a sparkling, bright, and uplifting film. It is about those amazing, and sometimes frightening, moments we all encounter when we recognize what is truly important in life and discover who we really are. (In Cantonese with subtitles) —C.R. Producer~Stephen Junior Shiu Screenwriting~Kearen Pang Cinematography~Jason Kwan Principal Cast~Chrissie Chau, Joyce Cheng, BabyJohn Choi, Ben Yeung Print Source~China 3D Digital Entertainment Limited / cina3d8078.com About the Director~Kearen Pang was born in 1975 in Hong Kong and attended the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. A highly respected actress, theater performer, writer, and director, Pang has won drama awards and a large popular following for her one-woman shows. Filmography~29 + 1 (2016)

Community Partner:

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44 Pages

78/52

Directed by Tony Shaff

Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe

USA 2017 92 minutes

USA 2017 91 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Thursday, March 30

7:30 PM

12:00 Noon

7:00 PM

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Code PAGE05

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Code PAGE06

For 70 years, Highlights has been a source of fun and education for kids, a demographic the magazine refers to as the “world’s most important people.” In 44 PAGES, filmmaker Tony Shaff follows the staff as they prepare for their upcoming anniversary issue. Working out of an old house in quaint Honesdale, Pennsylvania, the editorial team is an enthusiastic bunch— passionate about children and seemingly always in a good mood. Started by Garry and Caroline Myers, the publication is still family-run, despite personal tragedies and financial roadblocks along the way. Of course, things have changed a lot since its inception in 1946. Print media is suffering due to the internet, and with kids using tablets and smartphones now, Highlights must find new ways to engage its audience. The magazine must also address modern social matters, such as same-sex couples, transgender issues, and racial sensitivity. Considering the age of the readers, it’s a tricky task. Shaff’s charming documentary takes us inside a cultural phenomenon that’s survived generations and continues to enrich the lives of youths across the globe. — E.F. Producers~Rebecca Green, Laura D. Smith, Tony Shaff Cinematography~John P. Campbell Editing~Amanda Hughes Print Source~Rebecca Green About the Director~Tony Shaff is a filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He’s worked as a producer on MTV shows such as Teen Mom 2 and 16 and Pregnant. Filmography~ “Hotline” (2014), 44 PAGES (2017)

Sponsored by:

Community Partners:

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Code SEVN30

At CIA Cinematheque (see page 48)

Cue Bernard Herrmann’s iconic shrieking chords, and everyone knows Janet Leigh is about to die in the shower. It is one of the most famous and studied sequences in all of cinema. 78/52 (signifying the sequence required 78 camera set-ups and 52 cuts) intensely examines both the cultural and cinematic importance of “Psycho’s” most terrifying and culturally ingrained scene. Gathering together a diverse and articulate panel of filmmakers and historians, the film delves deeply into the crafting of the shower scene. Beginning with the possibly subversive motives of director Alfred Hitchcock, the panel gleefully proceeds to dissect, frame-by-frame, every nuance of its construction. With a collection of supporting clips from pre- and post“Psycho” films, this marvelous documentary shows what led to this seismic moment in film and its effects to this day. Prepare to be fascinated, challenged, and terrified all over again as we join the experts in trying to unravel how Hitchcock managed to do it and, equally as important, why. —C.R. Producer~Kerry Deignan Roy Cinematography~Robert Muratore Editing~Chad Herschberger Print Source~IFC Films / ifcfilms.com About the Director~Alexandre O. Philippe was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He holds an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to writing, he is a camerman, actor, producer, and director. Filmography~ “Chick Flick: The Miracle Mike Story” (2003), “Earthlings: Ugly Bags of Mostly Water” (2004), “The People vs George Lucas” (2010), “The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus” (2012), “Doc of the Dead” (2014), 78/52 (2017)

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Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Directed by Steve James

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

6:10 PM

11:30 AM

Code ABAC31

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Code ABAC01

When Thomas Sung moved to the U.S. from Shanghai, he had one motivation: to help people. As the small business owners of Abacus Federal Savings Bank, he and his daughters are able to serve the Chinese population in New York City’s Chinatown, many of whom have never used a banking system. When they discover an employee is stealing money, a whirlwind of investigations is set into motion that quickly escalates. The bank is indicted on humiliating accusations of mortgage fraud, making them the only U.S. bank dealt criminal charges in the 2008 financial crisis. At a time when the largest banking corporations in the nation are receiving massive bailouts for their damaging wrongdoings, six-branch, family-owned Abacus is fighting tooth and nail to defend their business reputation and Chinese community. ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL follows the grueling five-year court battle of the Sung family. The film raises serious questions about our court systems’ reasoning to doggedly pursue certain cases and completely neglect others. (In English, Mandarin, and Cantonese with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman Cinematography~Tom Bergmann Editing~ David E. Simpson, John Farbrother Print Source~Kartemquin Films / [email protected] / kartemquin.com About the Director~Born in Hampton, Virginia in 1954, Steve James is recognized as one of the most acclaimed documentary filmmakers of his generation. He regularly collaborates with the Chicago-based nonprofit production studio Kartemquin Films. His film “Hoop Dreams” was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Film Editing and recently selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Filmography~ “Stop Substance Abuse” (1986), “Hoop Dreams” (1994), “Prefontaine” (1999), “Stevie” (2002)— 27th CIFF, “Reel Paradise” (2005), “At the Death House Door” (2008), “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” (2010)—34th CIFF, “The Interrupters” (2011)— 35th CIFF, “Head Games” (2012), “Life Itself” (2014), ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of ALISTAIR and JOYCE FYFE. Media Partner:

Community Partner:

(L’Économie du couple)

Directed by Joachim Lafosse

USA 2016 88 minutes

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After Love

FRANCE, BELGIUM 2016 98 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

11:50 AM

7:25 PM

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Code LOVE06

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Code LOVE07

Breaking up is rarely easy, but sometimes it’s damn near impossible. Such is the case for Boris and Marie, whose seemingly loveless, 15-year-old marriage has been hanging in limbo for several reasons. First, the couple’s financial situation is dire. Boris can’t afford a place of his own, so he sleeps in a separate area of the same house. They’ve even split up days with their young daughters, with one of them forced to leave the property until the girls are asleep. Obviously, this ridiculous set up is only leading to more dysfunction. Second, they’re afraid of how the breakup will affect their loved ones. Marie’s meddling mother doesn’t approve of divorce and makes it known every chance she gets. But as the tension and fighting intensify, it’s glaringly clear they aren’t doing anyone—especially their children—any favors by staying together. Sure, love is a beautiful thing. But when it ends, its lingering effects can be disastrous. AFTER LOVE is a brutally raw and often painful portrait of the anguish and confusion that comes when love dies. (In French with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Sylvie Pialat, Benoit Quainon, Jacques-Henri Bronckart, Olivier Bronckart Screenwriting~Mazarine Pingeot, Fanny Burdino, Joachim Lafosse Cinematography~ Jean-François Hensgens Editing~Yann Dedet Principal Cast~Bérénice Bejo, Cédric Kahn, Marthe Keller, Jade Soentjens, Margaux Soentjens Print Source~Distrib Films US / [email protected] / distribfilmsus.com About the Director~Joachim Lafosse was born in Uccle, Belgium in 1975. He studied at the Institut des Arts de Diffusion (IAD) near Brussels. AFTER LOVE won the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Award at the 2016 Philadelphia Film Festival. Filmography~“Private Madness” (2004), “Private Property” (2006), “Private Lessons” (2008), “Our Children” (2012), “The White Knights” (2015), AFTER LOVE (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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After the Storm

Afterimage

Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Directed by Andrzej Wajda

JAPAN 2016 117 minutes

POLAND 2016 98 minutes

(Umi yori mo mada fukaku)

(Powidoki)

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Wednesday, April 5

Saturday, April 8

2:00 PM

6:45 PM

6:35 PM

9:10 AM

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Code STOR05

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Code STOR06

Ryota is a washed-up author, still clinging to the glory days of his successful, but now forgotten, debut novel. Hit by a severe case of writer’s block, he’s forced to take a job as a private investigator. To save face, he tells his friends and family that it’s merely “research” for his next book. The truth is, he’s falling apart. His wife Kyoko has left him, he barely gets to see his son Shingo, and the little money he makes is gambled away. He’s even resorted to pawning off his deceased father’s possessions. The only stable thing left is his mother (played by the terrific Kirin Kiki), a hilarious, metaphor-slinging old woman, who is still holding out hope for her son’s triumphant comeback. As a terrifying typhoon begins to wreak havoc on their Japanese city, Ryota finds himself stuck in a predicament that could help him undo the damage he’s done with Kyoko and Shingo. Can the storm bring them together, or is their family forever fractured? It’s make or break for Ryota in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s warmly relatable drama, AFTER THE STORM. (In Japanese with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Takashi Ishihara, Kazumi Kawashiro, Tsugihiko Fujiwara, Tom Yoda Screenwriting~Hirokazu Kore-eda Cinematography~Yutaka Yamazaki Editing~ Hirokazu Kore-eda Principal Cast~Hiroshi Abe, Yoko Maki, Taiyo Yoshizawa, Kirin Kiki Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Hirokazu Kore-eda was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1962. He studied literature at Waseda University. He began his career as an assistant director for the Japanese production company TV Man Union. Filmography~“However…” (1991), “Lessons From A Calf” (1991), “August Without Him” (1994), “Maborosi” (1995), “Without Memory” (1996), “After Life” (1998), “Distance” (2001), “Nobody Knows” (2004), “Hana” (2006), “Still Walking” (2008), “Air Doll” (2009), “I Wish” (2011), “Like Father, Like Son” (2013), “Our Little Sister” (2015), AFTER THE STORM (2016)

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Code IMAG05

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AFTERIMAGE transports audiences to the early 1950s era of Władysław Strzemin´ski, one of Poland’s most profound artists of the 20th century. The beloved painter and professor’s progressive art theories garnered heavy resistance from a government determined to only tout “socialist realism”—work that embraces Soviet ideologies and discourages capitalism and Western culture. When he insists a firm line must remain between art and politics, Party orders oust Strzemin´ski from teaching at the very school he cofounded, and his renowned Neoplastic Room at the Museum of Art is destroyed. Strzemin´ski’s life slowly unravels as the Party mercilessly bars him of his artistic livelihood, making it nearly impossible to survive. A poignant, gracious ode to the life of a revolutionary artist, AFTERIMAGE is the final film of Polish director Andrzej Wajda who died in October 2016 at the age of 90. (In Polish with subtitles) —A.B. AFTERIMAGE was selected as Poland’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Michał Kwiecin ´ski Screenwriting~Andrzej Mularczyk Cinematography~ Paweł Edelman Editing~Graz˙yna Gradon ´ Principal Cast~Boguslaw Linda, Aleksandra Justa, Bronislawa Zamachowska Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Andrzej Wajda was an Academy Award®-winning director born in 1926 in Suwałki, Poland. After surviving Nazi-occupied Poland in WWII and fighting with the Polish resistance, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and High Film School in Lodz. He directed more than 50 films throughout his career. Selected Filmography~“Danton” (1983)—8th CIFF, “Katyn” (2007)—32nd CIFF, “Walesa: Man of Hope” (2013)—38th CIFF, AFTERIMAGE (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of JOAN TOMKINS and WILLIAM BUSTA.

Community Partners: Sponsored by: Community Partners:

Media Partner:

64

The Age of Consequences

Alba

Directed by Jared P. Scott

Directed by Ana Cristina Barragán

USA 2016 80 minutes

ECUADOR, MEXICO, GREECE 2016 96 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

6:15 PM

11:10 AM

4:20 PM

9:20 AM

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Code AGEC31

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Code AGEC01

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Code ALBA30

Sunday, April 2

Saturday, April 1

9:35 AM

2:30 PM

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Code AGEC02

For better or worse, we are all connected. Thanks to globalization, the ebbs and flows of a nation can be felt, to varying degrees, in communities on opposite sides of the world. Yet all these waves have one thing in common: climate change. Compelling case studies reveal a powerful connection between climate change and global conflict that, without immediate attention, will be society’s ultimate demise. When severe droughts, flooding, and natural disasters decimate the food and water supply for millions of people, these basic necessities can quickly turn into instruments of war. Issues of poverty, mass migrations, and a limited capacity to provide international aid only intensify when combined with extreme weather’s unpredictability. U.S. military veterans, who have firsthand experience with the devastating impacts of climate change on failing regions around the world, are leading the charge to take action. But they cannot do it alone. Relevant now more than ever, THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES unveils a terrifying look at our present reality and the desperate race against time we are dangerously losing. — A.B. Producer~Sophie Robinson Cinematography~Michael McSweeney Editing~Hypatia Porter Print Source~PF Pictures / [email protected] / theageofconsequences.com About the Director~Jared P. Scott is an award-winning filmmaker, commercial director, and founding partner at PF Pictures. Scott has delivered keynote addresses at COP 20 and COP 21 and has appeared on Huff Post Live, ABC, NBC, and Al-Jazeera. Filmography~“Do the Math” (2013), “Disruption” (2014), “Requiem for the American Dream” (2015), THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES (2016)

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Code ALBA31

Code ALBA01

ALBA is a poignant look at the life of an excruciatingly shy 11year-old. Alba, whose bedridden mother relies on her for help, is unable to form relationships at school. Instead she observes the preteen scene from outside, fragile as an insect beating its wings against a window. Alba longs to be a girl who goes to parties and wears pink lip gloss. But since her personality won’t let her, she mostly talks to herself. When her mother’s condition worsens, she goes to live with her father. He’s a maladjusted but well-meaning man, as reticent as the daughter he doesn’t know. Soon they get on together, in their own fashion. At her new school, an older girl is kind to Alba, and she’s even invited to a party. Yet following an agonizing game of middle school truth or dare, she breaks down. In sympathy with her pain, her father takes her to find solace by the sea. The future looks promising now that the two of them are together. ALBA features a beautifully understated performance by astonishing young actress Macarena Arias. (In Spanish with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~Isabella Parra, Ramiro Ruiz, Rena Vougioukalou, Konstantina Stavrianou Screenwriting~Ana Cristina Barragán Cinematography~Simón Brauer Editing~ Yibrán Asuad, Juan Daniel Molero, José María Avilés Principal Cast~Macarena Arias, Pablo Aguirre, Amaia Merino Print Source~Caleidoscopio Cine / [email protected] / alba-pelicula.com About the Director~Ana Cristina Barragán was born in Ecuador in 1987 and studied directing at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She made her first short film when she was 20. ALBA, her first feature film, has been nominated for awards at five international festivals. Filmography~ALBA (2016) Community Partners:

Community Partners:

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www.clevelandfilm.org

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All the Beauty

All This Panic

(Alt det vakre)

Directed by Jenny Gage

Directed by Aasne Vaa Greibrokk

USA 2016 79 minutes

NORWAY 2016 90 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Friday, April 7

3:45 PM

11:15 AM

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Code BEAU05

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Code BEAU07

Saturday, April 8 5:40 PM

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Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

7:45 PM

9:15 AM

David and Sarah have fallen in and out of love and lust too many times to count. Four decades worth of their tumultuous romance is the subject of David’s four-act play, a topic Sarah wishes he would leave safely behind them. Ten years have passed since they last saw each other and, because of David’s failing health, Sarah has reluctantly agreed to his request of helping him put the finishing touches on their so-called love story. As she flips the pages of the manuscript full of familiar plot lines, Sarah relives their blissful moments of euphoria while being frequently interrupted by the painful memories fueled by their conflicting needs for both fidelity and freedom. Four pairs of actors portray David and Sarah at various ages in this groundbreaking play-within-a-movie. Complicated by bouts of passion and stifling egos, ALL THE BEAUTY is an intriguing portrayal of two lovers so achingly tormented by their affection, they struggle to figure out if the other is exactly what they don’t need or absolutely what they can’t live without. (In Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Hans-Jørgen Osnes, Yngve Sæther Screenwriting~Aasne Vaa Greibrokk, Hilde Susan Jægtnes Cinematography~Torkel Riise Svenson Editing~Helle Le Fevre Principal Cast~Ann Elenora Jørgensen, Magnus Krepper, Andrea Bræin Hovig, Kristoffer Joner Print Source~Norwegian Film Institiute / [email protected] / nfi.no About the Director~Aasne Vaa Greibrokk is a director, writer, and editor from Bodø, Norway. She studied at the Nordland College of Art and Film and graduated from the Norwegian Film School in 2012. Filmography~ALL THE BEAUTY (2016) Community Partner:

Code APAN06

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Code APAN07

Saturday, April 8 11:30 AM

Code BEAU08

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Code APAN08

Being a teenage girl isn’t easy, although resiliency and friendship make the experience palatable. That’s the underlying message of the touching documentary ALL THIS PANIC, which follows a group of likeable, insightful Brooklyn teenagers over a threeyear span. The film revolves around spitfire Ginger, an aspiring actress who’s at loose ends post-high school and struggling to find motivation, and her younger sister Dusty, who isn’t ready to grow up and leave childhood behind. Their friends include: sagacious Lena, a Sarah Lawrence student who’s worried about her father as he grapples with mental health issues; Sage, a confident teenage feminist exploring her black heritage and dealing with her dad’s sudden death; and Olivia, a shy surf enthusiast who’s coming to terms with the fact she’s gay. The teens are blunt about their insecurities and fears but undaunted as they withstand evolving friendships, shifting identities, and nagging parents. ALL THIS PANIC is a gorgeously shot, realistic portrayal of the angst and excitement present when you’re on the cusp of coming into your own. —A.Z. Producers~Jenny Gage, Tom Betterton, Christie Colliopolous, Jennifer Ollman Cinematography~Tom Betterton Editing~Connor Kalista Print Source~The Film Sales Company / [email protected] / filmsalescorp.com About the Director~Jenny Gage was raised in Malibu, California. She holds an M.F.A. in Photography from Yale University. Along with husband and artistic partner Tom Betterton, she has photographed advertising campaigns for Ralph Lauren, JC Penney, Estée Lauder, and Sony. She has also had editorial work published in W, Vanity Fair, and Vogue Nippon. Filmography~ALL THIS PANIC (2016)

66

Aloys

American Anarchist

Directed by Tobias Nölle

Directed by Charlie Siskel

SWITZERLAND, FRANCE 2016 91 minutes

USA 2016 80 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

9:25 AM

3:50 PM

2:20 PM

9:40 PM

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Code ALOY02

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Code ALOY04

Thursday, April 6 9:45 PM

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Code ALOY06

Private investigator Aloys Adorn is quietly devastated by the loss of his father. He copes with his grief and loneliness by capturing (and then compulsively viewing) surveillance tape footage of the world around him. When his tapes and camera are stolen after a drunken night out, however, Adorn’s austere, solitary existence unexpectedly changes. He’s contacted by an unknown woman, who says he can try “telephone walking” — or emotional connection via intense, imagination-filled calls — to get his beloved property back. With these calls, Adorn is drawn into an increasingly vivid, social world where he’s the life of the party. This soon brings new complications, not the least of which is his neighbor Vera, who’s in the hospital after a suicide attempt. ALOYS takes liberties with time and setting to create disorienting, delightful ambiguity. Is Adorn’s happiness a figment of his imagination? And, if so, is that necessarily a bad thing? ALOYS blurs the lines between fantasy and reality and is a thought-provoking treatise on the agony and ecstasy of human vulnerability. (In Swiss German with subtitles) — A.Z. Producers~Christof Neracher, Jean des Forêts Screenwriting~Tobias Nölle Cinematography~Simon Guy Fässler Editing~Tobias Nölle Principal Cast~ Georg Friedrich, Tilde von Overbeck Print Source~New Europe Film Sales / [email protected] / neweuropefilmsales.com About the Director~Tobias Nölle was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1976. He studied film at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He began his career directing, writing, and editing short films, including the award-winning “Rene.” ALOYS won the Audience Award at the 2016 Las Palmas Film Festival and received a FIPRESCI Prize at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival. Filmography~ALOYS (2016)

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Code ANAR05

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In 1971 a 19-year-old named William Powell wrote The Anarchist’s Cookbook. Made in the turbulent era of the Vietnam War, the book laid out a manifesto against the government. Its message also offered violence as a means to bring about political change. Included in the text were recipes to make bombs, which have been used by viscous criminals to carry out attacks and linked to school shootings in Columbine and elsewhere, as well as the Oklahoma City bombings and the shooting of U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords. Terrorists from ISIS and Al Queda have reportedly used it as well. After its publication, Powell became disillusioned by his own words. He moved abroad to teach children with disabilities and largely ignored the book and its legacy. In AMERICAN ANARCHIST, the filmmakers ponder whether Powell has done enough throughout the years to denounce his writings. The interviews become uncomfortable when the author is confronted with the carnage connected to his text. This striking documentary provides proof that our words can live on forever, regardless of whether or not we still believe them. —E.F. Producer~Charlie Siskel Cinematography~Nina Bernfeld Editing~Chris Mckinle Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Charlie Siskel is an Oscar®-and Emmy-nominated filmmaker from Los Angeles, California. He is the nephew of film critic Gene Siskel. He began his career as a producer on Michael Moore’s award-winning television series The Awful Truth. Filmography~“Finding Vivian Maier” (2013), AMERICAN ANARCHIST (2016)

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Amerika Square

Anishoara

Directed by Yannis Sakaridis

Directed by Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu

GREECE, UNITED KINGDOM, GERMANY 2016 86 minutes

GERMANY, MOLDOVA 2016 106 minutes

(Plateia Amerikis)

(Anis¸oara)

Thursday, March 30

Sunday, April 2

Tuesday, April 4

Thursday, April 6

12:10 PM

11:00 AM

11:30 AM

4:15 PM

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Code SQUA30

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Code SQUA02

Monday, April 3 9:25 PM

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Code SQUA03

Hatred, which manifests itself in many ways, is often the result of fear. When times are bad, people often look for a scapegoat. This heated and highly topical subject is examined in Yannis Sakaridis’ AMERIKA SQUARE. At 38, Nakos still lives with his parents, unable to find work. His frustration has found an outlet in his obsessive tracking of the immigrants in his apartment complex. As that number grows, Nakos’ racist ideology becomes increasingly dangerous. His tattoo artist neighbor Billy has fallen for an African singer named Tereza. She’s gotten herself mixed up with the mob, and Billy is desperate to help her escape. Meanwhile across town a middle-aged Syrian refugee named Tarek (brilliantly portrayed by Vassilis Kukalani) is trying to find safe passage to Germany for himself and his young daughter. Billy and Tarek both turn to Hassan, an expert at smuggling immigrants. The three stories are lightly intertwined at the beginning. But ultimately they end up tightly wound in a fervent crescendo. This intense film tackles immigration head on; its chilling implications provide a teachable moment as its narrative eerily mirrors our current reality. (In English, Greek, and Arabic with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Yannis Sakaridis, Nikkos J. Frangos, George Th Lemos, Venia Vergou Screenwriting~Yannis Tsirbas, Vangelis Mourikis, Yannis Sakaridis Cinematography~ Jan Vogel Editing~Yannis Sakaridis Principal Cast~Yannis Stankoglou, Makis Papadimitriou, Vassilis Kukalani, Ksenia Dania, Alexandros Logothetis Print Source~Patra Spanou Film Marketing & Consulting / [email protected] / patraspanou.com About the Director~Yannis Sakaridis was born in Skydra, Greece in 1968. He studied at the London College of Printing and the University of Westminster. He’s also a veteran film editor and has worked for Warner Brothers and the BBC. Filmography~ “Wild Duck” (2013), AMERIKA SQUARE (2016)

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There is a Moldovan legend about a lovely princess whom many men desired. She had but One Love, the Sun. The Sun wed her and took her to the sky, but he burnt her with his caresses and her ashes fell to Earth. Anishoara is a beautiful 15-yearold farm girl in Moldova. She is wooed by both young and old, without success. Her Sun is Dragosh, a handsome local boy who rides a motorcycle and has captured Anishoara’s mind and heart. Dragosh acts as if he means to complete the story and Anishoara believes, as yet, in happy endings. ANISHOARA takes us through all the seasons of this deceptively simple story. This movie will enchant with its singular rhythms and glow, filmed with the hypnotic beauty of a fairy tale. Though Anishoara wishes it were, this won’t be a fairy tale. A few ashes may darken her Sun. And her happy ending, if it comes, may not be quite the one she expects. (In Romanian with subtitles) —C.R. Producers~Jonas Weydemann, Jakob D. Weydemann Screenwriting~Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu Cinematography~Stephan Bruns, Manja Ebert, Stephan Franz Editing~ Hannah Schwegel Principal Cast~Ana Morari, Andrei Morari, Dragos¸ Scutelnicu, Petru Ros¸covan, Veronica Cangea, Vasile Brînza˘, Willem Menne, Andrei Sochirca˘ Print Source~Pluto Film / [email protected] / plutofilm.de About the Director~Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu was born in 1978 in Chisinau, Moldova in the former USSR. She moved to Berlin and enrolled in the Germany Film and Television Academy. Her short films have won many awards. Filmography~ ANISHOARA (2016)

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Apprentice

Area

Directed by Boo Junfeng

Directed by Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio

SINGAPORE, GERMANY, FRANCE, HONG KONG, QATAR 2016 97 minutes

PHILIPPINES 2016 106 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

11:30 AM

9:30 PM

9:30 PM

11:30 AM

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Code APPR05

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Code APPR06

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Code AREA02

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Code AREA03

Aiman, a principled young corrections officer, has been transferred to Laragan maximum security prison. Trying to put behind the shame of a criminal father and his own involvement with gangs and drugs, Aiman is determined to craft a better life for himself and his sister. He becomes fascinated by Chief Rahim, a senior official who, as Aiman shortly discovers, is the prison’s Executioner. Rahim recognizes abilities in the young guard that might qualify him to become his assistant. But Aiman knows there is a dark link between them, one that throws his acceptance of the offer into a strange and disturbing light. When his sister discovers what he is doing and who he is working for, Aiman’s personal life threatens to collapse. Told with grace and understated power, APPRENTICE examines an unsettling profession with unflinching honesty and humanity. Filmed with subtle beauty, this tense drama never once exploits or sensationalizes its subject. Within the efficient industry of death lies a riveting and emotional exploration of the deepest themes of life. (In Malay with subtitles) — C.R.

In Angeles City in the Philippines, a neighborhood referred to as “Area” has become known for its bargain-priced brothels. These establishments service poor men who can’t afford the expensive luxuries of the red-light district. Many of the prostitutes in these brothels are past their prime and out of shape. They’re desperate for clients and even willing to trade sex for needed household items. They eat scraps and leftovers from their pimp’s family. It’s a depressing existence, one that severely lacks hope or promise. Most of the ladies have accepted their fate—except Hillary, a kind woman who also looks after some of the younger girls. She’s been saving up for a plane ticket to America in the hopes of being reunited with her son. Everyone around her thinks she’s crazy, constantly teasing her for what they see as an impossible feat. Can she and the rest of the women escape the hell they’re trapped in? AREA is a fictional tale, but its characters represent real life archetypes. The film portrays them honestly but never casts judgment. (In Tagalog and Kapampangan with subtitles) —E.F.

APPRENTICE was selected as Singapore’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®.

Producers~Baby Go, Ferdinand Lapuz, Dennis Evangelista, Romeo Lindain Screenwriting~Robby Tantingoco Cinematography~Rain Yamson Editing~Gilbert Obispo Principal Cast~Ai Ai Delas Alas, Allen Dizon, Sue Prado, Sancho Delas Alas, Sarah Brakensiek, Ireen Cervantes, Tabs Sumulong Print Source~BG Productions International / [email protected]

Producers~Raymond Phathanavirangoon, Fran Borgia, Tan Fong Cheng Screenwriting~Boo Junfeng, Raymond Phathanavirangoon Cinematography~ Benoit Soler Editing~Natalie Soh, Lee Chatametikool Principal Cast~Fir Rahman, Wan Hanafi Su, Mastura Ahmad, Koh Boon Pin, Nickson Cheng, Crispian Chan Gerald Chew Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Boo Junfeng was born in 1983 in Singapore. He graduated from the School of Film and Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2003 and from the Lasalle College of the Arts in 2009, where he was given the McNally Award for Excellence in the Arts. Filmography~“Sandcastle” (2010), “17 Letters” (2015), APPRENTICE (2016)

About the Director~Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio was born in the Province of Laguna, Philippines in 1968. He studied mass communication at Centro Escolar University. Filmography~“Pangarap ko ang ibigin ka” (2003), “Annie B.” (2004), “Lovestruck” (2005), “Between the Eyes” (2014)—39th CIFF, “Child Haus” (2015), AREA (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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At the Death House Door Directed by Steve James, Peter Gilbert USA 2008 98 minutes

Saturday, April 1 1:30 PM

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877.304.FILM

Code ATTH01

When capital punishment was reinstated in Texas in 1982, many residents of Huntsville cheered. The city was home to the Texas State Penitentiary where, over the next 13 years, Carroll Pickett would oversee the execution of 95 inmates by lethal injection as the prison’s minister. His far-from-envied role was to stay with each inmate from the morning of their death through their last, fateful words at midnight. A private man, Pickett took to a tape recorder to document his thoughts, feelings, and grief the day after every execution and reflect on his calling to serve in this capacity as a man of God. Adding to Pickett’s personal commentary, AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR follows the case of Carlos DeLuna, one death row victim whose presumed innocence may be realized too late. Once a firm supporter of the death penalty, Pickett’s intimate experience begins reshaping his definition of just punishment. AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR takes us down corridors of the infamously nicknamed “Walls Unit” to confront the corners of our consciences of right and wrong. — A.B. Producers~Steve James, Peter Gilbert Cinematography~Peter Gilbert Editing~ Steve James, Aaron Wickenden Print Source~Kartemquin / [email protected] / kartemquin.com About the Directors~Born in Hampton, Virginia in 1954, Steve James is recognized as one of the most acclaimed documentary filmmakers of his generation. He regularly collaborates with the Chicago-based nonprofit production studio Kartemquin Films. His film “Hoop Dreams” was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Film Editing and recently selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Peter Gilbert has had a distinquished career in producing, directing, and photographing documentaries, feature films, commercials, and music videos. Collaborative Filmography~AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR (2008)

Barakah Meets Barakah (Barakah Yoqabil Barakah)

Directed by Mahmoud Sabbagh SAUDI ARABIA 2016 84 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

9:35 PM

11:45 AM

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Meet Barakah, a middle-class municipality worker who dabbles in public theater. Meet Bibi, a famous Instagram sensation in the midst of fortune and fame. When the unlikely pair in BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH cross paths and begin a budding romance, alone time is at a premium. Dates as commonplace as dinner at a restaurant, an afternoon at the beach, or a casual drive through the city are off limits for the young Saudi Arabian couple. Barakah longs for the days of the generation before him where things like art, music, and love weren’t hidden or forbidden. When the relationship seems nothing short of impossible, Barakah leans on Da’ash, his gruff uncle who offers less-thanhelpful dating advice, and Sa’adiya, his over-bearing aunt who doubles as neighborhood gossip and midwife, who are both desperate for Barakah to find a wife. Barakah’s misguided attempts courting the reluctant Bibi make for a complicated love story of two people facing the realities of their country’s customs and the barriers meant to keep them apart. (In Arabic with subtitles) —A.B. BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH was selected as Saudi Arabia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Mahmoud Sabbagh Screenwriting~Mahmoud Sabbagh Cinematography~ Victor Credi Editing~Sofia Subercaseaux, Daniel Garcia, Anas Batahaf Principal Cast~Hisham Fageeh, Fatima Al Banawi, Sami Hifny Print Source~MPM Film / [email protected] / mpmfilm.com About the Director~Mahmoud Sabbagh was born in Saudi Arabia and holds a Master’s Degree of Science from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is an independent filmmaker, producer, and writer. Filmography~ BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH (2016)

70

Barkley

Be Relentless

Directed by Li-Wei Chiu

Directed by Brad Riley

TAIWAN, CHINA 2016 86 minutes

USA 2017 90 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

4:45 PM

12:00 Noon

11:25 AM

5:05 PM

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Code BARK07

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Code BARK08

Like many 12-year-old boys, Fido is disgruntled and sleepy. One day he falls asleep on the train and wakes up in a strange world of human-like animals. Mistaken for a monkey by the locals, Fido attends the gigantic Amazing Power Show, which features a clever kitty named Barkley as its MC. Lucas, a human dictator, maintains control over the naïve animals by displaying his strength in endless shows. He uses magic to maintain a strong military presence, telling them they need it to fend off an unseen enemy. Fido and Barkley discover Lucas is a fraud who uses tricks and technology to retain power. After a captive tiger mom teaches Fido the value of families, both animal and human, he decides to lead rather than follow. While helping his friends throw off their chains, he exposes the truth. A symphonic score complements the vivid animation in BARKLEY, an imaginative tale that shows us the importance of standing together against tricky tyrants. (In Mandarin with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Shih-Ling Wang, Shan-Shan Lou, Wayne Chen Screenwriting~Li-Wei Chiu, Ke-Fa Liao, Chau-Er Gu Editing~Li-Wei Chiu Animation Supervisor~Wei-Lun Feng Print Source~studio2 Animation Lab / [email protected] / studio2.com.tw About the Director~Li-Wei Chiu is the director of the studio2 Animation Lab. He graduated from Taiwan’s Tainan National University of the Arts and has a Ph.D. from the Beijing Film Academy. Chiu’s animated TV series The Little Sun and Barkley the Cat have won numerous awards. BARKLEY is the first animated film to be co-produced by China and Taiwan. Filmography~“Kotora on the Run” (2010), BARKLEY (2016)

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Sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says one in five runaways are likely victims of this appalling phenomenon. Norma Bastidas understands the enormity of this issue, having endured sexual violence and abuse at the hands of human traffickers. For years she bottled up her emotions, struggling with addiction. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there—not even close. A true survivor, Bastidas got clean and broke her silence in a huge way, going public with her experience and becoming a fierce advocate for the cause. In order to raise awareness, she set out to break the Guinness World Record for longest triathlon, an intense feat that took her 3,762 miles, from Cancun, Mexico to Washington, D.C. A combination of running, swimming, and biking, the incredibly draining expedition took a severe physical toll on her body. Yet despite the pain, she soldiered on, knowing that victory could help to prevent others from suffering. BE RELENTLESS chronicles her inspiring journey to motivate the world to end exploitation. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Jessie Marek, Brad Riley Cinematography~Simon Scionka Editing~ Monique Zavistovski Print Source~iEmpathize / [email protected] / iempathize.org About the Director~Brad Riley is a filmmaker and activist from Boulder, Colorado. He is the founder and president of the human rights nonprofit iEmpathize. Filmography~BE RELENTLESS (2017) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Beautiful Garden

Big Sonia

Directed by Christopher Peplin

Directed by Leah Warshawski, Todd Soliday

USA 2017 104 minutes

USA 2016 93 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Saturday, April 8

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

7:15 PM

12:05 PM

6:15 PM

1:55 PM

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Code GARD05

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Code GARD08

Filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, BEAUTIFUL GARDEN is set against the backdrop of Lake Erie. A large old house on the beach has been taken over by squatters. They’re an odd mix of drifters, runaways, and anyone else who have found themselves homeless. From an abused teenager and a starving artist, to a young family impacted by the recession, there are over 15 people living here, with more coming and going every day. Also included in the bunch are junkies and drug dealers who do their best to hide their criminal activity from the others. At the helm of this strange commune is King, a creepy and mysterious man who lives in the attic. When one of the residents witnesses a murder in the backyard, their community begins to crumble. Greed and corruption have found their way into this utopia. It soon will come to light that their entire existence was based on a very dark secret. This entertaining crime-thriller is laced with romance and drama, skillfully weaving the stories of many characters into one cohesive and explosive finale. — E.F. Producers~Charles Moore, Christopher Peplin, J. Scott Scheel Screenwriting~ Christopher Peplin Cinematography~David Litz Editing~Christopher Peplin Principal Cast~Richie Matthew Logsdon, Jade Viggiano, Alexander Mendeluk, Julia Lawler, Michael Frieman, Kelleigh Miller, Charles Moore, Christopher Peplin Print Source~Burning River Productions / [email protected] / burningriverfilms.com About the Director~Christopher Peplin is a Los Angeles filmmaker, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He studied film at Cleveland State University. Filmography~ BEAUTIFUL GARDEN (2017)

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Code BIGS30

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Code BIGS31

Six days a week, 90-year-old Sonia Warshawski climbs into her oversized Oldsmobile and heads for the only store still open in a decrepit Kansas City shopping mall. Long after Macy’s and The Limited were boarded up, John’s Tailoring still stands. Sonia, under five feet tall, is herself a survivor—of the Holocaust. Deported from Mi dzyrzec, Poland at age 13, she lived through Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Now her work at John’s helps her to not think about the “dark spot.” BIG SONIA is a heartfelt labor of love by her granddaughter Leah Warshawski. Sonia is upbeat and decidedly old school, always made up and coiffed, fresh flowers on the shop counter. She greets customers of 30 years by name. Even Vernon, the lone mall security guard, comes around to check on her. Now Sonia’s most important work are her talks in schools and prisons, where her story brings middle schoolers and hardened criminals to tears. We’re going backwards, she tells them: hate is still growing in the world. But no matter what you’ve been through, you can choose who to be in the future. Everybody better listen to BIG SONIA. — B.B. Producer~Leah Warshawski Cinematography~Todd Soliday Editing~Todd Soliday, Eric Frith, Doug Loviska Print Source~Inflatable Film / [email protected] / bigsonia.com About the Directors~Leah Warshawski produces documentaries, television productions, commercials, and branded entertainment in remote parts of the world. Todd Soliday is a jack-of-all-trades with 25 years’ experience in production and post. He specializes in documentary storytelling and adventure films. Collaborative Filmography~BIG SONIA (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of TED and SUSAN.

Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

72

Breaking Balls

Bugs

Directed by John P. Vourlis

Directed by Andreas Johnsen

USA 2017 73 minutes

DENMARK, NETHERLANDS, FRANCE, GERMANY 2016 74 minutes

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

7:35 PM

3:55 PM

11:25 AM

7:50 PM

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Code BREA03

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Code BREA04

Bocce is an ancient sport, going all the way back to the Roman Empire. It was later developed into its current form in Italy. Having a large population of Italian immigrants, Cleveland, Ohio has become a hot spot for the sport, thanks to the popular Cleveland Cup of Bocce Championship. Held at the ItalianAmerican Club in the suburb of Wickliffe, the competition has grown considerably throughout the years. Athletes from all over the United States and Canada come for the tournament, now in its third decade of existence. Other events in the suburb of Mayfield Heights and Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood have also led to a growing interest in bocce. To the die-hard players, it’s more than just a game; it’s a tradition rich with culture they hope to pass on to their children. BREAKING BALLS follows the members of the Italian-American Club as they prepare for the annual event, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of bocce. Whether you’re already a fan or completely unfamiliar, this passionate portrayal of the sport makes for a truly enlightening documentary. (In English and Italian with subtitles) —E.F. Producer~John P. Vourlis Cinematography~Luke Horvat, Rafeeq Roberts, Dennis Shanaberg, Patrick Antone, Thomas Stumpf, J. Andrew Thames Editing~Ilona Jurek, Tina Mascara Print Source~Hometown Media Productions / [email protected] / hometownmediaproductions.com About the Director~John P. Vourlis is a filmmaker from Cleveland, Ohio. He holds an M.F.A. in Cinema & Television from the University of Southern California. He’s also the president of Hometown Media Productions. Filmography~BREAKING BALLS (2017)

This film is presented with the generous support of BILL and ROSE DECAPITE.

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In recent years the United Nations has suggested that, due to a growing population, we may find ourselves dealing with a food shortage sooner than we think. One of their recommendations: edible insects. Championed by cooks for their unique flavors, and embraced by environmentalists for their small ecological impact, creepy crawlers are being hailed as the miracle cure. In BUGS, director Andreas Johnsen teams up with researchers and chefs from Copenhagen’s Nordic Food Lab to determine whether or not that’s the case. Traveling to such places as Mexico, Australia, Kenya, and Japan, they encounter communities where such delicacies as grasshoppers, termite queens, and venomous hornets are eaten. That may sound unappetizing, but the film’s expert chefs transform these gooey creatures into beautiful, great tasting dishes. Along the way, however, the filmmakers discover a number of things that could dampen the U.N.’s perfect plan. They also learn the food dilemma is less about population growth and more about unfair distribution and corporate greed. This colorful documentary is powerful in its message while allowing for some incredibly fun moments as well. —E.F. Producer~Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær Cinematography~Andreas Johnsen Editing~ Menno Boerema Print Source~Kino Lorber / kinolorber.com About the Director~Andreas Johnsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1974. He’s the owner of the production company Rosforth Films. Filmography~“Mr. Catra: The Faithful” (2004), “Inside Outside” (2005), “Curtain Raising: Musicians in East Africa” (2006), “Good Copy Bad Copy” (2007), “Natasja” (2008), “Man Ooman” (2008), “Murder” (2009), “A Kind of Paradise” (2011), “Kidd Life” (2012), “Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case” (2013), BUGS (2016) Sponsored by:

Sponsored by: Media Partner: Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Burn the Ships

Buster’s Mal Heart

Directed by Danielle Miller, Julia Thorndike

Directed by Sarah Adina Smith

USA 2016 88 minutes

USA 2016 96 minutes

Friday, March 31 7:00 PM

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Code BURN31

At the Akron-Summit County Public Library (see page 49)

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

11:10 AM

4:15 PM

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Code BURN02

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Code BURN03

The Akron Racers are the longest tenured team in the National Pro Fastpitch League — the country’s only women’s professional softball organization. Run by the super dedicated Joey Arietta, who manages the team like they’re her family, the Racers keep getting close to the NPF championship only to fall short. BURN THE SHIPS chronicles the team’s 2015 season, giving us an all-access pass to the players’ lives, the work that goes into keeping the team and the league alive, and the emotional balance between trying to live when you’re not getting paid to do what you love. There’s a bit of “A League of Their Own” in the lives of these girls — traveling the country to play in front of sparse crowds, wearing oodles of pink, playing fourth or fifth fiddle to the men, but always showing up on the field with positive attitudes that are infectious for all sports fans. While the Racers may not be household names, BURN THE SHIPS will introduce us to underdogs who embody the Northeast Ohio spirit. — T.W. Producers~Danielle Miller, Julia Thorndike Cinematography~Caleb Crossen Editing~Danielle Miller Print Source~Think Media Studios / [email protected] / thinkmediastudios.com About the Directors~Danielle Miller and Julia Thorndike are on the production team of Cleveland’s Think Media Studios. Collaborative Filmography~BURN THE SHIPS (2016) Media Partner:

Friday, March 31

Sunday, April 2

9:40 PM

3:50 PM

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A massive manhunt and violent shoot-out has Buster cornered in a remote cave. Buster is a legend, a drifter who lives in the wild and in empty vacation homes in winter, always evading capture. Who is he? BUSTER’S MAL HEART skids us across time like a skipping stone to offer pieces to that puzzle. The story reveals what leads to Buster’s discovery and introduces us to Jonah, a struggling young night manager with a wife and child. Jonah meets a nameless stranger, a prophet of the Apocalypse, who warns Jonah of cosmic inversions and malignant conspiracies. When unthinkable tragedy shatters Jonah’s world, these seemingly unconnected narratives begin to reveal a disturbing pattern. Who is the man adrift at sea who mentally communicates with Buster? Is it one person, a soul divided? BUSTER’S MAL HEART doles out its secrets in a startling, cerebral manner. It questions the very solidity of the universe without denying the painful reality of the human heart. This beautiful and bizarre film will boggle your mind. Brace yourself. —C.R. Producers~Jonako Donley, Travis Stevens Screenwriting~Sarah Adina Smith Cinematography~Shaheen Seth Editing~Sarah Adina Smith Principal Cast~Rami Malek, DJ Qualls, Kate Lyn Sheil, Sukha Belle Potter, Toby Huss Print Source~Well Go USA / [email protected] / wellgousa.com About the Director~Sarah Adina Smith was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. She studied philosophy at Columbia University. She is an actress, special effects artist, writer, producer, and director. She lives and works in Los Angeles where she co-founded the creative studio Friend Of A Friend. Filmography~“The Midnight Swim” (2014)—39th CIFF, BUSTER’S MAL HEART (2016)

Community Partners:

Sponsored by:

74

Carrie Pilby

Cave

Directed by Susan Johnson

Directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken

USA 2016 98 minutes

NORWAY 2016 85 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

7:15 PM

2:35 PM

2:15 PM

9:20 PM

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Code CARR31

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Code CARR01

CARRIE PILBY, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, stars Bel Powley (“Diary of a Teenage Girl”) and is based on the international best-seller by Caren Lissner. Carrie is a genius who graduated from Harvard at 18. Convinced the world is populated by oversexed hypocrites, she has a hard time making sense of life as it relates to morality, relationships, sex, and leaving her apartment. In an effort to coax Carrie out of her shell, her psychiatrist (Nathan Lane) makes a deceptively simple checklist of goals for her to achieve between Thanksgiving and the year’s end. Each goal brings Carrie closer to the understanding that humans, like books, can’t be judged by their covers. The film was directed by Susan Johnson from a script by Kara Holden and also stars Gabriel Byrne, Vanessa Bayer, Colin O’Donoghue, William Moseley, and Jason Ritter. — The Orchard Producers~Susan Cartsonis, Brent Emery, Suzanne Farrell, Susan Johnson, Lisa Wolofsky Screenwriting~Kara Holden Cinematography~Gonzalo Amat Editing~ Phillip Bartell Principal Cast~Bel Powley, Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, Vanessa Bayer, Colin O’Donoghue, Jason Ritter, William Moseley Print Source~The Orchard / theorchard.com About the Director~Susan Johnson is an Independent Spirit Award-winning filmmaker who recently completed her 11th feature in as many years. As a producer, her films include the Sundance/Cannes hit “Mean Creek,” “Eye of the Dolphin” and sequel “Beneath the Blue,” and “God Help the Girl” on which she served as co-executive producer. Johnson attended USC and earned an M.F.A. at the prestigious American Film Institute. Filmography~CARRIE PILBY (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of ART and CAROL ANTON. Community Partner:

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Code CAVE30

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Code CAVE01

Tuesday, April 4 5:50 PM

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Code CAVE04

Three friends who served together in Afghanistan reunite for an adventure exploring a dangerous underground cave, one that has already claimed numerous lives. The cave has been sealed to prevent further fatalities and entering it is illegal. This just adds to the thrill for these ex-military pals. When they arrive at the cave entrance, they find the seal broken. As they go deeper into the earth, things begin to go wrong. Abandoned gear and tents are found, leading them to realize perhaps they are not alone in the depths of the earth. Somebody, or possibly something, might be down there with them. Or is there a force even more terrifying lurking about them, something as primal and dangerous as the rocks and waters themselves? Everything about CAVE is meticulously crafted to prey on your senses. You will feel the rock walls close in around you and the fear of something approaching from behind. You will be immersed in a tense and awesome world of sensation and fear. CAVE is a nerve-bender worth exploring. (In Norwegian with subtitles) —C.R. Producer~Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken Screenwriting~Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken Cinematography~Oskar Dahlsbakken Editing~Mads Wølner Voss Principal Cast~ Heidi Toini Øieren, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Benjamin Helstad, Ingar Helge Gimle Print Source~Norwegian Film Institute / [email protected] / nfi.no About the Director~Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken was born in 1989 in Hamar, Norway. He is a self-taught filmmaker and projectionist. He has made award-winning shorts. Filmography~“Returning Home” (2015)—40th CIFF, “Late Summer” (2016), CAVE (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Center of My World

The Chocolate Case

Directed by Jakob M. Erwa

Directed by Benthe Forrer

GERMANY 2016 115 minutes

NETHERLANDS 2016 90 minutes

(Die Mitte der Welt)

(Tony)

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

11:45 AM

6:50 PM

8:50 PM

4:25 PM

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Saturday, April 1 8:40 PM

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Code CENT01

Love is at the center of Phil’s world, and it’s really screwing things up for him. Whether it’s love for his slightly loony mother Glass and his fraternal twin Diane (who suddenly aren’t speaking), love for his gorgeous new boyfriend Nicholas (who may not love him back), or love for his best friend Kat (who may have eyes for Nicholas), love is making a royal mess of everything. With such adorably dysfunctional and odd people around him to set highly questionable examples, what is a gentle and trusting young soul like Phil supposed to do when all hell breaks loose? CENTER OF MY WORLD skips gleefully from past to present, bringing Phil up to this point in his off-kilter fairytale life. It’s a bright, colorful whirl of images that reveals both fantastic patterns and a deeply human story. Joyful, funny, and sometimes sad, this film is for everyone who has ever looked for love, who has found it, or who can’t figure out exactly what to do with it. (In German with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Boris Schönfelder Screenwriting~Jakob M. Erwa Cinematography~ Ngo The Chau Editing~Carlotta Kittel Principal Cast~Louis Hofmann, Sabine Timoteo, Ada Philine Stappenbeck, Jannik Schümann Print Source~m-appeal / [email protected] / m-appeal.com About the Director~Jakob M. Erwa was born in 1981 in Graz, Austria. He is an actor, writer, cinematographer, and director. His films have received numerous nominations and awards. Filmography~“All the Invisible Things” (2007), “Homesick” (2015), CENTER OF MY WORLD (2016)

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In 2003 three Dutch watchdog journalists—Teun van de Keuken, Maurice Dekkers, and Roland Duong—found a scandal hiding in plain sight: published reports that the chocolate industry used child slaves as laborers on cocoa plantations. Their concern about this exploitation kicked off a decade-plus odyssey to produce a 100% slave-free chocolate bar. This arresting documentary shows how difficult their task was: the journalists faced chocolate industry indifference (if not outright hostility and stonewalling), judicial apathy, and plenty of misinformation. Even when the trio successfully market what they think is an ethically sourced bar (dubbed Tony’s Chocolonely), it only leads to more questions and troubling revelations. THE CHOCOLATE CASE pulls the curtain back on how the food we consume is actually made and illustrates the severity (and reality) of the industry’s human rights violations by airing harrowing interviews with former chocolate slaves. Viewers will likely never look at a candy bar in the same way again. (In English, Dutch, French, and German with subtitles) —A.Z. Producer~Barbara Coronel Cinematography~Maarten Kramer Editing~Ralk Verbeek Print Source~Offbeat Cinema / [email protected] / offbeatcinema.nl About the Director~Benthe Forrer is based in Amsterdam. She also writes and acts. She co-founded the television production company Dahl TV in 2002 and has directed and produced documentary-based TV series. Filmography~THE CHOCOLATE CASE (2016) Community Partners:

76

City of Joy

Clash

(Eshtebak)

Directed by Madeleine Gavin DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, USA 2016 74 minutes

Monday, April 3

6:30 PM I Code CITY03 (w/FilmForum)

Tuesday, April 4 2:25 PM

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Code CITY04

War has been raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and women are caught in the crosshairs. Since the 1990s, militias have been fighting over the region’s rich, lucrative natural resources. Of their war tactics, rape runs rampant and is strategically used to devastate communities by tearing families apart and forcing victims to flee. Enter City of Joy, a leadership center dedicated to serving survivors of rape and gender violence. Here, women learn to not only face, but also embrace, their unspeakable stories. In one of the most dangerous parts of the world, these survivors study their rights as women and practice self-defense techniques to protect themselves from future threats. When they let go of the guilt they carry from their attacks and regain the self-worth of which they’ve been unfairly stripped, they will return home to be the leaders their communities so desperately need. CITY OF JOY sheds light on the unbelievably resilient women left in a war’s destructive path. No longer living in fear, they are demanding our attention. (In English, French, and Swahili with subtitles) — A.B. Producer~Allyson Luchak Cinematography~Taylor Krauss, Lisa Renzler Editing~ Madeleine Gavin Print Source~Madeleine Gavin / cityofjoyfilm.com About the Director~Madeleine Gavin works primarily as an editor for narrative and documentary films. Gavin was nominated for an Emmy for the Academy Award®nominated documentary “Which Way Home.” She currently teaches in the graduate Film Program at Columbia University. Filmography~CITY OF JOY (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of JO and MARK GOREN. This film is presented with the generous support of LYNN GOTTLOB.

Community Partner:

Directed by Mohamed Diab EGYPT, FRANCE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, GERMANY 2016 97 minutes

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

7:15 PM

4:20 PM

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Code CLAS03

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Code CLAS04

Set in the chaotic time that followed the 2013 ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, CLASH uses a unique setting to examine the various political views of Egyptians from different social backgrounds. The entire film takes place in the back of a police truck that’s filled with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists and pro-army supporters of all ages. There’s also an American reporter and Christian photographer, who are seen as outsiders and not exactly welcomed. For one reason or another, they’ve all drawn the ire of the overwhelmed army and are on their way to jail. When their journey takes an unexpected and dangerous detour, these strangers must come together to survive. It won’t be easy for this opinionated bunch, but they’ll soon learn there’s more in life that unites us than divides us. When push comes to shove, we’re all humans who want the best for our loved ones. The story is incredibly gripping, thanks to Mohamed Diab’s inventive directing style. It humanizes the Egyptian revolution in a powerful way. (In Arabic with subtitles) —E.F. CLASH was selected as Egypt’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producers~Mohamed Hefzy, Eric Lagesse, M.W. Zackie Screenwriting~Khaled Diab, Mohamed Diab Cinematography~Ahmed Gabr Editing~Ahmed Hafez Principal Cast~Nelly Karim, Hany Adel, Tarek Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Malek, Ahmed Dash Print Source~Kino Lorber / kinolorber.com About the Director~Mohamed Diab is a filmmaker from Ismailia, Egypt. He studied screenwriting at the New York Film Academy. Diab earned a Webby for his coverage of the Egyptian revolution. Filmography~“678” (2010), CLASH (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Commune

Contemporary Color

(Kollektivet)

Directed by Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg

USA 2016 97 minutes

DENMARK 2016 111 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

7:00 PM

1:20 PM

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Code COMM01

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THE COMMUNE brings Danish director Thomas Vinterberg home, following his big budget English language turn in “Far From the Madding Crowd.” This loving tribute to his chaotic upbringing once again demonstrates Vinterberg’s mastery of the searing family drama. Vinterberg’s fascination with complicated household dynamics can be traced to his childhood, spent in a Copenhagen commune. Here we are in the mid-1970s, and Erik and Anna’s privileged lives are about to reach perfection. Erik, an architecture professor, inherits a villa in a posh section of Copenhagen. His wife Anna is a long-time newscaster on state TV. Their teenage daughter loves them both dearly. But Anna’s a bit bored. She suggests they embark on an adventure and throw their new home open to a few old friends — and a couple complete strangers — as an experiment in communal living. Swept away by the collective spirit of the time, the newly-formed band of ten unlikely roommates determines to fashion a new, open life. Of course it’s a recipe for disaster. THE COMMUNE is classic Vinterberg: brilliantly acted, funny, and devastating. It’s a search for clarity amidst the chaos. (In Danish with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Morten Kaufmann Screenwriting~Thomas Vinterberg, Tobias Lindholm Cinematography~Jesper Tøffner Editing~Anne Østerud, Janus Billeskov Principal Cast~Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, Helene Reingaard Neumann, Lars Ranthe, Fares Fares Print Source~Magnolia Pictures / [email protected] / magpictures.com About the Director~Born in 1969 in Copenhagen and a graduate of the National Film School of Denmark, Thomas Vinterberg is a leading Danish filmmaker. He and Lars von Trier are two founding “brothers” of Dogme 95, an avant-garde movement dedicated to reintroducing the element of risk in filmmaking. Filmography~“The Biggest Heroes” (1996), “The Celebration” (1998), “The Third Lie” (2000), “It’s All About Love” (2003), “Dear Wendy” (2004), “When a Man Comes Home” (2007), “Submarino” (2010), “The Hunt” (2012), “Far From the Madding Crowd” (2015), THE COMMUNE (2016)

Community Partner:

Wednesday, April 5

Friday, April 7

9:00 PM

11:10 AM

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Code CONT05

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When a color guard team asked David Byrne if they could use one of his songs in their routines, they probably didn’t anticipate they’d pique his interest in such a huge way. The eccentric former Talking Heads singer became enthralled by the team’s creative choreography and hypnotic patterns. If you’re not sure what color guard is, don’t worry—you’re not alone. You’ve probably seen it in action, though, during halftime at your local high school football games. They’re the kids twirling colorful flags and tossing prop rifles and sabers, all synchronized to music. It’s an obscure and underappreciated sport that often goes unnoticed. Thanks to Byrne, that may no longer be true. In 2015 he recruited ten teams from around the country and paired them with an impressive list of musicians, including Devonté Hynes, Zola Jesus, tUnE-yArDs, Ira Glass, Ad-Rock, Nelly Furtado, and St. Vincent. They performed their unique collaborations live at an event in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The delightful spectacle is captured in CONTEMPORARY COLOR, a vibrant, visually appealing film that also documents the behind-the-scenes stories of the incredible athletes and musicians who participate. —E.F. Producers~David Byrne, Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey, Josh Penn Cinematography~ Jarred Alterman, Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross Editing~Bill Ross IV Print Source~Oscilloscope Laboratories / [email protected] / oscilloscope.net About the Directors~Brothers Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross are from Sydney, Ohio. They both studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. They received the Someone To Watch Award at the 39th CIFF. Collaborative Filmography~ “45365” (2009)—39th CIFF, “Tchoupitoulas” (2012)—39th CIFF, “Western” (2015)—39th CIFF, CONTEMPORARY COLOR (2016) Community Partners: Media Partner:

78

The Country Doctor

Dark Fortune

Directed by Thomas Lilti

Directed by Stefan Haupt

FRANCE 2016 102 minutes

SWITZERLAND 2016 114 minutes

(Médecin de campagne)

(Finsteres Glück)

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

6:05 PM

2:25 PM

6:25 PM

11:20 AM

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Code COUN31

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Code COUN01

Dr. Jean-Pierre Werner has spent his life taking care of the citizens in a rural area in France. Constantly going above and beyond, he often travels far distances to make house calls. He dabbles in every area of medicine, from pediatrics and physical therapy all the way to psychiatry. He knows every patient by name. His expert care-taking skills don’t apply to his own health, though. When Jean-Pierre learns he is sick, he ignores orders to take time off. His own doctor worries Jean-Pierre’s obsessive work routine will weaken him, so he sends Natalie, a younger city doctor, to assist Jean-Pierre. Extremely set in his ways, Jean-Pierre is reluctant to accept her help. At first, he’s pretty rough on Natalie, constantly correcting her, rejecting any of her ideas. As time passes, he realizes she’s perfect for the job; she applies the same level of empathy and compassion that he’s demonstrated for so long. But Jean-Pierre still hasn’t told Natalie and his patients the truth about his illness. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR is a gentle and beautiful film about life and the difficulty of letting go. (In French with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Agnès Vallée, Emmanuel Barrau Screenwriting~Thomas Lilti, Baya Kasmi Cinematography~Nicolas Gaurin Editing~Christel Dewynter Principal Cast~ François Cluzet, Marianne Denicourt, Isabelle Sadoyan Print Source~Distrib Films US / [email protected] / distribfilmsus.com About the Director~Thomas Lilti was born in France in 1976. He graduated from medical school and continues to work as a primary care physician. Filmography~ “Le yuex bandes” (2007), “Hippocrates: Diary of a French Doctor” (2014), THE COUNTRY DOCTOR (2016)

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Code DARK03

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When eight-year-old Yves is the sole survivor of his family after a devastating car crash, his future hangs in the balance. Yves begs to avoid custody with his complicated extended family and instead clings to his therapist Eliane for her kind words and trusting heart. Their bond forms quickly, each becoming more vulnerable as Eliane watches Yves struggle to find a new normal. While Eliane and her grown daughters attempt to help Yves come to terms with the horrific accident and grieve the loss of his family, these women are forced to confront the traumas of their own broken family, which they each manage to painfully suppress. Based on the novel Finsteres Glück by Lukas Hartmann, DARK FORTUNE reveals the raw emotions we face in the midst of tragedy and the relationships we lean on when we have no other choice but to let go and move on. (In Swiss German with subtitles) —A.B. Producer~Rudolf Santschi Screenwriting~Stefan Haupt Cinematography~Tobias Dengler Editing~Christof Schertenleib Principal Cast~Eleni Haupt, Noé Ricklin, Elisa Plüss, Chiara Carla Bär, Martin Hug Print Source~Wide / [email protected] / widemanagement.com About the Director~Stefan Haupt, born in Zurich in 1961, holds a degree from the Zurich Drama School in Theater Education. He has his own production company, Fontana Film, and was formerly the president of the Swiss Filmmakers Association. Filmography~“I’m Just a Simple Person” (1998), “Increschantüm” (2000), “Utopia Blues” (2001), “Elisabeth Kübler-Ross—Facing Death” (2002), “Moritz” (2003), “Downtown Switzerland” (2004), “A Song for Argyris” (2006), “How about Love” (2010), “Sagrada—The Mystery of Creation” (2012), “The Circle” (2014)—39th CIFF, “Mare Nostrum—A Concert. A Journey.” (2015), DARK FORTUNE (2016) Sponsored by:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Dave Made a Maze

Dayveon

Directed by Bill Watterson

Directed by Amman Abbasi

USA 2017 80 minutes

USA 2017 75 minutes

Thursday, April 6 8:45 PM

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Code DAVE06

At the Capitol Theatre (see page 51)

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

9:30 AM

7:20 PM

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Code DAVE08

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Code DAVE09

Preceded by JUST A SONG Directed by Gina Hirsch, USA, 6 minutes When a songwriter shares a new song with his girlfriend, things get a little weird.

Dave made a labyrinth. Dave has never completed anything in his life, but he made a labyrinth. And of course it has booby traps; otherwise it would just be a series of intricate hallways. Unfortunately, Dave is now trapped in his labyrinth with the booby traps and the maze-within-the-maze and the minotaur and the giant lady part that ate his hand. When Dave’s girlfriend Annie and his best friend Gordon and a camera crew go after Dave, they soon come to find that Dave’s labyrinth is bigger on the inside. Also, it’s killing them one by one. DAVE MADE A MAZE is the Kaufmanesque horror rom-com set almost entirely in a cardboard labyrinth that we’ve all been waiting for. Highfive! But if the group is to escape, they must learn to dissipate all they hate and cooperate or meet their fate within the walls of a maze made by Dave, who was just looking to rehabilitate. High-five! — T.W. Producers~John Charles Meyer, John Chuldenko Screenwriting~Steven Sears, Bill Watterson Cinematography~Jon Boal Editing~David Egan Principal Cast~ Nick Thune, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Adam Busch, James Urbaniak, Stephanie Allynne, Kirsten Vangsness, Scott Krinsky, John Hennigan, Rick Overton, Timothy Nordwind, Frank Caeti, Scott Narver Print Source~Dave Made An LLC / [email protected] / davemadeamaze.com About the Director~Cleveland-born director Bill Watterson is not the guy who drew Calvin and Hobbes, but he might be the guy you saw in that Cleveland band he was once in. After graduating from Brown University and studying at The Second City Hollywood, he’s now an actor and director living in L.A. Filmography~DAVE MADE A MAZE (2017)

Community Partners:

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

9:35 PM

5:15 PM

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Code DAYV08

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Code DAYV09

As DAYVEON opens, we see the titular character riding his bike through the sleepy streets of rural Arkansas. He’s bored with his surroundings, constantly complaining that “everything is stupid.” It isn’t just boredom that has him so down, though. He recently lost his brother—a tragedy that led his mom to a nervous breakdown. Dayveon was sent to live with his older sister and her husband, who tries hard to be a positive male influence in his life. Unfortunately, the youngster resents this perceived overreach, preferring the company of gang members instead. It’s not hard to see why kids in this town end up on such a path. Things are awfully bleak and hopeless, stricken by abject poverty. There’s nothing inspiring or motivating about it. They find a strange comfort in the crew mentality, giving them purpose and loyal companionship. But after being initiated into the Bloods, Dayveon is about to discover thug life isn’t everything it’s hyped up to be. And camaraderie comes at a cost. DAYVEON is a subtle but searing portrait of small town gangs. —E.F. Producers~Amman Abbasi, Alexander Uhlmann, Lachion Buckingham Screenwriting~ Amman Abbasi, Steven Reneau Cinematography~Dustin Lane Editing~Dominic LaPerriere, Amman Abbasi Principal Cast~Devin Blackmon, Kordell Johnson, Dontrell Bright, Chastity Moore, Lachion Buckingham, Marquell Manning Print Source~Visit Films / [email protected] / visitfilms.com About the Director~Amman Abbasi is a filmmaker from Little Rock, Arkansas. He’s also a musician, composing the scores for his films and performing with his sibling as The Abbasi Brothers. Filmography~DAYVEON (2017)

80

Dead Awake

Dean

Directed by Phillip Guzman

Directed by Demetri Martin

USA 2016 99 minutes

USA 2016 87 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

2:30 PM

11:40 PM

7:50 PM

1:40 PM

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Beth’s been having terrifying dreams that feel awfully realistic. Something is trying to kill her. She fights to wake up but is unable to move. Doctors say it’s sleep paralysis, though she’s convinced it’s something more sinister. When tragedy befalls Beth, the skeptics around her are forced to take her concerns seriously. Leading the charge is her twin sister Kate, who now finds herself dealing with identical nightmares. The mysterious creature chasing her is relentless in its mission for destruction. As it turns out, Kate is not the only one the creature is after. As more suffering occurs, Kate must team up with her sister’s mess of a boyfriend (whose dreams are also haunted) to find a way to stop whatever it is from wreaking havoc on their loved ones. They seek out a number of unconventional methods, desperately doing whatever it takes to prevent another tragedy. Written by the creator of “Final Destination,” DEAD AWAKE is full of jump scares. Unlike the characters in this terrifying horror film, at least you’ll be able to move when the fear hits. —E.F.

Writer/director/comedian Demetri Martin stars alongside Academy Award® winner Kevin Kline in this comedic and heartfelt tale about a father and son coming to terms with love, loss, and everything in between. Dean (Martin) is an illustrator whose unwillingness to deal with the recent death of his mother means escaping his hometown of New York for an interview with an ad agency in Los Angeles. His retired engineer dad Robert (Kline) takes a more regimented approach to grief, including putting the family home up for sale. Both father and son set out on their own paths to find a new normal as unexpected circumstances and potential new love interests threaten to thwart all plans. —CBS Films

Producers~Phillip Guzman, James LaMarr, Jeffrey Reddick Screenwriting~Jeffrey Reddick Cinematography~Dominique Martinez Editing~Peter Devaney Flanagan Principal Cast~Lori Petty, Brea Grant, Jesse Bradford, Jocelin Donahue, Jesse Borrego Print Source~FilmRise / [email protected] / filmrise.com

About the Director~Demetri Martin is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor. He has appeared in various films, television shows, and live comedy venues across America and abroad. Martin’s first two books were New York Times best sellers. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker. Filmography~DEAN (2016)

About the Director~Phillip Guzman was born in 1980 and resides in Austin, Texas. He holds a B.A. in Film from Stephen F. Austin State University. He’s also the Director of Creative Affairs at Incendiary Features. Filmography~“2:22” (2008), “Desdemona: A Love Story” (2009), “A Kiss and a Promise” (2012), DEAD AWAKE (2016)

Producers~Giles Andrew, Charles Denton, Jessica Latham, Elliott Watson Screenwriting~Demetri Martin Cinematography~Mark Schwartzbard Editing~Josh Salzberg Principal Cast~Kevin Kline, Demetri Martin, Gillian Jacobs, Mary Steenburgen, Rory Scovel, Christine Woods Print Source~CBS Films / cbsfilms.com

Sponsored by:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Death and Life of Otto Bloom Directed by Cris Jones

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

7:45 PM

1:00 PM

Code DEAT07

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Code DEAT09

Imagine you have no recollection of the past and all your memories are of the future. You cannot recall what happened 30 seconds ago, yet you’ve already seen what will happen moments from now. A life in reverse is that of Otto Bloom, a charming, charismatic man whose captivating condition garners the attention of believers and skeptics alike, enthralled with making sense of his peculiar claims. Bloom’s former lover and neuropsychologist Ada replays each memory they shared of their whirlwind romance, working backwards to piece together the experience through Bloom’s eyes. His remarkable rise and fall from media darling to feeble recluse run parallel to his dwindling memories as he approaches death. But Bloom declares time is just an illusion, and the past and future hold no permanent fixture on our being. If this is what we are to believe, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM affirms this very moment, here and now, is the only one that matters. — A.B. Producers~Melanie Coombs, Alicia Brown, Mish Armstrong Screenwriting~Cris Jones Cinematography~László Baranyai Editing~Bill Murphy Principal Cast~Xavier Samuel, Rachel Ward, Matilda Brown, Terry Camilleri, Suzy Cato Gashler, Amber Clayton Print Source~Global Screen / [email protected] / globalscreen.de About the Director~Cris Jones is a director, writer, and cinematographer. He moved from London to Sydney when he was two years old and studied film at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia. Filmography~THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM (2016) Sponsored by:

(Xi He)

Directed by Zhang Wei

AUSTRALIA 2016 84 minutes

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Destiny CHINA 2016 97 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

7:15 PM

2:10 PM

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Code DEST02

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Nine-year-old Xi He has been diagnosed with autism. Any changes to his daily routine can cause serious anxiety. His condition has led to a number of outbursts at school, the most recent involving biting. The school’s administrators have sympathy for the boy, offering him several chances to change his behavior. However, his classmates’ parents have had enough. They’ve united in their fear and are now leading an effort to get him expelled. In China, autism is incredibly misunderstood. The parents show little compassion or understanding for Xi He’s situation. To ease the tension, the school has suggested he be sent to a special education program, but his mother refuses. Believing in her son’s potential, she’s now dedicated herself to ensuring he has a normal life. With the odds stacked against her, the fight to get her son back in school won’t be easy. But she knows the mission is bigger than that. In DESTINY the battle for autism awareness in China has just gained its fiercest warrior. Never underestimate the strength of a mother’s love. (In Mandarin with subtitles) —E.F. Producer~ShenZhen HuaHao Film & Media Co., Ltd Screenwriting~Zhang Wei Cinematography~Yang Wei Editing~Mauel De Sousa, Wu Yixiang Principal Cast~ Liang Jingke, Feng Jun, Zhao Ju Print Source~ShenZhen HuaHao Film & Media Co., Ltd About the Director~Zhang Wei was born in China’s Hunan province in 1965. He is the president of Alibaba Pictures. Filmography~“Beijing Dream” (2010), “Shadow” (2011), “Factory Boss” (2014)—39th CIFF, DESTINY (2016)

Community Partners:

82

Dispatches from Cleveland

The Distance Between Us

Directed by Catherine Gund

Directed by Brian Storm

USA 2017 75 minutes

USA 2017 60 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

6:45 PM

11:20 AM

6:35 PM

12:15 PM

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Code DISP31

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In recent years the city of Cleveland has garnered a lot of national attention for its impressive revival, thanks to such events as the Republican National Convention and the Cavs winning the NBA Championship. While these accomplishments should certainly be acknowledged, there are still a number of serious issues affecting the city. For example, nearly one in three residents is living in poverty. And transgender women are often the target of hate crimes that go unnoticed. Another notable concern is the excessive use of force from Cleveland police officers. The U.S. Justice Department confirmed this to be the case after investigating the murder of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. In DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND, Rice’s mother painfully recalls how Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty failed to fight for her son, instead trying to paint the family as opportunists. Regarding the verdict, one of the activists featured in this powerful film laments, “We needed a championship, but not an athletic one.” For those seeking justice, the city’s renaissance is bittersweet— its rebirth won’t be complete until everyone can reap the benefits. — E.F. Producers~Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi Cinematography~De’Niel Phipps Editing~ Cinque Northern, Gil Seltzer, Emir Lewis Print Source~Aubin Pictures / dispatchesfromcleveland.com About the Director~Emmy-nominated filmmaker Catherine Gund was born in Geelong, Australia in 1965. She’s a member of several boards, including The George Gund Foundation and Art Matters. She is also the founder of Third Wave Foundation, an organization that supports young women and transgender youth. Filmography~ “Hallelujah! Ron Athey: A Story of Deliverance” (1998), “Making Grace” (2004)— 28th CIFF, “What’s on Your Plate?” (2009)—34th CIFF, “Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity” (2014)— 38th CIFF, DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND (2017)

Community Partner:

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Code DIST04

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The distance between twin brothers Nick and Chris Capozziello isn’t geographic. Nick was born with cerebral palsy. While Chris grew up healthy and became a freelance photojournalist, Nick grew up with increasingly debilitating physical challenges and remained home under the care of their parents. Chris carried a life-long guilt about this and decided to document Nick’s challenges in order to be closer to his brother and discover who he really is. THE DISTANCE BEWTEEN US charts that journey. Nick is eager to live on his own, but his ability to do so is questionable. While waiting for special housing to open, Chris takes his brother on a road trip across America. The journey is not only designed to bring Nick closer to the world around him, but also to bring the brothers closer to each other. Nick’s desire to be independent may carry great risk, and Chris knows the time left to close the distance between them is very precious. — C.R. Producers~Eric Maierson, Brian Storm Cinematography~Rick Gershon, Andrew Michael Ellis Editing~Eric Maierson Print Source~MediaStorm / [email protected] / mediastorm.com About the Director~Brian Storm was born in Minnesota. He received his Master’s degree in Photojournalism in 1995 from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. From 1995 to 2002 he was the first director of Multimedia at MSNBC.com. In 1998 he created MSNBC’s The Week in Pictures to highlight visual journalism. In 2005 he founded MediaStorm, which publishes diverse narratives and offers advanced training seminars and collaboratives. Since its founding, MediaStorm has received two du Pont Awards, four Emmy’s, and five Online Journalism Awards. Filmography~THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US (2017)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Do You Take This Man?

Dolores

Directed by Joshua Tunick

Directed by Peter Bratt

USA 2016 92 minutes

USA 2017 96 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

8:35 PM

11:50 AM

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Code TAKE30

Saturday, April 1 2:00 PM 6:15 PM

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Code TAKE01 Code DMAN01

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Code TAKE31

At The Nighlight (see page 49)

Christopher and Daniel are getting married tomorrow. Christopher, the younger half of the couple, is both excited and trying to keep his husband-to-be calm. Daniel doesn’t handle disruptions or surprises well at all and tends to stress out in pursuit of perfection. Tomorrow’s huge wedding and tonight’s lavish feast for family and friends have him wired. Quicker than you can say “nuptials,” the surprise train arrives. First is Emma, Christopher’s dearest friend from childhood. Their reunion is a wedding gift from Christopher’s friends. Her arrival (and very existence) is a jolt to Daniel’s meticulous plans. Next comes the early arrival of Daniel’s family and tension between the grooms. But when Zoe, who is performing the marriage, gets a sudden call from Scorsese to be in a film and needs to leave before the wedding, Daniel (and the whole wedding) may detonate. With grace, charm, and no agendas other than romantic ones, DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? proves that all family, all friends, and all couples are gloriously insane. — C.R. Producers~Eric Kops, Dave Perkal, Joshua Tunick Screenwriting~Joshua Tunick Cinematography~Dave Perkal Editing~Joshua Tunick Principal Cast~Anthony Rapp, Alyson Hannigan, Thomas Dekker, Mackenzie Astin, Jonathan Bennett Print Source~The Film Sales Company / [email protected] / filmsalescorp.com About the Director~Joshua Tunick was born in 1977 in West Virginia. He is a licensed architect. He is also a writer, producer, editor, and director of several award-winning documentary shorts. Filmography~DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? (2016)

Community Partners:

Saturday, April 8

11:35 AM I Code DOLR08 (w/FilmForum)

Sunday, April 9 4:50 PM

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Code DOLR09

“Si se puede” was the familiar battle cry of the National Farm Workers Association long before President Obama adopted the English version (“yes we can”) for his presidential campaign slogan. Little do most people know that powerful call-to-action came from Dolores Huerta, one of the most influential social justice activists of our time. In the 1960s when the Civil Rights Movement was taking shape across the country, Huerta partnered with Cesar Chavez to fight for improved working conditions for California farm workers against the powerful players of the agribusiness industry. Her goal of creating a fair labor union intersected with racial and gender equality issues of the time, and her mission grew to be multifaceted. Despite the challenges of sexism within her own organization, police brutality, and raising 11 children, Huerta’s persistent dedication has made her an invaluable example for future female leaders of color. With personal accounts from now 86-year-old Huerta and fellow activists Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem, DOLORES depicts an American icon deserving of a prominent place in our history books. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) —A.B. Producers~Peter Bratt, Brian Benson Cinematography~Jesse Dana Editing~ Jessica Congdon Print Source~PBS / pbs.org About the Director~Peter Bratt was born in San Francisco, California. He is a director, writer, and producer, and his films explore race, identity, and social justice. He is the brother of actor Benjamin Bratt. Filmography~“Follow Me Home” (1996), “La Mission” (2009), DOLORES (2017)

This film is presented with the generous support of PAM CERIO DESIGN. Community Partners:

84

Domain

Everybody Happy

Directed by Nathaniel Atcheson

Directed by Nic Balthazar

USA 2017 97 minutes

BELGIUM 2016 93 minutes

Friday, March 31

Sunday, April 2

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

11:30 PM

4:50 PM

4:05 PM

9:25 PM

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Code DOMA31

Saturday, April 1 4:00 PM 8:20 PM

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Code DOMA01 Code MAIN01

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Code DOMA02

At The Nighlight (see page 49)

After a deadly flu epidemic kills most of the world’s population, lucky survivors bide their time in hermetically sealed bunkers located 30 feet underground, where they can interact with select others only by sophisticated video conferencing. Things start to go haywire in this stable environment after a combative denizen named Orlando is banned from his linked community. Residents start disappearing or harming themselves, and odd markers (such as a rat) hint that these pods aren’t as closed-off as they seem. However, it isn’t until Phoenix and Denver (who, improbably, have fallen for each other) decide to make a run for it that DOMAIN’s true mysteries start to reveal themselves. The subsequent unraveling of their situation only creates more questions of what their reality is. Suspense-filled and atmospheric— courtesy of an eerie score and a muted color palette — DOMAIN raises questions about how well we can really know other people. As the bunker designer Nadine puts it at one point: “Never underestimate humanity’s capacity to be punitive.” —A.Z. Producer~M. Elizabeth Hughes Screenwriting~Nathaniel Atcheson Cinematography~ Benjamin Kantor Editing~Nathaniel Atcheson Principal Cast~Britt Lower, Ryan Merriman, Sonja Sohn, Beth Grant Print Source~Domain— The Movie / [email protected] / domainthemovie.com About the Director~Nathaniel Atcheson was born in Oakland, California in 1977. He studied directing at Chapman University. He also writes and edits and is currently an editor on the FX TV shows Atlanta and Man Seeking Woman. DOMAIN won the Best Feature Audience Award at the 2016 Other Worlds Austin SciFi Film Festival. Filmography~“Herpes Boy” (2009), “Dead Herring” (2012), DOMAIN (2017)

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Code EVER30

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Sunday, April 2 9:10 AM

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Code EVER02

People seem to believe stand-up comics are the happy-go-lucky clowns they appear to be on stage. But that is very rarely the case. In EVERYBODY HAPPY, Peter Van den Begin masterfully plays Ralph, a stand-up comic in the middle of a mid-life crisis, balancing his on-stage career with his inner struggles for inspiration. When Ralph begins to flame out, he is followed by the voice in his head—a non-stop talking judgment train, pestering Ralph with negativity and insecurities. Over-the-hill and questioning his lot in life, Ralph is on the road surrounded by a younger generation of comics with poor material and worse personalities. Thankfully, there’s Laura, another older comic stuck in the same rut as Ralph. Like any good comedy, EVERYBODY HAPPY is the right mix of wit, introspection, and commentary, giving us a glimpse of a world in which who we are on the outside doesn’t match who we are on the inside; a world where we can be one person on stage, and yet another when we’re alone in our rooms. We’re all followed by our negative selves, and when we finally shut that part of us out we can truly be our real selves. EVERYBODY HAPPY is a quirky reminder that even the tears of a clown dry eventually. (In Dutch with subtitles) — T.W. Producer~Peter Bouckaert Screenwriting~Nic Balthazar Cinematography~ Robrecht Heyvaert Editing~Philippe Ravoet Principal Cast~Peter Van den Begin, Barbara Sarafian, Jeroen Leenders, Rik Verheye, Kamal Kharmach, Leen Dendievel, Veerle Malschaert Print Source~Eyeworks Film & TV Drama / [email protected] / eyeworksfilm.be About the Director~Nic Balthazar is a Flemish director and TV and radio movie critic who rose to cinematic respect with his first film “Ben X.” Educated in his hometown of Ghent, Balthazar’s films tackle real-life issues. He was awarded a “Someone to Watch Award” at the 37th CIFF. Filmography~“Ben X” (2007)—31st CIFF & 37th CIFF, “Time of My Life” (2012)—37th CIFF, EVERYBODY HAPPY (2016) Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Fanny’s Journey

Fight Hate With Love

(Le voyage de Fanny)

Directed by Andrew Michael Ellis

Directed by Lola Doillon

USA 2016 79 minutes

FRANCE, BELGIUM 2016 94 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

6:10 PM

4:00 PM

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Code FANN02

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Code FANN03

FANNY’S JOURNEY is a gem of a film, the rare World War II period piece that’s exciting and inspirational for children ten and up. Fanny is 12, Jewish, and living in Vichy, France in 1943. When her father is arrested, her mother takes Fanny and her young sisters to live at the neutral Children’s Aid Society. Head of the school is tough Madame Forman, who, like all adults, nervously monitors news on the radio. When Mussolini’s regime falls, Mme. Forman realizes the Germans will soon march into France. She comes up with a plan to send her charges across the border to neutral Switzerland. Obtaining false passports and coaching the children on their new, nonJewish names and backstories, she sends them off by train. But when their guide disappears, Fanny takes responsibility for the little band of eight, leading them across the countryside on foot. A warm, life-or-death adventure about solidarity and independence, FANNY’S JOURNEY features natural performances by the children, particularly Léonie Souchaud as Fanny. Based on the autobiography of Fanny Ben Ami. (In French with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Saga Blanchard, Marie de Lussigny Screenwriting~Lola Doillon, Anne Peyrègne Cinematography~Pierre Cottereau Editing~Valérie Deseine Principal Cast~Cécile de France, Fantine Harduin, Léonie Souchaud, Stéphane De Groodt Print Source~Menemsha Films / menemshafilms.com About the Director~Lola Doillon was born in 1975 in Charenton-le-Pont, France. She has been exposed to the film business since childhood through her father, director Jacques Doillon. She is a screenwriter, actor, and photographer, as well as a director. Filmography~“Just About Love?” (2007), “In Your Hands” (2010), FANNY’S JOURNEY (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of BILL PLESEC and SUSAN STECHSCHULTE. Sponsored by:

Community Partners:

National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

8:30 PM

4:15 PM

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Code FIGH30

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Code FIGH31

Like many in his Philadelphia community, Michael Tabon found himself stuck in the revolving door of a criminal justice system he calls a “womb-to-prison” pipeline. It’s a cycle many poor young black men struggle to break, but the cards are often stacked against them. In and out of jail since he was 16, Tabon has finally managed to stay free, strongly motivated by his newfound passion for activism. In order to prevent others (especially his son) from falling into the same trap, he travels to high-crime neighborhoods, finding unique and provocative ways to call attention to the issue. Whether it’s walking through the streets with prison garb and chains or building a jail cell simulation in the back of a truck, Tabon has been catching eyes and hearts with his message. But after years of separation, his family is frustrated by his obsessive dedication to his cause. Like prison, it’s prevented them from experiencing quality time together. FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE provides a damning exposé of our country’s failed prison system, chronicling one man’s very personal fight to fix it. —E.F. Producers~Tim McLaughlin, Brian Storm, Samia Khan Cinematography~Andrew Michael Ellis Editing~Tim McLaughlin Print Source~MediaStorm / [email protected] / mediastorm.com About the Director~Andrew Michael Ellis is a filmmaker and photographer from New York. He teaches cinematography at New York University and co-founded the art collective Nomandique. He’s also an alumni of MediaStorm, where he served as Director of Photography. Filmography~FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

86

The Fixer

Food Evolution

(Fixeur)

Directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy

Directed by Adrian Sitaru

USA 2016 92 minutes

ROMANIA, FRANCE 2016 98 minutes

Monday, April 3

Thursday, April 6

7:20 PM

11:30 AM

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THE FIXER is an engaging and very topical drama involving crossed borders, elitist disdain for local people, and reporters who use the “truth” to their advantage. Radu, an ambitious would-be journalist in Bucharest, works as a “fixer,” hired by foreign news organizations to help arrange stories. To boost his journalistic cred, Radu offers his contacts in Paris an exclusive scoop. Having heard that a Romanian girl who was sold into prostitution in France has since been repatriated, he promises them an interview at the abbey where she’s being sheltered. However, the locals, unimpressed by the sudden appearance of self-important French TV reporters, refuse them access, citing the need to protect the traumatized girl. Radu and the journalists push forward with their interrogations, oblivious to the exploitative nature of their methods. THE FIXER, incisive and finely acted, suggests we might cause less emotional damage if we stop trying to control people — and their stories. (In English, Romanian, and French with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Anamaria Antoci, Adrian Silisteanu Screenwriting~Claudia Silisteanu, Adrian Silisteanu Cinematography~Adrian Silisteanu Editing~Mircea Olteanu Principal Cast~Mehdi Nebbou, Tudor Aaron Istodor, Nicolas Wanczycki, Diana Spatarescu, Adrian Titieni Print Source~MPM Film / [email protected] / mpmfilm.com About the Director~Adrian Sitaru was born in Deva, Romania in 1971. He is also a writer who has worked on short films and TV movies. Sitaru studied computer science and sang in bands before turning to filmmaking. Filmography~“Hooked” (2008), “Best Intentions” (2011)—36th CIFF and Winner of the George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition, “Domestic” (2013), “Illegitimate” (2016), THE FIXER (2016) Community Partner:

Saturday, April 1 1:25 PM

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Code FOOD01

Sunday, April 2

3:40 PM I Code FOOD02 (w/FilmForum)

The reputation surrounding GMO foods paints a picture of chemically enhanced produce, pumped with steroids and other poisons, being conned into our children’s mouths. But what if we have it all wrong? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson narrates this documentary, which sheds light on the fervor against food that has been scientifically altered to meet the needs of a growing population. The fight between organic foods versus GMO foods has been raging for a few years now, enabled by passionate advocates on both sides spreading misinformation. And FOOD EVOLUTION attempts to quell the biggest fears, using science, interviews with scientists, and accumulated data about modifying our crops. Yes, there are genuine concerns about agri-giants like Monsato, but when you finally get a glimpse at the bogus claims the “other” side has been making in the name of “organic” food, you begin to wonder which side is harder to swallow. Beginning with Hawaii’s ban on all GMO products, followed by other countries (including those in Africa) that are simply not in a place to deny food to their populace, FOOD EVOLUTION will open your eyes to the state of our food today—and where it will be in the years to come. —T.W. Producers~Scott Hamilton Kennedy, Trace Sheehan Cinematography~Larkin Donley Editing~Alex Blatt, Scott Hamilton Kennedy, Scott D. Hanson Print Source~The Film Sales Company / [email protected] / filmsalescorp.com About the Director~Scott Hamilton Kennedy graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in Theater Directing. He has directed music videos, commercials, and TV movies, though he is most known for his documentary work. He has been nominated for several awards including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary. Filmography~“OT: Our Town” (2002), “The Garden” (2008)—33rd CIFF, “Fame High” (2012), FOOD EVOLUTION (2016) Sponsored by:

Media Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Footprint: Population, Consumption, and Sustainability

The Force

Directed by Valentina Canavesio

USA 2017 93 minutes

USA 2016 82 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

2:15 PM

5:00 PM

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Code FOOT07

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In 2011 a baby born in the Philippines marked a world population milestone: seven billion. Every life is cause for celebration, but with the population growing at a rapid speed, hitting such a high number raises serious concerns. Does Earth have enough resources to meet each child’s needs? Can it sustain the damage done by the humongous collective carbon footprint? And what do we do with all the trash? Even more troubling is the issue of equality. The United States accounts for just five percent of the world’s population, but uses over a quarter of the world’s fossil fuel resources—clearly the pie is not being equally shared. As the birth rate rises, so will the disparity. In FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY, director Valentina Canavesio tours the planet, surveying the results of population explosions and overconsumption. This revealing film also spotlights activists who are doing all they can to limit population growth, despite the fierce opposition that such a controversial issue brings. Canavesio’s exceptional documentary offers a comprehensive profile of a planet stretched beyond its limits. (In English, Swahili, Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish with subtitles) — E.F. Producer~Valentina Canavesio Cinematography~Valentina Canavesio, Omar Mullick Editing~Emma Morris, Omry Maoz Print Source~Women Make Movies / [email protected] / wmm.com About the Director~Valentina Canavesio resides in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a Master’s in International Affairs from Sciences-Po in Paris. In 2016 she founded the nonprofit Ayoka Productions. Filmography~FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY (2016)

Directed by Peter Nicks

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

8:40 PM

2:10 PM

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Code FORC30

Saturday, April 1 8:30 PM

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Code FORC01

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Code FORC31

At the Akron Art Museum (see page 49)

At the start of the gripping documentary THE FORCE, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) has been under federal oversight for over a decade and is working diligently to reform its policies and operations. Complicating matters is that the department is short-staffed and facing a community that’s growing frustrated with and resentful toward actions perceived to be indifferent. As relations between police and constituents grow even more contentious after a rash of officer-involved shootings, OPD then faces internal turmoil: accusations of sexual misconduct, a racist texting scandal, and the resignation of a staggering three police chiefs in just nine days. THE FORCE is a gritty microcosm of the racial and societal tensions plaguing cities and police forces across the U.S., and it doesn’t shy away from exposing the underlying issues causing this friction. Above all, the film illustrates that the divide between good intentions and actual implementation is often very wide—and trying to enact measurable change is a deeply flawed process that’s perpetually a work-in-progress. —A.Z. Producers~Linda Davis, Lawrence Lerew, Peter Nicks Cinematography~Peter Nicks Editing~Lawrence Lerew Print Source~Cinetic Media / cineticmedia.com About the Director~Peter Nicks was born in Akron, Ohio and spent the first few years of his life in Shaker Heights. He received a B.A. in English from Howard University and an M.A. from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, where he studied documentary filmmaking. Nicks is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Open’hood. He won an Emmy in 2007 for Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine for the America’s Investigative Reports (AIR). Filmography~ “The Waiting Room” (2012), THE FORCE (2017) Community Partner:

Cleveland State University Diversity Management Program

88

Forever Pure

The Founders

Directed by Maya Zinshtein

Directed by Carrie Schrader, Charlene Fisk

UNITED KINGDOM, IRELAND, NORWAY, ISREAL 2016 85 minutes

USA 2016 89 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

6:20 PM

12:05 PM

11:50 AM

9:20 PM

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Beitar Jerusalem is not your average football team. To its rabid fans, it’s a lifestyle. But their enthusiasm can sometimes be disturbing. Chants from the stands sound more like rhetoric at a political rally than a sports game. In 2013 what had long been known, but largely ignored, became blazingly clear: many members of their fan-base are indeed right-wing extremists. Until that year, they had been the only club in their league without an Arab player. The acquisition of two Muslim athletes from Chechnya set off a firestorm among the team’s most diehard supporters. Soon Jewish fans started waving banners with the words “forever pure.” What began as stinging boos and offensive chants (“here we are, the most racist football team in the country”) quickly escalated when fans turned to violence to voice their disapproval. At one point, a bomb is launched into a stadium’s memorabilia museum. The hatred displayed in FOREVER PURE is unsettling to say the least, but it’s clear that turning a blind eye is no longer an option. (In English, Hebrew, Russian, Chechen, and Arabic with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Maya Zinshtein, Geoff Arbourne Cinematography~Sergei Freedman Editing~Justine Wright, Noam Amit Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Maya Zinshtein is a filmmaker from Russia who moved to Israel as a youth. She holds a B.A. in Cinema and French Studies and an M.A. in Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University. She began her career as a journalist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Filmography~FOREVER PURE (2016)

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Wednesday, April 5 3:30 PM

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“We were all of one mind: we wanted a place for women to do something they loved and make a living at it,” says retired pro golfer Marlene Bauer Vossler. THE FOUNDERS is a riveting, well-crafted documentary about the 13 founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). These trailblazers (including Olympic phenom Babe Didrikson Zaharias) dealt with sexism, grueling promotional schedules, and skepticism about their athleticism. But they pressed forward anyway due to their love of the game and belief in their skills. This determination and passion still shine through in new interviews with four of the founding members: golfing prodigy Vossler, who joined the tour at age 15; straightforward and smart Shirley Spork; easygoing and generous Marilynn Smith; and Louise Suggs, a tough-as-nails competitor and phenomenal (if underrated) player. THE FOUNDERS illuminates the tenacity and talents of a group of women who haven’t necessarily received their proper due and incisively makes the case for their status as women’s rights pioneers. —A.Z. Producers~Carrie Schrader, Charlene Fisk, Phoebe Brown Cinematography~Charlene Fisk, Kevan Ward Editing~Charlene Fisk Print Source~Mighty Fine Pictures / [email protected] / mightyfinepictures.com About the Directors~Carrie Schrader studied screenwriting and has a B.A. in Drama from the University of Washington. She received an M.F.A. in Film Directing from Columbia University. Charlene Fisk holds a B.A. in Mass Media Communications from SUNY Plattsburgh and studied film and media at the University of New South Wales. She began her career working at a PBS affiliate in upstate New York. She is the founder of the boutique production company Mighty Fine Pictures. THE FOUNDERS won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2016 Atlanta Film Festival. Collaborative Filmography~THE FOUNDERS (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Fraud

Gilbert’s Grim Revenge (Gilberts grusomme hevn)

Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp

Directed by Hanne Larsen

USA 2016 60 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

9:40 PM

9:45 PM

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Thursday, April 6 6:00 PM

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On the surface, FRAUD seems like a rather straightforward film about how to commit the perfect crime. Faced with mounting debt, a well-adjusted couple with two bubbly young children decide to torch their house for the insurance money. After successfully collecting a substantial payout, the family evades detection and suspicion by embarking on an upbeat permanent vacation. However, FRAUD is actually a documentary based around DIY home movies uploaded to YouTube — clips that were then skillfully edited to fit an entirely fictional premise. In other words, the family members are real people who had their benign hotel stays, visits to New York, and trips to the mall twisted (with their knowledge and permission) into something nefarious. Yet knowing these facts doesn’t make FRAUD any less powerful or absorbing. The documentary instead becomes a thought-provoking treatise on how easy it is for our online lives to be exploited and manipulated—and how even the most innocent everyday actions can be perceived as suspicious, given the perspective and narrative. — A.Z. Producers~Sebastian Pardo, Riel Roch-Decter Screenwriting~Dean Fleischer-Camp Editing~Jonathan Rippon Print Source~Memory / [email protected] / memory.is About the Director~Dean Fleischer-Camp was born in Bethesda, Maryland in 1984. He received a B.F.A. with honors from New York University’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television. He began his career directing and editing short films and TV episodes and is the co-creator of the award-winning short “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.” Filmography~FRAUD (2016)

NORWAY 2016 90 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Saturday, April 8

4:00 PM

7:05 PM

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Code EGGS06

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Code EGGS08

Sunday, April 9 2:10 PM

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Code EGGS09

Young Gilbert has the worst egg allergy in the world. His reactions to eggs earned him the nickname “Spewbert.” His family has moved to a new town, where nobody knows about Spewbert. But Gilbert’s fresh start with new friends over Christmas is threatened by a parental business trip. Gilbert could lose the chance to befriend a new neighbor and be on the local hockey team unless his parents find a suitable sitter. Enter Gilbert’s very weird (and very flatulent) Aunt Doris. Her vision of the holidays does not include Gilbert’s friends or even leaving the house. Gilbert resists and makes Aunt Doris mad. Suddenly, she goes from merely weird to flat-out nuts. Worse, she begins using the most awful weapon in the world against Gilbert: eggs! This, of course, means war. In the deliciously dark tradition of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket, GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE is an astute tale of accepting and standing up for yourself. It is a wicked treat guaranteed to creep-out, gross-out, and delight the whole family. (In Norwegian with subtitles) —C.R. Producer~Kristin Ulseth Screenwriting~Kathrine Valen Zeiner, Hanne Larsen Cinematography~Philip Øgaard Editing~Jon Endre Mørk Principal Cast~Simon Hobbel Rosendahl, Gisken Armand, Hanna Dybvand, Frida Hallgren, Egil Hegerberg Print Source~Norwegian Film Institute / [email protected] / nfi.no About the Director~Hanne Larsen was born in 1978 in Tromso, Norway. She studied screenwriting and directing at the European Film College in Denmark and studied directing at the Norwegian Film School. She worked in the children and youth division of the Norwegian Broadcasting Company. She is the writer and director of several award-winning shorts and produces commissioned films and commercials for humanitarian causes. Filmography~GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of SCOTT and KATE GAINES. Sponsored by:

90

GIRL UNBOUND: The War to Be Her Directed by Erin Heidenreich

Glory (Slava)

Directed by Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov

CANADA, PAKISTAN 2016 80 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Saturday, April 8

9:20 AM

3:25 PM

BULGARIA, GREECE 2016 101 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

2:05 PM

4:45 PM

7:15 PM

Every honest man lives to regret it. Such a man is Tzanko, a shy and stuttering railway linesman in Bulgaria. When he finds a huge pile of cash on the tracks, he turns it in and is instantly proclaimed a hero. Julie, a ruthless PR director for the Transport Ministry, seizes this chance to deflect attention from a brewing scandal the Ministry is involved in. She unleashes a media circus around the awkward and puzzled man. At a quickly staged awards ceremony, Tzanko is given a cheap new watch by the Minster while his old one is unceremoniously removed by Julie. This watch is a cherished gift from Tzanko’s father, a precise timepiece he calls The Glory. Julie misplaces it and Tzanko desperately wants it back. His efforts meet a wall of evasion and derision, as well as a crusading anti-government journalist who also sees Tzanko as a useful tool. With wry observation and deadpan humor, GLORY follows a decent man walking into the gears of an absurd machine. (In Bulgarian with subtitles) —C.R.

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Pakistan’s top female squash player, Maria Toorpakai Wazir, received her first death threat at age 16. The rural community where her family — and, unfortunately, The Taliban— call home, frown upon women for watching television and having an education, let alone playing sports. But after years of disguising herself as a boy to pursue her passion, Maria vows she will no longer live in fear. Although she trains and competes abroad, she longs to have the freedom to play in her home country and gain the respect she deserves as a female athlete. Thankfully, she has the unwavering support of her parents, who are a teacher and a principal for local schoolchildren, and her sister Ayesha, the youngest politician in Pakistan. Maria and her family bring inspiration and hope to their fear-stricken community until The Taliban’s increasingly dangerous threats soon put all their lives at stake. GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER is a shockingly brave and unapologetic story of a woman willing to risk her life to create new opportunities for girls aspiring to follow in her footsteps. (In English, Pashto, and Urdu with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Cassandra Sanford-Rosenthal, Jonathon Power Editing~Christina Burchard Print Source~Blackacre Entertainment / [email protected] / girlunbound.com About the Director~Erin Heidenreich holds a B.S. in Communication Studies and Political Science from Northwestern University. She directs, writes, and produces award-winning documentaries, short films, commercials, and feature films. Filmography~GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER (2016) Community Partners:

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Producers~Kristina Grozeva, Konstantina Stavrianou, Decho Taralezhkov Screenwriting~Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov Cinematography~Krum Rodriguez Editing~Petar Valchanov Principal Cast~Margita Gosheva, Stefan Denolyubov, Kitodar Todorov, Milko Lazarov, Georgi Stamenov Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Directors~Kristina Grozeva was born in 1976 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Petar Valchanov was born in 1982 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Both graduated from the Bulgarian National Academy for Theater and Film Arts with degrees in Film Directing. Their collaborations have garnered numerous nominations and awards. Collaborative Filmography~“Avariyno Katzane” (2010), “Reki bez Mostove” (2013), “The Lesson” (2014), GLORY (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Godspeed

The Good Postman

Directed by Mong-Hong Chung

Directed by Tonislav Hristov

TAIWAN 2016 111 minutes

BULGARIA, FINLAND 2016 82 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

8:25 PM

11:25 AM

2:30 PM

4:50 PM

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Code GODS05

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Code GODS06

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Code GOOD30

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 1

9:25 AM

4:15 PM

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Code GODS08

Na Dow, recently unemployed in Taiwan, just added drug runner to his résumé and needs a ride to his next drop. Xu, a pleasant, 20-year veteran taxi driver, insists on being Na Dow’s roundtrip cabbie of choice for his trip from Taipei to his destination south of the city. After a questionable pit stop, the two arrive as scheduled for the routine handoff. But the friendly exchange takes a dark turn when shots are fired, and Na Dow and Xu find themselves locked in the trunk of a Mercedes. Caught in the middle of a deadly drug dealer feud, the unlikely pair must decide if it is best to go their separate ways or honor their agreement to finish the job together. Between stages of suspense and brief moments of gruesome torture, director MongHong Chung playfully injects bouts of comedic relief for an unexpected change of pace, making GODSPEED an unforgettable ride with surprises at every turn. (In Mandarin, Taiwanese, Thai, and Cantonese with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Jufeng Yeh, Shao-Chien Tseng Screenwriting~Mong-Hong Chung Cinematography~Nagao Nakashima Editing~Hsiu-Hsiung Lai Principal Cast~ Michael Hui, Na Dow, Leon Dai, Chung-Hua Tou, Matt Wu, Yi-Wen Chen, Vincent Liang, Vithaya Pansringarm Print Source~MandarinVision / [email protected] / mandarinvision.com About the Director~Mong-Hong Chung was born in 1965 in Pingtung, Taiwan. He is an award-winning director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. Filmography~ “Doctor” (2006), “Parking” (2008), “The Fourth Portrait” (2010), “Soul” (2013), GODSPEED (2016)

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Code GOOD01

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Code GOOD31

At the Akron Art Museum (see page 49)

Nestled near Turkey’s border is a tiny Bulgarian village that has seen its share of weary travelers over the centuries dating back to the early years of the Ottoman Empire. Now, given the multitude of instability in Africa and the Middle East, this village is again seeing the foot traffic of refugees trying to find a new home anywhere in Europe. THE GOOD POSTMAN is director Tonislav Hristov’s sixth documentary, and it couldn’t be more timely given the wave of refugees and nationalism that is sweeping through Europe and here at home. When Ivan, the titular postal worker, decides to run for mayor of the town of a few dozen people, he runs on a platform of granting asylum to the refugees. His thinking is this will re-energize the sleepy and decrepit town. A microcosm of much larger stages, the town and its people contain all the characters we’re seeing in our political theater today—including an ill-mannered malcontent who thinks the refugees will be the end of the town. Beautifully shot and poignant, THE GOOD POSTMAN is a nice reminder that there is still good in people. (In Bulgarian with subtitles) —T.W. Producers~Kaarle Aho, Kai Nordberg Cinematography~Orlin Ruevski Editing~ Nikolai Hartmann Print Source~CAT&Docs / [email protected] / catndocs.com About the Director~Born in Bulgaria, Tonislav Hristov has won several directing awards at festivals worldwide. He was educated in Finland where he has lived since 2001. Filmography~“Perhe” (2009), “Rules of Single Life” (2011), “Soul Food Stories” (2013), “Love and Engineering” (2014), “Once Upon a Dream—A Journey to the Last Spaghetti Western” (2015), THE GOOD POSTMAN (2016)

Community Partners:

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

92

The Grown-ups

Half Ticket

(Los niños)

Directed by Samit Kakkad

Directed by Maite Alberdi

INDIA 2016 100 minutes

CHILE, NETHERLANDS, FRANCE 2016 82 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

2:30 PM

6:20 PM

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Thursday, April 6 1:55 PM

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Anita, Andrés, Rita, and Ricardo attend a school for people with Down syndrome and mainly spend their days making desserts in catering class. Level-headed Anita is thoroughly bored of this predictable routine. She’s been at the school for 40 years and yearns to do something else. Plus, she and her boyfriend Andrés want to get married. But they face opposition from the church and their families. Ricardo, too, dreams of owning a house one day but struggles with saving up enough money despite working two low-paying jobs. And Rita grapples with mastering the skills needed to achieve independence. Each person longs for the emotional autonomy afforded to those considered adult. Yet, their caretakers still consider them children and don’t see their dreams and desires as legitimate. Still, THE GROWN-UPS treats its main subjects with respect. Their voices, perspectives, and self-advocacy are front and center, driving the narrative without pity or condescension. This gives the documentary an empathetic and nonjudgmental tone, which makes its heartbreaks and triumphs that much more acute. (In Spanish with subtitles) — A.Z. Producers~Maite Alberdi, Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts, Sebastián Brahm Cinematography~Pablo Valdés Editing~Juan Eduardo Murillo, Menno Boerema Print Source~CAT&Docs / [email protected] / catndocs.com About the Director~Maite Alberdi was born in Santiago, Chile in 1983. She studied social communications, aesthetics, and audiovisual direction and graduated from the Catholic University of Chile. Alberdi began her career making short films and documentaries. She also writes and produces. Filmography~“El Salvavidas” (2011), “La Once” (2014), THE GROWN-UPS (2016)

Community Partners:

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

6:35 PM

5:10 PM

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To a person with very little, the simplest things can be treasures. And so it is for two young brothers living in poverty in the slums of Mumbai. With their father in jail, the boys collect coal along railroad tracks to help their mother keep a meager household. When a pizza chain opens nearby, the idea of being able to afford this wondrous new food becomes the boys’ obsession. But even though the boys have hard-earned money, the restaurant turns them away as “slum rats” and one brother is beaten. When video of this goes viral, the boys suddenly find themselves at the center of national attention. HALF TICKET spins an unexpected magical web. With superb cinematography it conjures a world of stunning beauty from the squalor. Even amidst privation and hardship, childhood can contain wonder and hope. This deceptively simple film has the extraordinary power to evoke the world through the eyes of these children. HALF TICKET is able to make your heart ache even as it fills it with joy. (In Marathi with subtitles) —C.R. Producer~Video Palace Screenwriting~Dnyanesh Zoting Cinematography~Sanjay Memane Editing~Faisal-Imran Principal Cast~Shubham More, Vinayak Potdar, Priyanka Bose, Bhau Kadam, Usha Naik Print Source~Video Palace / [email protected] About the Director~Samit Kakkad was born in Mumbai, India. A screenwriter, producer, and director, he began his career as an editor on television shows. Filmography~“Delinquent Dancers” (2012), HALF TICKET (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Heartstone

The Hippopotamus

(Hjartasteinn)

Directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson ICELAND, DENMARK 2016 129 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Tuesday, April 4

9:15 AM

2:10 PM

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Wednesday, April 5 6:50 PM

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Code HEAR05

In a small town on the jagged coast of Iceland, two young boys are navigating the icy waters of adolescence. Best friends Thor and Christian, both from deeply dysfunctional homes, are stumbling through these awkward transitions in a place that offers little opportunity but to roam aimlessly and find trouble. Thor is discovering new feelings toward a female friend, as well as a deepening sexual attraction. Christian is discovering identical feelings for Thor— something that is frightening to him in a place where everyone knows each other and talks. Christian’s alcoholic father has just attacked a man on suspicion of being gay, forcing Christian to bury his feelings even deeper. As the long winter approaches and the first snow begins to fall, a shocking event will hurl both boys toward the realities of adulthood and leave one on the brink of survival. Evocative cinematography and a talented young cast help HEARTSTONE capture both the pain and beauty of young sexual exploration with unsparing honesty and compassion. (In Icelandic with subtitles) — C.R. Producers~Lars Bjørn Hansen, Lars Bredo Rahbek Screenwriting~Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson Cinematography~Sturla Brandth Grøvlen Editing~Anne Østerud, Janus Billeskov Jansen Principal Cast~Baldur Einarsson, Blær Hinriksson, Diljá Valsdóttir, Katla Njálsdóttir Print Source~Films Boutique / [email protected] / filmsboutique.com About the Director~Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson was born in 1982 in Reykjavik, Iceland. He is a writer, producer, editor, and director. In addition to awards won for his short films, HEARTSTONE has won several awards at multiple festivals. Filmography~HEARTSTONE (2016)

Community Partner:

Directed by John Jencks UNITED KINGDOM 2016 90 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

4:50 PM

9:40 PM

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Code POTA01

Based on Stephen Fry’s novel of the same name, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS tells the story of Ted—a once rebellious and culthero poet who hasn’t written a poem in decades. Now relegated to being a theater critic, Ted loses his job after punching an actor mid-performance and finds solace in the bottle (where no one expects a poem). When he’s approached by the daughter of an old flame to seek out the miracle that cured her leukemia, Ted must travel to his friend’s old English country estate to investigate the nature of the healing. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS is everything we love about British comedy: irreverent, smart, and uproarious. When Ted discovers the teenage son of the estate’s family is healing people and animals, he can’t believe his ears. When he witnesses the virile young man’s methods for healing, Ted can’t believe his eyes. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS is a film about the search for big miracles, when it’s the small wonders that define us. —T.W. Producers~Jay Taylor, Alexa Seligman Screenwriting~Blanche McIntyre, Tom Hodgson Cinematography~Angus Hudson Editing~John Richards Principal Cast~Roger Allam, Tommy Knight, Matthew Modine, Fiona Shaw, Geraldine Somerville, Tim McInnerny, Emily Berrington, Lyne Renee, Dean Ridge Print Source~Truffle Pictures / [email protected] / trufflepictures.com About the Director~John Jencks is a producer and director who graduated from New York Film Academy at Universal Studios in 2004. Filmography~“The Fold” (2013), THE HIPPOPOTAMUS (2016)

Community Partner:

94

Hoop Dreams Directed by Steve James USA 1994 172 minutes

Friday, March 31 8:30 PM

I

Code HOOP31

In this restored version of the 1994 classic, HOOP DREAMS captures the incredible journey of two young boys determined to one day play professional basketball. But setbacks have no trouble finding them in their impoverished neighborhoods and difficult home lives in Chicago’s inner city. William Gates hails from the Cabrini-Green projects, a housing development that has since been demolished due to rampant violence and dilapidated living conditions. Arthur Agee calls West Garfield Park home — an area known for its dangerous crime, and where the neighborhood basketball court is frequented by addicts and drug dealers. When a talent scout discovers William and Arthur, they’re enrolled in the prestigious St. Joseph’s High School to follow in the footsteps of Isiah Thomas, the school’s most revered alum. Although the stage is set to win the state championship, attend college, and ultimately be drafted by the NBA, unexpected obstacles force the boys to forge their own uncertain paths to pursue their lifelong dream. A test of tenacity and resilience, HOOP DREAMS will have audiences rooting for victory. — A.B. Producers~Steve James, Frederick Marx, Peter Gilbert Cinematography~Peter Gilbert Editing~Steve James, Frederick Marx, Bill Haugse Print Source~Kartemquin Films / [email protected] / kartemquin.com About the Director~Born in Hampton, Virginia in 1954, Steve James is recognized as one of the most acclaimed documentary filmmakers of his generation. He regularly collaborates with the Chicago-based nonprofit production studio Kartemquin Films. His film “Hoop Dreams” was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Film Editing and recently selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Filmography~ “Stop Substance Abuse” (1986), HOOP DREAMS (1994), “Prefontaine” (1999), “Stevie” (2002)— 27th CIFF, “Reel Paradise” (2005), “At the Death House Door” (2008), “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” (2010)—34th CIFF, “The Interrupters” (2011)— 35th CIFF, “Head Games” (2012), “Life Itself” (2014), “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” (2016)

Houston, We Have a Problem! (Houston, Imamo Problem!)

Directed by Žiga Virc SLOVENIA, CROATIA, GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC, QATAR 2016 88 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Thursday, April 6

7:45 PM

11:15 AM

I

Code HOUS04

I

Code HOUS06

Friday, April 7 3:25 PM

I

Code HOUS07

Have you heard the one about the secret 1960s deal where the U.S. bought the nuts and bolts of the then-burgeoning Yugoslavia space program, with the intention of using these innovations to bolster its own technology? If you aren’t familiar, you’re not alone. The documentary-style HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! is an elaborate, fictionalized take on the oft-covered global race to outer space. The film merges preposterous details (for example, a pig used as a tragic test pilot) with true happenings, such as vintage newsreel footage and actual audio conversations between President John F. Kennedy and Yugoslavia President Josip Tito. Poised interviews with credible sources—including historians, a NASA engineer, and a Slovenian philosopher—further help create a convincing (if alternative) narrative. Historical revisionism at its most entertaining and meticulous, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! is a seamless commentary on how easy it is to believe a wellconstructed yarn—and how plausibility and truth are sometimes mutually exclusive. (In English, Slovenian, Serbian, and Croatian with subtitles) —A.Z. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! was selected as Slovenia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Boštjan Virc Screenwriting~Žiga Virc, Boštjan Virc Cinematography~ Andrej Virc Editing~Vladimir Gojun Print Source~CAT&Docs / [email protected] / catndocs.com About the Director~Žiga Virc was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia in 1987. He graduated from the University of Ljubljana Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, where he studied film and TV directing. He began his career directing documentaries and short films. He is part of the family-owned production company Studio Virc. Filmography~HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! (2016) Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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95

877.304.FILM

I Am Another You

Icaros: A Vision

Directed by Nanfu Wang

Directed by Leonor Caraballo, Matteo Norzi

USA 2017 82 minutes

USA, PERU 2016 91 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

2:10 PM

7:40 PM

3:45 PM

5:30 PM

I

Code IAMA30

I

Code IAMA31

When director Nanfu Wang moves to the U.S., a birthday trip to Florida leads her to a chance encounter with a life-changing drifter. Intrigued by his livelihood of chosen homelessness, she accompanies 22-year-old Dylan on the streets to experience eating from the garbage, sleeping in the park, and observing complete strangers’ fascination with Dylan’s mission and unprompted willingness to give him a helping hand. As a Chinese native, Nanfu always admired the storied symbol of freedom America represents and the power its people have to create their own futures. She witnesses that spirit in her shoeless companion, who is fearless of consequences and content living as a citizen of the world. Over time, she discovers Dylan’s carefree, wanderlust motives are riddled with layers of rebellion, vices, and inner demons he can no longer suppress. I AM ANOTHER YOU offers a unique perspective of life outside the norm and sheds encouraging light on the power of human connection. — A.B. Producers~Nanfu Wang, Lori Cheatle, Michael Shade Cinematography~Nanfu Wang, Michael Shade Editing~Nanfu Wang, Michael Shade Print Source~Little Horse Crossing the River / iamanotheryoufilm.com About the Director~Originally from a remote village in China, Nanfu Wang overcame poverty and lack of access to formal secondary education. She went on to earn graduate degrees in Communications and Documentary Film from universities in China and the United States. Wang holds Master’s degrees from Shanghai University, Ohio University, and New York University. She was honored by the International Documentary Association with the 2016 Emerging Filmmaker Award. Filmography~ “Hooligan Sparrow” (2016)— 40th CIFF, I AM ANOTHER YOU (2017)

Community Partners:

I

Code AROS06

I

Code AROS07

Saturday, April 8 1:25 PM

I

Code AROS08

When Angelina arrives at a healing-focused ayahuasca retreat in the dense jungles of Peru, Arturo (one of the resident shamans) determines she’s experiencing “susto,” or “the disease of fear.” Angelina has a valid excuse, however: she is battling cancer and has traveled thousands of miles in search of a nontraditional salve. As ICAROS: A VISION progresses, Angelina strikes up a friendship with Arturo, who has been diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease. Together they face down an uncertain future by learning how to tame the spiritual chaos that often prevents enlightenment. Filmed on location in the Amazon jungle with many non-actors in leading roles, ICAROS: A VISION is a disorienting and immersive movie crafted to resemble the mind-fracturing illumination of a psychedelic ayahuasca trip. But by blending fantasy and reality, sobriety and hallucination, the film also provides beautiful (and, occasionally, unsettling) insights into what people discover when forced outside of their comfort zone. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) —A.Z. Producer~Abou Farman Screenwriting~Leonor Caraballo, Matteo Norzi Cinematography~Ghasem Ebrahimian Editing~Èlia Gasull Balada Principal Cast~ Ana Cecilia Stieglitz, Arturo Izquierdo, Flippo Timi Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Directors~Leonor Caraballo tragically passed away before ICAROS: A VISION was completed. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1971 and was a photographer and experimental video artist whose work was screened internationally. Matteo Norzi was born in Italy in 1976. He studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Turin. Norzi is a writer and visual artist whose work has been exhibited in institutions across six continents. He is one-half of the collaborative duo Isola & Norzi. Collaborative Filmography~ICAROS: A VISION (2016)

96

In Between

In Love with Lou — A Philosopher’s Life

Directed by Maysaloun Hamoud

Directed by Cordula Kablitz-Post

PALESTINE 2016 96 minutes

GERMANY, AUSTRIA 2016 112 minutes

(Bar Bahar)

(Lou Andreas-Salomé)

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

4:40 PM

11:30 AM

8:15 PM

5:00 PM

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Code INBE30

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Code INBE31

Layla, Salma, and Nour live in an apartment in the bustling center of Tel Aviv. Each woman grapples with varying degrees of being “in between” cultures and traditions. Layla is a fierce, chain-smoking lawyer who enjoys the nightlife and has a modern view of the world, which makes her boyfriend Ziad increasingly uncomfortable. Introspective DJ Salma is a lesbian, but she lies and tells her conservative parents, who subject her to futile matchmaking dinners, that she’s a music teacher. Devout Muslim Nour, meanwhile, studies computer science and is engaged to Wissam, a humorless man she tolerates instead of loves. After the latter’s relationship implodes in a vicious manner, it sets off a chain reaction of self-reflection and empowerment that culminates with each woman determining for herself what she’s willing to fight for. IN BETWEEN deftly navigates contentious religious, gender, and ethnic divides. And in the process it provides incisive commentary on how contemporary society reconciles broad differences — and how far we still have to go. (In Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles) — A.Z. Producer~Shlomi Elkabetz Screenwriting~Maysaloun Hamoud Cinematography~ Itay Gross Editing~Lev Golster, Nili Feller Principal Cast~Mouna Hawa, Sana Jammelieh, Shaden Kanboura, Henry Andrawes Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Maysaloun Hamoud was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1982 and raised in Deir Hana, Israel. She received a B.A. in Middle Eastern History at Hebrew University and studied film at Minshar School of Art. She is also a writer. Filmography~IN BETWEEN (2016)

I

Code LOUS08

I

Code LOUS09

Göttingen, 1933. Legendary writer-psychoanalyst Lou AndreasSalomé lives in seclusion, fearful of her persecution by the Nazi regime. One day a star-struck young scholar turns up on her doorstep, and he refuses to be sent away. After a couple of false starts, the prickly septuagenarian and the hesitant teacher become friends. He begins helping her write her memoirs — and what memoirs they are! Born in 1861 to a wealthy Germanspeaking family in St. Petersburg, Lou was already headstrong as a young girl. Scandalizing polite society on many occasions, she vowed never to fall in love, but to dedicate her life to intellectualism. Lou and author-philosopher Paul Rée, a friend of Nietzsche’s, flout convention by living and studying together in Berlin. Lou breaks her anti-romantic vow—and Paul Rée’s heart—by engaging in a tempestuous relationship with young, unknown poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Many affairs follow, before Lou begins attending lectures by Sigmund Freud. Only when she becomes an esteemed psychoanalyst herself can she recognize her own childhood trauma. IN LOVE WITH LOU—A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE is a fascinating study of a brilliant mind. (In German with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~Cordula Kablitz-Post, Helge Sasse, Gabriele Kranzelbinder Screenwriting~ Cordula Kablitz-Post, Susanne Hertel Cinematography~Matthias Schellenberg Editing~Beatrice Babin Principal Cast~Katharina Lorenz, Nicole Heesters, Liv Lisa Fries, Katharina Schüttler, Alexander Scheer, Matthias Lier, Phillipp Hauß Print Source~Arri Media International / [email protected] / arri.de About the Director~Cordula Kablitz-Post, born in Aachen in 1964, is also a producer whose documentaries for television often focus on artists and intellectuals. In 2002 she founded the production company avanti media fiction. Filmography~IN LOVE WITH LOU—A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE (2016) Sponsored by:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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97

877.304.FILM

In the Radiant City

It’s Not the Time of My Life (Ernelláék Farkaséknál)

Directed by Rachel Lambert

Directed by Szabolcs Hajdu

USA 2016 95 minutes

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

7:00 PM

11:40 AM

I

Code INTH07

I

Code INTH09

Twenty years have passed since Andrew’s testimony sealed his brother’s fate of a life behind bars. Andrew’s been gone ever since, his family left toiling in grief for one son’s punishment and the other’s betrayal. Now, with the possibility of his brother’s early release, Andrew reluctantly returns home after months of unanswered court summons requesting he vouch for his brother’s rehabilitation. His secret homecoming is short-lived when he crosses paths with his promiscuous teenage niece and furious sister who will never bring herself to forgive him. Andrew has a choice. He can do nothing, ensuring his brother will pay for the rest of his life for the deadly crime of which he was convicted. Or he can choose to make peace with his family so they can all finally begin to heal. Director Rachel Lambert blends harsh resentment, sexual intrigue, and suspense to make IN THE RADIANT CITY an unforgettably dark drama of a family haunted by the sins of the past. — A.B. Producers~Sonny Mallhi, Jeff Nichols Screenwriting~Rachel Lambert, Nathan Gregorski Cinematography~Zoë White Editing~Julia Bloch Principal Cast~ Michael Abbott, Jr., Marin Ireland, Celia Weston, Madisen Beaty, Paul Sparks, Deirdre O’Connell, Jon Michael Hill Print Source~ICM Partners / [email protected] About the Director~Rachel Lambert is a graduate of Boston University. She has worked as an actor and costume designer. She is currently a writer and director for Distiller Films based in New York, New York. Filmography~“Mom Jovi” (2016), IN THE RADIANT CITY (2016)

HUNGARY 2016 81 minutes

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

6:20 PM

9:10 AM

I

Code TIME07

I

Code TIME09

IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE starts off smack in the middle of a boho-chic apartment belonging to Farkas and Eszter, an attractive couple in their late 30s. Their little kid Bruno is an annoying perpetual motion machine whom Farkas doesn’t seem to like very much. Adding to the tension of the household, Eszter’s sister and her sad-sack husband turn up suddenly with their preteen daughter. They’ve just returned to Hungary after a misbegotten attempt to emigrate to Scotland, and it’s unclear how long they plan to stay. Farkas lectures them about their life choices. Eszter is agitated. Bruno shrieks for attention. And the apartment feels increasingly small. But as we get to know these surprisingly sympathetic characters, we see the disconnect between everyone’s theories of morality and how they play out in the mess of everyday life. Sensitive portrayals by director Szabolcs Hajdu as Farkas and his real-life wife Orsolya To¨ro¨k-Illye´s as Eszter, render the film’s relationships incredibly genuine. Though Hajdu assigned 13 film students to each shoot a sequence, and we never leave the apartment, this prizewinning film is as fluid as the characters’ values. (In Hungarian with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~Dániel Herner, Gabor Ferenczy, Zsófia Muhi Screenwriting~Szabolcs Hajdu Cinematography~Dávid Gajdics, Ákos Kovács, Gábor Szilágyi, Levente Tóth, Márk Szalai, Tamás Simon, Gergely Tímár, Péter Pásztor, Betti Hejüsz, Flóra Chilton, Márton Kisteleki, Péter Miskolczi, Csaba Bántó Editing~Vivi Papp Principal Cast~ Szabolcs Hajdu, Orsolya Török-Illyés, Ericka Tankó, Domonkos Szabó, Lujza Hajdu, Zsigmond Hajdu Print Source~Filmworks / [email protected] / filmworks.hu About the Director~Szabolcs Hajdu was born in 1972 in Debrecen, Hungary and studied at the Hungarian Film Institute. He is an actor and a director. IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE won Best Film and Best Actor at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Filmography~“Sticky Matters” (2001), “Tamara” (2004), “White Palms” (2006), “Bibliotheque Pascal” (2010)—35th CIFF, “Mirage” (2014)—39th CIFF, “The Gambler” (2015), IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE (2016)

Community Partner:

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 3 0

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RED

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6:30 PM THE PEACEMAKER 90 min / p 132 Code PEAC30

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2:15 PM CAVE 85 min / p 74 Code CAVE30

4:20 PM ALBA 96 min / p 64 Code ALBA30

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8:40 PM THE FORCE 93 min / p 87 Code FORC30

2:00 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 2 93 min / p 172 Code PROG30 1:50 PM THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL 104 min / p 157 Code UNIM30 2:20 PM LOST IN PARIS 83 min / p 119 Code LOST30

4:05 PM EVERYBODY HAPPY 93 min / p 84 Code EVER30 4:10 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 3 93 min / p 172 Code GRAM30 5:00 PM SHOT! 91 min / p 146 Code SHOT30 4:50 PM THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 90 min / p 93 Code POTA30

6:15 PM BIG SONIA 93 min / p 71 Code BIGS30

8:35 PM DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? 92 min / p 83 Code TAKE30

6:10 PM ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM 89 min / p 178 Code ANIM30

8:30 PM FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE 79 min / p 85 Code FIGH30

7:05 PM THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD 111 min / p 153 Code THAT30 6:50 PM WALK WITH ME 149 min / p 161 Code WALK30

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2:10 PM I AM ANOTHER YOU 82 min / p 95 Code IAMA30

2:05 PM WAITING FOR GIRAFFES 84 min / p 161 Code WAIT30

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11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

CIA CINEMATHEQUE see page 48

7:00 PM 78/52 91 min / p 61 Code SEVN30

9:30 PM 24x36 82 min / p 60 Code TWEN30 Today is sponsored by:

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RED

9:15 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 4 94 min / p 173 Code SHRT31

2:20 PM THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING 102 min / p 143 Code SCEN31

11:30 AM IN BETWEEN 96 min / p 96 Code INBE31

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4:00 PM A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS 135 min / p 140 Code FOUR31

9:35 PM TONIO 100 min / p 155 Code TONX31

8:40 PM RAGE 142 min / p 136 Code RAGE31

6:15 PM THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES 80 min / p 64 Code AGEC31

4:45 PM THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL 104 min / p 157 Code UNIM31

11:35 PM AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 1 95 min / p 177 Code AHSH31

9:30 PM VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD 121 min / p 160 Code VINC31

6:05 PM THE COUNTRY DOCTOR 102 min / p 78 Code COUN31

w/FilmForum

2:05 PM NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE 75 min / p 127 Code LIGH31

7:40 PM I AM ANOTHER YOU 82 min / p 95 Code IAMA31

7:00 PM LIKE CRAZY 118 min / p 116 Code LIKE31

3:50 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 2 93 min / p 172 Code INDY31

1:50 PM THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD 111 min / p 153 Code THAT31

9:25 PM 10% SHORTS PROGRAM 95 min / p 177 Code TENS31 8:30 PM HOOP DREAMS 172 min / p 94 Code HOOP31

6:00 PM MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART 73 min / p 120 Code MEMR31

4:10 PM WAITING FOR GIRAFFES 84 min / p 161 Code WAIT31

1:45 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 1 95 min / p 172 Code GRAM31

11:20 AM WALK WITH ME 104 min / p 161 Code WALK31

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4:05 PM VOICES OF THE HILL 73 min / p 160 Code VOIC31

1:55 PM BIG SONIA 93 min / p 71 Code BIGS31

11:45 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 3 93 min / p 172 Code PROG31

6:50 PM CENTER OF MY WORLD 115 min / p 75 Code CENT31

4:15 PM FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE 79 min / p 85 Code FIGH31

2:00 PM MOOS 91 min / p 123 Code MOOS31

11:50 AM DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? 92 min / p 83 Code TAKE31

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1:40 PM TAMARA 110 min / p 152 Code TAMA31

11:40 AM THE PEACEMAKER 90 min / p 132 Code PEAC31

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8:20 PM THE UNIVERSITY 83 min / p 157 Code UNIV31

7:15 PM CARRIE PILBY 98 min / p 74 Code CARR31 6:45 PM DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND 75 min / p 82 Code DISP31

11:30 PM DOMAIN 97 min / p 84 Code DOMA31 9:40 PM BUSTER’S MAL HEART 96 min / p 73 Code BUST31

8:50 PM SOME FREAKS 95 min / p 147 Code SOME31

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43 7:00 PM BURN THE SHIPS 88 min / p 73 Code BURN31

AKRON-SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY see page 49

Today is sponsored by:

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3:15 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 4 94 min / p 173 Code PROG01

1:25 PM FOOD EVOLUTION 92 min / p 86 Code FOOD01

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9:25 PM EVERYBODY HAPPY 93 min / p 84 Code EVER01

7:20 PM IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD 95 min / p 109 Code ONLY01 7:05 PM SEPTEMBER 12TH 96 min / p 144 Code SEPT01

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11:10 AM THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES 80 min / p 64 Code AGEC01

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9:05 AM LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA 116 min / p 117 Code LIPS01

9:30 PM SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS 106 min / p 145 Code BUTC01 9:35 PM SHOT! 91 min / p 146 Code SHOT01

7:50 PM DEAN 87 min / p 80 Code DEAN01

11:35 PM LAKE BODOM 90 min / p 112 Code LAKE01

9:40 PM THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 90 min / p 93 Code POTA01

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

AKRON ART MUSEUM see page 49

THE NIGHTLIGHT see page 49

12:00 Noon FAMILY SHORTS PROGRAM 2 95 min / p 179 Code AFAM01

2:15 PM THE NEXT WEBISODE 73 min / p 180 Code NEXT01 2:00 PM DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? 92 min / p 83 Code TAKE01

4:15 PM THE GOOD POSTMAN 82 min / p 91 Code GOOD01 4:00 PM DOMAIN 97 min / p 84 Code DOMA01

6:30 PM VOICES OF THE HILL 73 min / p 160 Code VOIC01 6:15 PM DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? 92 min / p 83 Code DMAN01

8:30 PM THE FORCE 93 min / p 87 Code FORC01 8:20 PM DOMAIN 97 min / p 84 Code MAIN01

10:40 PM AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 4 95 min / p 178 Code AART01 10:30 PM AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 4 95 min / p 178 Code ANIG01

Today is sponsored by:

RED

9:15 AM HEARTSTONE 129 min / p 93 Code HEAR02

11:00 AM AMERIKA SQUARE 86 min / 67 Code SQUA02

ORANGE

YELLOW

9:20 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 5 95 min / p 173 Code SHRT02 9:25 AM ALOYS 91 min / p 66 Code ALOY02

GREEN

BLUE

12:00 Noon LAST MEN IN ALEPPO 101 min / p 113 Code LMEN02

9:10 AM EVERYBODY HAPPY 93 min / p 84 Code EVER02

PURPLE

9:35 AM THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES 80 min / p 64 Code AGEC02

GREY

9:05 AM THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL 104 min / p 157 Code UNIM02

1:05 PM VOICES OF THE HILL 73 min / p 160 Code VOIC02

11:30 AM MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART 73 min / p 120 Code MEMR02

11:10 AM BURN THE SHIPS 88 min / p 73 Code BURN02

7:00 PM THE NEXT WEBISODE 73 min / p 180 Code NEXT02

5:15 PM PLAY THE DEVIL 89 min / p 133 Code PLAY02

3:55 PM LANTOURI 115 min / p 112 Code LANT02

2:20 PM LIKE CRAZY 118 min / p 116 Code LIKE02 1:20 PM THE COMMUNE 111 min / p 77 Code COMM02

12:10 PM SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS 106 min / p 145 Code BUTC02 11:15 AM MIXED MATCH 96 min / p 122 Code MIXE02

4:35 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 6 95 min / p 173 Code PROG02

3:10 PM OLD STONE 80 min / p 128 Code OLDS02

1:25 PM TICKLING GIANTS 111 min / p 155 Code TICK02

11:50 AM ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND 105 min / p 169 Code ZIPZ02

3:45 PM WHEN I STUTTER 107 min / p 163 Code WHEN02

1:35 PM LAKE BODOM 90 min / p 112 Code LAKE02

4:50 PM DOMAIN 97 min / p 84 Code DOMA02

3:40 PM FOOD EVOLUTION 137 min / p 86 Code FOOD02

9:30 PM AREA 106 min / p 68 Code AREA02

8:15 PM THE WOMEN’S BALCONY 96 min / p 166 Code BALC02

7:10 PM KING OF THE BELGIANS 94 min / p 111 Code BELG02

6:05 PM JEFFREY 78 min / p 109 Code JEFF02

9:20 PM TEMPESTAD 105 min / p 153 Code TEMP02

8:00 PM SIGNATURE MOVE 80 min / p 146 Code SIGN02

9:45 PM EL REVENGE 90 min / p 139 Code REVE02

7:15 PM DESTINY 97 min / p 81 Code DEST02

3:50 PM BUSTER’S MAL HEART 96 min / p 73 Code BUST02

1:40 PM DEAN 87 min / p 80 Code DEAN02

7:25 PM LITTLE WING 98 min / p 117 Code LITT02

5:00 PM THE LIBRARY SUICIDES 89 min / p 115 Code LIBR02

2:35 PM IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD 95 min / p 109 Code ONLY02

8:50 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 7 94 min / p 174 Code GRAM02

6:20 PM FOREVER PURE 85 min / p 88 Code FORE02

6:10 PM FANNY’S JOURNEY 94 min / p 85 Code FANN02 w/FilmForum

11:25 AM SOME FREAKS 95 min / p 147 Code SOME02

BROWN

2:25 PM HOLLYWOOD SHORTS PROGRAM 90 min / p 180 Code HOLL02

6:25 PM LOST IN PARIS 83 min / p 119 Code LOST02

9:40 PM PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO 97 min / p 132 Code THHU02 8:25 PM STRONGER THAN BULLETS 88 min / p 149 Code STRN02 8:30 PM X500 108 min / p 167 Code XFIV02

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43 6:00 PM PLAYLIST 76 min / p 181 Code LIST02

BEACHLAND BALLROOM & TAVERN

8:00 PM SEPTEMBER 12TH 96 min / p 144 Code SEPT02

see page 50 Today is sponsored by:

9:00 am

101

10:00 am

11:00 am

12 Noon

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

11:00 pm

12 Mid

S U N D AY, A P R I L 2

1:00 am

M O N D AY, A P R I L 3

102 9:00 am

RED

10:00 am

9:15 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 7 94 min / p 174 Code SHRT03

GREEN

BLUE

PURPLE

GREY

9:20 AM TICKLING GIANTS 111 min / p 155 Code TICK03

1:00 pm

12:05 PM FOREVER PURE 85 min / p 88 Code FORE03 11:35 AM NOWHERE TO HIDE 86 min / p 128 Code NOWH03

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

1:40 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 9 96 min / p 174 Code GRAM03

2:40 PM PRISON DOGS 72 min / p 134 Code DOGS03 2:15 PM THE SPY AND THE POET 95 min / p 148 Code SPYA03 1:50 PM TEMPESTAD 105 min / p 153 Code TEMP03

11:45 AM JEFFREY 78 min / p 109 Code JEFF03

2:20 PM SIGNATURE MOVE 80 min / p 146 Code SIGN03

12:00 Noon A WEDDING 96 min / p 163 Code WEDD03

2:10 PM DESTINY 97 min / p 81 Code DEST03

11:25 AM BUGS 74 min / p 72 Code BUGS03 11:50 AM THE FOUNDERS 89 min / p 88 Code FOUN03

1:45 PM THE WAR SHOW 100 min / p 162 Code WARS03 2:00 PM X500 108 min / p 167 Code XFIV03

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

3:45 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 8 94 min / p 174 Code INDY03

6:00 pm

5:50 PM PLAYLIST 76 min / p 181 Code PLAY03 5:10 PM MONSTER IN THE MIND 87 min / p 122 Code MONS03

5:05 PM BE RELENTLESS 90 min / p 70 Code BERE03 4:45 PM SAMI BLOOD 110 min / p 142 Code BLOD03 4:15 PM BURN THE SHIPS 88 min / p 73 Code BURN03 4:25 PM PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO 97 min / p 132 Code THHU03 4:00 PM FANNY’S JOURNEY 94 min / p 85 Code FANN03 4:30 PM RESISTANCE IS LIFE 73 min / p 138 Code REST03

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

7:35 PM BREAKING BALLS 73 min / p 72 Code BREA03

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

9:25 PM AMERIKA SQUARE 86 min / p 67 Code SQUA03

7:20 PM THE FIXER 98 min / p 86 Code FIXE03

9:30 PM WAVES 78 min / p 162 Code WAVE03

7:10 PM WOVEN 96 min / p 166 Code WOVE03

9:35 PM YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE 81 min / p 167 Code YOUL03

6:35 PM PERSONAL AFFAIRS 90 min / p 133 Code AFFA03

12 Mid

8:35 PM WHEN I STUTTER 107 min / p 163 Code WHEN03

6:25 PM DARK FORTUNE 114 min / p 78 Code DARK03

8:50 PM THE CHOCOLATE CASE 90 min / p 75 Code CASE03

6:00 PM RIVERBLUE 95 min / p 140 Code RIVE03 6:30 PM CITY OF JOY 119 min / p 76 Code CITY03

11:00 pm

9:15 PM REENGINEERING SAM 82 min / p 137 Code REEN03

7:15 PM CLASH 97 min / p 76 Code CLAS03

8:30 PM SEPTEMBER 12TH 96 min / p 144 Code SEPT03 w/FilmForum

BROWN

12 Noon

11:40 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 6 95 min / p 173 Code PROG03 11:30 AM AREA 106 min / p 68 Code AREA03

ORANGE

YELLOW

11:00 am

9:00 PM VEGAS BABY 77 min / p 159 Code BABY03

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

Today is sponsored by:

1:00 am

RED

9:15 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 8 94 min / p 174 Code SHRT04

12:00 Noon SHORTS PROGRAM 9 96 min / p 174 Code PROG04 12:10 PM PLAY THE DEVIL 89 min / p 133 Code PLAY04

ORANGE

9:20 AM SAMI BLOOD 110 min / p 142 Code BLOD04

11:45 AM WOVEN 96 min / p 166 Code WOVE04

1:50 PM WHEN I STUTTER 107 min / p 163 Code WHEN04

11:20 AM DARK FORTUNE 114 min / p 78 Code DARK04

PURPLE

11:40 AM RIVERBLUE 95 min / p 140 Code RIVE04

GREY

2:00 PM REENGINEERING SAM 82 min / p 137 Code REEN04

BROWN

2:25 PM CITY OF JOY 74 min / p 76 Code CITY04

7:45 PM HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! 88 min / p 94 Code HOUS04 6:40 PM SUPERGIRL 80 min / p 150 Code SUPE04

4:25 PM THE CHOCOLATE CASE 90 min / p 75 Code CASE04 3:55 PM BREAKING BALLS 73 min / p 72 Code BREA04

8:10 PM THE STUDENT 118 min / p 149 Code STUD04

6:35 PM THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US 60 min / p 82 Code DIST04 5:40 PM STRANGERS ON THE EARTH 96 min / p 148 Code STRA04

4:40 PM MILES 87 min / p 121 Code MILE04

9:40 PM FRAUD 60 min / p 89 Code FRAU04

8:40 PM THE NINE 98 min / p 126 Code NINE04 8:30 PM A WEDDING 96 min / p 163 Code WEDD04

7:50 PM BUGS 74 min / p 72 Code BUGS04

6:50 PM RESISTANCE IS LIFE 118 min / p 138 Code REST04

w/FilmForum

12:15 PM VEGAS BABY 77 min / p 159 Code BABY04

5:50 PM CAVE 85 min / p 74 Code CAVE04

4:30 PM SANTOALLA 83 min / p 142 Code ALLA04

2:30 PM THE GROWN-UPS 82 min / p 92 Code GROW04

8:45 PM OHIO SHORTS PROGRAM 1 97 min / p 180 Code OHSH04

6:10 PM ON THE OTHER SIDE 85 min / p 129 Code SIDE04

3:50 PM ALOYS 91 min / p 66 Code ALOY04

9:00 PM OUT RUN 75 min / p 130 Code OUTR04

6:45 PM PRISON DOGS 72 min / p 134 Code DOGS04

4:00 PM THE WOMEN’S BALCONY 96 min / p 166 Code BALC04

1:55 PM KATI KATI 75 min / p 110 Code KATK04

7:10 PM SCENARIOS USA 60 min / p 25 Code SCEN04

4:20 PM CLASH 97 min / p 76 Code CLAS04

2:05 PM WAVES 78 min / p 162 Code WAVE04

11:50 AM PERSONAL AFFAIRS 90 min / p 133 Code AFFA04

BLUE

5:00 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 10 95 min / p 175 Code GRAM04

2:15 PM MONSTER IN THE MIND 87 min / p 122 Code MONS04

11:30 AM ANISHOARA 106 min / p 67 Code ANIS04

YELLOW

GREEN

2:10 PM HEARTSTONE 129 min / p 93 Code HEAR04

9:35 PM THE WAR SHOW 100 min / p 162 Code WARS04 9:20 PM THE FOUNDERS 89 min / p 88 Code FOUN04

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

Today is sponsored by:

9:00 am

103

10:00 am

11:00 am

12 Noon

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

11:00 pm

12 Mid

T U E S D AY, A P R I L 4

1:00 am

W E D N E S D AY, A P R I L 5

104 9:00 am

RED

10:00 am

9:15 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 11 95 min / p 175 Code SHRT05

12 Noon

1:00 pm

11:35 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 10 95 min / p 175 Code PROG05 11:50 AM UNREST 97 min / p 158 Code UNRE05

ORANGE

YELLOW

11:00 am

9:20 AM ON THE OTHER SIDE 85 min / p 129 Code SIDE05

GREEN

BLUE

PURPLE

GREY

BROWN

11:20 AM PARADISE 132 min / p 131 Code PARA05 11:25 AM THERAPY 96 min / p 154 Code THER05 11:45 AM SUPERGIRL 80 min / p 150 Code SUPE05 12:15 PM THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US 60 min / p 82 Code DIST05 11:40 AM WOMEN WHO KILL 93 min / p 165 Code WOME05 11:30 AM APPRENTICE 97 min / p 68 Code APPR05

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

2:30 PM OUT RUN 75 min / p 130 Code OUTR05 2:00 PM AFTER THE STORM 117 min / p 63 Code STOR05

6:00 pm

4:20 PM KILLS ON WHEELS 105 min / p 111 Code KILL05

1:50 PM YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE 81 min / p 167 Code YOUL05

3:45 PM ALL THE BEAUTY 90 min / p 65 Code BEAU05

2:20 PM AMERICAN ANARCHIST 80 min / p 66 Code ANAR05

4:15 PM THE LAST DALAI LAMA? 82 min / p 113 Code DALA05

2:15 PM THE SHEPHERD 105 min / p 145 Code SHEP05

4:30 PM THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS 78 min / p 118 Code LONG05

1:45 PM RIVERBLUE 95 min / p 140 Code RIVE05

4:00 PM STRANGERS ON THE EARTH 96 min / p 148 Code STRA05 3:30 PM THE FOUNDERS 89 min / p 88 Code FOUN05

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

6:50 PM HEARTSTONE 129 min / p 93 Code HEAR05

4:35 PM PSYCHO RAMAN 128 min / p 135 Code PSYC05

2:05 PM GLORY 101 min / p 90 Code GLOR05

1:40 PM RESISTANCE IS LIFE 73 min / p 138 Code REST05

5:00 pm

4:40 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 12 92 min / p 175 Code GRAM05

6:35 PM AFTERIMAGE 98 min / p 63 Code IMAG05

11:00 pm

12 Mid

9:35 PM BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH 84 min / p 69 Code BARA05 8:50 PM NIGHTLIFE 82 min / p 126 Code NIGH05 9:45 PM FRAUD 60 min / p 89 Code FRAU05

7:35 PM THE WHITE KING 89 min / p 164 Code WHIT05

6:40 PM SHALOM ITALIA 70 min / p 144 Code SHLM05 6:20 PM THE GROWN-UPS 82 min / p 92 Code GROW05

8:30 PM SANTOALLA 83 min / p 142 Code ALLA05 8:25 PM GODSPEED 111 min / p 91 Code GODS05

6:30 PM PUSHING DEAD 111 min / p 135 Code PUSH05 5:40 PM VEGAS BABY 77 min / p 159 Code BABY05

10:00 pm

9:30 PM OHIO SHORTS PROGRAM 2 91 min / p 181 Code OHSH05

7:15 PM BEAUTIFUL GARDEN 104 min / p 71 Code GARD05

5:45 PM KATI KATI 75 min / p 110 Code KATK05

9:00 pm

7:30 PM 44 PAGES 92 min / p 61 Code PAGE05

9:00 PM CONTEMPORARY COLOR 97 min / p 77 Code CONT05 9:40 PM WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? 90 min / p 164 Code ACHU05

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

CEDAR LEE THEATRE see page 50

7:00 PM SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY 93 min / p 143 Code SCOR05

9:00 PM MILES 87 min / p 121 Code MILE05 Today is sponsored by:

1:00 am

RED

ORANGE

YELLOW

9:15 AM ZOOLOGY 83 min / p 169 Code ZOOG06

1:40 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 11 95 min / p 175 Code PROG06

11:45 AM BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH 84 min / p 69 Code BARA06

1:45 PM ZAATARI DJINN 90 min / p 168 Code ZAAT06

11:30 AM THE FIXER 98 min / p 86 Code FIXE06 11:15 AM HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! 88 min / p 94 Code HOUS06

GREEN

BLUE

11:40 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 12 92 min / p 175 Code SHRT06

9:20 AM GIRL UNBOUND 80 min / p 90 Code GIRL06

11:35 AM SHALOM ITALIA 70 min / p 144 Code SHLM06

GREY

2:15 PM WOMEN WHO KILL 93 min / p 165 Code WOME06 2:10 PM THE YOUNG OFFENDERS 83 min / p 168 Code YOUN06

5:45 PM SACRED 86 min / p 141 Code SACR06

4:00 PM GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE 90 min / p 89 Code EGGS06

9:25 PM THE SPY AND THE POET 95 min / p 148 Code SPYA06

7:45 PM ALL THIS PANIC 79 min / p 65 Code APAN06

9:45 PM ALOYS 91 min / p 66 Code ALOY06

7:50 PM THE LAST DALAI LAMA? 82 min / p 113 Code DALA06

9:40 PM AMERICAN ANARCHIST 80 min / p 66 Code ANAR06

6:35 PM THE SHEPHERD 105 min / p 145 Code SHEP06

4:30 PM PUSHING DEAD 111 min / p 135 Code PUSH06 4:10 PM WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? 90 min / p 164 Code ACHU06

9:00 PM THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS 78 min / p 118 Code LONG06

7:00 PM LETTING GO OF ADELE 86 min / p 114 Code ADEL06 6:30 PM UNTOUCHABLE 150 min / p 159 Code UNTC06

9:15 PM NELLY 101 min / p 125 Code NELL06 w/FilmForum

BROWN

3:40 PM SANTOALLA 83 min / p 142 Code ALLA06

1:55 PM THE GROWN-UPS 82 min / p 92 Code GROW06

12:00 Noon 44 PAGES 92 min / p 61 Code PAGE06

6:00 PM FRAUD 60 min / p 89 Code FRAU06

9:35 PM OHIO SHORTS PROGRAM 3 92 min / p 181 Code OHSH06 9:20 PM JESUS 85 min / p 110 Code JESU06

6:40 PM PARADISE 132 min / p 131 Code PARA06

3:45 PM ICAROS: A VISION 91 min / p 95 Code AROS06

1:20 PM THE NINE 98 min / p 126 Code NINE06

7:40 PM SYMPHONY IN D 80 min / p 151 Code SYMP06

6:45 PM AFTER THE STORM 117 min / p 63 Code STOR06

4:15 PM ANISHOARA 106 min / p 67 Code ANIS06

1:30 PM THE WHITE KING 89 min / p 164 Code WHIT06

11:50 AM AFTER LOVE 98 min / p 62 Code LOVE06

5:35 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 13 95 min / p 176 Code GRAM06

4:25 PM UNREST 97 min / p 158 Code UNRE06

1:50 PM ON THE OTHER SIDE 85 min / p 129 Code SIDE06

11:25 AM GODSPEED 111 min / p 91 Code GODS06

PURPLE

3:50 PM OUT RUN 75 min / p 130 Code OUTR06

9:30 PM APPRENTICE 97 min / p 68 Code APPR06

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43 6:00 PM A MORE CIVIL WAR 113 min / p 123 Code MORE06

CAPITOL THEATRE see page 51

8:45 PM DAVE MADE A MAZE 86 min / p 79 Code DAVE06 Today is sponsored by:

9:00 am

105

10:00 am

11:00 am

12 Noon

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

11:00 pm

12 Mid

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 6

1:00 am

F R I D AY, A P R I L 7

106 9:00 am

10:00 am

11:00 am

RED

GREEN

1:00 pm

9:20 AM WAVES 78 min / p 162 Code WAVE07 9:15 AM ALL THIS PANIC 79 min / p 65 Code APAN07

BLUE

PURPLE

GREY

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

4:15 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 14 95 min / p 176 Code GRAM07

2:15 PM FOOTPRINT 82 min / p 87 Code FOOT07

4:25 PM ZAATARI DJINN 90 min / p 168 Code ZAAT07

1:15 PM THE STUDENT 118 min / p 149 Code STUD07

3:50 PM THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE 111 min / p 115 Code LIBE07

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

6:35 PM HALF TICKET 100 min / p 92 Code HALF07

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

9:00 PM MERCENARY 103 min / p 121 Code MERC07

6:50 PM POP AYE 102 min / p 134 Code POPA07 6:20 PM IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE 81 min / p 97 Code TIME07

3:25 PM HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! 88 min / p 94 Code HOUS07

5:30 PM ICAROS: A VISION 91 min / p 95 Code AROS07

7:45 PM THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM 84 min / p 81 Code DEAT07

9:45 PM MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA 77 min / p 124 Code MYEN07

11:20 AM THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN 90 min / p 158 Code ARMS07

1:30 PM SACRED 86 min / p 141 Code SACR07

3:30 PM OPEN AT NIGHT 96 min / p 130 Code OPEN07

5:35 PM LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD 95 min / p 114 Code BAGH07

7:40 PM SPETTACOLO 89 min / p 147 Code SPET07

9:50 PM 24x36 82 min / p 60 Code TWEN07

11:10 AM CONTEMPORARY COLOR 97 min / p 77 Code CONT07 11:30 AM UNTOUCHABLE 105 min / p 159 Code UNTC07

2:30 PM DEAD AWAKE 99 min / p 80 Code DEAD07 1:10 PM THE OLIVE TREE 98 min / p 129 Code OLIV07

4:45 PM BARKLEY 86 min / p 70 Code BARK07

3:15 PM SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY 93 min / p 143 Code SCOR07

2:00 PM WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? 90 min / p 164 Code ACHU07

11:35 PM THERAPY 96 min / p 154 Code THER07

6:45 PM AN UNHEARD WOMAN 92 min / p 156 Code UNHE07

5:15 PM NELLY 101 min / p 125 Code NELL07

4:10 PM REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK 134 min / p 138 Code RUNN07

12 Mid

7:25 PM AFTER LOVE 98 min / p 62 Code LOVE07 7:00 PM IN THE RADIANT CITY 95 min / p 97 Code INTH07

9:35 PM WOMEN WHO KILL 93 min / p 165 Code WOME07

11:30 PM THE NIGHT WATCHMEN 80 min / p 125 Code WATC07

9:30 PM THE YOUNG OFFENDERS 83 min / p 168 Code YOUN07

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

CIFF CHAT ROOM see page 43

1:00 am

11:40 PM AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 3 95 min / p 178 Code AHSH07

8:15 PM ZOOLOGY 83 min / p 169 Code ZOOG07

1:25 PM MURDEROUS TALES 80 min / p 124 Code MURD07

12:15 PM MENASHE 81 min / p 120 Code MENA07

11:00 pm

9:20 PM PSYCHO RAMAN 128 min / p 135 Code PSYC07

11:15 AM ALL THE BEAUTY 90 min / p 65 Code BEAU07

w/FilmForum

BROWN

11:05 AM NIGHTLIFE 82 min / p 126 Code NIGH07

2:00 pm

1:55 PM SHORTS PROGRAM 15 95 min / p 176 Code PROG07

12:10 PM JESUS 85 min / p 110 Code JESU07

ORANGE

YELLOW

12 Noon

11:45 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 13 95 min / p 176 Code SHRT07

5:30 PM PERSPECTIVES PANEL 90 min / p 43 Today is sponsored by:

9:05 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 14

RED 95 min / p 176 Code SHRT08

11:15 AM SHORTS PROGRAM 15 95 min / p 176 Code PROG08 12:05 PM BEAUTIFUL GARDEN 104 min / p 71 Code GARD08

ORANGE

YELLOW

GREEN

9:10 AM AFTERIMAGE 98 min / p 63 Code IMAG08

11:20 AM SPETTACOLO 89 min / p 147 Code SPET08 9:25 AM GODSPEED 111 min / p 91 Code GODS08

11:35 AM DOLORES 141 min / p 83 Code DOLR08

3:40 PM MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA 77 min / p 124 Code MYEN08

5:20 PM QUEST 105 min / p 136 Code QUES08 4:40 PM AN UNHEARD WOMAN 92 min / p 156 Code UNHE08

1:35 PM LETTING GO OF ADELE 86 min / p 114 Code ADEL08

4:00 PM TALE OF A LAKE 76 min / p 151 Code TALE08

2:30 PM REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK 89 min / p 138 Code RUNN08

9:30 PM KILLS ON WHEELS 105 min / p 111 Code KILL08

7:50 PM LOVETRUE 82 min / p 119 Code TRUE08

9:40 PM THE TRANSFIGURATION 97 min / p 156 Code TRAN08

7:40 PM OPEN AT NIGHT 96 min / p 130 Code OPEN08

9:50 PM THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN 90 min / p 158 Code ARMS08

7:05 PM GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE 90 min / p 89 Code EGGS08 6:00 PM THE OLIVE TREE 98 min / p 129 Code OLIV08

11:45 PM AFTER HOURS SHORTS PROGRAM 4 95 min / p 178 Code AHSH08

9:35 PM DAYVEON 75 min / p 79 Code DAYV08

7:00 PM THE TEACHER 102 min / p 152 Code TEAC08

5:40 PM ALL THE BEAUTY 90 min / p 65 Code BEAU08

3:25 PM GIRL UNBOUND 80 min / p 90 Code GIRL08

2:15 PM FAMILY SHORTS PROGRAM 2 95 min / p 179 Code FAMS08

w/FilmForum

9:15 AM UNTOUCHABLE 105 min / p 159 Code UNTC08

7:10 PM 29 + 1 110 min / p 60 Code PLUS08

4:45 PM GLORY 101 min / p 90 Code GLOR08

1:25 PM ICAROS: A VISION 91 min / p 95 Code AROS08 1:20 PM LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD 95 min / p 114 Code BAGH08

10:00 PM COMEDY SHORTS PROGRAM 96 min / p 179 Code COMS08

5:00 PM FOOTPRINT 82 min / p 87 Code FOOT08

2:20 PM THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE 111 min / p 115 Code LIBE08

12:00 Noon BARLKEY 86 min / p 70 Code BARK08 11:10 AM SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY 93 min / p 143 Code SCOR08

GREY

BROWN

11:30 AM ALL THIS PANIC 79 min / p 65 Code APAN08

5:35 PM MERCENARY 103 min / p 121 Code MERC08

2:35 PM POP AYE 102 min / p 134 Code POPA08

11:25 AM THE LOST CITY OF Z 140 min / p 118 Code CITZ08

9:30 AM DAVE MADE A MAZE 86 min / p 79 Code DAVE08

BLUE

PURPLE

1:30 PM SYMPHONY IN D 80 min / p 151 Code SYMP08

9:10 PM REALIVE 112 min / p 137 Code REAL08

11:35 PM MURDEROUS TALES 80 min / p 124 Code MURD08

11:40 PM DEAD AWAKE 99 min / p 80 Code DEAD08

8:15 PM IN LOVE WITH LOU– A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE 112 min / p 96 Code LOUS08

6:40 PM A MORE CIVIL WAR 113 min / p 123 Code MORE08

9:15 PM WHOSE STREETS? 104 min / p 165 Code STRE08

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY PANELS

10:00 AM PRE-PRODUCTION AND FUNDING ESSENTIALS 90 min / p 29

11:45 AM INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCTION 90 min / p 29

1:45 PM THE DOCUMENTARY PRESENT AND FUTURE 90 min / p 29

3:30 PM POST-PRODUCTION EDITING AND MORE 90 min / p 29

see page 29 2:30 PM ONE ON ONE WITH A.O. SCOTT 90 min / p 41 Code SCOT08

THE RITZ-CARLTON see page 41

9:00 am

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12 Noon

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

Today is sponsored by:

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7:00 pm

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12 Mid

S AT U R D AY, A P R I L 8

1:00 am

S U N D AY, A P R I L 9

108 9:00 am

10:00 am

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11:15 AM SHORTS JURY AWARDS PROGRAM 80 min / p 171 Code JURY09

RED

GREEN

BLUE

PURPLE

GREY

9:10 AM IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE 81 min / p 97 Code TIME09

11:20 AM ZOOLOGY 83 min / p 169 Code ZOOG09

9:20 AM MURDEROUS TALES 80 min / p 124 Code MURD09 9:30 AM SHALOM ITALIA 70 min / p 144 Code SHLM09 9:40 AM THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS 78 min / p 118 Code LONG09 9:15 AM LETTING GO OF ADELE 86 min / p 114 Code ADEL09 9:35 AM THE YOUNG OFFENDERS 83 min / p 168 Code YOUN09

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

2:45 PM 29 + 1 110 min / p 60 Code PLUS09

1:20 PM THE TEACHER 102 min / p 152 Code TEAC09 1:00 PM THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM 84 min / p 81 Code DEAT09

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

11:00 pm

12 Mid

5:15 PM DAYVEON 75 min / p 79 Code DAYV09

3:45 PM THE LOST CITY OF Z 140 min / p 118 Code CITZ09 3:00 PM LOVETRUE 82 min / p 119 Code TRUE09

11:50 AM QUEST 105 min / p 136 Code QUES09

2:15 PM OPEN AT NIGHT 96 min / p 130 Code OPEN09

11:45 AM AN UNHEARD WOMAN 92 min / p 156 Code UNHE09

2:10 PM GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE 90 min / p 89 Code EGGS09

11:10 AM STRANGERS ON THE EARTH 96 min / p 148 Code STRA09 11:40 AM IN THE RADIANT CITY 95 min / p 97 Code INTH09

6:00 pm

5:10 PM HALF TICKET 100 min / p 92 Code HALF09

4:55 PM THE TRANSFIGURATION 97 min / p 156 Code TRAN09 4:45 PM 24x36 82 min / p 60 Code TWEN09 4:20 PM REALIVE 112 min / p 137 Code REAL09

3:10 PM THE NIGHT WATCHMEN 80 min / p 125 Code WATC09 1:50 PM WHOSE STREETS? 149 min / p 165 Code STRE09

w/FilmForum

BROWN

2:00 pm

1:10 PM SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARDS PROGRAM 80 min / p 170 Code AUDS09 12:40 PM ZAATARI DJINN 90 min / p 168 Code ZAAT09

ORANGE

YELLOW

1:00 pm

5:00 PM IN LOVE WITH LOU – A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE 112 min / p 96 Code LOUS09 4:50 PM DOLORES 96 min / p 83 Code DOLR09

6:45 PM NORMAN 118 min / p 127 Code NORM09 7:20 PM DAVE MADE A MAZE 86 min / p 79 Code DAVE09 7:15 PM GIRL UNBOUND 80 min / p 90 Code GIRL09 7:10 PM MENASHE 81 min / p 120 Code MENA09 7:25 PM TALE OF A LAKE 76 min / p 151 Code TALE09 7:00 PM THE HERO 93 min / p 57 Code HERX09

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM PERSPECTIVES (AN INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION/EXPO/EXPERIENCE) Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase) pp 42-43

Schedule sponsored by:

1:00 am

www.clevelandfilm.org

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It’s Only the End of the World (Juste la fin du monde)

Directed by Yanillys Perez

Directed by Xavier Dolan

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FRANCE 2016 78 minutes

CANADA, FRANCE 2016 95 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

7:20 PM

2:35 PM

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Code ONLY01

Jeffrey

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Code ONLY02

Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan is back with an emotional drama about a dysfunctional family par excellence. Winner of both the Grand Jury and the Ecumenical Jury Prizes in Cannes, IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD features some of the finest French actors working today: Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard, and Léa Seydoux. After 12 years away, famous playwright Louis returns home. Bracing for his arrival is his resentful family, consisting of a high-strung mother, pothead sister, aggressive brother, and insecure sisterin-law. Louis is on a sombre mission: he has come to let his kinfolk know he’s dying. Yet faced with the household’s stream of sometimes hilarious and often horrifying invective, this professional wordsmith can’t find a way to break the news. When Louis finally escapes the house by agreeing to a car ride with his brother, we realize they’re going nowhere fast. This moving and beautifully photographed film, based on a play by Jean-Luc Lagarce, deals with people’s inability to listen to those they really ought to love. (In French with subtitles) — B.B. IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD was selected as Canada’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producers~Nancy Grant, Xavier Dolan, Sylvain Corbeil, Nathanaël Karmitz, Elisha Karmitz, Michel Merkt Screenwriting~Xavier Dolan Cinematography~André Turpin Editing~Xavier Dolan Principal Cast~Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye, Léa Seydoux, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard Print Source~Seville International / [email protected] / sevilleinternational.com About the Director~Xavier Dolan is a 28-year-old Canadian actor, director, screenwriter, editor, costume designer, and voice actor. He began his career as a child actor in commercials. His debut feature “I Killed My Mother” premiered in the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes when he was 20, and he has since won many awards. Filmography~“I Killed My Mother” (2009), “Heartbeats” (2010), “Laurence Anyways” (2012)— 37th CIFF, “Tom at the Farm” (2013), “Mommy” (2014), IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD (2016)

Community Partner:

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

6:05 PM

11:45 AM

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Code JEFF02

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Code JEFF03

When he’s not washing strangers’ windshields to help pay the rent, Jeffrey dreams of stardom as a reggaetón singer. At just 12 years old, he’s determined his days of dodging traffic to earn a handful of pesos are coming to an end. Jeffrey pours his soul into self-written rhymes about growing up in his troubled neighborhood and lively dance routines he hopes will lead to his first big break. Although he and his family face a bleak, impoverished home life in the streets of the Dominican Republic with scarce food and touch-and-go electricity, Jeffrey somehow maintains the wholesome innocence of a child. The simplicity of a game of cops and robbers or an afternoon spent on the limbs of a tree allows Jeffrey’s imagination to run wild. But even in his bravest moments, Jeffrey knows the path to his new future is a steep, uphill battle. In this touching portrayal of hope against all odds, JEFFREY reminds us how to dream fearlessly even when the world warns otherwise. (In Spanish with subtitles) —A.B. Producers~Thibaud Billiard, Yanillys Perez Cinematography~Jan Everetz, Francis Adames, Gibran Abrales, Oliver Mota, Yanillys Perez Editing~Mathilde Van de Moortel Print Source~Loco Films / [email protected] / loco-films.com About the Director~Yanillys Perez is a director, producer, and actress from the Dominican Republic. She was one of six directors selected for the 2016 Film Independent’s Project Involve, a program dedicated to providing filmmaking opportunities to artists in underrepresented communities. Filmography~“Esperanzas de Cartón” (2016), JEFFREY (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of MARK and DIANE TRUBIANO. Sponsored by:

110

Jesus

Kati Kati

(Jesús)

Directed by Mbithi Masya

Directed by Fernando Guzzoni FRANCE, CHILE, GERMANY, GREECE, COLOMBIA 2016 85 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

9:20 PM

12:10 PM

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Code JESU06

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Code JESU07

Jesus is in need of salvation. Raised by a mostly absent father, Jesus aimlessly wanders about with a gang hoping for success as a boy band. Jesus and his friends exist in a haze of drink, drugs, and sexual encounters. One evening in the local park they encounter a young gay man passed out from alcohol and begin to mess with him. The encounter escalates, leaving the boy in a coma and police searching for the attackers. Horrified at what he’s done and fearful of the consequences, Jesus breaks down and confesses the attack and his involvement to his father. Jesus’ friends fear he will snitch and threaten to frame him for the crime. Torn between self-blame for his son’s actions and love for his only child, Jesus’ father must now make devastating choices that will forever alter both their lives. Fearlessly graphic and crafted with an edgy immediacy, JESUS is an intense journey to the limits of family and loyalty. (In Spanish with subtitles) — C.R. Producers~Jacques Bidou, Marianne Dumoulin, Giancarlo Nasi Screenwriting~ Fernando Guzzoni Cinematography~Barbara Alvarez Editing~Andrea Chignoli Principal Cast~Nicolás Durán, Alejandro Goic, Sebastián Ayala Print Source~Breaking Glass Pictures / [email protected] / bgpics.com About the Director~Fernando Guzzoni was born in 1983 in Santiago, Chile. A writer, producer, and director, he won a scholarship in Cannes, enabling him to write his first narrative feature. Filmography~“La Colorina” (2008), “Carne De Perro” (2012), JESUS (2016)

KENYA, GERMANY 2016 75 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

1:55 PM

5:45 PM

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Code KATK04

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Code KATK05

Kaleche is bewildered to one day suddenly find she’s arrived at a lodge called Kati Kati—a neighborhood-like purgatory for the dead that resembles a vacation retreat—with no recollection of her life. She also has no idea how she died, and she spends most of the movie trying to piece together why she (and everyone else she meets) is there. Along the way, she forms unique bonds with fellow afterlife denizens including: Mikey, an avid basketball fan who wears a mortarboard because he died before graduation; King, a stoic ex-priest who passes the time painting; and enigmatic community leader Thoma, who is shadowed by a self-hating, reanimated-corpse version of himself. When Kaleche finally learns the shocking truth about her Kati Kati stay, it upends the lodge’s equilibrium and forces her to reckon with the unresolved issues from her mortal life. KATI KATI is a gripping meditation on humanity’s capacity for forgiveness and the lingering ways guilt and self-loathing steer our actions. (In English and Swahili with subtitles) —A.Z. Producers~Sarika Hemi Lakhani, Siobhain “Ginger” Wilson, Katja Lebedjewa, Marie Steinmann-Tykwer Screenwriting~Mbithi Masya, Mugambi Nthiga Cinematography~ Andrew Mungai Editing~Louizah Wanjiku Principal Cast~Nyokabi Gethaiga, Elsaphan Njora, Peter King Mwania Print Source~The Festival Agency / [email protected] / thefestivalagency.com About the Director~Mbithi Masya was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He also produces and writes, as well as composes music. He began his career in advertising and has directed music videos, commercials, and short films. He is a member of the music/art collective Just a Band. Masya received the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Discovery Award for KATI KATI at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Filmography~KATI KATI (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Kills on Wheels

King of the Belgians

(Tiszta Szivuel)

Directed by Peter Brosens, Jessica Woodworth

Directed by Attila Till

BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, BULGARIA 2016 94 minutes

HUNGARY 2016 105 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Saturday, April 8

4:20 PM

9:30 PM

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Code KILL05

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Code KILL08

Zoli and Barba are inseparable friends and outcasts. Both physically disabled, they live in a rehabilitation facility where life seems rather aimless. Zoli needs life-saving surgery but doesn’t want his absent father to pay out of guilt and pity. Enter Rupasov, a mysterious wheelchair-bound man newly released from prison. He quickly adopts the two friends and offers them a chance to make some extra money by helping him in his work. That work, however, is murder. Rupasov is a hitman. His ruthless boss doesn’t like the new assistants and orders him to get rid of both of them. When Rupasov refuses, all three of them become candidates for elimination. KILLS ON WHEELS is a very, very dark and very, very twisted story of friendship, loyalty, and revenge. As the corpses pile up and the boys become more enamored of their new career, a wild and bloody showdown approaches. Unafraid to offend and with a surprise ending that is genuinely touching, KILLS ON WHEELS is a demented Festival bonbon. (In Hungarian with subtitles) — C.R. KILLS ON WHEELS was selected as Hungary’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Judit Stalter Screenwriting~Attila Till Cinematography~Imre Juhasz Editing~Márton Gothár Principal Cast~Szabolcs Thuróczy, Zoltán Fenyvesi, Ádám Fekete, Mónika Balsai, Lídia Danis, Dusán Vitanovics Print Source~Kino Lorber / kinolorber.com About the Director~Attila Till was born in 1971 in Budapest, Hungary. He studied at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. He is a writer, actor, and director. Filmography~“Panic” (2008), KILLS ON WHEELS (2016)

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

9:20 AM

12:15 PM

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Code BELG30

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Code BELG01

Sunday, April 2 7:10 PM

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Code BELG02

Peter Van den Begin gives another masterful performance (see him also in “Everybody Happy”—41st CIFF) as the titular King Nicolas III of Belgium, a man who is beginning to maybe question his role in the world. The vehicle for the story revolves around a British documentary filmmaker trying to film a flattering portrait of Nicolas and his family. But, while the king and his staff are in Turkey on a state visit, the Belgium province of Wallonia declares independence and the king must hurry back to Brussels to settle matters. A solar flare has all but destroyed all chances of modern travel and communications, so the court must find a way home via the Balkans. Yes, those Balkans. KING OF THE BELGIANS provides a humorous portrait of a man unsure of his place in the world, trying to get back to a country with a similar station in Europe. Van den Begin’s performance is worth the price of admission, and the directing duo of Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth provide a film that is both hilarious and poignant—a beautifully shot visual tour of forgotten lands through the eyes of a man struggling to remain relevant in his own country. (In English, French, Dutch, and Bulgarian with subtitles) —T.W. Producers~Peter Brosens, Jessica Woodworth Screenwriting~Peter Brosens, Jessica Woodworth Cinematography~Ton Peters Editing~David Verdurme Principal Cast~Peter Van den Begin, Lucie Debay, Titus De Voogdt, Bruno Georis, Pieter van der Houwen, Nina Nikolina Print Source~Be for Films / [email protected] / beforfilms.com About the Directors~Peter Brosens was born in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium in 1962. Jessica Woodworth was born in Washington state in 1971. She studied literature at Princeton University, and earned her M.A. in Documentary from Stanford University. Collaborative Filmography~“Khadak” (2006), “Altiplano” (2009), “The Fifth Season” (2012), KING OF THE BELGIANS (2016)

112

Lake Bodom

Lantouri

(Bodom)

Directed by Reza Dormishian

Directed by Taneli Mustonen

IRAN 2016 115 minutes

FINLAND, ESTONIA 2016 90 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

11:35 PM

1:35 PM

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Code LAKE01

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Code LAKE02

Here’s a great idea: convince your friends to go camping. Then take them to the same spot on a lake where four teenagers were brutally murdered years ago. And the killer was never found! Awesome. What could possibly go wrong? Think you know where this is heading? Think again. Just as the bloody body count begins, LAKE BODOM takes a twist you will not see coming. Gleefully subverting the slasher-film rules while exploiting them for maximum nerve-pounding, this film offers a nasty little stew of carnage, sex, and unexpected surprises (none of them happy ones) that will especially delight horror junkies tired of the same old. It even manages to slyly comment on aspects of teenage culture that are terrifying in their own right. Stylishly filmed and skillfully edited for relentless tension, LAKE BODOM is the most fun you’ll have while screaming. It offers a fresh new set of gory and frightening reasons why you should stay the hell out of the woods. (In Finnish with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Aleksi Hyvärinen Screenwriting~Taneli Mustonen, Aleksi Hyvärinen Cinematography~Daniel Lindholm Editing~Aleksi Raij Principal Cast~Nelly HirstGee, Mimosa Williamo, Mikael Gabriel, Santeri Mäntylä Print Source~Film Constellation / [email protected] / filmconstellation.com About the Director~Taneli Mustonen was born in 1978 in Joensuu, Finland. He is a writer, actor, producer, and director. His parents owned a movie theater in Outokumpu. He is a co-founder of Don Films. Variety chose him as one of the Top Ten Nordic Talents to Track. Filmography~“Ella and Friends” (2012), “Reunion” (2015), LAKE BODOM (2016)

Thursday, March 30

Sunday, April 2

11:40 AM

3:55 PM

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Code LANT30

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Code LANT02

Pasha is a petty-thief-turned-Robin-Hood. As the leader of the Lantouri gang, he orchestrates robberies and heists that target the rich. He and his associates use the money to support a local orphanage, which is where Pasha was raised. Due to their mastery of manipulation and a resolve to leave victims unharmed, they have managed to stay out of jail. But their perfect scheme begins to crumble when Pasha meets Maryam, a local reporter and activist. She’s spent her career fighting against the death penalty and severe punishment, trying to convince victims to forgive their aggressors. Pasha is madly in love with Maryam, but it’s unrequited. Though he’s convinced she’ll fall for him, his sense of entitlement is ironic—considering his contempt for privilege. When he’s finally had enough rejection, Pasha takes drastic steps to ensure Maryam will never be with anyone else. This gruesome event will force her to question everything she’s ever believed about revenge. Can she forgive, even though Pasha has taken away her ability to do what she loves? Find out in this explosive, action-packed crime thriller, LANTOURI. (In Farsi with subtitles) —E.F. Producer~Reza Dormishian Screenwriting~Reza Dormishian Cinematography~ Ashkan Askani Editing~Haydeh Safiyari Principal Cast~Navid Mohammadzadeh, Maryam Palizban, Baran Kosari, Mehdi Kooshki, Bahram Afshari, Reza Behboudi Print Source~Iranian Independents / [email protected] / iranianindependents.com About the Director~Reza Dormishian was born in Tehran, Iran in 1981. He began his career as a film critic in 1997, later working as an assistant to several wellknown Iranian filmmakers. Filmography~“Hatred” (2012)—37th CIFF, “I’m Not Angry!” (2014), LANTOURI (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Last Dalai Lama?

Last Men in Aleppo

Directed by Mickey Lemle

Directed by Feras Fayyad

USA 2016 82 minutes

DENMARK, SYRIA 2017 101 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

4:15 PM

7:50 PM

6:15 PM

12:00 Noon

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Code DALA05

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Code DALA06

In his 1993 documentary “Compassion In Exile: The Life of the 14th Dalai Lama,” Mickey Lemle asked His Holiness what he wished for Tibet and for the remainder of his life. His answer to both was Independence, so he could exit the world spotlight and meditate. It was not to be. THE LAST DALAI LAMA? reconnects the filmmaker and the Dalai Lama at his 80th birthday celebration. From here, this warm and lively film looks both backward at the extraordinary history of this beloved world figure and forward to an uncertain future. Tibet’s struggle for autonomy continues, and the world grows more unsettled. Determined to remain a servant to the cause of peace, the Dalai Lama charts a hopeful path forward. This lovingly crafted film conveys his wise and hopeful plan unfiltered to the viewer. But it does not shy from its central question: at a moment when men of peace are greatly needed, will global unrest and politics conspire to make him the last Dalai Lama? — C.R. Producers~Mickey Lemle, Linda Moroney Cinematography~Buddy Squires Editing~Don Casper, Mickey Lemle Print Source~Lemle Pictures / [email protected] / thelastdalailamafilm.com About the Director~Mickey Lemle has been a documentary filmmaker since 1971. He holds a B.A. from Brandeis University. He served in the Peace Corps in Nepal and since 1996 has been Chairman of the Board for the Tibet Fund. His films have been nominated for two Emmys and have received numerous nominations and awards at festivals worldwide. He founded Lemle Pictures in 1982, which is dedicated to producing films of social awareness and human transformation. Filmography~ “The Other Side of the Moon” (1990), “Compassion In Exile: The Life of the 14th Dalai Lama” (1993), “Hasten Slowly: The Journey of Sir Laurens van der Post” (1997), “Ram Dass, Fierce Grace” (2001), THE LAST DALAI LAMA? (2016)

Community Partner:

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Code LMEN01

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Code LMEN02

Merciless war has been raging in Syria for the last five years. Though millions have fled their homes for foreign borders, one group of brave men are steadfast in protecting what is left of their cherished city of Aleppo. The Syrian Civil Defense, more commonly known as the White Helmets, banded together in 2013 to serve as a volunteer search-and-rescue crew for their fellow civilians enduring the destruction. These men respond to ongoing attacks, often pulling bodies from massive piles of rubble, their eyes glued to the sky for fear of yet another Russian airstrike. While much of the city is in desolate ruins, life still remains. An all-too-brief cease-fire gives families a quick respite from death as children run freely in the streets. But daily bombings and scarce resources force these local heroes to weigh their self-proclaimed destiny to defend their home with the grave consequences they will inevitably leave their children. LAST MEN IN ALEPPO depicts the unbelievable resilience of human beings who are barely surviving and begs the world to finally notice. (In Arabic with subtitles) —A.B. Producer~Søren Steen Jespersen Editing~Steen Johannessen Print Source~Cinetic Media / cineticmedia.com About the Director~Feras Fayyad is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed and edited documentary and fiction films. LAST MEN IN ALEPPO earned the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Filmography~LAST MEN IN ALEPPO (2017)

Community Partner:

114

Letters from Baghdad

Letting Go of Adele

Directed by Sabine Krayenbühl, Zeva Oelbaum

Directed by Melissa Dowler

USA, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE 2016 95 minutes

USA 2017 86 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Thursday, April 6

Saturday, April 8

5:35 PM

1:20 PM

7:00 PM

1:35 PM

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Code BAGH07

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Code BAGH08

A pioneering diplomat and a political hero in her own right, Gertrude Bell has an untold story that is shared in LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD. Academy Award®-winning actor Tilda Swinton provides the voice of Bell in a documentary uniquely told solely from historical documents, private diaries, and numerous letters exchanged between Bell and her colleagues. After growing up in England and attending the University of Oxford, Bell’s independence launched her on an extended journey to foreign lands — a feat unheard of for women of her era. Bell’s widespread travels throughout Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Arabian desert branded her an invaluable asset to the British Empire during WWI. History books dole out plenty of recognition for the work of her peers at the time, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill. But it was Bell’s intimate knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and innate ability to influence major political players that helped establish a stable, post-war Iraqi government and impact the region in ways that are still evident today. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) — A.B.

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Code ADEL06

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Code ADEL08

Sunday, April 9 9:15 AM

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Code ADEL09

The documentary LETTING GO OF ADELE is the story of Marty and her dog Adele who has saved Marty’s life every day for the past nine years. Marty has a heart condition that makes her faint on a daily basis, causing injuries to her head and anxiety about living a normal life. When medications and contemporary medical advice couldn’t work to alleviate her symptoms, Marty turned to an alternate opportunity. Service dogs, once used primarily to aid the blind, are now used more and more for people who suffer from neurological disorders. But Adele is the first cardiac alert service dog, and she stopped Marty’s fainting altogether. The relationship between Marty and Adele is a special one, and LETTING GO OF ADELE is a love letter to those furry family members in our lives who save us daily. Chronicling Marty’s struggles with having to retire Adele and find a new service dog, this beautiful and touching film reminds us letting go can be more inspiring than holding on. —T.W.

Producer~Zeva Oelbaum Cinematography~Gary Clarke, Petr Hlinomaz Editing~ Sabine Krayenbühl Print Source~Between the Rivers Productions / lettersfrombaghdad.com

Producers~Melissa Dowler, Tom Dowler Cinematography~Tom Dowler, Megan Lovallo Editing~Tom Dowler Print Source~Long Haul Films / [email protected] / longhaulfilms.com

About the Directors~Sabine Krayenbühl is an award-winning editor who has worked on more than 20 documentaries and narrative features. She holds a B.F.A. from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a long-term member of New York Women in Film and Television. Zeva Oelbaum is an award-winning producer and photographer. She is a graduate of Brandeis University with a degree in Anthropology and a member of the Producer’s Guild. Krayenbühl and Oelbaum are the founders of Between the Rivers Productions. Collaborative Filmography~LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD (2016)

About the Director~Melissa Dowler is a producer and director who was born in Boston and is based in L.A. As the co-founder of Long Haul Films she is making films that explore how innovation and creativity are changing the world. Filmography~ “Nothing Compares” (2016), “Restarting the Motor City” (2017), LETTING GO OF ADELE (2017)

This film is presented with the generous support of CHAR and CHUCK FOWLER.

This film is presented by DEBRA S. GOLD in honor of her sister ABIGAIL GOLD BOECKER, a passionate dog owner and proud “mother” of George and Stella.

Community Partners:

Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Liberation of Skopje

The Library Suicides

Directed by Rade Serbedzija, Danilo Serbedzija

Directed by Euros Lyn

MACEDONIA, CROATIA, FINLAND 2016 111 minutes

UNITED KINGDOM 2016 89 minutes

(Osloboduvanje na Skopje)

(Y Llyfrgell)

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

3:50 PM

2:20 PM

11:20 PM

5:00 PM

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Code LIBE07

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Code LIBE08

In 1941 in the German-occupied village of Skopje, two shattering events occur. First, the assassination of a German officer by the resistance. Next, the arrival of Captain Muller, transferred from assignment in Africa. As the Germans ruthlessly try to exterminate the resistance fighters, Muller becomes obsessed with a village woman, seducing her into becoming his housekeeper with offers of food and money. All this is closely observed by Zoran, the young son of Lica, the object of Muller’s frightening attentions. Lica sees few alternatives to keeping her family fed and safe. Zoran sees the horrors and betrayals of combat everywhere he goes, including his own home. THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE is a touching and terrifying look at the devastation warfare brings to families. Zoran knows his mother is seen as a traitor and that his world may end in a second. Events are hurtling towards an uncertain conclusion. We watch with Zoran as he clings to the tatters of hope and childhood, praying for the liberation of Skopje. (In Macedonian, Bulgarian, and German with subtitles) — C.R. THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE was selected as Macedonia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producers~Igor A. Nola, Gorjan Tozija, Robert Naskov, Arto Halonen Screenwriting~ Dusan Jovanovic, Rade Serbedzija, Danilo Serbedzija Cinematography~Dejan Dimeski Editing~Nicolas Gaster Principal Cast~David Todosovski, Rade Serbedzija, Mikko Nousiainen, Lucija Serbedzija, Silvija Stojanovska Print Source~MP Film Production / [email protected] / mp-films.com About the Directors~Rade Serbedzija was born in 1946 in Bunic, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He graduated from the College of Dramatic Arts in Zagreband and began acting in theater and films. He co-founded a theater with Vanessa Redgrave and has appeared in over 70 movies. In the 1990s he became internationally known, working with Stanley Kubrick and Clint Eastwood. His son Danilo Serbedzija was born in 1971 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He is also an actor and director who has worked successfully in television as well as film. Collaborative Filmography~THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE (2016)

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Code LIBR01

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Code LIBR02

Acclaimed author Elena Wdig has fallen from her apartment window to her death, an apparent suicide. But her dying words (“Eben did it”) to her twin daughters Ana and Nan suggest otherwise. With all of her personal papers now archived at the National Library, where her daughters also happen to work, Dr. Eben Prydderch comes to peruse this material to write a biography. Or so he says. Ana and Nan have other ideas. Trapping him in the archives after closing time, their plan is to extract a confession and revenge what they are convinced is their mother’s murder. When their plans go terribly wrong, Eben escapes. Now locked inside the massive library, an intense game of cat and mouse ensues, with the long and bloody night bringing one shocking revelation after another. THE LIBRARY SUICIDES is a clever and riveting thriller that twists and turns like a snake in a rock garden. It will keep you guessing up to its final startling moments. (In Welsh with subtitles) —C.R. Producer~Euros Lyn Screenwriting~Euros Lyn Cinematography~Dan Stafford-Clark Editing~Tim Hodges Principal Cast~Catrin Stewart, Dyfan Dwyfor, Ryland Teifi, Carwyn Glyn, Sharon Morgan Print Source~Media Luna New Films / [email protected] / medialuna.biz About the Director~Euros Lyn was born in 1971 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. He studied drama at the University of Manchester. He began directing Welsh-language television shows for S4C and went on to become an award-winning director of well-known television series, such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, Last Tango In Hallifax, and Sherlock. Filmography~THE LIBRARY SUICIDES (2016)

Community Partner:

116

Life Itself Directed by Steve James USA 2014 118 minutes

Saturday, April 1 3:40 PM

I

Code LIFE01

Honoring a legend, LIFE ITSELF celebrates the life and work of the late Roger Ebert. As a young boy growing up in Urbana, Illinois, Ebert fell in love with newspapers. His talented writing and arrogant demeanor would eventually earn him the role of film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, launching a lifelong career that fueled his passion for motion pictures. With detailed excerpts from Ebert’s memoir, the film depicts his rise to fame from one of Chicago’s good-ol’-boys, to one-half of the “Two Thumbs Up” duo of Siskel & Ebert, and recognition as one of the world’s most acclaimed film critics of all time. Colleagues and directors, who were often at the mercy of Ebert’s brutally honest reviews, candidly contribute their heartfelt memories of Ebert and his unforgettable impact on their lives, personally and professionally. The film incorporates footage of a resilient Ebert in his final months of life with his beloved wife Chaz by his side. A moving, well-deserved dedication, LIFE ITSELF pays tribute to Ebert’s lasting legacy on the world of cinema. —A.B. Producers~Steve James, Zak Piper, Garret Basch Cinematography~Dana Kupper Editing~Steve James, David E. Simpson Print Source~Kartemquin / [email protected] / kartemquin.com About the Director~Born in Hampton, Virginia in 1954, Steve James is recognized as one of the most acclaimed documentary filmmakers of his generation. He regularly collaborates with the Chicago-based nonprofit production studio Kartemquin Films. His film “Hoop Dreams” was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Film Editing and recently selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Filmography~ “Stop Substance Abuse” (1986), “Hoop Dreams” (1994), “Prefontaine” (1999), “Stevie” (2002)— 27th CIFF, “Reel Paradise” (2005), “At the Death House Door” (2008), “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” (2010)—34th CIFF, “The Interrupters” (2011)— 35th CIFF, “Head Games” (2012), LIFE ITSELF (2014), “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” (2016)

Like Crazy (La pazza gioia)

Directed by Paolo Virzì ITALY, FRANCE 2016 118 minutes

Friday, March 31

Sunday, April 2

7:00 PM

2:20 PM

I

Code LIKE31

I

Code LIKE02

High-spirited Beatrice lives in a residential psychiatric facility due to her grandiose (and delusional) perceptions of reality. Her fiery, outsized personality contrasts with that of moody and medicated new patient Donatella, who’s prone to depression and has a violent secret in her past. Still, the women form an unlikely alliance after they impulsively escape the facility while working a day job at a plant nursery. This friendship only strengthens and deepens as they commit petty crimes to survive while on the lam and try to reckon with their complex family histories and personal demons. LIKE CRAZY casts no judgment on Beatrice and Donatella’s mental health challenges. In fact, the film is sympathetic to each woman’s troubled situation, which ensures that Donatella’s tumultuous relationship with her absent son emerges as the film’s most touching and wrenching plot element. In the end, LIKE CRAZY shows that surface truths and actions can be deceiving, and even the most fractured lives can start to heal if given a second chance. (In Italian with subtitles) —A.Z. Producer~Marco Belardi Screenwriting~Francesca Archibugi, Paolo Virzì Cinematography~Vladan Radovic Editing~Cecilia Zanuso Principal Cast~Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Micaela Ramazzotti, Valentina Carnelutti, Tommaso Ragno, Bob Messini, Sergio Albelli, Anna Galiena, Marisa Borini, Marco Messeri, Bobo Rondelli Print Source~Strand Releasing / [email protected] / strandreleasing.com About the Director~Paolo Virzì was born in Livorno, Tuscany, Italy in 1964. He studied screenwriting at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. He also writes and produces. LIKE CRAZY earned five 2016 Nastro d’Argento awards, including Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Script. Filmography~“La bella vita” (1994), “Ferie d’agosto” (1996), “Hardboiled Egg” (1997), “Baci e abbracci” (1999), “La strana coppia. Incontro con Age e Scarpelli” (2001), “My Name Is Tanino” (2002), “Caterina In The Big City” (2003), “N (Io e Napoleone)” (2006), “Tutta la vita davanti” (2008), “L’uomo che aveva picchiato la testa” (2009), “The First Beautiful Thing” (2010), “Every Blessed Day” (2012), “Human Capital” (2013), LIKE CRAZY (2016)

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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117

877.304.FILM

Lipstick Under My Burkha

Little Wing

(Tyttö nimeltä Varpu)

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava

Directed by Selma Vilhunen

INDIA 2016 116 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

9:20 PM

11:35 AM

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Code LIPS30

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Code LIPS31

Saturday, April 1 9:05 AM

I

FINLAND, DENMARK 2016 98 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

9:15 AM

5:00 PM

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Code LITT30

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Code LITT01

Sunday, April 2

Code LIPS01

A small town in India is home to four courageous women seeking their own taste of freedom, even if that means chasing their suppressed desires in secret. A college freshman dreams of singing stardom and forbidden fashion while honoring her family’s strict, traditional values. A middle-aged widow yearns for longoverdue romance and finds inspiration in a provocative novel and some covert phone calls. An agonizing fiancée is torn between her upcoming arranged marriage and the attempts to keep her secret love affair afloat. A stay-at-home mother feels trapped in the life her husband planned for her and builds a successful career that could finally gain her some independence. LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA will have audiences rooting for these brave, captivating women as they struggle to make even the slightest bit of progress towards realizing their dreams despite the circumstances so heavily stacked against them. Director Alankrita Shrivastava reveals a brutally honest view of women drowning in rules, yet daring to believe they can create their own. (In Hindi with subtitles) — A.B. Producer~Prakash Jha Screenwriting~Alankrita Shrivastava Cinematography~ Akshay Singh Editing~Charu Shree Roy Principal Cast~Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra Print Source~m-appeal / [email protected] / m-appeal.com About the Director~Alankrita Shrivastava is a director, writer, and producer with a passion for films about women. She is the long-time assistant of Indian film producer Prakash Jha. Filmography~“Turning 30!!!” (2011), LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA (2016) Media Partner:

7:25 PM

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Code LITT02

Varpu is busy navigating her snarky friendships at horse-riding camp and the tricky business of first crushes. When she’s not doing 12-year-old things, she’s taking care of her mother who can’t quite seem to get a handle on the responsibilities of adulthood. As her mom prepares to reenter the dating scene, Varpu’s questions about her absent father go unanswered. In a fit of rebellion, Varpu finds herself at the wheel of a stolen car headed north for Oulu with nothing but a dead cell phone and an address for the father she’s never met. With every bit of optimism riding on this life-changing meeting, Varpu hopes this missing piece can finally bring stability to her life of uncertainty. However, this man is not the father figure she had in mind. Touching and conflicted, LITTLE WING portrays the complicated dynamics of a mother-daughter duo and reminds us that while we cannot change our parents, maybe we don’t have to. (In Finnish with subtitles) —A.B. Producers~Kai Nordberg, Kaarle Aho Screenwriting~Selma Vilhunen Cinematography~Tuomo Hutri Editing~Samu Heikkilä Principal Cast~Linnea Skog, Paula Vesala, Lauri Maijala, Santtu Karvonen, Outi Mäenpää, Antti Luusuaniemi Print Source~Media Luna New Films / [email protected] / medialuna.biz About the Director~Selma Vilhunen is an Academy Award®-nominated director and screenwriter of fiction and documentary films. She graduated from Turku University of Applied Sciences and is a founding member and co-owner of the Helsinki-based production company Tuffi Films. Filmography~“Nordic Factory” (2014), “Hobbyhorse Revolution” (2016), LITTLE WING (2016)

118

The Long Night of Francisco Sanctis (La larga noche de Francisco Sanctis)

Directed by Andrea Testa, Francisco Márquez ARGENTINA 2016 78 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

4:30 PM

9:00 PM

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Code LONG05

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Code LONG06

Sunday, April 9 9:40 AM

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Code LONG09

Set in the time of military dictatorship in late 1970s Buenos Aires, THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS tells the unbelievable tale of the aloof title character, who’s plucked from his mundane life into a dangerous world of political espionage. When Francisco first appears, the idea of being involved in anything of the sort seems preposterous. He’s a goofy, middleaged family man, working hard for a job promotion that never comes . In fact, the work situation has turned him into a bit of a joke. This changes when he gets a call from an old college flame, who uses false pretenses to lure him into meeting her. His ex—known for her crazy conspiracy theory rants in college— needs Francisco’s help in alerting a couple who are supposedly about to be murdered by the government. Regardless of her nutty reputation, he eventually accepts the mission. His hesitation quickly turns to obsession, as the adrenaline brings excitement to his otherwise dull existence. Whether the mission is legit or not is a mystery, but this quirky, high-paced actionadventure proves that life is about the journey, not necessarily the destination. (In Spanish with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Andrea Testa, Francisco Márquez, Luciana Piantanida Screenwriting~ Andrea Testa, Francisco Márquez Cinematography~Federico Lastra Editing~ Lorena Moriconi Principal Cast~Diego Velázquez, Laura Paredes, Valeria Lois, Marcelo Subiotto, Rafael Federman Print Source~Films Boutique / [email protected] / filmsboutique.com About the Directors~Andrea Testa and Francisco Ma´rquez were born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They have previously worked on shorts and documentaries as writers and directors. Their first collaboration, THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS, won Best Film in the International Competition at the 2016 Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema. Collaborative Filmography~ THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS (2016)

The Lost City of Z Directed by James Gray USA 2016 140 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

11:25 AM

3:45 PM

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Code CITZ08

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Code CITZ09

Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, THE LOST CITY OF Z tells the incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as savages, the determined Fawcett—supported by his devoted wife (Sienna Miller), son (Tom Holland) and aide-de-camp (Robert Pattinson)—returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925. An epically scaled tale of courage and passion, told in writer/director James Gray’s classic filmmaking style, THE LOST CITY OF Z is a stirring tribute to the exploratory spirit and a conflicted adventurer driven to the verge of obsession. —Bleecker Street Producers~Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Anthony Katagas, James Gray, Dale Armin Johnson Screenwriting~James Gray Cinematography~Darius Khondji Editing~John Axelrad, Lee Haugen Principal Cast~Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Edward Ashley Print Source~Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street About the Director~Born in New York City, James Gray grew up in Queens and attended the USC School of Cinema-Television. He is an award-winning filmmaker whose past films premiered at Cannes and the Venice Film Festival. Filmography~ “Little Odessa” (1994)—19th CIFF, “The Yards” (2000), “We Own the Night” (2007), “Two Lovers” (2008), “The Immigrant” (2013), THE LOST CITY OF Z (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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119

877.304.FILM

Lost in Paris

LoveTrue

(Paris pieds nus)

Directed by Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel FRANCE, BELGIUM 2016 83 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Sunday, April 2

2:20 PM

6:25 PM

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Code LOST30

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Code LOST02

Writer/director team (and real-life couple) Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel star in this incredibly charming homage to the classic romantic comedies of yore, reteaming for their fourth collaboration in decades of working together (you can check out their pitch-perfect YouTube videos). LOST IN PARIS is as goofy as it is delightful— as if a Wes Anderson film courted a Jacques Tati film. When Fiona gets a desperate letter from her Aunt Martha (played by French screen legend Emmanuelle Riva), she leaves her frozen tundra library life in Canada to search for her favorite relative in la Ville Lumiére. And Fiona’s Canadian flagtrek through the streets of Paris paints a beautiful portrait of an incredible city. Enter Abel, the homeless man who stumbles upon Fiona’s purse, using its contents to eat like a king until Fiona, quite literally, falls into his lap. Both characters are awkward, like two swans on roller skates, but their chemistry on screen is undeniable and the film plays to their gangly comic love. In this age of overpriced blockbusters dependent on explosions and darkened moods, LOST IN PARIS is the rare date movie that spreads light. (In English and French with subtitles) — T.W. Producers~Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Charles Gillibert Screenwriting~ Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel Cinematography~Claire Childeric, Jean-Christophe Leforestier Editing~Sandrine Deegen Principal Cast~Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Emmanuelle Riva, Pierre Richard Print Source~Oscilloscope Laboratories / [email protected] / oscilloscope.net About the Directors~Fiona Gordon was born in Australia in 1957 and moved to Canada when she was 12. Dominique Abel was born in Belgium in 1957. After meeting in Paris in 1980 and marrying in 1987, the pair created several theater pieces and have toured the world with their shows. Collaborative Filmography~ “L’iceberg” (2005), “Rumba” (2008), “The Fairy” (2011), LOST IN PARIS (2016)

This film is presented in loving memory of DEB EGER, a generous spirit and an adventurous world traveler.

Directed by Alma Har’el USA 2016 82 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

7:50 PM

3:00 PM

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Code TRUE08

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Code TRUE09

Does true love exist? If so, can it survive seemingly insurmountable challenges? The absorbing hybrid documentary LOVETRUE illuminates different kinds of love—familial, romantic, and creative—and how these bonds grow stronger (or collapse) over time. In Alaska, naïve dreamer Blake worries she’ll get stuck working as a stripper, especially after she falls for her ambitious boyfriend Joel. Bohemian Hawaiian surf enthusiast Coconut Willie is serious about being a good dad to his toddler son, even though he struggles with anger toward his cheating ex. And in New York City, talented singer-songwriter Victory Boyd wrestles with questions of faith, fidelity, and hope after her parents’ marriage implodes due to her father’s indiscretions. LOVETRUE uses surrealistic flourishes, such as a fellow dancer dubbed “Older Blake” who vocalizes the younger Blake’s hopes and fears, to add disorienting complexity to its big questions. In the end, each person’s vignette crescendos to a resolution—and although not everyone experiences a happy ending, LOVETRUE’s subjects face the future with dogged optimism. —A.Z. Producers~Alma Har’el, Christopher Leggett, Rafael Marmor, Rhea Scott Cinematography~Alma Har’el Editing~Terry Yates, Alma Har’el Print Source~Dogwoof / [email protected] / dogwoof.com About the Director~Alma Har’el was born and raised in Israel. She also edits and produces. Har’el began her career as a video DJ and later directed music videos for Sigur Rós, Beirut, and The Rolling Stones. She has also filmed commercials for Airbnb and Stella Artois and worked as the Global Creative Director at RYOT. Filmography~“Paul Smith: The Reddest Herring” (2008), “Bombay Beach” (2011), LOVETRUE (2016)

120

Memories of a Penitent Heart

Menashe

Directed by Cecilia Aldarondo

Directed by Joshua Z. Weinstein

USA, PUERTO RICO 2016 73 minutes

USA 2017 81 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

6:00 PM

4:05 PM

12:15 PM

7:10 PM

I

Code MEMR31

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Code MEMR01

Sunday, April 2 11:30 AM

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Code MEMR02

Every family has a hidden history. The question often is, should it stay that way? In the late 1980s, Cecilia’s Uncle Miguel died of AIDS in New York. Miguel was a promising young playwright who fled to New York to escape his extremely religious mother Carmen. Cecilia decided to tie the loose ends surrounding Miguel’s death, including locating Miguel’s lover Robert, who was reviled by Carmen as the cause of her son’s death. When she locates Robert and begins digging into family archives and interviewing surviving family members, Cecilia discovers more than she expected. She stirs a pot of conflicting viewpoints, shocking family secrets, religious mania, “miracles,” and the lingering question of what might actually be gained from all this. When everyone has crafted their own histories, what effect does the truth really have? This fearless film poses questions to which there may be no real answers. Powerful and passionate, MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART is a poetic family history that raises more than ghosts and dust. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) — C.R. Producers~Cecilia Aldarondo, Patricia Benabe Cinematography~Brennan Vance Editing~Hannah Buck Print Source~Blackscrackle Films / [email protected] / penitentheart.com About the Director~Cecilia Aldarondo holds an M.A. from Goldsmith College and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She is Assistant Professor of Film Studies at Skidmore College. In 2015 she was named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” Filmography~MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART (2016) Sponsored by: Community Partner:

Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center

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Code MENA07

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Code MENA09

Set within the New York Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, MENASHE follows a kind but hapless grocery store clerk trying to maintain custody of his son Rieven after his wife Lea passes away. Since they live in a tradition-bound culture that requires a mother present in every home, Rieven is supposed to be adopted by the boy’s strict, married uncle, but Menashe’s Rabbi decides to grant him one week to spend with Rieven prior to Lea’s memorial. Their time together creates an emotional moment of father/son bonding as well as offers Menashe a final chance to prove to his skeptical community he can be a capable parent. Shot in secret entirely within the Hasidic community depicted in the film, and one of the only movies to be performed in Yiddish in nearly 70 years, MENASHE is a warm, life-affirming look at the universal bonds between father and son that also sheds unusual light on a notoriously private community. Based largely on the real life of its Hasidic star Menashe Lustig, the film is a strikingly authentic and deeply moving portrait of family, love, connection, and community. —A24 Producers~Joshua Z. Weinstein, Alex Lipschultz, Daniel Finkelman, Traci Carlson Screenwriting~Alex Lipschultz, Musa Syeed, Joshua Z. Weinstein Cinematography~ Yoni Brook Editing~Scott Cummings Principal Cast~Menashe Lustig Print Source~A24 Films / a24films.com About the Director~Joshua Z. Weinstein has been nominated for a Cannes Lion for his advertising work and won a first place POY Award for his work with The New York Times. MENASHE marks his debut as a director of narrative fiction. Filmography~ “Flying on One Engine” (2008), “Drivers Wanted” (2012), MENASHE (2017)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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121

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Mercenary

Miles

(Mercenaire)

Directed by Nathan Adloff

Directed by Sacha Wolff

USA 2016 87 minutes

FRANCE 2016 103 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

9:00 PM

5:35 PM

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Code MERC07

I

Code MERC08

Saturday, April 1

Tuesday, April 4

9:20 AM

4:40 PM

I

Code MILE01

Wednesday, April 5

I

Code MILE04

Soane is a hulking young Pacific Islander from French New Caledonia. There’s no money in this island paradise and not much of a future. But Soane is a rugby player, and a devilish local agent named Abraham persuades him to leave home to play in a provincial club in France. This prospect is enough for Soane’s father to beat him savagely, while his little brother begs him not to go. But leave he must, and Soane becomes a mercenary, sold with other foreigners to battle for wages. Exchanging the lovely aquatic blues of his home for the drab concrete grays of suburban Europe, Soane, a French citizen, is a fish out of water. The club’s manager uses Mafioso tactics — strong-arming the team, feeding them pills, and withholding pay. Soane falls in love with another underdog, an unhappily promiscuous cashier. As he struggles onward, he must decide just how many hits he’s willing to take. Toki Pilioko, the wonderful nonprofessional actor who plays Soane, was discovered in a small French rugby club. MERCENARY features an excellent script and splendid camerawork. (In French and Wallisian with subtitles) — B.B.

9:00 PM

Producers~Claire Bodechon, Jean Brehat Screenwriting~Sacha Wolff Cinematography~Samuel Lahu Editing~Laurence Manheimer Principal Cast~ Toki Pilioko, Iliana Zabeth, Laurent Pakihivatau Print Source~Be For Films / [email protected] / beforfilms.com

Producers~Ash Christian, Anne Clements, Stephen Israel, Lisa G. Black, Devon Schneider Screenwriting~Justin D. M. Palmer, Nathan Adloff Cinematography~ Hunter Robert Baker Editing~Yaniv Dabach Principal Cast~Molly Shannon, Tim Boardman, Stephen Root Print Source~Odin’s Eye Entertainment / [email protected] / odinseyeent.com

About the Director~Sacha Wolff was born in 1981 in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. He is also a writer and a director of photography. MERCENARY won the award for the Best European Feature Film in the Directors’ Fortnight section of Cannes. Filmography~MERCENARY (2016)

Code MILE05

I

At the Cedar Lee Theatre (see page 50)

Set in the 90s, when dial-up internet and instant messaging were starting to enter every home in America, this film is centered on Miles, a high school senior impatiently waiting to flee his close-minded small town. After graduation he plans to attend film school in Chicago, where a number of his online buddies are living. His plan goes south when his father dies of a heart attack. It’s not the death that derails the plan, but more the discovery that his dad was cheating on his mom (played by SNL-alum and Shaker Heights native Molly Shannon) and blew Miles’ college savings on gifts for his young mistress. Miles finds a backup plan in an unlikely place: a volleyball scholarship to Loyola University. The only problem is his school doesn’t have a team for boys. Desperate, Miles tries out for the girl’s team and unexpectedly makes the cut. The move creates a huge controversy across the region, threatening the only chance Miles has to escape. Based on a true story, MILES is a touching comedy that completely obliterates gender stereotypes. —E.F.

About the Director~Nathan Adloff was born in Springfield, Illinois in 1982. He began his career as an actor, appearing in such television shows as IFC’s Young American Bodies. Filmography~“Nate & Margaret” (2012), MILES (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partners:

122

Mixed Match

Monster in the Mind

Directed by Jeff Chiba Stearns

Directed by Jean Carper

CANADA 2016 96 minutes

USA 2016 87 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

11:35 AM

4:50 PM

5:10 PM

2:15 PM

I

Code MIXE30

I

Code MIXE01

Sunday, April 2 11:15 AM

I

Code MIXE02

The idea of mixed-race couples has long been controversial in America. In fact, interracial marriage was illegal in the U.S. until 1967. But times have changed. With the election of Barack Obama, the son of a mixed-race marriage, the stigma continued to recede. In 2012 the number of biracial couples hit an all-time high. However, there’s one area where this topic is still being dissected: medicine. In MIXED MATCH, director Jeff Chiba Stearns follows the stories of mixed-race cancer patients who are struggling to find bone marrow donors due to the complexity of their genetic makeup. Their unfortunate circumstances lead them to reflect on their multicultural identities. The film also spotlights Mixed Marrow, which is dedicated to registering multiethnic individuals to the donor registry. While they strongly believe race holds a critical role in finding matches, there are some who oppose their work, based on a disagreement over the concept of race itself. This eye-opening documentary sheds light on a topic that will become more and more important as America’s demographics continue to blend. — E.F. Producer~Ruth Vincent Screenwriting~Jeff Chiba Stearns Cinematography~ Jeff Chiba Stearns Editing~Jeff Chiba Stearns Print Source~Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. / [email protected] / meditatingbunny.com About the Director~Jeff Chiba Stearns was born in Kelowna, British Columbia. He holds a B.A. in Film Animation from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. He’s also the founder of the Vancouver production company Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. Filmography~“One Big Hapa Family” (2010), MIXED MATCH (2016) Community Partners:

I

Code MONS03

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Code MONS04

When MONSTER IN THE MIND begins, you’d swear you’re watching a science-fiction movie. It’s filled with monsters and a chorus of people talking in an apocalyptic tone about a rising Alzheimer’s epidemic. The way they present it is terrifying; it’s no wonder the disease is so feared. Journalist Jean Carper grew scared after covering it for CNN in 1982. At that time, many believed Alzheimer’s was simply an inevitable effect of growing old, commonly referred to as senility. The science on the disease was still young, but a whirlwind of horrifying information was spreading to the public. As Carper would eventually learn, much of it was false. She takes the confusion to task, interviewing a number of experts in the field, all the while trying to ease her own paranoia about getting Alzheimer’s. What begins as a tale of doom and gloom slowly turns hopeful when she learns more about the disease. This fascinating and brilliantly styled documentary is an eye-opener to the dangers of misinformation as well as an unexpectedly positive film about the perils of aging. —E.F. Producers~Jean Carper, Lee Koromvokis, Tilda Swinton Cinematography~Ellen Kuras Editing~Phyllis Housen, Christopher Radcliff Print Source~Films Transit International / [email protected] / filmstransit.com About the Director~Jean Carper was born in New York, New York in 1932. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University. She’s also a best-selling author and journalist, known for her work as CNN’s senior medical correspondent. Filmography~ MONSTER IN THE MIND (2016) Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Moos

A More Civil War

Directed by Job Gosschalk

Directed by Geoff Yaw

NETHERLANDS 2016 91 minutes

USA 2017 113 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Thursday, April 6

8:45 PM

2:00 PM

6:00 PM

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Code MOOS30

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Code MOOS31

MOOS, set in a tight-knit Jewish enclave of Amsterdam, is an endearing comedy about following your far-fetched dreams. Moos, in her late 20s, takes care of her dad and hangs around the family fabric store singing tunes to her steam iron. Despite her cheerfully average appearance and no evident talent, Moos harbors a private ambition to be a musical actress. Then her childhood friend Sam comes home from the Israeli army, reminding her of the time when she still had passions. Moos summons up her courage and auditions secretly for a prestigious theater academy. Unsurprisingly, she’s rejected. But being inherently optimistic and encouraged (then seduced) by a handsome teacher, she takes a job at the theater cafeteria, hoping to get a break next time around. Trouble is bound to ensue when she pretends to her beloved father that she’s attending the school. Moos needs to untangle her relationships and figure out what’s important. Actress Jip Smit is a Barbra Streisand look-alike who makes MOOS delightful from start to finish. (In Dutch with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Job Gosschalk, Christopher Parren, Boudewijn Rosenmuller, Monique van Welzen Screenwriting~Job Gosschalk, Judith Goudsmit Cinematography~ Richard van Ooserhout Editing~Jurriaan van Nimwegen Principal Cast~Jip Smit, Daniel Cornelissen, Michiel Romeijn, Lineke Rijxman, Frederik Brom Print Source~Menemsha Films / menemshafilms.com About the Director~Job Gosschalk, born in the Netherlands in 1967, trained as an actor for a year at the drama school in Maastricht. He worked as an assistant theater director, then as a casting director for 20 years. In 2005 he ventured into producing with his new company Kemna & Zonen. Filmography~“Time to Spare” (2011), “The Seventh Heaven” (2016), MOOS (2016)

I

Code MORE06

At the Capitol Theatre (see page 51)

Saturday, April 8 6:40 PM

I

Code MORE08

Inside and outside Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, activists, journalists, and politicians run up against America’s divided socio-political landscape. The 50,000 delegates who have descended on the city for the 2016 Republican National Convention, and the many protesters who oppose them, lend it a carnival atmosphere. Clevelanders of all stripes are out in force. Earnest young podcasters cover the event. Minister-activist Kyle Earley agitates on behalf of people living in poverty. Televangelist Mark Burns and radio talk show host Laura Ingraham make rabble-rousing speeches inside The Q, while customers at the Diamond Cut barbershop debate the coming election. Despite the city’s curbs on protest, the women of Code Pink continue to plot disruption. Rants and diatribes abound. A strong police presence tamps down inflamed passions. As conveyed in A MORE CIVIL WAR in the chaos of this political theater, any voices of reason are outshouted. Yet Pastor Kyle Earley remains conciliatory, asking “How can we love, when there’s so much hate in this world?” The national conversation can’t get any less civil, so we all have to work toward compromise. —B.B. Producers~Geoff Yaw, Katie Koeblitz, Julia Thorndike, Josh Booth, Dale Omori Cinematography~Keith Nickoson, Caleb Crossen, Kevin Coyne, Kasey Drzazga, Peter Mozingo, Billy O’Boyle Editing~Keith Potoczak, Danielle Miller Print Source~Think Media Studios / [email protected] / thinkmediastudios.com About the Director~Geoff Yaw of Cleveland’s Think Media Studios has designed products for the home furnishing market, created national events for major sponsors, served time as a nonfiction author, and paid the bills as a musician. Since 2002 he has produced reality TV programs, feature and short documentaries, music videos, and ad campaigns. Filmography~“King Me” (2011)—36th CIFF, A MORE CIVIL WAR (2017) Community Partner:

124

Murderous Tales

My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea

(Smrtelné history)

Directed by Jan Bubenícˇek

Directed by Dash Shaw

CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVAKIA 2016 80 minutes

USA 2016 77 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

1:25 PM

11:35 PM

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Code MURD07

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Code MURD08

Sunday, April 9 9:20 AM

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Code MURD09

Welcome to Jan Bubenícˇek’s zany world of animation, puppetry, and special effects. MURDEROUS TALES contains three separate stories, each showing off the creativity of this rookie director. It begins with the tale of a young man who inherits a strange Mexican cactus and apartment from his deceased grandfather. While he always thought his grandpa was crazy, living in his place provides him the opportunity to learn the truth. Let’s just say there’s more to the cactus than meets the eye. Bubenícˇek follows it up with a tiny professor coming to terms with using animal slaughter for scientific purposes. The depth of the plot is definitely not your standard animated fare. In the final chapter, two knucklehead hitmen embark on a mission that goes horribly awry. Their shenanigans provide a plethora of laughs against the backdrop of impressive visuals. In addition to these stories, the film also features a series of interludes where a dim-witted knight desperately looks for new ways to defeat a dragon. These short pieces unite a common David & Goliath theme in Bubenícˇek’s imaginative creations. (In Czech with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Ondrej Trojan Screenwriting~Jan Bubenícˇek Cinematography~Radek Loukota Editing~Zdeneˇk Marek, Jan Bubenícˇek Principal Cast~Jan Budar, Pavel Landovsky, Ales Najbrt, Ondrej Trojan Print Source~Total HelpArt About the Director~Jan Bubenícˇek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1976. He studied animation at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts, otherwise known as FAMU. Filmography~MURDEROUS TALES (2016)

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

9:45 PM

3:40 PM

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Code MYEN07

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Code MYEN08

Dash is having a bad week. He’s thrown off his high school newspaper staff for childishly slandering his best friend and writing partner Assaf, who just so happens to be romancing the paper’s whip-smart editor Verti. Still, this pales in comparison to what comes next. Thanks to an auditorium addition that isn’t up to code, Dash’s high school slowly collapses into the ocean after an earthquake. A motley crew of survivors—including Dash, Assaf, Verti, self-righteous scenester Mary, and a gruff lunch lady with a heart of gold—must set aside personal differences and cooperate in order to (hopefully) escape the crumbling edifice. This wry animated feature softens the inevitable carnage by employing gorgeous interstitial scenes rendered in rich, deep hues. However, MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA is unsentimental about the adolescent caste system and its inherently petty ways. More than that, it’s a subtle and scathing portrayal of modern society’s selfish, me-first attitudes and sardonic approach to life—both of which persist even when tragedy strikes. —A.Z. Producers~Kyle Martin, Craig Zobel, Dash Shaw Screenwriting~Dash Shaw Editing~Lance Edmands, Alex Abrahams Lead Animation~Jane Samborski Principal Cast~Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Reggie Watts, Maya Rudolph, Susan Sarandon, Thomas Jay Ryan, Alex Karpovsky, Louisa Krause, John Cameron Mitchell Print Source~GKIDS / gkids.com About the Director~Dash Shaw was born in Hollywood, California in 1983. He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. He is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer who has published multiple comic books (including 2008’s Bottomless Belly Button) and directed the animated short series The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D., which was produced by IFC. Filmography~MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Nelly

The Night Watchmen

Directed by Anne Émond

Directed by Mitchell Altieri

CANADA 2016 101 minutes

USA 2017 80 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Friday, April 7

Sunday, April 9

9:15 PM

5:15 PM

11:30 PM

3:10 PM

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Code NELL06

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Code NELL07

The first things everybody noticed about Nelly Arcan were her sky-blue eyes and gorgeous figure. Yet she was a serious writer who felt a constant, humiliating pull between her appearance and the substance of her work. Nelly’s first novel Whore caused a sensation in the French-Canadian literary world in 2001. Detailing the life of a prostitute named Cynthia, it was based on Nelly’s experience as a sex worker. Nelly wrote semi-autobiographical and scandalous novels, short stories, opinion pieces, and columns—as well as a coffee-table book on beauty. Director Anne Émond presents Nelly as a composite of the four types of women she tried to be: glamour girl, writer, junkie, and whore. Convinced she’s no good, Nelly seeks out humiliation. Inhaling reviews of her “performances” as a hooker and a writer, she both loathes and loves being judged. Inspired by the life and work of Nelly Arcan, NELLY is a kaleidoscopic study of loneliness and female sexuality. Mylène Mackay’s performance as Nelly is astonishing. (In French with subtitles) — B.B. Producer~Nicole Robert Screenwriting~Anne Émond Cinematography~Josée Deshaies Editing~Mathieu Bouchard-Malo Principal Cast~Mylène Mackay, Mylia Corbeil-Gauvreau, Mickaël Gouin, Sylvie Drapeau, Catherine Brunet, Francis Leplay Print Source~Seville International / [email protected] / sevilleinternational.com About the Director~Anne Émond, based in Montréal, studied cinema at the University of Quebec. Her films have screened to acclaim at the Locarno and Toronto International Film Festivals. At the 2012 Canadian Genie Awards, her “Nuit #1” was named the year’s Best Feature Film by a first-time director. Filmography~ “Nuit #1” (2011), “Our Loved Ones” (2015), NELLY (2016)

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Code WATC07

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Code WATC09

People are puzzled when Baltimore icon Blimpo the Clown and his troupe of performers mysteriously die while performing in Romania. Back in the U.S., all is revealed when a security guard is mauled after he can’t resist peeking inside the clown’s coffin, which has been accidentally delivered to the wrong building. Blimpo and his crew have been transformed into vampires and are (er) dying to convert citizens to their monstrous ways. The only people with any hope of stopping these so-called “clownpires” are a bumbling crew of night watchmen and an intrepid journalist—all of whom wield guns, stakes, and their wits as they hunt Blimpo and his undead acolytes. From there, THE NIGHT WATCHMEN turns into a gleefully (and unapologetically) gory movie replete with liberal amounts of gross-out comedic elements. Nevertheless, the film’s reverence for campy 80s horror flicks and wicked sense of humor ensure the bloodsoaked romp is equal parts fun and frightening. —A.Z. Producers~Jeff Allard, Demetrea Triantafillides, Cheryl Staurulakis, Ken Arnold, Dan DeLuca Screenwriting~Dan DeLuca, Jamie Nash Cinematography~Amanda Treyz Editing~Brett Alexander Solem Principal Cast~Ken Arnold, Dan DeLuca, Kevin Jiggetts, Max Gray Wilbur, Kara Luiz, James Remar, Matt Servitto Print Source~The Night Watchmen / tnwmovie.com About the Director~Mitchell Altieri was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career by writing and directing the short “King’s River.” He has also produced print ads for national brands. He and Phil Flores also produce, write, and direct films under the moniker the Butcher Brothers. Filmography~“Lurking In Suburbia” (2006), “Holy Ghost People” (2013), “Raised By Wolves” (2014), “A Beginner’s Guide to Snuff” (2016)—40th CIFF, THE NIGHT WATCHMEN (2017)

126

Nightlife

The Nine

(Nocˇno življenje)

Directed by Katy Grannan

Directed by Damjan Kozole SLOVENIA, MACEDONIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2016 82 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Friday, April 7

8:50 PM

11:05 AM

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Code NIGH05

I

Code NIGH07

Strolling through the city streets one night, a group of young strangers discovers a half-naked man, barely alive, bloody, and covered in dog bites. They quickly recognize him as a high-profile attorney whose controversial cases have been all over the news. No one is sure how he got there, but it’s clear the gruesome spectacle was no accident. Rushed to the emergency room, doctors work hard to keep him alive. As word reaches his wife, she frantically drives to the hospital, stricken by fear. But we soon discover her concern is not for the reasons you might expect. With an investigation into the crime looming, there’s some dark secrets she must protect. As her husband fights for his life, she’s now on a relentless — and morally questionable— mission to make sure the unconventional circumstances behind the crime are never brought to light. Pia Zemljicˇ is absolutely flawless as the loving wife, whose fierce loyalty and desperation take her to reprehensible heights. NIGHTLIFE is a highly intense, enigmatic thriller that will leave you pondering this: how far would you go to protect your darkest secrets? (In Slovenian with subtitles) — E.F. Producer~Danijel Hocˇevar Screenwriting~Damjan Kozole, Ognjen Svilicˇicˇ Cinematography~Miladin Cˇolakovicˇ Editing~Jurij Moškon, Ivo Trajkov Principal Cast~Pia Zemljicˇ, Jernej Šugman, Marko Mandicˇ, Petre Arsovski, Jana Zupancˇicˇ Print Source~Vertigo / [email protected] / vertigo.si About the Director~Damjan Kozole is an award-winning director from Slovenia, who has worked in the film industry for three decades. His 2009 film “A Call Girl” earned him tremendous critical praise and was screened at over 70 film festivals worldwide. Kozole received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rome Film Festival in 2012. Filmography~“Fatal Telephone” (1986), “Remington” (1988), “Stereotip” (1997), “Porno Film” (2000), “Spare Parts” (2003), “Labor Equals Freedom” (2004), “Postar” (2007), “Forever” (2008), “A Call Girl” (2009)—34th CIFF, “Bogdan Grom” (2009), “Two Or Three Things I Know About Her” (2010), “The Long Vacation” (2012)—37th CIFF, “Project Cancer” (2013), NIGHTLIFE (2016)

USA 2016 98 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Thursday, April 6

8:40 PM

1:20 PM

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Code NINE04

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Code NINE06

The city of Modesto lies in California’s Central Valley, a region with some of the highest poverty levels in the nation. One area in particular is the notorious South Ninth Street, a desolate wasteland ravaged by crime and destitution. On paper that description may seem inflated, but when you actually see it up close in Katy Grannan’s THE NINE, it’s pretty jarring. South Ninth is a modern day Wild West, with each person desperately trying to survive another day. To do so often means resorting to egregious methods—prostitution is incredibly rampant. The film follows Kiki, who, despite the madness around her, remains optimistic about life. Her childlike hope is unchanged, even though she’s been failed by the system. Her bright light shines through the darkness, providing a balance to an otherwise bleak, but forthright, portrait of South Ninth. This raw and staggering documentary honors America’s forgotten souls—beautiful but forever scarred by the depredation that surrounds them. —E.F. Producer~Marc Smolowitz Screenwriting~Katy Grannan, Artimese Fairley Cinematography~Katy Grannan, Hannah Hughes Editing~Stephen Berger, Eli Olson Print Source~13th Gen / [email protected] / theninefilm.com About the Director~Katy Grannan is from Arlington, Massachusetts. She holds an M.F.A. in Photography from Yale University. She’s also a photographer, and her pictures have appeared in The New York Times and several prestigious museums, including the Guggenheim. Filmography~THE NINE (2016)

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

No Light and No Land Anywhere Directed by Amber Sealey USA 2016 75 minutes

Directed by Joseph Cedar

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

9:45 PM

2:05 PM

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Code LIGH30

I

Code LIGH31

Saturday, April 1 10:30 AM

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

I

Code LIGH01

When Lexi was three years old, her father walked out the front door and abandoned her family. Decades later, unmoored by career woes, her mother’s death, and the breakdown of her marriage, she travels from England to L.A. to seek out her father and find out why he left. After arriving in California, Lexi tracks down her father’s second family—including an uptight half-sister she’s never met and her father’s terminally ill second ex-wife, with whom Lexi secretively attempts to form a bond. In the meantime, Lexi tries to numb the pain by compensating for her husband’s absence with unsuccessful casual sexual encounters. Her sense of emotional detachment crumbles, however, after the longawaited reunion with her dad isn’t anywhere close to what she imagined it would be. NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE is a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to become untethered from everything you’ve known. But still, the film speaks to the power of second chances — and how hitting rock bottom is sometimes the only way to find a better path forward. — A.Z. Producers~Amber Sealey, Drea Clark, Alysa Nahmias Screenwriting~Amber Sealey Cinematography~Catherine Goldschmidt Editing~Patrick Nelson Barnes Principal Cast~Gemma Brockis, Jennifer Lafleur, David Sullivan, Kent Osborne Print Source~Part Participation Films / [email protected] / ambersealey.com About the Director~Amber Sealey was born in Brighton, England in 1975. She holds a degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also studied drama at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama. She produces, writes, and acts. NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE received an L.A. Muse Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival. Filmography~“A Plus D” (2008), “How To Cheat” (2011), NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE (2016)

USA, ISRAEL 2016 118 minutes

Sunday, April 9 6:45 PM

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Code NORM09

Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, a would-be operator dreaming up financial schemes that never come to fruition. As he has nothing real to offer, Norman strives to be everyone’s friend, but his incessant networking leads him nowhere. Always on the lookout for someone willing to pay attention to him, Norman sets his sights on Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi), a charismatic Israeli politician alone in New York at a low point in his career. Sensing Eshel’s vulnerability, Norman reaches out with a gift of a very expensive pair of shoes, a gesture that deeply touches Eshel. When Eshel becomes Prime Minister three years later, he remembers. With his very real connection to the leader of a major nation, Norman is awash in the respect he has always craved. Flush with his newfound feeling of success, Norman attempts to use Eshel’s name to leverage his biggest deal ever: a series of quid pro quo transactions linking the Prime Minister to Norman’s nephew (Michael Sheen), a rabbi (Steve Buscemi), a mogul (Harris Yulin), his assistant (Dan Stevens), and a treasury official from the Ivory Coast. Norman’s kaleidoscopic plans soon go awry, creating the potential for an international catastrophe he must struggle to prevent. NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER, the new film by Academy Award®-nominated director Joseph Cedar, is a comic and compassionate drama of a little man whose downfall is rooted in a human frailty all too easy to forgive—a need to matter. —Sony Pictures Classics Producers~Oren Moverman, Gideon Tadmor, Eyal Rimmon, David Mandil, Miranda Bailey, Lawerence Inglee Screenwriting~Joseph Cedar Cinematography~ Yaron Scharf Editing~Brian A. Kates Principal Cast~Richard Gere, Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Charolette Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Hank Azaria, Harris Yulin Print Source~Sony Pictures Classics / sonyclassics.com About the Director~Born in New York City, Joseph Cedar moved to Israel with his family at age six and grew up in Jerusalem. He studied at a yeshiva high school and served as a paratrooper in the Israeli army. He studied philosophy and theater history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and graduated from NYU Film School. Filmography~“Time of Favor” (2000), “Campfire” (2004), “Beaufort” (2007), “Sharon Amrani: Remember His Name” (2010), “Footnote” (2011), NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER (2016)

128

Nowhere to Hide

Old Stone (Lao Shi)

Directed by Zaradasht Ahmed

Directed by Johnny Ma

NORWAY, SWEDEN 2016 86 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

4:40 PM

11:35 AM

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Code NOWH01

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Code NOWH03

“This is an undiagnosed war,” states Nori, surveying the devastation of a car bombing. “All we see are the symptoms,” he continues. Nori is a male nurse working at the Jalawla Medical Center in Central Iraq. When American troops withdrew in 2011, Nori was asked to carry a camera and document life afterward. NOWHERE TO HIDE is this extraordinary document, spanning the years from the withdrawal to the present. During that time Central Iraq, a region dubbed the “Triangle of Death” by the media, became a landscape of shifting conflicts and the steady advance of ISIS. Nori, with his wife and children, watched their homeland change from a peaceful place to one of unspeakable violence, confusion, and uncertainty about who the enemy is. As we accompany Nori, we watch as his position dreadfully alters from documenting the war and its victims to documenting his family fleeing for their lives as refugees. NOWHERE TO HIDE is shattering and immediate, the flesh and blood behind the endless headlines. (In Arabic with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Mette Cheng Munthe-Kaas Cinematography~Zaradasht Ahmed, Nori Sharif Editing~Eva Hillstöm Print Source~Ten Thousand Images / [email protected] / tenthousandimages.no About the Director~Zaradasht Ahmed was born in 1968 in Northern Iraq. A writer, producer, and director, he has extensive experience in documentary filmmaking in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. NOWHERE TO HIDE won Best Documentary at the 2016 International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA). Filmography~“The Road to Diyarbakir” (2010), “Fata Morgana” (2013), NOWHERE TO HIDE (2016) Community Partner:

CHINA, CANADA 2016 80 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Sunday, April 2

6:55 PM

3:10 PM

I

Code OLDS30

I

Code OLDS02

When a drunken passenger causes his taxi to seriously injure a motorcyclist, taxi driver Lao Shi rushes the cyclist to the hospital and saves his life. Although the cyclist survives after emergency surgery, he is now in a coma. Suddenly Lao is under investigation for both hurting and helping him (in violation of insurance and company policy) and is now responsible for the immense and ongoing medical bills. Lao is a good man, one with principles, who finds that nobody is able or willing to help. A cold, inept bureaucracy begins grinding him down. Even after locating the passenger responsible for the accident, who refuses to testify or aid him, Lao insists on doing the right thing—paying the bills, even at the risk of his own family’s welfare. But there is a line between principle and survival and soon Lao is pushed over it. Superbly paced and acted, OLD STONE is a tense and unsettling look at what emerges when a good man is fed into the mill of an uncaring and unjust system. (In Mandarin with subtitles) —C.R. Producers~Wu Xianjian, Chi-an Lin, Jing Wang, Sarah Stallard Screenwriting~ Johnny Ma Cinematography~Ming Kai Leung Editing~Mike Long Principal Cast~ Chen Gang, Nai An, Wang Hongwei, Zhang Zebin, Luo Xue’er Print Source~Zeitgeist Films / zeitgeistfilms.com About the Director~Johnny Ma was born in Shanghai, China. He immigrated to Canada at the age of ten. He attended Columbia University and received an M.F.A. in Directing and Screenwriting. He has directed a number of award-winning short films. Filmography~OLD STONE (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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129

877.304.FILM

The Olive Tree

On the Other Side

Directed by Icíar Bollaín

Directed by Zrinko Ogresta

SPAIN, GERMANY 2016 98 minutes

CROATIA 2016 85 minutes

(El Olivo)

(S One Strane)

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

1:10 PM

6:00 PM

6:10 PM

9:20 AM

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Code OLIV07

I

Code OLIV08

Stuck in a nasty job at a poultry farm, feisty young Alma vents her frustration in bursts of aggression. Alma’s one soft spot belongs to her grandpa, her constant companion while she was growing up in the family’s ancient olive grove. But since Alma’s father sold their favorite tree to subsidize a failing restaurant, Grandpa has stopped speaking and has taken to wandering off. Alma discovers the tree now stands in the lobby of a big German energy company. Desperate to do something meaningful— for her grandfather, and perhaps for herself— she concocts a string of big white lies, persuading her uncle and a friend to drive a huge truck to Düsseldorf to retrieve the tree. What follows is a beautifully acted, emotional journey, from family tradition to Big Capital, from the familiar warm cadences of Spain to the incomprehensible chill of the north. A compelling script by Paul Laverty, who has written dramas for Ken Loach, and a spirited performance by Anna Castillo, make THE OLIVE TREE a poignant social commentary. (In Spanish with subtitles) —B.B. Producer~Juan Gordon Screenwriting~Paul Laverty Cinematography~Sergi Gallardo Editing~Nacho Ruiz Capillas Principal Cast~Anna Castillo, Javier Gutierrez, Pep Ambros Print Source~Seville International / [email protected] / sevilleinternational.com About the Director~Icíar Bollaín is one of only two Spaniards to have been nominated as best actor, director, and writer for three different films at the Goya Awards. She has acted in and directed many prize-winning films. Filmography~“Hi, Are You Alone?” (1995), “Flowers from Another World” (1999), “Take My Eyes” (2003), “Mataharis” (2007), “Katmandu” (2011), THE OLIVE TREE (2016)

This film is presented in loving memory of OLYMPIA S. CERIO. Our mom was no ordinary mom, our mom is extraordinary!

Community Partners:

I

Code SIDE04

I

Code SIDE05

Thursday, April 6 1:50 PM

I

Code SIDE06

ON THE OTHER SIDE tells the story of a Croatian family still reeling from the psychological effects of war nearly 20 years after it happened. While you might expect the film to focus on the victims, this heady drama tackles the subject with a twist, asking a question not often considered: what impact does war have on the families of the bad guys? When Vesna (played by the extremely talented Ksenija Marinkovicˇ) found out her husband Zarko was fighting for the enemy, she escaped with her children, in hopes of starting a new life with new identities. Before leaving, her husband’s reputation caused her community to ostracize her, even inflicting violence on her young son as revenge. Now two decades later, they’ve finally managed to move on with their lives. But their family secret is about to catch up with them. After serving time in the Hague for warcrimes, Zarko is now a free man, desperately looking to reunite. Can he heal the wounds he’s inflicted, or will he rip off the scabs, turning his family’s life upside down all over again? (In Croatian with subtitles) —E.F. ON THE OTHER SIDE was selected as Croatia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Ivan Malocˇa Screenwriting~Mate Matišicˇ, Zrinko Ogresta Cinematography~ Branko Linta Editing~Tomislav Pavlic Principal Cast~Ksenija Marinkovicˇ, Lazar Ristovski, Tihana Lazovicˇ Print Source~Cercamon / [email protected] / cercamon.biz About the Director~Zrinko Ogresta is an award-winning writer and director from Croatia. He began his career in television in the early 1980s. His debut film “Fragments: Chronicle of a Vanishing” won the Oktavijan Award for Best Feature at the 1991 Days of Croatian Film Festival. Ogresta also teaches directing at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. Filmography~“Fragments: Chronicle of a Vanishing” (1991), “Washed Out” (1995), “Red Dust” (1999), “Here” (2003)— 29th CIFF, “Behind the Glass” (2008), “Projections” (2013), ON THE OTHER SIDE (2016)

130

Open at Night

Out Run

(Ouvert la nuit)

Directed by S. Leo Chaing, Johnny Symons

Directed by Édouard Baer

USA, PHILIPPINES 2016 75 minutes

FRANCE 2016 96 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

3:30 PM

7:40 PM

I

Code OPEN07

I

Code OPEN08

Sunday, April 9 2:15 PM

I

Code OPEN09

The show must go on! Flighty Luigi has 24 hours to fulfill some long-overdue promises to salvage his theater by opening night. His loyal business partner Nawel has grown tired of cleaning up his messes. The stage crew threatens to strike until they are fairly paid. And he’s short one talented ape to take the stage tomorrow to please his director. Swept up in Luigi’s antics is outspoken intern Faeza, who joins Luigi when he takes to the streets of Paris to complete his lofty to do list. Fixed on getting home to her baby, Faeza attempts to stay on track, but Luigi has a knack for getting sidetracked. If they can survive a stint in zoo jail, get through a Congolese dance routine, and track down some money for the theater bankroll— all in a night’s work — Luigi could be the hero of the hour. Starring, written, and directed by the talented Édouard Baer, OPEN AT NIGHT offers laugh-out-loud moments of quick-witted humor and an entertaining adventure all the way to the final curtain call. (In French with subtitles) — A.B. Producer~Barka Hjij Screenwriting~Édouard Baer, Benoît Graffin Cinematography~ Yves Angelo Editing~Hervé De Luze Principal Cast~Édouard Baer, Audrey Tautou, Sabrina Ouazani Print Source~Le Pacte / le-pacte.com About the Director~Édouard Baer was born in Paris, France. He is a director, actor, writer, and producer of numerous films, shorts, and theater productions. Filmography~“Akoibon” (2005), “La bostella” (2000), OPEN AT NIGHT (2016)

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

9:00 PM

2:30 PM

I

Code OUTR04

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Code OUTR05

Thursday, April 6 3:50 PM

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Code OUTR06

If only Bemz Benedito had run for President last year! Bemz is the first openly transgender person to run for office in the Philippines. She is the beating heart of OUT RUN, a sparkling documentary that takes us into the LGBT fight for equality in a culture not altogether different. Bemz is one of three openly LGBT candidates who ran for office in the 2013 National Election in the Philippines. But this is not just their story as they fight for three seats open to minorities in the House. It is also the story of Ladlad (which means “come out”), the world’s only LGBT Political Party. We follow the campaigning of three of the bravest and most upbeat people you could have in office. Along the way we discover a new and shining piece that helps complete the international puzzle. This endearing film is something we can all support. With some global politicians dividing us, some political fabulousness is just what the world needs. (In Tagalog with subtitles) —C.R. Producers~S. Leo Chaing, Johnny Symons Cinematography~S. Leo Chaing Editing~Tina Nguyen, J. Christian Jensen Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Directors~S. Leo Chaing is a documentary filmmaker based in San Francisco and Taipei. He received his M.F.A. in Film Production from the University of Southern California. His documentaries have garnered him an Emmy nomination and numerous festival nominations and awards. He is currently co-chair of New Day Films. Johnny Symons is a Bay Area documentary filmmaker focusing on LGBT issues. He has a Master’s in Documentary Production from Stanford University. He has been nominated for an Emmy and received many festival nominations and awards. His film “Daddy and Papa” screened at the 27th CIFF. Collaborative Filmography~OUT RUN (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Ovarian Psycos

Paradise

Directed by Joanna Sokolowski, Kate Trumbull-Lavalle USA 2016 72 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

2:35 PM

9:50 PM

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Code OVAR30

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Code OVAR01

Women are taking to the streets of East L.A. On two wheels. OVARIAN PSYCOS explores a women-only cycling group, a safe haven for the self-proclaimed runaway, the throwaway, the atrisk youth-turned-adult. Oppressed by tragedies of their childhood, impoverished upbringings, and violent city streets, these young Latinas and other women of color seek a source of support from fearless female leaders brave enough to raise their voices. The growing bicycling brigade quickly evolves from an outlet for healing to a much larger platform capable of educating the community about the violence and social struggles its young women face. Despite heavy criticism for their against-the-grain tactics, these women refuse to let their message be silenced and unabashedly wear their fallopian tube emblems proudly as signs of their newfound empowerment. Whether it is a growing love of cycling, the inevitable fears of motherhood, or the confidence to pursue a future of new possibilities, each woman slowly reveals her worth to the most important Ova of the group— herself. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Joanna Sokolowski, Kate Trumbull-Lavalle Cinematography~Michael Raines Editing~Victoria Chalk Print Source~Women Make Movies / [email protected] / wmm.com About the Directors~Joanna Sokolowski is an independent documentary filmmaker and has worked as a producer for Walking Iris Media and Open Studio Productions. Kate Trumbull-Lavalle is an independent documentary filmmaker who began in the field of social justice media as an educator and program coordinator for the Media Arts Center San Diego. In 2013 they co-founded Sylvia Frances Films. Collaborative Filmography~OVARIAN PSYCOS (2016)

Community Partners:

(Ray)

Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky RUSSIA, GERMANY 2016 132 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

11:20 AM

6:40 PM

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Code PARA05

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Code PARA06

Paradise lies in the eye of the beholder. For three distinct people living the dark realities of WWII, their own definition of paradise is uncovered when their lives intersect. Olga, a Russian woman working with the French Resistance, is arrested for harboring Jewish children from Nazi soldiers. Jules, an employee of the Paris police department, holds Olga’s fate in his hands and promises her release in exchange for a piece of her dignity. In a quick turn of events, Olga’s sentence instead leads her to a concentration camp. As she endures long hours of hard labor and starvation in the barracks below, Helmut, the pure-blooded German nobleman in line to be Hitler’s successor, proudly settles into his rank in the office above. When Helmut recognizes Olga from life before the war, his heart softens and he vows to help her escape to a new life. In Andrei Konchalovsky’s PARADISE, will these souls ultimately be rewarded for their sacrifices or punished for their sins? (In Russian, German, French, and Yiddish with subtitles) —A.B. PARADISE was selected as Russia’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producer~Olesya Gidrat Screenwriting~Andrei Konchalovsky, Elena Kiseleva Cinematography~Alexander Simonov Editing~Ekaterina Vesheva, Sergei Taraskin Principal Cast~Julia Vysotskaya, Philippe Duquesne, Isabelle Habiague Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Andrei Konchalovsky was born in Moscow, USSR and studied film at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow. PARADISE was selected as the Russian entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 89th Academy Awards®. Filmography~“Runaway Train” (1985), “Shy People” (1987), “Tango & Cash” (1989), “House of Fools” (2002)—27th CIFF, “Gloss” (2007), “The Nutcracker in 3D” (2010), PARADISE (2016)

132

Paris 05:59 Theo & Hugo

The Peacemaker

(Theo et Hugo dans le meme bateau)

Directed by Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau FRANCE 2016 97 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

9:40 PM

4:25 PM

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Code THHU02

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Code THHU03

Amid a frenzied orgy at a male sex club, Theo and Hugo’s eyes meet. Drawn to each other, the beautiful young men make love and leave the club together. Each knows something special has just happened. However, it is quickly discovered their passionate encounter was unprotected and one of them is HIV positive. From its intense and sexually graphic opening to moments of tenderness in the streets of Paris, PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO chronicles the first few chaotic hours after they meet. Coming to grips with both the wonderful possibility of new love and the frightening possibility of HIV transmission, Hugo and Theo begin an odyssey through the city that takes them from the clinical coldness of the emergency room to the romantic moonlit canals. Conjured by gorgeous cinematography that plunges us into vivid carnality then whisks us through the magical neon-lit night, these heart-melting young men take us on a fascinating journey. Erotic and passionate, PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO is an adults-only fable of modern love. (In French with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Emmanuel Chaumet Screenwriting~Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau Cinematography~Manuel Marmier Editing~Pierre Deschamps Principal Cast~ Geoffrey Couët, François Nambot Print Source~Wolfe Releasing / wolfereleasing.com About the Directors~Olivier Ducastel was born in 1962 in Lyons, France. Jacques Martineau was born in 1963 in Montpellier, France. Both men are writers, producers, and directors and have won numerous awards for their collaborations. Collaborative Filmography~“Jeanne and the Perfect Guy” (1998), “The Adventures of Felix” (2000), “My Life On Ice” (2002), “Cote d’Azur” (2005), “Born in ‘68” (2008), “Family Tree” (2010), PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO (2016)

Directed by James Demo USA 2016 90 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

6:30 PM

11:40 AM

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Code PEAC30

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Code PEAC31

Saturday, April 1 9:10 AM

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Code PEAC01

Padraig O’Malley is an international peacemaker, using his history working with Northern Ireland and his charismatic Irish personality to bring nations in conflict together in a room to work out their differences. THE PEACEMAKER is an intimate portrait of a man who approaches peace on a global scale but can’t quite kill the demons within. As a recovering alcoholic, Padraig battles every day, going to meetings and trying to cope with what he believes to be early Alzheimer’s. Following him over the course of five years, this documentary provides insight into the very public occupation of a man who uses his station as an “escape from utter despair.” His relationships are minimal, even with the young student who considers him to be her adopted father. His life is a teetering balance between traveling the world over to quell conflicts while owning the very Boston bar he used to drink in. Padraig is a man on a constant quest for peace for others but is slowly coming to the realization that he may have the biggest need for reconciliation. —T.W. Producer~James Demo Cinematography~James Demo Editing~Erin Capser Print Source~The Film Sales Company / [email protected] / filmsalescorp.com About the Director~James Demo is a Boston-based writer, director, and producer who specializes in documentary and narrative filmmaking. He started the production company Central Square Films. Filmography~THE PEACEMAKER (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partners: Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Personal Affairs

Play the Devil

(Omor Shakhsiya)

Directed by Maria Govan

Directed by Maha Haj-Assal

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, BAHAMAS, USA 2016 89 minutes

ISRAEL 2016 90 minutes

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

6:35 PM

11:50 AM

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Code AFFA03

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Code AFFA04

Saleh and Nabeela are an elderly couple, bored of their routine life in Nazareth. On most days, his eyes are glued to a laptop, while she blankly stares at the television, robotically knitting. Any interaction between them is brief at best. Their kids are all grown up and preoccupied, living at a safe distance from their parents’ seemingly frigid relationship. Unfortunately, geography hasn’t prevented their unhappiness from spreading. There’s Tarek, who can’t shed his bachelor life in Ramallah, doing all he can to avoid falling in love. His pregnant sister Samar feels burdened for having to care for her husband’s senile grandmother, while he’s off pursuing his dream as an actor. Meanwhile, Saleh and Nabeela’s oldest child Hisham is in Sweden, enamored over a mystery girl who always seems to let him down. At firstglance, their situations seem relatively different. But a common thread emerges in the absence of effective communication. PERSONAL AFFAIRS is a beautifully honest drama about a family struggling to find the words to keep their fractured world from falling apart. (In Arabic with subtitles) — E.F. Producer~Baher Agbariya Screenwriting~Maha Haj-Assal Cinematography~Elad Debi Editing~Véronique Lange Principal Cast~Amer Hlehel, Mahmoud Shawahdeh, Sana Shawahdeh, Doraid Liddawi, Maissa Abed El Hadi Print Source~Films Boutique / [email protected] / filmsboutique.com About the Director~Maha Haj-Assal is a Palestinian filmmaker living in Israel. She began her career in cinema as a set decorator, working on such award-winning films as “The Attack” and “The Time That Remains.” Filmography~PERSONAL AFFAIRS (2016)

Sunday, April 2

Tuesday, April 4

5:15 PM

12:10 PM

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Code PLAY02

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Code PLAY04

Gregory is trying to follow his heart, but the Devil may be leading it on. Gregory is 18, lives in poverty with his grandmother and brother, and is studying furiously to obtain a scholarship. The Devil may be James, an older, wealthy businessman with a wife and daughter. He meets Gregory and is instantly attracted to him. James urges a relationship with Gregory by encouraging him to reveal his dreams and offering ways to make them come true. But Gregory comes from a different world, one of fierce loyalties, grim realities, and a constant fight for survival. Beautifully filmed in Trinidad, PLAY THE DEVIL powerfully evokes the vast gulf between their worlds and the dangers for both in crossing such fragile bridges. James is insinuating himself into Gregory’s family and Gregory is feeling trapped. With Carnival approaching and his world threatening to crumble, perhaps Gregory’s only way to break free and save his dreams is to play the devil himself! —C.R. Producers~Maria Govan, Abigail Hadeed, Jonathon Grey, Chris Mortimer Screenwriting~Maria Govan Cinematography~James Wall Editing~Thomas A. Kreuger Principal Cast~Petrice Jones, Gareth Jenkins, Akil Nicholas, Penelope Spencer, Nickolai Salcedo, Che Rodriguez, Daisha Seepaulsingh, Tammi Deonarine Print Source~m-appeal / [email protected] / m-appeal.com About the Director~Maria Govan is a self-taught filmmaker from the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. A writer, producer, and director, she returned home from a time in Hollywood to begin making local documentaries. PLAY THE DEVIL won the Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award for Best Female Director at the 2016 Woodstock Film Festival. Filmography~“Rain” (2008), “Womanish Ways, Freedom, Human Rights & Democracy: The Women’s Suffrage Movement in the Bahamas 1948-1962” (2012), PLAY THE DEVIL (2016)

134

Pop Aye

Prison Dogs

Directed by Kirsten Tan

Directed by Perri Peltz, Geeta Gandbhir

SINGAPORE, THAILAND 2017 102 minutes

USA 2016 72 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

6:50 PM

2:35 PM

3:10 PM

2:40 PM

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Code POPA07

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Code POPA08

Thana was once an acclaimed architect, known for his work on a popular high-rise in Bangkok. But that was decades ago. These days he’s considered old and washed-up by his company’s new boss. At home things aren’t much different. His wife is unfulfilled in bed, and “loving” is not a word you would use to describe their present relationship. One day while aimlessly strolling through the city, Thana sees a street hustler with an elephant. He recognizes the animal as his childhood pet Popeye. Amazed by their unexpected reunion, Thana pledges to return the elephant to his old family farm, where his uncle can care for him. Their road trip from the city to rural Thailand is an incredible journey. Along the way they meet a cast of zany drifters, each providing Thana with some much-needed laughs and companionship. His incredible bond with the magnificent Popeye also grows as the adventure continues. Just when he thought his boring life was all he had to look forward to, Thana’s wild ride in POP AYE is the lightning rod he desperately needs. (In Thai with subtitles) — E.F. Producer~Lai Weijie Screenwriting~Kirsten Tan Cinematography~Chananun Chotrungroj Editing~Lee Chatametikool Principal Cast~Bong, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Penpak Sirikul, Chaiwat Khumdee, Yukontorn Sukkijja, Narong Pongpab Print Source~Kino Lorber / kinolorber.com About the Director~Kirsten Tan is a Brooklyn-based director and cinematographer, originally from Singapore. She holds an M.F.A. in Film Production from NYU. Filmography~POP AYE (2017) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

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Code DOGS01

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Code DOGS03

Tuesday, April 4 6:45 PM

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Code DOGS04

With the help of some puppy power, men serving long-term sentences at New York’s Fishkill Corrections Facility are finding a new sense of purpose. Under the direction of spitfire Gloria Gilbert Stoga, president and founder of Puppies Behind Bars, inmates have two years to train a puppy for a life as a service dog for a war veteran living with PTSD. In some cases, these veterans return from their deployments severely depressed, anxious, and so stricken with fear they are unable to leave their homes. These complex populations intersect in PRISON DOGS through the inmates’ rigorous training program and the veterans’ long road to recovery. For inmates it is a welcomed challenge and responsibility to create a meaningful bond with these future service dogs. As for the heroic servicemen and women, the inmates’ beautiful gift is a chance to finally cope with the challenges brought on by their brave sacrifices. PRISON DOGS depicts how the loving companionship of a puppy can renew hope for forgiveness, healing, and humanity. —A.B. Producers~Perri Peltz, Geeta Gandbhir Cinematography~Rudy Valdez Editing~Andrew Siwoff Print Source~Gold Crest Films / [email protected] / goldcrestfilms.com About the Directors~Perri Peltz is a journalist, public health advocate, director, and producer. She is also host of two SiriusXM radio shows. Geeta Gandbhir is a director, editor, and producer whose projects have earned two Emmy Awards and one Academy Award®. They’ve partnered to create G2P2 Films in New York City. Collaborative Filmography~“Puppies Behind Bars” (2014), PRISON DOGS (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Psycho Raman

Pushing Dead

(Raman Raghav 2.0)

Directed by Tom E. Brown

Directed by Anurag Kashyap

USA 2016 111 minutes

INDIA 2016 128 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Friday, April 7

4:35 PM

9:20 PM

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Code PSYC05

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Code PSYC07

Sindhr is a serial killer. His name honors Sindhr Dalwai, once known in Bombay as Raman Raghav, who claimed 41 victims in the 1960s. Sindhr says he is “God’s very own CCTV camera,” helping the Death God cleanse the world. When he calmly confesses to a team of police, their drug-crazed leader Raghavan thinks he’s lying and frees him. Raghavan is also a killer, a cocaine-fueled demon with a badge. Realizing his error, he sets out in pursuit of this new Raman. The two of them slither and dance through the underbelly of Bombay, but who is chasing whom? Sindhr senses a soulmate in the brutal policeman. He’s been watching Raghavan and knows what crimes he has committed, as well as what he is yet capable of doing. When these two monsters meet, will one eliminate the other, or will they join forces to create something even more evil and unstoppable? PSYCHO RAMAN is a stylish, violent, and nerve-shredding dive into the deepest and darkest psychological waters. Take a deep breath. (In Hindi with subtitles) — C.R. Producers~Madhu Mantena, Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane Screenwriting~ Vasan Bala, Anurag Kashyap Cinematography~Jay Oza Editing~Aarti Bajaj Principal Cast~Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal, Sobhita Dhulipala Print Source~Stray Dogs / [email protected] / stray-dogs.biz About the Director~Anurag Kashyap was born in 1972 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is a screenwriter, producer, and director. He wrote the script for the Academy Award®-nominated Canadian film “Water” in 2005. He won Director of the Year at the 2012 GQ Awards in India. Filmography~“Paanch” (2003), “Black Friday” (2004), “No Smoking” (2007), “Dev D” (2009), “That Girl in Yellow Boots” (2009), “Gangs of Wasseypur” (2012), “Ugly” (2013), “Bombay Velvet” (2015), PSYCHO RAMAN (2016)

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

6:30 PM

4:30 PM

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Code PUSH05

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Code PUSH06

Dan has a price on his head, thanks to a birthday check from mom. It put his checking balance over his permitted limit by $70. Now his insurance has canceled his drug coverage and he cannot refill his HIV medications. Without them he may die. This is a comedy. Yes, you read that right. PUSHING DEAD takes a crazy mix of friendships, strange relationships, and the horrors of computerized medical systems and blends them into a subversive and upbeat cinematic smoothie. Dan and his adopted family are people you will grow to love. Using savage wit and striking originality, this film gleefully ignores all the accepted conventions of how to deal with HIV. It will make you angry, maybe even cry, but mostly it will make you smile. As Dan and company fumble through their various challenges, some unexpectedly wonderful things happen for them (and the audience). Sometimes the harder life is, the harder you laugh. PUSHING DEAD will push you into feeling empowered and very glad to be alive. —C.R. Producers~Chris Martin, Richard LaGravenese, Eyde Belasco, Jim Bloom, Ian Reinhard Screenwriting~Tom E. Brown Cinematography~Frazer Bradshaw Editing~Robert Schafer Principal Cast~James Roday, Danny Glover, Robin Weigert, Khandi Alexander Print Source~Bugsby Pictures / [email protected] / bugsby.com About the Director~Tom E. Brown was born in 1967 in Stamford, Connecticut. He started making films at the age of ten with his dad’s 8mm camera. His work has been featured at the American Museum of National History and the Guggenheim and has been televised on PBS, Bravo, and IFC. He was named one of “the 25 New Faces of Indie Film” by Filmmaker Magazine. PUSHING DEAD won Audience Awards at the 2016 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, the 2016 Reel Pride Film Festival, and the 2016 Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival. Filmography~PUSHING DEAD (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

136

Quest

Rage (Ikari)

Directed by Jonathan Olshefski

Directed by Lee Sang-il

USA 2017 105 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

5:20 PM

11:50 AM

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Code QUES08

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Code QUES09

Christopher “Quest” Rainey runs a hip-hop recording studio out of his home in North Philadelphia. Assisted by his wife Christine’s “Ma Quest,” the couple offers a safe space for artists as the studio provides solace from the depressing urban decay outside its walls. Encouraging their creativity and forming personal relationships with the musicians who come to record, the Raineys have transformed the lives of those who may have otherwise found themselves on a very different path. They’ve stayed committed to the project despite the rigors of raising a family and dealing with the ups and downs of life in poverty. Their strength is tested, though, when the dangerous reality of their neighborhood leads to a family tragedy. But when times get hard, the Raineys find support from the countless number of people they’ve touched throughout the years. Filmed over the course of a decade, QUEST is a beautiful portrait of two selfless human beings who use the power of music to lift and heal their community. The documentary is incredibly moving, illuminated by the Raineys’ inspiring love story and unflinching hope. —E.F. Producer~Sabrina Schmidt Gordon Cinematography~Jonathan Olshefski Editing~ Lindsay Utz Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Jonathan Olshefski is a filmmaker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He holds an M.F.A. in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. Filmography~QUEST (2017)

Community Partners:

JAPAN 2016 142 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

11:10 AM

8:40 PM

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Code RAGE30

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Code RAGE31

RAGE begins with the extremely grisly murder of a suburban couple, brutally slaughtered in their bathroom. As police survey the gory scene, they discover the word “rage” smeared in blood on the wall. They ponder its importance as they work furiously to find justice. A suspect soon emerges, but the hunt becomes impossible when authorities discover he had plastic surgery after committing the crime. As time goes by, all hope begins to fade. It’s here the film forks into three separate stories. Several kind but naïve people find themselves entangled with three strangers, one of whom could be the killer. There’s an innocent young girl who befriends a mysterious backpacker living on a deserted island, a father (Academy Award®-nominee Ken Watanabe) who gives a job to an odd man who’s dating his ex-prostitute daughter, and a closeted playboy who meets a silent vagabond at a bathhouse and invites him to move in. For one of these individuals, their kindness will shift to dangerous gullibility. A nail-biter to the end, this dramatic thriller deals with some serious trust issues. (In Japanese with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Genki Kawamura, Shinnosuke Usui Screenwriting~Lee Sang-il Cinematography~Norimichi Kasamatsu Editing~Tsuyoshi Imai Principal Cast~ Ken Watanabe, Mirai Moriyama, Kenichi Matsuyama, Go Ayano, Suzu Hirose Print Source~Versatile Films / versatile-films.com About the Director~Lee Sang-il was born in 1974 in Niigata, Japan. He was named Best Director at the 2011 Kinema Junpo Awards for his film “Villian.” Filmography~“Chong” (2000), “Border Line” (2002), “69” (2004), “Scrap Heaven” (2005), “Hula Girls” (2006), “Villain” (2010), “Unforgiven” (2013), RAGE (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Realive

Reengineering SAM

(Proyecto Lázaro)

Directed by Brian Malone

Directed by Mateo Gil

USA 2016 82 minutes

SPAIN 2016 112 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

9:10 PM

4:20 PM

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Code REAL08

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Code REAL09

In the sentimental sci-fi drama REALIVE, a young man named Marc finds out he has one year left to live. The news about his cancer is understandably devastating, and he struggles to accept his mortality. Doctors suggest he try chemotherapy, but believing his fate has already been sealed, he opts for something less conventional: cryogenics. In order to assure his body is in good condition before it’s frozen, he must end his own life before the disease spreads. If successful, Marc would be the perfect candidate to be revived in the future when advancements in medical technology have made it possible to do so. It’s a decision that doesn’t sit well with the on-again, off-again love of his life Naomi. She can’t fathom a world where they won’t be together and wonders why he’d want such a thing in the first place. Regardless of her wishes, he carries on with the crazy plan. He’ll soon discover that immortality is not all it’s cracked up to be; one year surrounded by loved ones is better than eternal life alone. (In English) — E.F. Producers~Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé, Jèrôme Vidal Screenwriting~Mateo Gil Cinematography~Pau Esteve Editing~Guillermo de la Cal Principal Cast~ Tom Hughes, Oona Chaplin, Charlotte le Bon, Barry Ward Print Source~Gladys Reyes / [email protected] About the Director~Mateo Gil was born in the Canary Islands in Spain in 1972. He’s also a screenwriter with a re´sume´ that includes such award-winning films as “Vanilla Sky” and “The Sea Inside.” Filmography~“Nobody Knows Anybody” (1999), “Blackthorn” (2011), REALIVE (2016)

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

9:15 PM

2:00 PM

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Code REEN03

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Code REEN04

Sam Schmidt was an IndyCar driver with promise. He even won Rookie of the Year as a 31-year-old driver. But, after a crash rendered him a quadriplegic, Schmidt had to find a new life for himself and his family. REENGINEERING SAM is the inspiring story of Schmidt’s quest to live a life that includes his passions: owning a successful team; training drivers; and dedicating himself to the research and care of spinal cord injuries through his Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. While looking at Schmidt’s life as a team owner and family man and examining the mindset of professional race car drivers who put their lives on the line in every race, REENGINEERING SAM is the rare documentary that works to inform and uplift. The story is centered on the charismatic Schmidt and his positive outlook on his life and his work. The film becomes even more awe-inspiring when Schmidt begins taking part in scientific studies that allow him to drive a race car again, thanks to still-developing modern technology that utilizes head movements and brain waves, paving the way for advances in the way people with spinal cord injuries operate and communicate. REENGINEERING SAM is a reminder that sometimes nothing can dampen the human spirit. —T.W. Producers~Brian Malone, Diana Holtzberg, Daniel Junge Cinematography~Brian Malone, Lowell Pierce, Scott Tuke, Mark Weiler, Paul Tranton Editing~Lyman Smith, Brian Malone Print Source~Fast Forward Films / [email protected] / facebook.com/reengineeringsam About the Director~Brian Malone is a six-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, editor, and composer who has been making documentary films for nearly 20 years. His films cover a wide range of social, environmental, and political issues including public education and the divide within our political arena. Filmography~“Intelligent Life: Change Your Mind, Change Your World” (2009), “Patriocracy” (2011), “Driven: From Wheelchair to Race Car” (2014), “Education, Inc.” (2015), REENGINEERING SAM (2016) Sponsored by:

Community Partner:

138

Requiem for a Running Back Directed by Rebecca Carpenter

4:10 PM I Code RUNN07 (w/FilmForum)

Saturday, April 8 2:30 PM

(Berxwedan Jîyane)

Directed by Apo W. Bazidi

USA 2016 89 minutes

Friday, April 7

Resistance Is Life

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Code RUNN08

Director Rebecca Carpenter’s father Lew Carpenter had an illustrious ten-year career in the NFL playing for Cleveland and Detroit and winning three NFL Championships with Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers. When he died in 2010, his brain was studied by Boston University and found to have symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy—a degenerative neurocognitive disorder that can cause episodes of rage, social withdrawal, and other unusual behaviors. Armed with answers to some of her biggest questions about her father, Carpenter has made an important and groundbreaking documentary chronicling the effects that playing professional football has on the health of the players and residual effects it has on their family members. In REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK, we’re given interviews with Hall of Fame players and coaches, doctors who have dedicated their careers to CTE study, and the families of former players looking for answers as to why the NFL would continue to deny the link between playing football and the demise of once-stoic men. As NFL players continue to make headlines for amnesia, rage-induced attacks on family members, and suicides, this film begins as a tribute and ends up being a testimony to honor those who have sacrificed so much. —T.W. Producer~Sara Dee Cinematography~Eric Wycoff Editing~Elisa Bonora, Troy Takai, Parker Laramie Print Source~Hydro Studios / [email protected] / hydrostudios.com About the Director~Rebecca Carpenter is an artist, teacher, and civil rights advocate born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She received her M.F.A. in Film Production from the University of Texas. Filmography~REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK (2016)

TURKEY, USA 2017 73 minutes

Monday, April 3 4:30 PM

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Tuesday, April 4

Code REST03

Wednesday, April 5 1:40 PM

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Headlines can prevent us from seeing the actual lives effected by catastrophe. One such life is a beautiful eight-year-old named Evlin. When ISIS attacked her village of Kobane in Syria, she and her family fled across the border to Turkey. There they found shelter at a refugee camp. RESISTANCE IS LIFE amplifies the hardship and anguish of this crisis by focusing on Evlin and her family. With Evlin as a powerful human center, this film illuminates the battle against this extremist threat and tells the heroic story of how Kobane rose up and resisted the ISIS onslaught. We never stray from the human element, so quickly lost in Breaking News scrolls and cable news talking heads. Here the horrors are personal, the stakes ultimate. Heroism is helping dad serve dinner or looking after a younger brother as battle rages nearby. With brilliant immediacy, RESISTANCE IS LIFE reminds us this is happening now and we ignore it at the peril of global peace and our own humanity. (In English, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, and Italian with subtitles) —C.R. Producers~Apo W. Bazidi, Goran Zaneti Cinematography~Donato Bragagnolo, Apo W. Bazidi Editing~Angelo Ciaffi, Apo W. Bazidi, Yuta Okamura, Jason Rosenfield Print Source~CC Chainey / [email protected] / resistancemovie.com About the Director~Apo W. Bazidi was born in 1984 in Turkey. He began studying film at City College of San Francisco and graduated with a B.A. in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California in 2011. He is a producer, editor, cinematographer, and director. His films focus on social issues and the importance of global cultural interactions. Filmography~RESISTANCE IS LIFE (2017)

Community Partners:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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El Revenge

The Revival: Women and the Word

(La Vingança)

Directed by Sekiya Dorsett

Directed by Fernando Fraiha

USA 2016 80 minutes

BRAZIL, ARGENTINA 2016 90 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

4:45 PM

9:45 PM

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Well-meaning but awkward Caco is devastated after he walks in on his girlfriend Julia hooking up with an arrogant celebrity Argentine restaurateur. After a drunken night out, Caco’s scheming friend Vadão — an emotionally stunted, loose-cannon womanizer— decides the only way to get over this heartbreak is by traveling to Argentina to exact revenge on the chef. The two Brazilians then embark on an epic, mishap-laden road trip that culminates with Caco receiving closure about Julia, albeit in a manner he wasn’t anticipating. Along the way, the men encounter memorable characters (including a double-crossing runaway bride inexplicably hitchhiking in a wedding dress, border guards who confiscate their stash of Viagra, and a tough-talking band leader who doesn’t mince words about Caco’s ongoing selfpity party ) and navigate their own love-hate relationship. EL REVENGE’s hilarious banter and farcical situations ensure the mood stays light throughout, despite Caco’s despair. Ultimately, the movie is a reminder that happy endings come from unlikely places — and friendship endures even when romance fizzles. (In Portuguese and Spanish with subtitles) — A.Z. Producer~João Queiroz Screenwriting~Thiago Dottori, Pedro Aguiera, Fernando Fraiha, Jiddu Pinheiro, Felipe Sant’Angelo Cinematography~Gustavo Hadba Editing~Danilo Lemos Principal Cast~Felipe Rocha, Daniel Furlan, Leandra Leal Print Source~Patra Spanou Film Marketing & Consulting / [email protected] / patraspanou.com About the Director~Fernando Fraiha was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied architecture and business. He also produces and writes. Fraiha began his career editing documentaries, working as a video artist, and directing and writing short films and TV pilots. He is a partner at the production company Biônica Filmes. Filmography~EL REVENGE (2016)

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

8:50 PM

1:10 PM

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In October 2012 a group of queer-identifying women artists of color embarked on the eight-city Revival Poetry Tour. Each performance on the tour functioned as a welcoming space for these musicians and poets to share stories and build community in the tradition of the intimate literary salons popular in mid-70s New York City. Sekiya Dorsett’s riveting, uplifting road documentary, THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD, follows this core group of creatives as they perform in coffeehouses, a black gay and lesbian bar, and even a church. In addition to showcasing candid discussions about racial issues, sexuality, and identity, the film highlights the artists themselves: songwriter Be Steadwell, who performs intricate “queer pop music” on her acoustic guitar; English teacher T’ai Freedom Ford, who performs her poetry for the first time in front of her mother; and restless talent Jonquille Rice, who throws caution to the wind, job-wise, to hop in the van. THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD is a compelling look at the life-altering power of language. —A.Z. Producers~Jade Foster, Andrea Boston Editing~Patrick Flynn Print Source~Women Make Movies / [email protected] / wmm.com About the Director~Sekiya Dorsett was born in Nassau, Bahamas. She holds a B.A. in Film Production from Hofstra University and received an M.F.A. in Nonfiction Filmmaking from Hunter College. She also produces and writes, and she began her career creating short films. She founded the independent production company Making Chaos and currently works as an editorial director at Viacom. Her work has also appeared on LOGO TV, USA Network, and Oxygen Network. Filmography~THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD (2016) Community Partners:

140

A Revolution in Four Seasons

RiverBlue

Directed by Jessie Deeter

Directed by David McIlvride, Roger Williams

USA 2016 90 minutes

CANADA 2016 95 minutes

Thursday, March 30

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Saturday, April 1 5:50 PM

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Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

6:00 PM

11:40 AM

With the ousting of President Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia lit the spark for the revolutionary Arab Spring that followed. Living abroad as a student at the time, director Jessie Deeter was inspired to document the movement. When she met Emna Ben Jemaa and Jawhara Ettis, two passionate women on opposite sides of the political spectrum, she knew she had her story. Ben Jemaa had gained notoriety as an outspoken blogger who rallied for secularism, while Ettis, an English teacher and strict Islamist, had just been elected to Parliament to draft Tunisia’s new constitution. Though their opinions about religion and solutions differed greatly, there was a commonality in their patriotism and determination to make their homeland a better place. Through victories and losses, heartbreak and celebrations, Deeter captured the women as they progressed from young idealists to adults with more nuanced views shaped by the vastly different world around them. Filmed over a period of four years, A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS is a gripping documentary that presents a revealing look at a country transformed by democracy, and two incredibly brave women who fought for it. (In English, French, and Arabic with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Marcy Garriott, Jessie Deeter, Sara Maamouri, Rob Peterson Cinematography~Bassem Aounallah, Hatem Nechi Editing~Bill Weber, Chris A. Peterson, Sara Maamouri Print Source~Women Make Movies / [email protected] / wmm.com About the Director~Jessie Deeter resides in Piedmont, California. She earned an M.A. in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She began her career as an associate producer for the PBS series Frontline. Filmography~“Spark: A Burning Man Story” (2013), A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS (2016) Community Partner:

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Narrated by Jason Priestley, the original concept for RIVERBLUE was to film renowned conservationist Mark Angelo as he toured rivers across the world. Not only would the film spotlight the beauty of nature, but also it would examine the effects of pollution. While it wasn’t intended to focus on a specific cause, Angelo and the film’s directors began to see a pattern as they embarked on their journey. A lot of the chemical waste spilling into our water is coming from the plants that manufacture our clothing. From the dyes used to make our jeans to the chemicals that go into producing leather—fashion comes at a cost to our environment. As they ventured through China, India, Africa, Indonesia, and several other countries (including the United States), they witnessed the horrors first-hand. A number of popular clothing brands are disposing of chemical waste improperly, leading to some very serious consequences. By exposing this underreported issue, this provocative documentary enlightens the public and makes a passionate plea to push the fashion industry into changing their unprincipled practices. —E.F. Producers~Roger Williams, Lisa Mazzotta Screenwriting~David McIlvride Cinematography~Roger Williams Editing~David McIlvride, Kevin Jacques Print Source~Paddle Productions Inc. / [email protected] / riverbluethemovie.com About the Directors~David McIlvride and Roger Williams are Gemini Award-winning filmmakers from Canada. McIlvride holds a B.F.A. from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, while Williams studied television and video production at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Collaborative Filmography~RIVERBLUE (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World

Sacred

Directed by Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana

USA, JAPAN 2016 86 minutes

Directed by Thomas Lennon

CANADA 2017 103 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

5:45 PM

1:30 PM

9:30 PM

11:25 AM

There is power in prayer. SACRED, an international team effort shot by more than 40 filmmaking crews in 25 countries, captures the religions, rites of passage, and spiritual rituals of our global community. Stories flow fluidly from one corner of the world to the next, illustrating how different cultures celebrate and commemorate three distinct chapters of life: Initiation, Practice, and Passage. On the film’s journey, we meet such people as: a Haitian mother submerging herself in a rushing waterfall while chanting for a healthy pregnancy; a young monk taking a vow of silence at a monastery in Myanmar; Louisiana prisoners finding freedom behind bars; and an elderly Ethiopian man in search of a handful of holy soil before his dying day. SACRED, which is an incredibly moving portrayal of faith at work around the globe, provides a window into the deep-rooted beliefs that allow our society to cope, survive, and thrive. (Various languages with subtitles) —A.B.

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America has often left Native Americans and their rich culture out of its historical narrative. Music is just one area where their contributions have been largely ignored. RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD aims to change that, documenting the roots of Native American music and its incredible influence. Everything from blues, rock, hip-hop, and even heavy metal have been shaped by its unique sounds and rhythms. Those power chords you hear in rock ‘n’ roll were developed by Link Wray (a Shawnee), one of the only musicians to have an instrumental song banned by the government, for fear its blistering feedback and disruptive guitar stabs would lead to chaos. That rebellious sound was the result of years of oppression. Despite government campaigns to sanitize their culture, Native Americans have persevered. This spectacular documentary features interviews from fans including Martin Scorsese, Tony Bennett, Steven Tyler, and Iggy Pop, passionately recalling how icons with Native American heritage such as Wray, Mildred Bailey, Jimi Hendrix, and Robbie Robertson inspired their music. In this film these groundbreaking artists finally get the props they deserve. —E.F. Producers~Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick, Lisa M. Roth Cinematography~Alfonso Maiorana Editing~Ben Duffield, Jeremiah Hayes Print Source~Rezolution Pictures / [email protected] / rezolutionpictures.com About the Directors~Catherine Bainbridge is an award-winning filmmaker based in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. She co-founded Rezolution Pictures in 2001. Alfonso Maiorana has DP experience on Hollywood films, independent features, and televison. Collaborative Filmography~RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD (2017)

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Producer~Thomas Lennon Editing~Maeve O’Boyle, Nick August-Perna Print Source~WNET / [email protected] / sacredthemovie.org About the Director~Thomas Lennon is a director and producer who lives and works in New York City. His documentary work has earned him an Academy Award® and three Academy Award® nominations. Filmography~“The Battle of Citizen Kane” (1995), “The Irish in America: Long Journey Home” (1998), “Becoming American” (2003), “The Blood of Yingzhou” (2006), “Tongzhi in Love” (2008), “The Warriors of Qiugang” (2010), “Angle of Attack” (2011), SACRED (2016)

Community Partner:

142

Sami Blood

Santoalla

(Sameblod)

Directed by Andrew Becker, Daniel Mehrer

Directed by Amanda Kernell

USA, SPAIN 2016 83 minutes

SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK 2016 110 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

6:50 PM

4:45 PM

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Tuesday, April 4 9:20 AM

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Wednesday, April 5

4:30 PM

8:30 PM

Reluctantly returning home for her sister’s funeral, an elderly woman is forced to face the people and culture she spent her life denying and fleeing. She is a Sami, an indigenous people of Sweden who live by herding reindeer. They were once oppressed and deemed racially inferior, unworthy of education or protection. SAMI BLOOD is the story of her life, a familiar telling placed in a new and fascinating context. When she and her sister are shipped off to a draconian boarding school, the realities of how their culture and people are regarded become painfully clear. This fearlessly honest film depicts the racial discrimination and measurements they are subjected to, as well as the decision they are forced to make: accept their heritage with pride and defiance and remain outcast or deny the very core of who they are in order to escape and craft a future of their own. SAMI BLOOD is a brave and beautiful journey that will stir the viewer on the deepest levels. (In Swedish and Sami with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Lars G. Lindström Screenwriting~Amanda Kernell Cinematography~ Sophia Olsson, Petrus Sjövik Editing~Anders Skov Principal Cast~Lene Ceceilia Sparrok, Hanna Alström, Anna Sofie Bull Kuhmunen, Julius Fleischanderl Print Source~Synergetic / [email protected] / synergetic.tv About the Director~Amanda Kernell was born in 1986 in Umea, Northern Sweden. Her father is a Sami. She graduated from the National Film School of Denmark in 2013 and went on to direct numerous award-winning short features. Filmography~ SAMI BLOOD (2016)

Community Partners:

Swedish Cultural Society

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High in the northwest Spanish hills lies the nearly abandoned hamlet of Santoalla. Years ago, a ruddy Dutchman named Martin and his wife Margo threw off the shackles of their bourgeois existence, bought a camper van, and traveled through Europe looking for a place to live off the land in freedom. They seemed to have found it in Santoalla. But then things started going wrong. A fascinating documentary about strangers in paradise, SANTOALLA weaves powerful archival material through interviews. The only other inhabitants of the crumbling village are an elderly couple with two grown sons. Hardened folk who till the soil, they oppose their new neighbors’ plans to ready their property for agritourism. Indeed, the Galician and Dutch mentalities seem to clash. Martin, always an activist, films his adversaries, hoping to catch them engaging in ecological misdemeanors and illegal trespassing. During strife over common land, he sues them, and wins. Two months later, he completely disappears. Margo continues to labor alone, hoping for Martin’s return. This poignant film is both a true crime story and an elegy to a romantic dream. (In English, Spanish, and Galician with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~Andrew Becker, Daniel Mehrer, Cristina De La Torre Cinematography~ Andrew Becker, Daniel Mehrer Editing~Andrew Becker Print Source~What Delicate Pictures / [email protected] / santoalla.com About the Directors~Andrew Becker and Daniel Mehrer are director-cinematographers from Brooklyn, New York. Becker is also an editor and composer. After years of working in television production, they’re making their film debut with SANTOALLA. Collaborative Filmography~SANTOALLA (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Scent of Rain and Lightning

Score: A Film Music Documentary

Directed by Blake Robbins

Directed by Matt Schrader

USA 2017 102 minutes

USA 2016 93 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Wednesday, April 5

7:00 PM

2:20 PM

7:00 PM

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When Jody hears the devastating news that her parents’ convicted killer was just released from jail, her anger is unbearable. At the warning of her grandfather Senior, Jody moves out of her childhood home to the family ranch for safety. Although she has spent every day since her parents’ deaths hating the man who destroyed her family, rumblings in their small town suggest he may be innocent. With the unexpected help from the killer’s son Collin, Jody revisits the case files and begins questioning the police investigation, witnesses, and even her own family members to seek answers, no matter how painful. Based on the novel by Nancy Pickard, THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING flashes back to the events leading up to the brutal murder and the dramatic, present-day aftermath that unfolds as Jody pieces together the shocking truth. This suspenseful mystery set in the American West unveils a powerful family’s secrets brought to light by twists of bitter revenge. — A.B. Producers~Casey Twenter, Jeff Robinson, Jeff Johnson, Maggie Grace, Dan Koetting, Kevin Waller Screenwriting~Casey Twenter, Jeff Robinson Cinematography~ Lyn Moncrief Editing~Lauren Clark Carroll Principal Cast~Maika Monroe, Mark Webber, Will Patton, Bonnie Bedelia, Justin Chatwin, Brad Carter, Logan Miller, Maggie Grace Print Source~No Coast Entertaiment / scentofrainandlightning.com About the Director~Blake Robbins was born in Karamousel, Turkey where his father was stationed with the U.S. Navy. After earning a degree in Business Marketing, Robbins attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. He has been in more than 60 theatrical productions and is best known for his roles as Tom Halpert from NBC’s The Office and Dave Brass from HBO’s Oz. Filmography~“The Sublime and Beautiful” (2014), THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING (2017)

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Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

3:15 PM

11:10 AM

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Imagine “E.T.” or “Star Wars” without the sweeping sounds of John Williams, “Back To The Future” without the moving brass of Alan Silvestri, or “Chariots of Fire” without the epic synthesizers of Vangelis. Sure, these films could’ve been decent without the music, but with it they were elevated to a whole new level of awesome. The combination of iconic images and sound has become magically intertwined; one without the other feels empty. This impactful marriage is the focus of SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY, which celebrates the composers whose famous works have been forever seared into our brains. Tracing the roots of mixed media, the movie digs back to the days when theaters had in-house organists and pianists to accompany silent films. It also breaks down the anatomy of some of cinema’s most memorable soundtracks, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the process. Featuring interviews with such artists and film buffs as Leonard Maltin, Quincy Jones, Moby, Danny Elfman, and Ohio’s own Trent Reznor and Mark Mothersbaugh, this comprehensive documentary will thrill film-buffs and music aficionados alike. —E.F. Producers~Robert Kraft, Trevor Thompson, Kenny Holmes, Nate Gold Cinematography~Kenny Holmes, Nate Gold Editing~Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Matt Schrader earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. He works as an investigative journalist, producing and editing pieces for several NBC and CBS affiliates in the Los Angeles area. Filmography~SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partners:

144

September 12th

Shalom Italia

Directed by David Heinz

Directed by Tamar Tal-Anati

USA 2017 96 minutes

ISRAEL, GERMANY 2016 70 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Monday, April 3

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

7:05 PM

8:30 PM

6:40 PM

11:35 AM

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Sunday, April 2 8:00 PM

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At the Beachland Ballroom (see page 50)

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Sunday, April 9 9:30 AM

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Popular American folk singers Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth star as Elliott and Joni, two lost souls trying to make it across the country during one of our nation’s most trying times. Filmed over 3,500 miles in 14 states, SEPTEMBER 12TH is an intimate look into our nation’s heart. The story is told from the perspective of two people unknowingly holding the key to unlocking the love we needed after 9/11: the gift of music. Driving a beat-up touring van filled with instruments, Elliott and Joni— strangers who met on a plane diverted on its way to NYC— meet a cavalcade of Americans hurting, looking for answers, and wanting to help each other out. Bonding through their love of folk music, Elliott and Joni’s road trip becomes a back roads tour of the U.S., visiting the small towns that dot our country from coast to coast. At times SEPTEMBER 12TH is a sobering look into dark times, while also serving as a reminder of the power of art and love to shine a light and unite us — it’s a love story of music and compassion. — T.W.

“I had fun during the Holocaust,” recalls middle brother, Andrea. Seventy years have passed since the Jewish-Italian Anati family narrowly escaped the Nazis when they found shelter in a cave deep in the Tuscan woods. Bubi, Andrea, and Emmanuel— now in their seventies and eighties—have set out to find the very place they have to thank for their survival, even if their memories can’t agree on how to get there. As they retrace their steps from each home they fled and each tree or stone they may or may not have passed on their journey to find refuge, each brother replays his personal version of the family’s shared history. While their mutual childhood experiences unite them, fond memories for one sibling are exceedingly painful for another as the brothers compare notes from their unpredictable era-in-hiding. SHALOM ITALIA is set against a breathtaking Tuscan backdrop with more warm, endearing moments than somber ones. This documentary beautifully illustrates the unconditional love and unwavering resilience of family. (In Italian and Hebrew with subtitles) —A.B.

Producers~Matt Miller, Fiona Walsh Screenwriting~David Heinz Cinematography~ Devin Whetstone Editing~David Heinz Principal Cast~Joe Purdy, Amber Rubarth, Krisha Fairchild, Bruce Beatty, David Fine Print Source~Vanishing Angle / vanishingangle.com

Producers~Tamar Tal-Anati, Hilla Medallia Cinematography~Emmanuelle Mayer Editing~Boaz Lion Print Source~The Film Sales Company / [email protected] / filmsalescorp.com

About the Director~David Heinz grew up outside of Chicago and was a student at Columbia College when 9/11 happened, the day before his 21st birthday. He has worked as an editor on numerous blockbuster films over the past decade. Filmography~SEPTEMBER 12TH (2017)

About the Director~Tamar Tal-Anati was born in 1980 in Tel Aviv, Israel. She is an award-winning director, writer, producer, and photographer. Filmography~“Life in Stills” (2011), SHALOM ITALIA (2016)

Sponsored by:

Media Partner: Sponsored by:

Community Partners:

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Shepherd

Shepherds and Butchers

(El Pastor)

Directed by Oliver Schmitz

Directed by Jonathan Cenzual Burley

SOUTH AFRICA 2016 106 minutes

SPAIN 2016 105 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

2:15 PM

6:35 PM

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Anselmo lives a simple life as a sheep herder on a remote piece of land with his beloved dog Pillo. When a construction company makes an offer to purchase the land from him and three of his neighbors to develop a community of new homes complete with shops, bars, and pristine playgrounds, Anselmo refuses to trade in his familiar life for the hefty payout. His reluctance to sell is the only thing standing in the way of his eager neighbors, driven by greed and aching debts that can be soothed by the small fortunes they stand to gain. The neighbors’ attempts to persuade Anselmo begin as civilized conversations but soon shift to more ruthless, dangerous, and hostile tactics. Once a peaceful village of old friends, they are now turning against one another, all for the sake of money. As tensions rise, THE SHEPHERD exposes the grave lengths these men will go to when compelled by their rigid pride. (In Spanish with subtitles) — A.B. Producer~Jonathan Cenzual Burley Screenwriting~Jonathan Cenzual Burley Cinematography~Jonathan Cenzual Burley Editing~Jonathan Cenzual Burley Principal Cast~Miguel Martin, Alfonso Mendiguchia, Juan Luis Sara, Maribel Iglesias, Maite Iglesias Print Source~Wide / [email protected] / widemanagement.com About the Director~Jonathan Cenzual Burley is a Spanish-born director who was educated in England. He has worked in several capacities in filmmaking throughout Central and South America. Filmography~“The Soul of Flies” (2011)—36th CIFF, “El Año y la Viña” (2012), THE SHEPHERD (2016)

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

9:30 PM

12:10 PM

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Steve Coogan and Garion Dowds put on two great performances in this searing courtroom drama based on true events from a 1987 case in South Africa. Dowds plays Leon, a teenage prison guard who is thrust into a major role in the hanging of up to seven inmates a day in South Africa’s apartheid-corrupt prison. After a road rage incident, in which he guns down a van full of strangers, he finds himself on trial facing the death penalty. Anti-death penalty lawyer John Weber (Coogan) takes on his defense in an attempt to discredit a system that abuses power and corrupts the minds of the young and powerless like Leon. SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS doesn’t flinch from the reality of the situation. The film never tries to make Leon an innocent bystander. Instead the story paints him as someone who did horrible things, showing the effects those actions had on him. While set 30 years ago in a different country, one can’t help but see the ripples of this intense scene play out in many cases here at home today. This film dares to bring up the emotional stress brought on by capital punishment for everyone involved. (In English and Afrikaans with subtitles) —T.W. Producers~Anant Singh, Brian Cox Screenwriting~Brian Cox Cinematography~ Leah Striker Editing~Megan Gill Principal Cast~Steve Coogan, Garion Dowds, Andrea Riseborough Print Source~Distant Horizon / [email protected] About the Director~Oliver Schmitz is a South African-born director and screenwriter who has lived and worked in Berlin for 30 years. His films have won many international awards including those at Cannes, Berlin, and Munich film festivals. Filmography~“Mapantsula” (1988), “Joburg Stories” (1997), “Hijack Stories” (2000), “Life, Above All” (2010), SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS (2016)

146

SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock

Signature Move

Directed by Barnaby Clay

USA 2017 80 minutes

Directed by Jennifer Reeder

USA, UNITED KINGDOM 2016 91 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

8:00 PM

2:20 PM

5:00 PM

9:35 PM

Can two culturally diverse women, one Pakistani and one Mexican, find true love in Chicago through the world of female wrestling? Of course they can. This is America. Zaynab is a somewhat closeted immigration lawyer whose mother is obsessed with two things: television and finding Zaynab a husband. Alma is an independent and out-of-the-closet bookstore owner. Her mother was once a pro wrestling star. Zaynab is taking wrestling lessons for “existential reasons” and she is bad at it. They are an unlikely match, so naturally they fall stormily in love. Let the cage match begin. To woo the increasingly resistant Alma, Zaynab may have to risk entering the ring and revealing herself to her ultra-conservative mother. SIGNATURE MOVE asks the eternal question: is love, in this wonderful circus of a world, a ten-round body-slamming spectacle of bruised feelings and unwanted audience participation with no guarantees or referees? This charming film proves that in its sweet and bizarre way, yes, love is exactly that. —C.R.

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You know the work of Mick Rock. Rock (yes, that is his real name) is rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest living photographer, responsible for images so iconic they seem genetically implanted. You’ve seen them. Cambridge educated, Rock began hanging about and filming the likes of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Freddie Mercury. We know his portraits and LP covers like family photos. Here is a trip inside the chemically altered, mercurial, and brilliant mind of one of music’s great chroniclers. SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK is a work of mindaltering art, a psychedelic scrapbook of remarkable images and memories featuring the veritable pantheon of rock gods. Rock gives us a guided tour of his massive personal archives. He charmingly and bluntly narrates his artistic growth and triumphs. He does not shy from his battle with drugs, which resulted in quadruple-bypass surgery while only in his 40s. This is the other history. This is life on the creative edge. Tune in. Turn on. —C.R. Producers~Monica Hampton, Sal Scamardo, Marisa Polvino, Jim Czarrechi, Danny Gabai Cinematography~Max Goldman Editing~Drew DeNicola, Michael Dart Wadsworth Print Source~Magnolia Pictures / [email protected] / magpictures.com About the Director~Barnaby Clay was born in 1973 in London. He graduated from the London International Film School in 1996 and began directing commercials and music videos. In 2003 he traveled to Russia with Gypsy Punk band Menlo Park to make his first documentary for Britain’s Channel 4. In 2007 he moved to New York City where he married the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He continues to focus his work on the world of rock ‘n’ roll. Filmography~SHOT! THE PSYCHOSPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK (2016)

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Producers~Brian Hieggelke, Fawzia Mirza, Eugene Park Screenwriting~Fawzia Mirza, Lisa Donato Cinematography~Christopher Rejano Editing~Felix Pineiro Principal Cast~Fawzia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Sari Sanchez, Audrey Francis, Charin Alvarez, Mark Hood, Molly Brennan, Malic White, Jasmine McNealy, Molly Callinan Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Jennifer Reeder was born in 1971. An Ohio native, she received an M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. She is currently Associate Professor in Moving Image and the head of the Art Department in the School of Art and Art History at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Her award-winning short films have been screened at festivals around the world. She is the founder of the social justice group Tracers Book Club, which focuses on feminist issues. Filmography~“White Trash Girl” (1995), “Accidents At Home and How They Happen” (2008), SIGNATURE MOVE (2017)

Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Some Freaks

Spettacolo

Directed by Ian MacAllister-McDonald

Directed by Jeff Malmberg, Chris Shellen

USA 2016 95 minutes

USA, ITALY 2017 89 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

8:50 PM

3:30 PM

7:40 PM

11:20 AM

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Code SOME31

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Code SOME01

Sunday, April 2 11:25 AM

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Code SOME02

Look, high school sucks — we all know this. Everyone’s weird, nobody is comfortable in their own skin, and yet it always seems like the “cool” kids seem to know what they’re doing. SOME FREAKS is a searing look at the relationship between the one-eyed Matt (Thomas Mann from “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) and the overweight Jill (the effervescent Lily Mae Harrington), two people on the outside just trying to find their way in. If the films of John Hughes were high school in the 80s, then SOME FREAKS is like “The Breakfast Club” for a new millennium. Always searching for their identity, Matt and Jill find solace in the other’s social awkwardness, and the two outcasts form a quick, tight bond. But once Jill moves on to college, leaving Matt behind, their relationship takes a dark turn as Matt’s insecurities begin to creep through after Jill loses weight and begins to look (gasp) “normal.” SOME FREAKS is a coming-of-age film that reinvents the genre, challenging norms rather than idolizing them, and director Ian MacAllister-McDonald does a masterful job of providing an unsentimental view of growing up a freak. — T.W. Producers~Lovell Holder, Mia Chang, Tim Harms, Ryan Smith Screenwriting~ Ian MacAllister-McDonald Cinematography~Joe Zizzo Editing~Jonathan Melin, Joel Plotch Principal Cast~Thomas Mann, Lily Mae Harrington, Marin Ireland, Ely Henry, Lachlan Buchanan, John Thorsen Print Source~The Gersh Agency / [email protected] / gersh.com About the Director~Ian MacAllister-McDonald is a successful playwright from Portland, Maine. He is an educator who has taught at Loyola Marymount University and Brown University, and his plays have been produced all over the country. Filmography~SOME FREAKS (2016)

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Code SPET07

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Code SPET08

Imagine if we could solve our problems as a community using theater by not simply watching a play, but by making one with our neighbors. By acting out our joys, fears, and frustrations with each other, we could find common ground and empathy. Through the process of writing, acting, and directing, we would form intimate bonds, learning what makes one another tick. In today’s partisan climate, such an idea sounds impossible. But for more than 50 years, the people in a small farming village in Italy have been doing just that. Turning their piazza into a stage each year, the citizens pour their hearts into this experiment— a badge of honor for a people who’ve endured poverty, illiteracy, and war. This is a town of survivors who bravely avoided being wiped out by the Nazis. As a younger generation emerges, though, interest in maintaining their tradition is waning. Competing with cell phones and tablets, the elders fight to keep the youth invested in their history. There’s a lot to be learned from SPETTACOLO, a subtle and beautiful documentary about simple people with an ingenious approach to problem solving. (In Italian with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Jeff Malmberg, Chris Shellen, Matt Radecki Cinematography~Jeff Malmberg Editing~Jeff Malmberg Print Source~Open Face / [email protected] / weareopenface.com About the Directors~Jeff Malmberg and Chris Shellen are documentary filmmakers from Los Angeles, California. They also run their own production company Open Face. Malmberg directed and Shellen produced “Marwencol,” the winner of the Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition at the 34th CIFF. Collaborative Filmography~SPETTACOLO (2017)

Media Partner:

Community Partner:

148

The Spy and the Poet

Strangers on the Earth

(Luuraja ja luuletaja)

Directed by Tristan Cook

Directed by Toomas Hussar

USA, SPAIN 2016 96 minutes

ESTONIA 2016 95 minutes

Monday, April 3

Thursday, April 6

2:15 PM

9:25 PM

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Code SPYA03

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Code SPYA06

It’s quite possible few Americans know where Estonia is on the map, but it boasts a diverse terrain complete with forests, beaches, and islands. THE SPY AND THE POET is a multifaceted story from Estonian director Toomas Hussar and, like the country in which it is set, the film’s terrain is mixed, complete with absurdism, gun fights, and a sexy Russian spy. Gustav is a man who lives more like an insurance actuary with OCD than someone entrusted with keeping his country safe from, well, Russian spies. Perfectly happy with the normalcy in his café-visiting routine, Gustav suddenly finds himself at the center of international intrigue when a slacker poet crosses with the beautiful Nala, setting forth a chain of events that shake up Gustav’s quiet existence. Teetering the line between dark comedy and thriller, THE SPY AND THE POET is an entrancing look at a man who, much like his country, is trying to seal his identity when he’s surrounded by chaos. (In English, Estonian, and Russian with subtitles) — T.W. Producer~Ivo Felt Screenwriting~Toomas Hussar Cinematography~Rein Kotov Editing~Tambet Tasuja Principal Cast~Jan Uuspõld, Lana Vatsel, Rain Tolk Print Source~Allfilm / [email protected] / allfilm.ee About the Director~Toomas Hussar is an Estonian actor and director whose interests include mathematics, theology, and theater. He began shooting commercials, moved on to stage plays, and now has shown his films all over the world. Filmography~ “Mushrooming” (2012)— 37th CIFF, THE SPY AND THE POET (2016)

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

5:40 PM

4:00 PM

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Code STRA04

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Code STRA05

Sunday, April 9 11:10 AM

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Code STRA09

In 2014 Cleveland Orchestra member Dane Johansen grabbed his cello and traversed the Camino de Santiago, a famous series of ancient pilgrimage paths in Europe, with the intention of playing Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello in churches along the way. While fulfilling this dream, he gleaned unexpected and humbling insights into his own career and approach to life. Such enlightenment is a common occurrence in STRANGERS ON THE EARTH, a resonant meditation on how the Camino transforms modern pilgrims seeking solace. Using a combination of interviews with these travelers—who come from all over the world to walk the hallowed paths—and intimate scenes from the road, the documentary explores thorny philosophical matters. Some visitors reaffirm the strength of their faith or achieve much-wanted emotional healing; others discover the physically demanding trek only amplifies their existing personal frustrations. Johansen’s mellifluous cello playing serves as a backdrop for the film, as well as a stark reminder of his journey’s historical and spiritual poignancy. (In English, Spanish, and German with subtitles) —A.Z. Producers~Dane Johansen, Chad Peterson, Patrick Terry Cinematography~Iskra Valtcheva Editing~Sean Clifton Print Source~Walk to Fisterra / [email protected] / sotefilm.com About the Director~Tristan Cook is a New York-based filmmaker. He began his career directing and editing video shorts. He has used his performing arts background in collaborations with the Emerson String Quartet, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Filmography~STRANGERS ON THE EARTH (2016) Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Stronger Than Bullets

The Student (Uchenik)

Directed by Matthew Millan

Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov

LIBYA, USA 2016 88 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

12:20 PM

8:25 PM

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Code STRN01

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Code STRN02

In America we sometimes take for granted the simple freedoms we enjoy. Sure, we may disagree on issues. But for people living in Libya, the struggle for basic rights has been an ongoing battle. When the dictator Muammar Gaddafi took over the country in 1969, he burned all the Western musical instruments he could find. For 42 years musicians were silenced. Things finally changed in 2011 during the revolutionary Arab Spring. A number of artists came out of the shadows, leading to an explosion of musical expression. These brave musicians stood on the frontline, using their music to motivate the soldiers as they fought for freedom. When Gaddafi was finally ousted, they celebrated with public concerts, which were previously outlawed. The sounds emanating from Libya were extremely diverse, from punk rock and folk to hip-hop and heavy metal. Unfortunately, their newfound liberation will be challenged when shadowy elements begin to clash over power. Will they be silenced once again? See Libya’s powerful fight for musical freedom in the stirring documentary STRONGER THAN BULLETS. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Alistair Audsley, Hammuda Abidia, Haitham Darrat, Harold Millan Cinematography~Matthew Millan Editing~Matthew Millan, Doug Blush Print Source~Post-Revolutionary Blues / [email protected] / strongerthanbullets.com About the Director~Matthew Millan is a filmmaker from Los Angeles, California. He studied physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He’s the co-founder of 180 Films. Filmography~STRONGER THAN BULLETS (2016)

Community Partner:

RUSSIA 2016 118 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Friday, April 7

8:10 PM

1:15 PM

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Code STUD04

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Code STUD07

The enemies of God must be silenced! So says the Bible and Vanya, a young student who fiercely quotes Scripture at a world he sees as sinful and doomed. Vanya’s sermons and actions are increasingly disruptive at his school and baffling to his helpless mother. Elena, the school’s biology teacher, becomes a particular target of Vanya’s anger because she teaches sex education and evolution. Reactions to Vanya’s increasingly aggressive calls for a “cleansing in blood” are mixed. But not everybody is willing to simply regard him as a disturbed young man. You may take it on faith that THE STUDENT is bound to be one of the most controversial and incendiary films at the Festival this year. It strides boldly into the places where faith and fanaticism meet, unwilling to back down and unafraid to enrage. Superbly and intelligently crafted and willing to set off every trigger warning in sight, this is cinematic provocation of the richest and most compelling kind. Go forth and see it! (In Russian with subtitles) —C.R. Producers~Yuriy Kozyrev, Ilya Stewart Screenwriting~Kirill Serebrennikov, Marius von Mayenburg Cinematography~Vladislav Opelyants Editing~Andrey Mesnyankin Principal Cast~Pyotr Skvortsov, Viktoriya Isakova, Aleksandra Revenko Print Source~Under the Milky Way / [email protected] / us.underthemilkyway.com About the Director~Kirill Serebrennikov was born in 1969 in Rostov-na-Donu, USSR. He is a writer and director who has received numerous nominations and awards. Filmography~“Razdetyye” (1998), “Ragin” (2004), “Bed Stories” (2005), “Playing the Victim” (2006), “Yuri’s Day” (2008), “Betrayal” (2012), THE STUDENT (2016)

150

Stumped

Supergirl

Directed by Robin Berghaus

Directed by Jessie Auritt

USA 2017 72 minutes

USA 2016 80 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

6:35 PM

12:10 PM

6:40 PM

11:45 AM

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Code STUM30

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Code STUM31

Saturday, April 1 9:40 AM

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Code STUM01

Life changed very abruptly for Will Lautzenhauser. A promising filmmaker and teacher, Will became a quadriplegic after sudden, unexplained septic shock. STUMPED is the amazing story of the years between amputation and the promise of a doublearm transplant. Don’t skip to the next film synopsis (yes, you!). This is not a depressing film you want to avoid. This is an uncompromising look at an uncompromising man. From doing comedy routines about his amputations at a local comedy club to posing for calendars, Will is not your give-up sort of man. With the love of his partner Angel, his twin brother Tom, and a team of surgeons who should all be wearing wings, STUMPED is a film that grips you on levels you may have forgotten you have. Unflinching and darkly humorous, this documentary is about the ability to triumph and crack jokes while doing so. You will wince, laugh, and cheer. You will certainly cry. You will also leave with a deeper understanding of the meaning of victory. — C.R. Producer~Robin Berghaus Cinematography~Robin Berghaus Editing~Robin Berghaus Print Source~Berghaus Productions / [email protected] / stumpedthemovie.com About the Director~Robin Berghaus has directed, produced, and edited more than 100 short documentaries. Her award-winning shorts have screened at numerous international film festivals, including the CIFF. In 2012 she founded Berghaus Productions to produce and direct independent documentaries. Filmography~ STUMPED (2017)

Community Partner:

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Code SUPE04

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Code SUPE05

The mental image of a world-class powerlifter isn’t typically a ten-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl from New Jersey. Nevertheless, Naomi Kutin is “Supergirl.” As an eight-year-old karate standout, Naomi had an extraordinary strength within her, unmatched by anyone else her age. Recognizing this, her father introduced her to powerlifting, a sport he had pursued for more than 30 years making it the lifeblood of the family. At just 97 pounds, Naomi was fierce, unstoppable… and setting and breaking her own world records all before the eighth grade. But when her fearless, unshakable “Supergirl” ego lies dormant, Naomi’s awkward, uncertain sense of self kicks in, leaving her vulnerable to online criticisms of her superhuman strength, body image issues, and the inescapable growing pains of puberty. Marked by a coming-of-age bat mitzvah, SUPERGIRL bends the rules of expectations for young girls everywhere. Consider this one less glass ceiling to be shattered. —A.B. Producers~Jessie Auritt, Carmen Delaney, Justin Levy Cinematography~Carmen Delaney Editing~Jessie Auritt, Erik Dugger Print Source~Supergirl Film / [email protected] / supergirldoc.com About the Director~Jessie Auritt holds a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University. She is a documentary filmmaker, video producer, editor, and founder of 3 See Films based in Brooklyn, New York. Filmography~SUPERGIRL (2016)

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Symphony in D

Tale of a Lake

Directed by Dennis Scholl, Marlon Johnson USA 2016 53 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Saturday, April 8

7:40 PM

1:30 PM

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Code SYMP06

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Code SYMP08

Preceded by

MONTAGE: GREAT FILM COMPOSERS AND THE PIANO Directed by Ben Proudfoot, USA, 27 minutes A group of legendary film composers work with a world-class pianist on a magical and musical project of discovery.

Detroit is the birthplace of the Ford Motor Company, techno, coney dogs, Carhartt, and Motown. Its factories played a significant role in the Allied victory in World War II. While the city struggled as our American economy became more globalized, there is a renewed spirit of pride and financial investment. And Detroiters are tired of the negative comments and cruel jokes from people who have never been to their great city. So when New York composer Tod Machover came to town to construct a symphony based on the sounds of the city, they didn’t want it to portray them in a defeated light. After all, this is a city of survivors whose innovations throughout the years have had a vital impact on our country. Using an app, Machover pulled residents into the operation, asking them to send audio clips that represented their home. He used these to create an orchestral piece with help from Detroit musicians, poets, and the MIT Media Lab. SYMPHONY IN D captures the remarkable process, which results in a magnificent crescendo of sounds, each note providing proof of the resilience of this great American city. — E.F. Producers~Dennis Scholl, Marlon Johnson Cinematography~Jon Anderson Beavers Editing~Kontaxis Konstania Print Source~Scholl Creative / [email protected] About the Directors~Dennis Scholl and Marlon Johnson are Emmy Award-winning filmmakers from Miami, Florida. They have worked together on several projects for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Their 2012 short, “Dancing with the Trees,” won the Audience Award at the Magnolia Independent Film Festival. Collaborative Filmography~“Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound” (2014)— 38th CIFF, SYMPHONY IN D (2016)

Community Partners:

(Järven tarina)

Directed by Marko Röhr, Kim Saarniluoto FINLAND 2016 76 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

4:00 PM

7:25 PM

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Code TALE08

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Code TALE09

A film of astonishing grandeur, TALE OF A LAKE takes us on a plunge into the icy waters of Finland. In this land of 190,000 lakes, endless misty forests, and burbling brooks, water is forever reborn. English narrator Jonathan Hutchings accompanies us along the cyclical path of a tiny Finnish mythological water spirit. We learn that ancient Finnic people considered the swan their divine ancestor, the elk their guardian spirit. Miraculous cinematography by Teemu Liakka captures mysterious loons and mischievous otters, up-close and personal. We marvel at the building skills of busy beavers—the engineers of the eco-system—as well as toad wrestling matches and water insect ballets. There is even poetry to be found in the hatching of fish eggs. Lush symphonic sound by composer Panu Aaltio adds to the thrilling sensory experience of TALE OF A LAKE. Not just a hydrobiologist’s dream, this film will carry viewers of all ages along its course, revealing the power of flowing water that teems with eternal life. (Narrated in English) —B.B. Producer~Marko Röhr Cinematography~Teemu Liakka Editing~Kim Saarniluoto Narrator~Jonathan Hutchings Print Source~LevelK / [email protected] / levelk.dk About the Directors~Marko Röhr was born in 1961 in Helsinki, Finland and has produced 26 feature films. In 1990 he started his own production company, Matila Röhr Productions Ltd. (MRP), which specializes in ambitious underwater films shot mainly in the Arctic. Kim Saarniluoto is a director and film editor who has worked for Finnish cinema and TV for 20 years. Collaborative Filmography~TALE OF A LAKE (2016)

Community Partners:

152

Tamara

The Teacher (Ucitelka)

Directed by Elia K. Schneider

Directed by Jan Hrˇebejk

VENEZUELA, URUGUAY, PERU 2016 110 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

1:40 PM

7:25 PM

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Code TAMA31

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Code TAMA01

Some dreams are harder won than others. Recalled to Venezuela by family tragedy, Teo must put all his dreams on hold in order to help his mother. A successful law student at the University of Paris, with a great job awaiting him, Teo was also realizing his dream of transitioning to a woman. But necessity forced him to abandon the pursuit of his true identity and blend into society. Years later, a successful lawyer and family man with two children, his true nature will not stay buried. Now necessity demands he put everything at risk and challenge society to become the person he always needed to be. TAMARA graphically depicts both the physical and emotional paths Teo must follow to become Tamara, fighting not only his own doubts but also the prejudice and contempt of the world around him. With a superb lead performance and unwavering honesty and compassion, TAMARA charts the journey we all take in some form, showing how humanity cheers on to triumph. (In Spanish with subtitles) — C.R. Producer~Jose Novoa Screenwriting~Fernando Butazzoni Cinematography~ Petr Cikhart Editing~Cristian Alexander, Jose Novoa Principal Cast~Luis Fernandez, Prakriti Maduro, Karina Velazquez, Mimi Lazo, Julie Restifo Print Source~Wide / [email protected] / widemanagement.com About the Director~Elia K. Schneider was born in Venezuela. She studied dance and classical ballet from an early age. She completed her M.F.A. at the University of New York. Filmography~“Huelepega” (1999), “A Dot and A Line” (2004), “Desautorizados” (2010), TAMARA (2016)

Community Partners:

SLOVAKIA, CZECH REPUBLIC 2016 102 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

7:00 PM

1:20 PM

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Code TEAC08

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Code TEAC09

At the start of every school year in this suburb of Bratislava, teacher Maria Drazdechova’s no-nonsense pumps can be heard clacking across the floor to her classroom. It’s 1983 and the teacher’s smiling inquiries into her new pupils’ family relationships are unsettling. Well-connected with the Communist Party, she employs insidious methods to manipulate her students — and their families—into doing her bidding. Those who don’t style her hair or fix her apartment when summoned will see their children’s grades slip or find them ejected from their sports teams. The school principal calls the parents together for an urgent meeting, proposing they sign a petition to get Miss Drazdechova ousted. But the repressive political regime has made everyone fear repercussions. Will the parents remain silent and intimidated? Is it best for the children if they speak out? Strikingly edited, THE TEACHER features a stellar ensemble cast. Jan Hrˇebejk directs Zuzana Mauréry in the role of menacing, floral-clad Miss Drazdechova. Her performance won her the Best Actress Award at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. (In Slovak and Czech with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~Tibor Búz, Zuzana Mistríková, L’ubica Orechovská, Ondrˇej Zima, Jan Prušinovsk, Katerˇiny Ondrˇejkové Screenwriting~Petr Jarchovsky Cinematography~ Martin Ziaran Editing~Vladimir Barak Principal Cast~Zuzana Mauréry, Csongor Kassai, Peter Bebjak, Zuzana Konecˇná, Tamara Fischer Print Source~Film Movement / [email protected] / filmmovement.com About the Director~Jan Hrˇebejk was born in Prague in 1967. He studied screenwriting and directing at FAMU, the Prague film and television academy. Jan’s school friend Petr Jarchovsky is his frequent writing partner. Their work has won dozens of awards internationally. Hrˇebejk was awarded the Director’s Spotlight Award at the 34th CIFF. Filmography~“Big Beat” (1993), “Czech Soda” (1998), “Cosy Dens” (1999)—24th CIFF & 34th CIFF, “Divided We Fall” (2000)—34th CIFF, “Up and Down” (2004)—34th CIFF, “Beauty in Trouble” (2006)—31st CIFF & 34th CIFF, “Teddybear” (2007)—32nd CIFF, “Shameless” (2008)—34th CIFF, “Kawasaki’s Rose” (2009)—35th CIFF, “Innocence” (2011), “Honeymoon” (2013)—38th CIFF, THE TEACHER (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of JAMES ANDERSON and DAVID WITTKOWSKY.

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Tempestad

That Trip We Took with Dad (Die Reise mit Vater)

Directed by Tatiana Huezo

Directed by Anca M. La˘za˘rescu

MEXICO 2016 105 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

9:20 PM

1:50 PM

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Code TEMP02

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Code TEMP03

Follow the parallel stories of Miriam and Adela, two of the latest victims of oppressive fear driven by corruption in Mexico. Miriam, taken from her job and arrested for people trafficking, lands in prison 1,000 miles from her home and young son. When she arrives, she learns she has earned the unfortunate responsibility of a “payer” — an innocent person forced to pay for someone else’s crimes. Worse, the prison functions at the hands of a ruthless cartel willing to inflict unspeakable violence to maintain control. For Adela, a clown in a traveling circus, ten years have passed since her 20-year-old daughter Monica disappeared. A few days after her vanishing, the family received a ransom note demanding payment in exchange for their daughter’s safety. Forbidden to conduct their own search, Adela’s family is forced into hiding, dodging death threats for continuing their investigation of their missing daughter. In TEMPESTAD, Miriam and Adela bravely reflect on their years living in paralyzing fear with the faint hope of one day reuniting with their children— the thing that keeps them forging ahead. (In Spanish with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Nicolás Celis, Sebastián Celis Cinematography~Ernesto Pardo Editing~Lucrecia Gutiérrez Maupomé, Tatiana Huezo Print Source~Cinephil / [email protected] / cinephil.com About the Director~Tatiana Huezo was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and is an award-winning director and cinematographer. When she was four years old she moved to Mexico City, where she grew up and graduated from Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica. Filmography~“El lugar más pequeño” (2011), TEMPESTAD (2016)

GERMANY, ROMANIA, HUNGARY, SWEDEN 2016 111 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

7:05 PM

1:50 PM

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Code THAT30

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Code THAT31

THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD takes us back in time, on a rock ‘n’ roll road trip through the still-porous Iron Curtain. German-Romanian brothers Mihai and Emil load their ailing father into their car in Romania under false pretenses and head for the German Democratic Republic. Mihai hopes a surgical procedure in Dresden might restore his dad’s health—and maybe some family equilibrium. But it’s 1968, so there’s little equilibrium anywhere in Eastern Europe. As they motor through the GDR, there’s a wee little uprising in Prague. And amidst the political chaos, the trio is held in a tourist detention center. Being German speakers, they’re allowed to travel west to the Federal Republic, where they crash in the Munich commune of Mihai’s new girlfriend. Surrounded by housemates holding forth on the glories of Socialism, the Romanians are aghast. Can they be free in this crazy place, or should they return home to Romania? THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD is a hugely enjoyable film whose believable characters and wonderful period look help us appreciate the tragicomedy of the East-West conflict. (In German and Romanian with subtitles) —B.B. Producers~David Lindner Leporda, Verona Meier Screenwriting~Anca M. La˘za˘rescu Cinematography~Christian Stangassinger Editing~Dan Olteanu, Hansjörg Weissbrich Principal Cast~Alex Margineanu, Razvan Enciu, Ovidiu Schumacher, Susanne Bormann Print Source~Filmallee / [email protected] / filmallee.com About the Director~Anca M. La˘za˘rescu was born in 1979 in Timis¸oara, Romania and moved to Germany with her parents in 1990. She studied at the University of Television and Film (HFF) in Munich and attended summer classes at UCLA and various scriptwriting workshops. Filmography~“The Secret of Deva” (2007), THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD (2016)

Community Partners:

SVU Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences Cleveland

154

Therapy

Thrill Ride

Directed by Nathan Ambrosioni

Directed by Chris Parrish

FRANCE 2016 96 minutes

USA 2016 87 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Friday, April 7

Thursday, March 30

Saturday, April 1

11:25 AM

11:35 PM

4:45 PM

1:35 PM

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Code THER05

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Code THER07

The brainchild of 17-year-old phenom Nathan Ambrosioni, THERAPY is a murder mystery that centers around foundfootage — a stylistic choice made famous by “The Blair Witch Project.” It begins when a night security guard notices splattered blood in an abandoned old mansion. By all appearances it resembles a grizzly murder scene, but there are no victims in sight. Two young detectives arrive at the location, discovering several hidden cameras placed throughout the house. As they comb through the footage, a story starts to emerge. Five people apparently embarked on a weekend getaway for fun but found themselves facing terror instead. The burning question is: where are they now? Diving deeper into the disturbing tapes, investigators realize there may still be hope. What follows is a frantic rush to solve a puzzle as they must quickly assemble a chronological timeline with the videos that will lead them to the missing travelers. This terrifying and bloody horror film is definitely not for kids. As the clever title implies, it will really mess with your mind. — E.F. Producer~Fabrice Ambrosioni Screenwriting~Nathan Ambrosioni Cinematography~ Fabrice Ambrosioni Editing~Nathan Ambrosioni Principal Cast~Nathalie Couturier, Rémy Jobert, Vanessa Azzopardi, Luna Miti, Shelley Ward, Julien Croquet Print Source~The Festival Agency / thefestivalagency.com About the Director~Nathan Ambrosioni was born in 1999 in Grasse, France. He’s currently in high school but plans to study cinema in North America after graduation. Filmography~“Hostile” (2014), THERAPY (2016)

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Code RIDE30

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Code RIDE01

Rumors are swirling around town that an amusement park started long ago by gangster Al Capone is the site of a hidden stash of loot. Convinced the legend is real, young Henry sets out to find the treasure. Happy Land is about to be shuttered, so he and his sisters, plus their friend Truman, sneak into the deserted park at night. But magic is in the air, bringing the attractions to life and taking the kids on an adventure beyond their wildest imagination. A friendly sea witch helps them find an underground train that could help them unlock Al Capone’s secret. As though their battles with a grouchy mermaid and fish and chips loving pirates aren’t enough, the kids must get past a fire-breathing dragon before they can escape the park. The idea for this movie came from writer-director Chris Parrish’s son Mason, who died at ten of cancer. THRILL RIDE gives us a colorful, kid’s-eye view of the dangers (beyond the clowns) that just might lurk beneath the wholesome exteriors of amusement parks. Thanks, Mason. —B.B. Producers~Angie Gaffney, Chris Parrish Screenwriting~Chris Parrish, Mason Parrish Cinematography~Pete Biagi Editing~Meredith Sommers Principal Cast~Kristen Johnston, Tim Kazurinsky, Lucas Jade Zumann, Tim Decker, Helen Sadler Print Source~Mason’s Movies / [email protected] / thrillridethefilm.com About the Director~Chris Parrish is a full-time screenwriting instructor at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts in Chicago. He has previously taught screenwriting at Tribeca Flashpoint College, Santa Fe University, and UCLA Extension. Filmography~THRILL RIDE (2016)

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Tickling Giants

Tonio

Directed by Sara Taksler

Directed by Paula van der Oest

EGYPT, USA 2016 111 minutes

NETHERLANDS 2016 100 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

6:05 PM

1:25 PM

4:15 PM

9:35 PM

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Monday, April 3 9:20 AM

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The history of democracy could not have been written without pages of satire being included. Perhaps in America we take for granted that our authority figures are to be skewered and forget there are societies where such open condemnation can get you imprisoned or even killed. TICKLING GIANTS is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rise and fall of Dr. Bassem Youssef, “Egypt’s Jon Stewart.” Originally a heart surgeon in Cairo, Youssef’s own heart was always in comedy. During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, Youssef noticed the media’s recounting of the protests didn’t match what was happening on the streets, so he decided to bring the reality of the streets to television. As infectious as he is determined, Youssef grows his homemade TV show into a full-fledged network staple, complete with high production values, a live studio audience, and over 30 million viewers at home (15x that of The Daily Show). But with success comes danger, and after being on the front lines for three different Egyptian leaders, Youssef and his show are threatened at every turn by a government with draconian views on free speech — regardless of who is in charge. TICKLING GIANTS is an inspiring reminder that humor will always be the weapon of the people, and leaders who can’t take a joke don’t deserve to lead. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) — T.W. Producers~Sara Taksler, Frederic Rose, Maziar Bahari, Monica Hampton Screenwriting~Sara Taksler Cinematography~Wail Gzoly Editing~Jamie Canobbio, Tom Vogt, Tyler H. Walk Print Source~Sarakasmos Productions / [email protected] / ticklinggiants.com About the Director~Sara Taksler is a producer for The Daily Show, where she was in the thick of the very type of behind-the-scenes action in Youssef’s show. She can talk backwards, which probably comes in handy more than you can imagine. Filmography~“Twisted: A Balloonamentary” (2007), TICKLING GIANTS (2016) Community Partners: Sponsored by:

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From the moment two policemen show up on Adri and Mirjam’s doorstep, endless days of grief lie ahead. Their 21-year-old son Tonio, they are told, has been involved in a fatal road collision. As they mourn their only child, Adri and Mirjam reminisce on the joyous days of getting pregnant to their last night with Tonio when he shared his dreams of turning his photography talents into filmmaking. Reliving happier times turns to numbing the pain with bottles of booze that leave them both in a depressed haze. Mirjam sifts through Tonio’s last batch of photos to piece together her son’s final weeks while Adri laments over his son’s every move the day of his death, begging for a different outcome. But as Mirjam slowly begins to move on, she fears their loss may be too much for their relationship to bear. Based on the book by A.F. Th. van der Heijden, TONIO shares the heartbreaking true story of the author’s all-consuming agony of losing his only son. (In Dutch with subtitles) —A.B. TONIO was selected as Netherlands’ entry for Best Foreign Language Film for this year’s Academy Awards ®. Producers~Alain de Levita, Sytze van der Laan Screenwriting~Hugo Heinen Cinematography~Guido van Gennep Editing~Sander Vos Principal Cast~Pierre Bokma, Rifka Lodeizen, Chris Peters Print Source~Dutch Features Global Entertainment / [email protected] / dutchfeatures.com About the Director~Paula van der Oest was born in Laag Soeren, Gelderland, Netherlands. She is a writer and director whose film “Zus & Zo” was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001. Filmography~“Zus & Zo” (2001), “Black Butterflies” (2011), “The Accused” (2014), TONIO (2016)

156

The Transfiguration

An Unheard Woman (Eine Unerhörte Frau)

Directed by Michael O’Shea

Directed by Hans Steinbichler

USA 2016 97 minutes

Saturday, April 8

Sunday, April 9

9:40 PM

4:55 PM

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THE TRANSFIGURATION opens with a shocking scene: a teenager named Milo calmly and methodically slurping up blood from the neck of a man he presumably killed. However, this suspense-filled, poignant film is anything but a gory horror flick — and Milo is anything but a typical vampire. Quiet and laconic, he tends to stay in and watch monster movies in the apartment he shares with his brother Lewis. Milo becomes even more conflicted about his bloodsucking proclivities after meeting his guileless new neighbor Sophie, who takes a liking to him and confides she’s trying to escape a traumatic home life. He develops a detailed plan to deal with his uncontrollable impulses and help Sophie. And as the story unfolds along with this sometimes-harrowing strategy, it’s clear Milo has more heart, soul, and conscience than one might expect. THE TRANSFIGURATION is a fresh, smart take on a familiar trope and illustrates that ingrained expectations and perceptions can be deceptive. — A.Z. Producer~Susan Leber Screenwriting~Michael O’Shea Cinematography~Sung Rae Cho Editing~Kathryn J. Schubert Principal Cast~Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine, Aaron Clifton Moten Print Source~Strand Releasing / strandreleasing.com About the Director~Michael O’Shea was born in Brooklyn, New York. He holds a degree from SUNY Purchase, where he studied film. He also writes. Filmography~ THE TRANSFIGURATION (2016)

This film is presented with the generous support of MIKE FLUELLEN.

GERMANY 2016 92 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

6:45 PM

4:40 PM

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Sunday, April 9 11:45 AM

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Code UNHE09

Magdalena’s headaches are growing worse. At nine years old, she stands several inches shorter than her classmates, and her vision is failing more every day. After years of dealing with countless doctors who refuse to take the illness seriously, her frustrated mother Hanni begins diligently studying stacks of medical books as she is worried she is the only person who believes her daughter’s pain is legitimate. While visiting another specialist who is quick to write off Magdalena’s symptoms as mental illness, Hanni refutes the diagnosis and demands the doctor conduct further tests. Magdalena’s health is on a downward slope, and when her mother finally finds a glimmer of hope for her ailing daughter, it may already be too late. Throughout this ongoing battle, the film intermittently cuts to Hanni in a culminating court case with flashbacks of painful wounds from her own childhood. A tearful, heart-wrenching story based on the true events of a daughter’s unexplainable illness and her mother’s unrelenting struggle to save her, AN UNHEARD WOMAN is a fight to the end. (In German with subtitles) —A.B. Producer~Nils Duenker Screenwriting~Angelika Schwarzhuber, Christian Lex Cinematography~Christian Rein Editing~Christian Lonk Principal Cast~Rosalie Thomass, Romy Butz, Florian Karlheim Print Source~Wild Bunch Germany / wildbunch-germany.de About the Director~Hans Steinbichler is a German filmmaker who was born in Solothurn, Switzerland. He attended the University of Television and Film Munich. Filmography~“Hierankl” (2003), “Winterreise” (2006), “Das Blaue vom Himmel” (2011), “Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank” (2016), AN UNHEARD WOMAN (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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The Unimaginable Journey of Peter Ertel

The University

Directed by Joseph Cahn

USA 2017 83 minutes

Directed by Matt Rutherford

USA 2016 104 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

8:20 PM

5:20 PM

1:50 PM

4:45 PM

“Discover what being exponential means to you” is the philosophy behind Singularity University, the brainchild of X Prize founder Peter Diamandis and famous inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. At Singularity grad and post-grad students—some of the smartest in the world—join together with the stated goal to use their intellect and ingenuity to create a business that will impact a billion people within ten years. THE UNIVERSITY is a behindthe-scenes look at a think tank dedicated to using exponential technology to change the world and the young men and women who are determined to do it. Five years in the making, this inspiring film provides us with hope that our capabilities will be able to work for us and help humanity live long and prosper. From self-driving cars, to printing tools in space, to being able to remotely deliver aid to those in need, THE UNIVERSITY is not only a glimpse at who will change the world, but also an in-depth look into our future and where we’re headed as a people and planet. —T.W.

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Sunday, April 2 9:05 AM

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Often in the midst of great evil it is the heroic man who refuses to succumb, and Peter Ertel is one such man. Forced to serve in the Nazi army despite his consternations against Hitler and his refusal to murder “enemy” soldiers, Ertel would not only miraculously survive WWII, but would also become a respected U.S. citizen and be regarded as “family” by his Jewish employers. THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL is an unflinching account of the life of a man who defied insurmountable odds in an unforgiving environment and who later found peace in Cleveland, Ohio. This film combines re-creation storytelling with Ertel’s own brave recounting of his harrowing years in the Nazi army, meeting his wife’s family (also members of the German resistance), surviving the Russian Winter, and then being accepted into a Jewish company in Ohio. Ertel grew up with a poet’s mind and an artist’s curiosity, and this film conveys these sensibilities — the very traits that saved his life on so many occasions—with a tale so bold, brave, and beautiful it will restore your faith that humanity can survive even the darkest of days. — T.W. Producer~Joseph Cahn Cinematography~Joseph Cahn Editing~Joseph Cahn Print Source~Victory Films / [email protected] / peterertelfilm.com About the Director~Joseph Cahn has been producing, writing, and editing broadcast and nonbroadcast film and video productions for nearly 30 years. Before starting Victory Films in 2004, he was a producer-editor for several Cleveland-area multimedia firms. Prior to that, he was a producer with NFL Films where he wrote and edited highlight films and segments for HBO and ESPN. Filmography~THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL (2016)

Community Partners:

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Producer~Matt Rutherford Cinematography~Matt Rutherford Editing~Carter Gunn, Francisco Bello Print Source~Roc Noir / [email protected] / rocnoir.com About the Director~Matt Rutherford studied Chinese studies and politics at Cambridge University and Middle Eastern studies at Harvard University. He is the founder and CEO of Roc Noir, a production company specializing in intelligent and inspiring content. Filmography~THE UNIVERSITY (2017) Media Partner:

158

Unrest

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

Directed by Jennifer Brea

Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot

USA 2017 97 minutes

USA 2017 90 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

11:50 AM

4:25 PM

11:20 AM

9:50 PM

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Code UNRE05

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Jennifer Brea was completing her Ph.D. at Harvard University when an unexplained fever of 104 degrees triggered a spiral into profound weakness and cognitive impairment. Soon she was bedridden, and nobody could help or diagnose her. So she began documenting her struggle. It was discovered she had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a disease derided as nonexistent or the Yuppie Flu by a sometimes fumbling medical community. Jennifer and her fiercely loyal husband Omar do not fumble. From her bed Jennifer began to organize and film a global network of fellow CFS patients. These brave and wonderful individuals challenge a world of misconception, incompetent research, and public stigma. They put a human face on a still baffling illness and attempt to light fires under doctors who long thought this was all just in their heads and hysteria. UNREST follows Jennifer and her international network as they offer support and raise awareness through education and visibility. Hers is an amazing project we cheer along to as it evolves from heartbreaking to heroic. — C.R. Producers~Jennifer Brea, Lindsey Dryden, Patricia E. Gillespie Cinematography~ Christian Laursen, Sam Heesen Editing~Kim Roberts, Emiliano Battista Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Jennifer Brea is an independent documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She has an A.B. from Princeton University and was a Ph.D. student at Harvard University when her illness struck. She is a Sundance Fellow and has been supported by Sundance’s Documentary Edit and Story Labs. Filmography~ UNREST (2017)

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“How sexy are we gonna get here?” THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN showcases the life of the popular San Francisco writer and author who rose to fame for his entertaining yet controversial “Tales of the City” newspaper column in the San Francisco Chronicle in the 1970s. What later became a series of novels and a PBS miniseries, his fictional articles gradually incorporated gay and transgendered storylines to give the growing LGBT community of San Francisco characters to whom they could relate. The film features candid talks with Maupin about intimate details of his life including his revolutionary writing, conservative Southern roots, steamy sexual encounters, and ongoing love affair with his husband and the city of San Francisco, then and now. Notable celebrities such as actors Laura Linney and Sir Ian McKellen, comedian Margaret Cho, and author Amy Tan weigh in with their personal accounts of how Maupin and his body of work have made a lasting impression on their lives and the world. —A.B. Producers~Gerry Kim, Mayuran Tiruchelvam, Jennifer M. Kroot Cinematography~ Shane King Editing~Bill Weber Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~Jennifer M. Kroot is a director, producer, and writer. She was born in San Francisco, California and studied at the San Francisco Art Institute. Filmography~“Sirens of the 23rd Century” (2003), “It Came from Kuchar” (2009), “To Be Takei” (2014)—38th CIFF, THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN (2017) Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Untouchable

Vegas Baby

Directed by David Feige

Directed by Amanda Micheli

USA 2016 105 minutes

USA 2016 77 minutes

Thursday, April 6

6:30 PM I Code UNTC06 (w/FilmForum)

Friday, April 7

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

11:30 AM

9:00 PM

12:15 PM

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Code UNTC07

Saturday, April 8 9:15 AM

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Code UNTC08

Ron Book is an extremely powerful lobbyist from Florida. When he found out his daughter was molested by her nanny, he used his political capital to pass some of the harshest laws against abusers. They’ve actually rendered some former offenders homeless. But with nearly 800,000 people in the sex offender registry today, are kids safer? In UNTOUCHABLE those studying the statistics say no. In fact, they think it’s doing more harm than good. There’s also a lot of false data about the rates of recidivism. Furthermore, with the definition of “sex offender” being so broad, teens who sext may find themselves in the same boat as a pedophile. The film offers a balanced view of the issue from both sides of the equation. While it’s hard to fault Book and his well-intentioned agenda, there’s still room for empathy and a goal of reform, rather than just punishment. By challenging our own opinions on the matter, this extraordinary film will leave viewers feeling uneasy. By doing so, it sets the table for a much needed discussion that will continue long after you leave the theater. — E.F. Producers~David Feige, Rebecca Richman Cohen Cinematography~Eric PhillipsHorst, Nadia Hallgreen Editing~Jay Arthur Sterrenberg Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org About the Director~David Feige is a filmmaker from New York who was born in 1966. He holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin. He began his career as a public defender and also worked as a professor at Seton Hall Law School. Filmography~UNTOUCHABLE (2016)

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Wednesday, April 5 5:40 PM

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Now accepting video submissions for the ultimate grand prize: a chance to have a baby. The purpose of the contest is two-fold: 1) provide one free in-vitro fertilization cycle (a $20,000 value) to a family struggling with infertility; 2) build brand awareness of the Sher Fertility Institute, one of the leading IVF providers in the nation. For some families who have faced years of emotional stress trying to get pregnant, heartbreaking miscarriages, and failed adoptions—not to mention a dangerous amount of debt incurred from so many previous IVF attempts—this is their opportunity for one last chance to have a biological child. But some infertility advocates staunchly oppose a medical facility that straddles the line between an act of selfless generosity and deceitful exploitation, calling the ethics of the contest’s motives into serious question. A roller coaster of emotions, VEGAS BABY follows three finalists and their all-too-real journeys to conceive what they hope will finally be their new beginning. —A.B. Producers~Serin Marshall, Amanda Micheli Cinematography~Amanda Micheli Editing~Greg O’Toole, Lisa Fruchtman Print Source~Runaway Films / [email protected] / runawayfilms.com About the Director~Amanda Micheli is an award-winning director and cinematographer. Micheli is a past visiting lecturer at Stanford University’s M.F.A. film program and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences® and the Directors Guild of America. Filmography~“Just for the Ride” (1995), “Double Dare” (2004)—28th CIFF, “One Nation Under Dog” (2012), VEGAS BABY (2016)

160

Vincent and the End of the World

Voices of the Hill

Directed by Christophe Van Rompaey

Directed by Carla LynDale Carter

BELGIUM, FRANCE 2016 121 minutes

USA 2016 73 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Friday, March 31

Sunday, April 2

11:30 AM

9:30 PM

4:05 PM

1:05 PM

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Vincent’s third suicide attempt is yet again unsuccessful, much to his dismay. At the time of Vincent’s despondent homecoming from the hospital in Belgium, free-spirited Aunt Nikki graces the family with an untimely visit. While Nikki is a nuisance for his mother, 17-year-old Vincent sees his aunt’s arrival as an opportunity for a much-needed change of scenery when she offers to host him in Paris for a few days. But their carefree visit of sightseeing is plagued by Vincent’s unsolicited lectures on saving the whales, reducing our carbon footprint, and not consuming animals. Plus there is Aunt Nikki’s fickle, impulsive demeanor. Convinced his death will be the catalyst to save our dying planet, Vincent may unknowingly be the answer to his aunt’s own plea to be rescued when their lives spiral out of control. A captivating and ultimately inspiring look at the desire to escape, VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD affirms a conflicted, dysfunctional family can at once be the death of you and your saving grace. (In Dutch and French with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Dries Phlypo, Emmanuel Giraud, Aurélie Bordier, Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pierre Vinour Screenwriting~Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem Cinematography~David Williamson Editing~Alain Dessauvage Principal Cast~ Alexandra Lamy, Barbara Sarafian, Spencer Bogaert, Geert Van Rampelberg, Frédéric Epaud Print Source~Beta Cinema / [email protected] / betacinema.com About the Director~Christophe Van Rompaey was born in Ghent, Belgium. He is an award-winning director, assistant director, and writer for a variety of TV mini-series, shorts, and feature films. Filmography~“Moscow, Belgium” (2008), “Lena” (2011), VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD (2016) Sponsored by:

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Saturday, April 1 6:30 PM

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At the Akron Art Musuem (see page 49)

Located in Summit County, Twinsburg Heights is made up of 14 streets in Twinsburg, Ohio. It is listed as a census-designated place or CDP, which basically means it’s a community that doesn’t enjoy the same rights as the rest of Twinsburg. Through the years, it’s earned a reputation for being scary—a false stereotype deeply rooted in racism (the Klu Klux Klan once stood at the bottom of the hill that divides the area from Twinsburg in an effort to intimidate the segregated AfricanAmerican population). For many years the city largely ignored the Heights. Its citizens had to fight for such basic necessities as roads and street lights. In fact, they didn’t have running water until 1973. But despite the lack of support, Heights residents always rallied together, helping their neighbors, even teaming up to build a community center. Their inspiring story is the focus of VOICES OF THE HILL, a documentary that was made mainly by Twinsburg high school students. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the hardworking men and women who built their neighborhood with an abundance of blood, sweat, and tears. —E.F. Producer~Carla LynDale Carter Editing~Saadiq Daniels, Jenn Noga, Jelani Daniels, Carla LynDale Carter Print Source~Focused Arts / [email protected] / focusedarts.com About the Director~Carla LynDale Carter is a Cleveland, Ohio native, currently residing in Texas. She holds an M.F.A. in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. Filmography~VOICES OF THE HILL (2016) Community Partners:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Waiting for Giraffes

Walk With Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith

Directed by Marco de Stefanis NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, PALESTINE 2016 84 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

2:05 PM

4:10 PM

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Saturday, April 1 12:25 PM

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The Qalqilya Zoo, which is Palestine’s only zoo and sits at the border with Israel, is also the world’s only zoo in occupied territory. During the last intifada, many of the zoo’s animals— including their beloved giraffe couple—were killed. The zoo’s vet Dr. Sami has set out to return the zoo to its once respectable form by gaining entry into the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), which will enable the zoo to add giraffes. But how are they going to find enough space in a territory where even humans are being cornered? WAITING FOR GIRAFFES is a behind-the-scenes look at Dr. Sami’s work in bringing his zoo up to the standards of the EAZA, while fighting constant changeover at the zoo, tensions with Israel, and the politics of being in a country where everything is politics. Dr. Sami’s determination is infectious, and his love and fortitude in taking care of the animals and improving the zoo are incredibly admirable. He’s a man facing insurmountable odds in his quest to bring joy to his people and care for his animals. As this film shows us, passion and focus can bring down walls. (In Arabic with subtitles) — T.W.

Directed by Jesse Nesser USA 2016 104 minutes

Thursday, March 30

6:50 PM I Code WALK30 (w/FilmForum)

Friday, March 31 11:20 AM

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Saturday, April 1 9:15 AM

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In 1967—a time of great racial turmoil in our country—Judge Damon J. Keith was appointed to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by President Lyndon B. Johnson. After having grown up in segregated Detroit and serving in WWII in a segregated army, the African-American Keith would become the judge in some of this country’s landmark cases dealing with segregation and civil rights. From overseeing issues of bussing, housing, hiring practices, and police procedure, Judge Keith was impacting our nation’s laws from his seat in Detroit. WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH is a tapestry of interviews with Judge Keith, now 93, his contemporaries, his family, and those whose lives were made better because of the work Keith did from the bench. Now on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Keith continues to be the embodiment of the American ideal that honor, courage, and truth can still defeat injustice at every turn. —T.W.

Producers~Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts Cinematography~Stefano Bertacchini Editing~Patrick Minks, Katarina Türler Print Source~CAT&Docs / [email protected] / catndocs.com

Producers~Mitch Albom, Edsel Ford, Faye Nelson, Sally Davis, Patrick Lane Cinematography~Reuben Aaronson Editing~Jesse Nesser Print Source~Overseas Cowboy Films / [email protected] / ovcfilms.com

About the Director~Marco de Stefanis is an Italian filmmaker, editor, and colorist based in the Netherlands. He graduated from the International Colorist Academy in London. Filmography~“Tulip Time: The Rise and Fall of the Trio Lescano” (2008), WAITING FOR GIRAFFES (2016)

About the Director~Born in Detroit and having grown up in several European countries, Jesse Nesser has made films that touch on the struggles of many different cultures trying to do the right thing with surprising results. He’s worked with a variety of charities and organizations working to improve the lives of the impoverished. Filmography~“The Ranch for Kids” (2013), WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH (2016)

Community Partners:

162

The War Show

Waves

Directed by Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Obaidah Zytoon

Directed by Grzegorz Zariczny

SYRIA, DENMARK 2016 100 minutes

POLAND 2016 78 minutes

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

1:45 PM

9:35 PM

9:30 PM

2:05 PM

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Obaidah, a free-spirited Syrian radio DJ, thrives on sharing art with the masses. But a quiet revolution has been brewing, inspiring her to document citizens’ dreams of an uprising. Her filming begins in 2011 in the early stages of a string of Syrian civilian protests against President Bashar al-Assad and his authoritative regime, part of a larger movement now known as the Arab Spring. With her camera in tow, the weapon most feared by the regime, Obaidah captures the rising tensions of her once peaceful homeland. She graciously introduces us to an eclectic cast of characters who evolve into her unofficial family of protesters — united in their desire for a government upheaval. When their public demonstrations meet hostile resistance, civilians and the regime unleash increasingly violent attacks on each other with no regard for the climbing death toll and mass destruction. Through daring footage of dodging regime security checkpoints and outrunning snipers’ deadly gunshots, THE WAR SHOW bravely exposes an up-close-and-personal point of view of a people willing to accept death in the name of patriotism. (In Arabic with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~David B. Sørensen, Miriam Nørgaard, Ronnie Fridthjof Cinematography~ Obaidah Zytoon, Lars Skree, Amr Kheito, Hisham Issa, Tahani Burhan, Dana Bakdones Editing~Adam Nielsen Print Source~BOND/360 / [email protected] / bond360film.com About the Directors~Andreas Møl Dalsgaard is a documentary filmmaker, writer, and producer who was born in Denmark. Obaidah Zytoon was born in al-Zabadani, Syria and is a radio DJ. This film documents Zytoon’s firsthand experiences protesting the Syrian regime. Collaborative Filmography~THE WAR SHOW (2016)

Community Partner:

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Friday, April 7 9:20 AM

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Ania is an aspiring hairdresser, struggling to keep up with her cosmetology training. While her friend Kasia has mastered all the techniques with ease, Ania still can’t seem to grasp some basic concepts—a fact that has drawn ire from her unenthused teacher. To say it’s killed Ania’s self-esteem would be a major understatement. Her situation at home isn’t exactly helping her confidence issues either. Living with her formerly abusive father because her mom split, she’s torn trying to reconcile his past behavior with his awkward attempts to prove he’s changed. When the anxiety and distractions of her life aren’t causing chaos, Ania’s talent for doing hair is undoubtedly clear. She’s creative and quirky, with a sense of style that’s ever-evolving. But until she learns to love herself and let go of her anger, she will continue to be her own worst enemy. The battle for selfworth and the transition to adulthood is at the center of Grzegorz Zariczny’s WAVES, a truly relatable film that also touches on the desperate human need to feel comfortable in your own skin. (In Polish with subtitles) —E.F. Producer~Ewa Jastrze˛bska Screenwriting~Grzegorz Zariczny Cinematography~ Weronika Bilska Editing~Bartosz Pietras Principal Cast~Katarzyna Kopec´, Anna Ke˛sek, Beata Schimscheiner, Tomasz Schimscheiner, Jolanta Olszewska, Edyta Torhan Print Source~Munk Studio—Polish Filmmakers Association / [email protected] About the Director~Grzegorz Zariczny was born in Kokotow, Malopolskie, Poland in 1983. He studied directing at Silesia University’s Krzysztof Kies´lowski Radio and Television Department. Filmography~WAVES (2016)

www.clevelandfilm.org

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A Wedding

When I Stutter

(Noces)

Directed by John Gomez

Directed by Stephan Streker BELGIUM, FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, PAKISTAN 2016 96 minutes

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

12:00 Noon

8:30 PM

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A Pakistani must marry a Pakistani. That is the rule for 18-yearold Zahira, now at the age of her dreaded arranged marriage. She and her family live abroad. But thanks to technology, Zahira grudgingly meets her less-than-desirable suitors online, meticulously hand-chosen by her mother. Not surprisingly, none are to her liking, and Zahira feels trapped in the life laid out before her. Complicated by an unexpected pregnancy and a longing to break tradition and choose a husband for herself, Zahira refuses to return home until her parents no longer demand she go through with the marriage. Caught in the middle falls her faithful brother Amir who, until this point, has always given Zahira his unwavering support. But knowing that shame will surely fall on his family if Zahira chooses not to wed, Amir is torn between protecting his sister and upholding the wishes of their adamant parents. Based on true events, A WEDDING reveals the drastic lengths a family will go to preserve their honor in the name of their beloved daughter. (In French and Urdu with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Michaël Goldberg, Boris Van Gils Screenwriting~Stephan Streker Cinematography~Grimm Vandekerckhove Editing~Jérome Guiot, Mathilde Muyard Principal Cast~Lina El Arabi, Sébastien Houbani, Babak Karimi, Neena Kulkarni, Olivier Gourmet Print Source~Clémence Michalon / [email protected] / jour2fete.com About the Director~Stephan Streker was born in Brussels, Belgium. Before pursuing filmmaking, he began his career as a journalist, specifically as a movie critic and sports reporter covering soccer and boxing. Filmography~“Michael Blanco” (2004), “Le monde nous appartient” (2012), A WEDDING (2016)

USA 2017 107 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

3:45 PM

8:35 PM

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Tuesday, April 4 1:50 PM

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There are a lot of misconceptions about stuttering. Some might surmise people do it because they’re anxious. Or they might think it’s due to emotional trauma or mental illness. Others may sadly assume stutterers have low intelligence. As you’ll see in WHEN I STUTTER, these assumptions are all false. But the stereotypes have led a number of people to stay silent. Stigmatized by society, they’re afraid to use their voices. Social interactions can be awkward for anyone. But imagine how difficult they would be if you were constantly scrutinizing every word that comes out of your mouth. The fear can jeopardize romantic encounters, compromise job opportunities, and disrupt even the simplest daily interactions—just ordering a cup of coffee can be challenging. Director John Gomez does a terrific job investigating the science behind stuttering, but it’s the intimate moments with the afflicted that are most impactful. Their inspiring stories put a human face on an often misunderstood disorder. With help from speech pathologists and a shift in society’s preconceived notions about stuttering, these brave individuals can finally be heard. —E.F. Producer~John Gomez Cinematography~John Gomez Editing~John Gomez Print Source~Keen Eye Productions / [email protected] / keeneyeproductions.com About the Director~John Gomez was born in Northern New Mexico. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Colorado College and later returned to school to become a speech pathologist. He is the founder of Keen Eye Productions. Filmography~WHEN I STUTTER (2017) Community Partner:

164

The White King

Who Is Arthur Chu?

Directed by Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel

Directed by Scott Drucker, Yu Gu

UNITED KINGDOM, GERMANY, SWEDEN, HUNGARY 2016 89 minutes

USA 2017 90 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

7:35 PM

1:30 PM

9:40 PM

4:10 PM

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THE WHITE KING is set in a strange dystopian future that resembles 1940s Nazi Germany—but with high-tech surveillance on every corner. Referring to their country as “the homeland,” the citizens display a disturbing amount of nationalism. Of course, whether or not they believe the propaganda is irrelevant, any resistance is met with severe punishment in this dictatorship. The reality of this is all too clear for 12-year-old Djata, whose father has been hauled off to prison for being a traitor. He and his mother are constantly ridiculed by their community and harassed by soldiers who patrol the streets. Djata’s grandparents are well-respected, his grandfather being a celebrated military vet. Despite their connections, they can’t seem to free their son from imprisonment—though it’s not clear they want to, considering his opposing political views. Forced to mature quickly, Djata must rise to the occasion to save his father. Can this brave young boy and his mother outsmart a murderous regime? Blending sci-fi, action, and historical fiction, this vibrant film is a powerful coming-of-age tale. — E.F. Producers~Philip Munger, Teun Hilte Screenwriting~Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel Cinematography~René Richter Editing~Peter R. Adam Principal Cast~Lorenzo Allchurch, Agyness Deyn, Jonathan Pryce, Fiona Shaw, Olivia Williams, Greta Scacchi, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Ross Partridge Print Source~The Little Film Company / [email protected] / thelittlefilmcompany.com About the Directors~Alex Helfrecht was born in 1979 in Oxford, England. Her husband and co-director Jörg Tittel is from Belgium and studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. They currently reside in London. Collaborative Filmography~ THE WHITE KING (2016)

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Friday, April 7 2:00 PM

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If you’re a fan of Jeopardy! then you probably know who Arthur Chu is. WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? chronicles the whereabouts of a man who became a villain trying to be a hero. After drawing the ire of television game show fans worldwide for his unique style of play on America’s favorite game show, Cleveland-born Arthur Chu turned his sights on issues important to him as a blogger, columnist, and panelist championing the rights of those who are marginalized in the online community. This portrait of Chu, who is not afraid of sticking up for himself, provides an honest and unflinching look into the life of a complicated man who is simply trying to stand up for what he believes, even if that means going up against all sorts of bullies in the Twittersphere. At certain times, Chu comes across as daring as he puts himself on the front lines of issues like gamergate. At other times, he’s aloof and inconsiderate of his wife’s needs and the sacrifices she’s made in the name of supporting Chu as he works to leverage his celebrity status for good. WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? is an important look at how a person who became famous on screen can become even more important off screen. —T.W. Producers~Scott Drucker, Yu Gu Cinematography~Scott Drucker, Yu Gu Editing~Christopher Makoto Yogi Print Source~Transient Media / [email protected] About the Directors~Scott Drucker was born in Chicago and earned his M.F.A. in Cinematic Arts from USC. He’s worked on projects for Vice, Hulu, ESPN, and VH1. Yu Gu was born in China and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She also received her M.F.A. from USC and has won awards for her films worldwide. Collaborative Filmography~WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? (2017) Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Whose Streets?

Women Who Kill

Directed by Sabaah Folayan

Directed by Ingrid Jungermann

USA 2017 104 minutes

USA 2016 93 minutes

Saturday, April 8 9:15 PM

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Sunday, April 9

1:50 PM I Code STRE09 (w/FilmForum)

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

11:40 AM

2:15 PM

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Friday, April 7

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In 2014 an unarmed 18-year-old African-American named Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. This was the final straw for black residents, caught in a decades-long struggle with an oppressive police force known for racist tendencies and excessive tactics. They unified and peacefully protested the murder, but justice never came. So what do you do when your own government is against you? As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” In the heat of the moment, some stores were looted and damaged. But the narrative the media spun was misleading and largely out of context. Ferguson police — and later the National Guard— stormed through neighborhoods, treating citizens inhumanely. They rode in tanks with machine guns drawn, as if they were at war. Instead of focusing on these actions and the murder of a teenager, the media was obsessed with a few incidents of vandalism. The entire terrifying episode unfolds in WHOSE STREETS?, a powerful and gut-wrenching documentary that will hit you like a ton of bricks. — E.F.

9:35 PM

Producers~Jennifer MacArthur, Sabaah Folayan, Damon Davis, Flannery Miller Cinematography~Lucas Alvarado-Farrar Editing~Christopher McNabb Print Source~Magnolia Pictures / [email protected] / magpictures.com

Producer~Alex Scharfman Screenwriting~Ingrid Jungermann Cinematography~ Rob Leitzell Editing~Ron Dulin Principal Cast~Ingrid Jungermann, Ann Carr, Sheila Vand, Shannon O’Neill, Annette O’Toole, Grace Rex, Deborah Rush, Rodrigo Lopresti, Tami Sagher Print Source~The Film Collaborative / [email protected] / thefilmcollaborative.org

About the Director~Sabaah Folayan is a filmmaker and activist from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Biology. Filmography~WHOSE STREETS? (2017)

Community Partner:

Code WOME07

“I’m not in danger, okay? I’m just in love.” So says Morgan, who’s fallen head over heels for enigmatic Simone, who has a shadowy past and may or may not be harboring dangerous secrets. Morgan’s primed to be wary about matters of the heart, however. She and Jean (her ex) still live together in Park Slope, co-host a podcast about murderous women, and are struggling to find equilibrium within their own ever-evolving relationship. This skeptical mindset starts to become a liability after Jean discovers Simone’s mom may have been a notorious serial killer. Doubt, mistrust, and fear influence how Morgan perceives even innocuous events, which cause her friendships to fray at the seams. This culminates in a shocking denouement that leaves many questions unanswered. WOMEN WHO KILL is equal parts suspenseful psychological thriller and incisive romantic comedy, with a hipster Brooklyn backdrop that lends the perfect touches of absurdity. At its core, however, the film provides subtle commentary on the things people do to avoid—or even sabotage — functional love. —A.Z.

About the Director~Ingrid Jungermann was born in Palm Bay, Florida in 1977. She holds an M.F.A. from New York University’s Graduate Film School. She also directs, acts, writes, and produces. She created the web series “F to 7th,” which was nominated for a 2015 Writer’s Guild Award. WOMEN WHO KILL won Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, Best Screenwriting in a U.S. Feature at Outfest, and Best Feature Film at the Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival. Filmography~WOMEN WHO KILL (2016) Sponsored by:

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The Women’s Balcony

Woven

(Ismach Hatani)

Directed by Salome Mulugeta, Nagwa Ibrahim

Directed by Emil Ben-Shimon

USA 2016 96 minutes

ISRAEL 2016 96 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Tuesday, April 4

8:15 PM

4:00 PM

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On bar mitzvah day, a close-knit Sephardic congregation is moving through the streets of Old Jerusalem toward their synagogue. Their elderly spiritual leader begins the ceremony, and their happiness is palpable. But suddenly the women’s balcony collapses, amidst screams and dust. The rabbi’s wife is rendered comatose, leaving him confused and unable to carry out his duties. Into the void steps a man in a black hat— charismatic, ultra-Orthodox Rabbi David. As he takes over for their rabbi, he suggests the congregation’s immorality may have caused the accident. Their wives, he tells the men, should dress modestly. The apprehensive women collect money for the construction of a new female space in the synagogue. Rabbi David wants to use their proceeds for a new Torah instead and relegate them to an anteroom. But these delightfully scrappy women are having none of it. Determined to remain part of their congregation, they stage a protest outside Rabbi David’s seminary. THE WOMEN’S BALCONY boasts a fine ensemble cast and an upbeat score that will leave viewers dancing happily out of the theater. (In Hebrew with subtitles) — B.B. Producers~Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler Screenwriting~Shlomit Nehama Cinematography~Ziv Berkovich Editing~Einat Glaser Zarhin Principal Cast~Evelin Hagoel, Igal Naor, Orna Banay, Einat Sarouf, Aviv Alush, Itzik Cohen, Yafit Asulin, Sharona Elimelech, Herzl Tobey, Haim Zanati Print Source~Menemsha Films / [email protected] / menemshafilms.com About the Director~Emil Ben-Shimon was born in Tel Aviv and has directed work for television. THE WOMEN’S BALCONY, his first feature film, was nominated for five Israeli Film Academy Awards. Filmography~THE WOMEN’S BALCONY (2016) Media Partner:

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

7:10 PM

11:45 AM

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Elenie is trying to balance her dreams as an American with the traditions of her Ethiopian upbringing. Her mother is constantly trying to set her up with potential husbands, but none of them are to her liking. When her brother dies in a tragic subway accident, she finds herself wrapped up in work to numb the pain. As a counselor, she deals with children suffering from anxiety and depression. She befriends the father of one of her patients, an unemployed wise-cracker named Logan. His marriage is falling apart, and the dysfunction at home has led to some behavioral issues with his son. Elenie and Logan develop feelings for each other, finding it more and more difficult to fight off their urges. But they’ll soon discover sexual tension isn’t the only thing tying them together. Their lives are bound in ways they never would have imagined. Logan has a dark secret with consequences that will affect everyone he loves. A mixture of mystery and drama, WOVEN explores a theme of self-realization with an unbelievable twist. (In English and Amharic with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Salome Mulugeta, Nagwa Ibrahim, Ryan Spahn Screenwriting~Salome Mulugeta, Ryan Spahn, Kristin Hanggi Cinematography~Pedro Gómez Millán Editing~Sara Corrigan, Nagwa Ibrahim Principal Cast~Salome Mulugeta, Ryan O’Nan, Ryan Spahn, Larisa Polonsky, Alemtesehay Wedajo, Vincent Agnello Print Source~Lima Productions / limaproductions.com About the Directors~Salome Mulugeta was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In addition to directing, she’s the star of WOVEN. Nagwa Ibrahim is an Egyptian American, who’s also an attorney specializing in immigration law and criminal defense. Collaborative Filmography~WOVEN (2016)

Community Partner:

www.clevelandfilm.org

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X500

You’ll Never Be Alone

Directed by Juan Andrés Arango

Directed by Alex Anwandter

CANADA, COLOMBIA, MEXICO 2016 108 minutes

CHILE 2016 81 minutes

(X Quinientos)

(Nunca vas a estar solo)

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

Monday, April 3

Wednesday, April 5

8:30 PM

2:00 PM

9:35 PM

1:50 PM

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In X500 three young migrants struggle to adapt to their new surroundings. Maria arrives in Canada from Manila to live with her grandmother after the death of her mother. Bullied by her classmates for her outdated fashion choices, she finds herself lost in an identity crisis. How far will she go to fit in? Meanwhile, Alex is deported from the United States back to Colombia, where his neighborhood has been taken over by dangerous criminals. In order to protect his family, he must decide where he stands in the brewing battle of good versus evil. Lastly there’s David, who left his indigenous village for Mexico City. He now lives with his gang-member cousin, who’s forcefully pushing David to join. Instead, he finds himself immersed in the world of punk rock, desperately searching for a way to escape his cousin’s plans for him. Though miles apart, Maria, Alex, and David are on a very similar journey. X500 explores self-identity and the human need to belong. Though the trio’s circumstances are more dire than most, the film offers a relatable message in its search for inclusion. (In English, French, Mazahua, Spanish, and Tagalog with subtitles) — E.F. Producers~Yanick Létourneau, Jorge Andrés Botero, Edher Campos, Luis Salinas Screenwriting~Juan Andrés Arango Cinematography~Nicolas Canniccioni Editing~ Felipe Guerrero Principal Cast~Jembie Almazán, Jonathan Diaz Angulo, Bernardo Garnica Cruz Print Source~Visit Films / visitfilms.com About the Director~Juan Andrés Arango was born in Bogota´, Colombia in 1976. He studied cinematography and television at the National University of Colombia. X500 was nominated for the Bronze Horse for Best Film at the 2016 Stockholm Film Festival. Filmography~“La Playa DC” (2012), X500 (2016) Media Partner:

Community Partner:

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Fueled by the love of his best friend Mari and a passionate romance with his secret lover Felix, Pablo is destined for greatness. He dreams of owning the stage someday, as confident in his choreography as he is in sultry, blue sequins. Those plans are abruptly put on hold when a life-altering run-in with some peers leave him battered and beaten on a quiet city sidewalk. Pablo’s distant father Juan, a workaholic determined to get ahead in his career, faces overwhelming medical bills to save Pablo’s life. Grateful for the moral support from his beloved neighbor Lucy and a snarky, quick-witted doctor, Juan must figure out a way to make ends meet without putting his job at risk. A heart-wrenching drama, YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE serves some crushing blows with a young man’s passion brutally stifled and a father’s relentless will to save him. (In Spanish with subtitles) —A.B. Producer~Isabel Orellana Guarello Screenwriting~Alex Anwandter Cinematography~ Matias Illanes Editing~Felipe Gálvez Principal Cast~Sergio Hernández, Andrew Bargstead, Gabriela Hernández, Edgardo Bruna, Antonia Zegers Print Source~Wide / [email protected] / widemanagement.com About the Director~Alex Anwandter was born in Santiago, Chile and is a musician and filmmaker. He has been directing music videos since 2005 and began his filmmaking career in 2012 after one of his fans was killed in a hate crime in his hometown. Filmography~YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE (2016)

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The Young Offenders

Zaatari Djinn

Directed by Peter Foott

Directed by Catherine van Campen

IRELAND 2016 83 minutes

NETHERLANDS, JORDAN 2016 90 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

2:10 PM

9:30 PM

1:45 PM

4:25 PM

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Code ZAAT06

Sunday, April 9

Sunday, April 9

9:35 AM

12:40 PM

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One of Ireland’s biggest films in 2016, THE YOUNG OFFENDERS is a hilarious crime romp inspired by the 2007 true story about 1.5 tons of cocaine seized off the coast of West Cork. Conor and Jock are two inner-city teenagers spending their time dressing alike, behaving alike, and being general menaces to society. But, when the largest cocaine seizure in Ireland’s history occurs not far from their hometown, they hatch a plan to make some money. THE YOUNG OFFENDERS follows these two lads as they steal bikes, trek the countryside, elude an obsessed police officer, choke their chicken, and basically Forrest Gump their way to the shore in search of millions of dollars worth of coke. Reminiscent of Guy Ritchie’s early work, director Peter Foott’s stylistic feature debut hits on all comedic cylinders— outrageous characters, terrific music, and an engaging story that has you rooting for the “bad” guys. — T.W. Producers~Peter Foott, Julie Ryan Screenwriting~Peter Foott Cinematography~ Paddy Jordan Editing~Colin Campbell Principal Cast~Alex Murphy, Chris Walley Print Source~Vico Films / [email protected] / vicofilms.com About the Director~Peter Foott was born in Cork, Ireland—the town where THE YOUNG OFFENDERS is set— and has won many awards as a director, producer, and screenwriter, including awards for this film in L.A. and Austin. Filmography~ THE YOUNG OFFENDERS (2016) Sponsored by:

Media Partner:

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In Jordan a tent town called Zaatari has been erected in the middle of the blistering desert. It’s now home to refugees from the war in Syria. While it offers a roof over their heads, resources are scarce and the weather can be awfully harsh. Regardless, the community tries to make the best of things. The most resilient people are the kids, who make up over 80% of the town’s population. Some, like Miryam and Hammoudi, are able to survive through escapism via Shakespeare and material possessions. Others are struggling to adjust. The depressed Farras is forced to work hard, while troublemaker Fatma causes her mother grief with daily hijinks. Because of their innocence, the experience of war is different from a child’s perspective. Their spirits can be uplifted by turning paper into a soccer ball or insects into a zoo. ZAATARI DJINN tells the story of these four children from a point-of-view perspective, offering an intimate look at a day in their shoes. Despite the horrors around them, they are still beautiful little dreamers. (In Arabic with subtitles) —E.F. Producers~Iris Lammertsma, Boudewijn Koole Cinematography~Jean Counet Editing~Albert Markus Print Source~Witifilm / [email protected] / witfilm.nl/en About the Director~Catherine van Campen was born in 1970 and resides in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She won the 2011 Best Short Documentary Award for “Anne Vliegt” at Switzerland’s Visions du Reel Festival. Filmography~“Eternal Mash” (2007), “Joan’s Boys” (2013), “Garage 2.0” (2016), ZAATARI DJINN (2016) Community Partners:

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Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island

Zoology

Directed by Oskar Santos

Directed by Ivan I. Tverdovsky

SPAIN 2016 105 minutes

RUSSIA, FRANCE, GERMANY 2016 83 minutes

(Zipi Y Zape y La Isla del Capitán)

(Zoologiya)

Friday, March 31

Sunday, April 2

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

4:30 PM

11:50 AM

9:15 AM

8:15 PM

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After the latest round of mischief from brothers Zip and Zap, their parents force them to give up their Christmas vacation and accompany them on a business trip to an obscure island. Upon losing their way deep in the woods, a dark, winding road leads the unsuspecting family to the entrance of Miss Pam’s “child home,” a haven for parentless children full of love and free of discipline. Zip and Zap wake the next morning to find their parents have mysteriously vanished, a plan Miss Pam says they had all along to rid themselves of their unruly boys. Suspicious of their new surroundings, Zip and Zap, joined by erratic bookworm Pippi and their new roommates Macky and Flecky, plot their courageous escape only to be caught in the middle of the island’s tangled web of secrets. Based on the popular Spanish comic book characters created by José Escobar Saliente, ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND takes us on a whimsical adventure full of shocking twists that will stretch imaginations of every age. (In Spanish with subtitles) — A.B. Producers~Fernando Bovaira, Francisco Ramos, Mikel Lejarza, Mercedes Gamero, Koldo Zuazua Screenwriting~Jorge A. Lara Cinematography~Daniel Sosa Editing~ Carolina Martínez Urbina Principal Cast~Elena Anaya, Teo Planell, Toni Gómez Print Source~Film Factory Entertainment / [email protected] / filmfactory.es About the Director~Oskar Santos was born in 1972 in Bilbao, Spain. He graduated from Complutense University of Madrid with a degree in Audiovisual Communication. Filmography~“For the Good of Others” (2010), “Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang” (2013)— 38th CIFF, ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND (2016)

Community Partner:

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Sunday, April 9 11:20 AM

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Code ZOOG09

Natasha has an office job at a zoo with coworkers who despise and bully her. But she finds solace in the zoo’s four-legged, long-tailed inhabitants. Her life is dull, monotonous, and gray like the Russian town in which she lives. However, when she goes to her doctor for x-rays on her lower back to help figure out why she’s having pain, we soon discover Natasha is keeping a rather long secret tucked into her panties. On the back side. ZOOLOGY is a modern fairy tale—so to speak—about a woman finding her Prince Charming even when she’s surrounded by people who don’t see her. When Natasha meets Peter, her radiologist, he accepts her right away and doesn’t blink at the rather large appendage growing from her tailbone. A relationship is instantly sparked, and Peter brings something out of Natasha that transforms her from an ugly duckling to a spritely woman with new hair, new looks, and a new lease on life. But the very moment Natasha is relieved of all inhibitions, she’s quickly reminded of who she really is and is not. Shocking yet enchanting, ZOOLOGY is a remarkable character study that lures you in until the tail end. (In Russian with subtitles) —T.W. Producers~Guillaume de Seille, Maria Lavnikovich, Natalya Mokritskaya, Mila Rozanova, Ulyana Saveleva, Bénédicte Thomas Screenwriting~Ivan I. Tverdovsky Cinematography~Alexander Mikeladze Editing~Ivan I. Tverdovsky, Vincent Assman Principal Cast~Natalia Pavlenkova, Dmitry Groshev, Irina Chipizhenko Print Source~Arrow Films / [email protected] / arrowfilms.com About the Director~Ivan I. Tverdovsky was born in 1988 in Moscow, Russia and graduated from Moscow’s Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in 2011. He’s had several short films appear in international festivals, and his first full-length film won Best Film at the KVIFF 49. Filmography~“Corrections Class” (2014), ZOOLOGY (2016)

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Shorts Programs With generous support from:

CHAR and CHUCK FOWLER

Audience Awards The CIFF is programmed each year by extending invitations to films viewed by our programmers at other festivals. In addition, we accept submissions by filmmakers from around the world.

Shorts Audience Choice Awards Program

This year filmmakers submitted 3,166 films — of which 2,419 were shorts — through an international Call-for-Entries platform that was broadcast around the world between June and December 2016. We convened two volunteer-driven Selection Committees, consisting of 186 people who are representative of our audience. These committees divided up feature films (defined by a running time of 45 minutes or longer) and short films (defined by a running time of less than 45 minutes).

1:10 PM I Code AUDS09 Approximately 80 minutes ONE SCREENING ONLY

Three committee members reviewed each submitted film. They scored the films based on specified criteria and on how the films might be received by our audience. They also provided written evaluations, which are shared with filmmakers upon request after the Festival. Those short films with the highest scores were reviewed by a Programming Committee for final determination. Our programmers made the final decisions about feature films. Also, our programmers spent a number of years putting the pieces in place for the CIFF to become an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences qualifying festival. This means our award-winning films in the short categories of animation, documentary, and live action are sent along to the Academy Awards® for nomination consideration without the standard theatrical run, provided the films otherwise comply with Academy rules. Our 35th CIFF award winner for Best Animated Short Film, THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE, won the Academy Award® for that category in 2012. Our 36th CIFF award winner for Best Live Action Short Film, CURFEW, won the Academy Award® for that category in 2013.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Sunday, April 9

CIFF patrons determine the winners of these awards by casting ballots throughout the 41st CIFF. The Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film Overall is accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize. Audience Choice Award for Best Animated Short Film Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Short Film Audience Choice Award for Best Live Action Short Film—Comedy Audience Choice Award for Best Live Action Short Film—Drama Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film Overall In addition, a Programmers’ Choice Award: In Celebration of the Life of Toni Oliverio will be presented. Sponsored by The Sloop Family, it will be accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize.

www.clevelandfilm.org

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Jury Awards

Jurors

Shorts Jury Awards Program Sunday, April 9

11:15 AM I Code JURY09 Approximately 80 minutes ONE SCREENING ONLY

Our three jurors select winners of the awards listed below. Many of the shorts are screened and the filmmakers are recognized during this special program. Each award is accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize. Best Animated Short Award* sponsored by Reminger Co., L.P.A. Best Comedy Short Award endowed by David K. Ream Best Documentary Short Award* sponsored by Jules and Fran Belkin Best International Short Award sponsored by MP Star Financial Best LGBT Short Award: Given in Celebration of the Life of Nikki Babbit sponsored by Jan and Harold Babbit Best Live Action Short Award* sponsored by Anne Bloomberg and Alan Gordon Lipson & Judy Harris Best Ohio Short Award sponsored by Ulmer & Berne Best Student Short Award sponsored by MP Star Financial Best Women’s Short Award sponsored by Jinny and John Johnson The Clover and Maggie Award: In Celebration of Life sponsored by Barbara Hawley and David Goodman The Spalding and Jackson Award: In Celebration of Joy sponsored by Marcie Goodman and John C. Williams * These award winners will qualify for consideration in the short films competitions of the annual Academy Awards.®

Steve Gleydura

Phyllis “Seven” Harris

Jenny Spencer

Steve Gleydura is the editor of Cleveland Magazine and Vice President of Editorial for Great Lakes Publishing Co. A graduate of John Carroll University, he joined the company as managing editor of Inside Business Magazine in 1999 and later served as editor. During his 15 years as editor at Cleveland Magazine, the publication has been honored as Best Magazine in Ohio by both the Press Club of Cleveland and Society of Professional Journalists while earning national awards from Folio and the City and Regional Magazine Association. He lives with his wife Kathleen and their three children in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood. Phyllis “Seven” Harris is a Cleveland native and has over two decades of leadership experience in local nonprofits. As Executive Director of The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, she plays a strong role as an advocate in Cleveland’s LGBT community. Phyllis holds a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baldwin Wallace University. She lives in Shaker Heights and is the proud mother of two children. Jenny Spencer is Managing Director of Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO). Jenny holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Harvard Kennedy School and is an Economic Development Finance Professional with certification from the National Development Council. She previously worked as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay and is fluent in Spanish. Jenny and her husband Mario live in Detroit Shoreway’s Franklin Boulevard Historic District.

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PROGRAM 1 95 minutes

PROGRAM 2 93 minutes

PROGRAM 3 93 minutes

Thursday, March 30

Thursday, March 30

Thursday, March 30

12:00 Noon

2:00 PM

4:10 PM

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Code GRAM30

Friday, March 31

Friday, March 31

Friday, March 31

1:45 PM

3:50 PM

11:45 AM

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A Doll’s Eyes

Princessboy

Cold Feet

The Race

One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts

My Heart Attack

Jonathan Wysocki, USA, 12 min. Michael Le Meur, France, 14 min.

Cake

Anne Hu, USA, 9 min.

The Little Stage

Will Berry, USA, 6 min.

Jeff

Sosi Chamoun, Sweden, 9 min.

Peter Byck, USA, 15 min.

The Amazing Rocambole Loïc Nicoloff, France, 19 min.

Speechless

Robin Polak, Germany, 7 min.

California Dreaming

Can A Museum Help America Heal?

The Little Dictator

Green Light

Adam Linzey, USA, 16 min. Sahirr Sethhi, USA, 9 min.

Nurith Cohn, Israel, 29 min.

A filmmaker explores his ongoing obsession with the movie “Jaws” in A DOLL’S EYES • mankind’s rise to dominance is visually told in the animated sci-fi THE RACE • in CAKE a woman tries to spice up her marriage by giving her husband an unexpected gift • an abandoned building with a special place in history is rescued in THE LITTLE STAGE • JEFF tells the story of a man who becomes deeply disturbed about what his friend might have done • an aging lottery addict is finally about to hit it big when things go terribly wrong in CALIFORNIA DREAMING • a history professor finds himself caught in a potentially calamitous position in THE LITTLE DICTATOR.

A Doll’s Eyes

Daniel Lombroso, USA, 6 min. Seongmin Kim, South Korea, 16 min.

Get Up Kinshasa!

Sébastien Maitre, France, 21 min.

A boy prefers the life of a princess in PRINCESSBOY • ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BEATING HEARTS is the tale of a pioneering farmer’s transformational journey • a writer will go to great lengths to get a raise in THE AMAZING ROCAMBOLE • a boy remains SPEECHLESS while wandering alone in a toy store • a visionary director redefines the black experience at the new Smithsonian in CAN A MUSEUM HELP AMERICA HEAL? • a girl finds a new friend in her post-apocalyptic world in the animated GREEN LIGHT • GET UP KINSHASA! is the tale of a ten-year-old boy and his enterprising spirit.

The Amazing Rocambole

Jordan Rennick, USA, 5 min. Sheldon Cohen, Canada, 14 min.

The Hama Hama Way

Treva Wurmfeld, USA, 12 min.

Stripped

India Dupre, Australia, 12 min.

Otherhalf

Ben West, USA, 9 min.

Three Kinds of Fear Bruno Bini, Brazil, 20 min.

My Mom and the Girl

Susie Singer Carter, USA, 21 min.

In only five minutes a man will take his vows, but for now he has COLD FEET • a filmmaker documents his experience with invasive heart surgery in the animated MY HEART ATTACK • THE HAMA HAMA WAY demonstrates a new approach for farming oysters • one family’s experience with Australia’s Keep Australia White policy is featured in STRIPPED • OTHERHALF tells the story of a man who pays a visit to a therapist after his legs walk out on him • THREE KINDS OF FEAR are experienced by three people in one of Brazil’s most violent cities • Valerie Harper stars in a different kind of Alzheimer’s story in MY MOM AND THE GIRL.

Otherhalf

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PROGRAM 4 94 minutes

PROGRAM 5 95 minutes

PROGRAM 6 95 minutes

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

9:15 AM

1:05 PM

4:35 PM

I

Code SHRT31

I

Code SHRT01

I

Code PROG02

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

3:15 PM

9:20 AM

11:40 AM

I

Code PROG01

I

Code SHRT02

I

Code PROG03

The Candidate

Dear Mr. Shakespeare

Mine

Pearl

Grace and Betty

Standing Rock

The School Bag

Schirkoa

Go Cart

Tripolar

The Carousel

How Deep Can I Go?

Stir

The Driving Seat

The Question

Home

Game

A Beautiful Day

Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano

The Whole World

Michael Hilf, USA, 6 min. Patrick Osborne, USA, 6 min. Dheeraj Jindal, India, 15 min. Alexander Gruszynski, USA, 14 min. Niara Modi, Canada, 12 min. Russell Simpson, USA, 14 min.

Ben Proudfoot, USA, 27 min.

One man goes through a rigorous vetting process in THE CANDIDATE • a father and daughter experience a cross-country journey together in search of their dreams in the animated PEARL • the bond between a mother and her son is at the heart of THE SCHOOL BAG • in TRIPOLAR a passionate couple reveals their innermost selves • mourning the death of her mother, a woman seeks to master a traditional family recipe in STIR • Sharon Lawrence is a woman trying to find her place in the world after years behind bars in HOME • MONTAGE: GREAT FILM COMPOSERS AND THE PIANO finds a group of legendary film composers working with a world class pianist on a magical and musical project of discovery.

Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano

Shola Amoo, United Kingdom, 5 min. Zoe Lubeck, USA, 9 min. Ishan Shukla, India, 14 min. Jonathan Napolitano, USA, 12 min. Phil Lowe, United Kingdom, 10 min. Jeannie Donohoe, Zsolt Kadar & Nick Strauser, USA, 15 min. Julián Quintanilla, Spain, 30 min.

DEAR MR. SHAKESPEARE questions the bard’s intentions when he wrote Othello • surprises abound when Grace decides to come out to her grandmother in GRACE AND BETTY • SCHIRKOA is the animated tale of a city of bag heads where a senate member will have to make a critical decision • a 1925 carousel that once inspired Rod Serling is the focus of THE CAROUSEL • THE DRIVING SEAT features a middleaged couple trying to reignite their youthful passion • a sophomore newcomer tries to make the squad on a reigning state championship basketball team in GAME • THE WHOLE WORLD finds one man discovering something he never knew about his dearly departed mother.

Schirkoa

Simon Berry, United Kingdom, 8 min. Markus Hoeckner, USA, 15 min. Kailyne R. Waters, USA, 11 min. Kai Smythe, Australia, 5 min. Darion Leigh, United Kingdom, 3 min. Phedon Papamichael, USA, 22 min.

Rekindled

Erin Brown Thomas, USA, 12 min.

90 Days

Nathan Hale Williams & Jennia Fredrique, USA, 19 min.

A man is at the mercy of his wife in MINE • the historic gathering of tribal citizens and their allies is portrayed in STANDING ROCK • a lonely and injured cart will make an impact in GO CART • HOW DEEP CAN I GO? explores the darker side of attraction • one man’s purpose is artistically documented in THE QUESTION • James Brolin plays a father who has decided the time has come in A BEAUTIFUL DAY • REKINDLED finds a woman trying to turn back the clock on her challenging love life • after 90 DAYS of dating a couple will face the changes brought on by a secret revealed.

90 Days

174

PROGRAM 7 94 minutes

PROGRAM 8 94 minutes

PROGRAM 9 96 minutes

Sunday, April 2

Monday, April 3

Monday, April 3

8:50 PM

3:45 PM

1:40 PM

I

Code GRAM02

I

Code INDY03

I

Code GRAM03

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

Tuesday, April 4

9:15 AM

9:15 AM

12:00 Noon

I

Code SHRT03

I

Code SHRT04

I

Code PROG04

Just a Song

Swiped

Mordechai

Big Boom

Gambling With Minds

Adam Vicarel – Designer

He Said

How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps

(Otto)

Gina Hirsch, USA, 6 min. Marat Narimanov, Russia, 4 min. Tara Lynn Orr, USA, 14 min.

City Lights

Ed Wiles, United Kingdom, 10 min.

Closure

Wallace Langham, USA, 14 min.

Fanny Pack

Uttera Singh, USA, 10 min.

Five Awake

Susan Willis & Donna Dees, USA, 36 min.

When a songwriter shares a new song with his girlfriend, things get a little weird in JUST A SONG • the theory of evolution is shared in only four minutes in BIG BOOM • HE SAID, with Michael Gross, is the story of two people whose lives will be changed forever after a single fateful encounter • a night security guard attempts to communicate with a cleaning lady across the street in CITY LIGHTS • in CLOSURE a man’s life is irrevocably changed when he learns his estranged father has passed away • looking for answers, a father (Brian George) pursues his fiercely independent daughter in FANNY PACK • FIVE AWAKE documents the incredible achievement of five Louisiana women who set out to strengthen domestic violence laws in their state.

City Lights

David Chai, USA, 5 min. Genevieve Clay-Smith, Australia, 9 min.

Ben Berman, USA, 6 min.

Zaar

Ibrahim Nada, USA, 12 min.

Refugee

Joyce Chen & Emily Chen, USA, 28 min.

Auto-Stop (Hitchhiking)

Cédric-Alexandre Saudinos, France, 15 min.

Rated

John Fortson, USA, 19 min.

The animated tale of technology binging is featured in SWIPED • GAMBLING WITH MINDS is an experimental documentary featuring seven people and their experiences with the Australian mental health system • featuring Conan O’Brien, HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS is a four-step guide to overcoming one of life’s most ubiquitous challenges • a would-be suicide bomber finds himself having second thoughts in ZAAR • REFUGEE documents the story of a West African woman who leaves her children behind to come to the U.S. to make a better life for them • a backpacker will hitch a ride that has many twists and turns in AUTO-STOP (HITCHHIKING) • in RATED one woman has to own up to her behavior in a world where everyone is being scored.

Auto-Stop (Hitchhiking)

Benjamin Bee, United Kingdom, 13 min. Thomas Sawyer, USA, 3 min.

Job, Joris, Marieke, Netherlands, 10 min.

Democracy in the Driver’s Seat Gail Gilbert, USA, 8 min.

Skinny Fat Girl

Brandon Baer, USA, 11 min.

Hudson Hill

Stephen Mlinarcik, USA, 5 min.

The Fare

Santiago Paladines, USA, 24 min.

Open Carry, USA

Ron Fleischer, USA, 5 min.

The Arrival

Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe, USA, 17 min.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man will see his identical twin brother for the first time in quite a while in MORDECHAI • gratitude, art, and chalk are featured in ADAM VICAREL– DESIGNER • a woman who can’t have children steals an imaginary friend from a girl in (OTTO) • DEMOCRACY IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT reveals the sometimes surprising results of the democratic process • after losing 100 pounds a woman struggles to join the dating scene in SKINNY FAT GIRL • a lonesome runaway tries to avoid her fate in The Whiskey Hollow’s HUDSON HILL • an Ecuadorian man faces a crisis of conscience in THE FARE • OPEN CARRY, USA is where you’re welcomed with open arms by the openly armed • THE ARRIVAL finds a boy feeling betrayed by his mother.

The Arrival

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PROGRAM 10 95 minutes

PROGRAM 11 95 minutes

PROGRAM 12 92 minutes

Tuesday, April 4

Wednesday, April 5

Wednesday, April 5

5:00 PM

9:15 AM

4:40 PM

I

Code GRAM04

I

Code SHRT05

I

Code GRAM05

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

Thursday, April 6

11:35 AM

1:40 PM

11:40 AM

I

Code PROG05

I

Code PROG06

I

Code SHRT06

Working With Animals

Cure

The Spa

Lila

Winds of Downhill

Toys

Bullied

Once Upon a Line

The Human

Lucy In My Eyes

Éclair

al imam

American Psychosis

Family Shadows

Second to None

No Drowning

Hot Seat

Han

Flesh of My Flesh

When Demons Die

Eulogilia

Love in the Age of Like

Vibration

Rice Ball

The trials and tribulations of a wildlife documentarian are shared in WORKING WITH ANIMALS • LILA reinvents the world around her with the assistance of her handy sketchpad • a meek high school janitor struggles to maintain his dignity in BULLIED • on the eve of her wedding a woman has a conversation with her six-year-old self in LUCY IN MY EYES • Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges reveals his fear for America in AMERICAN PSYCHOSIS • NO DROWNING is the depiction of a coin-operated world • the story of a family dealing with the horrible aftermath of a tragic car accident is told in FLESH OF MY FLESH • LOVE IN THE AGE OF LIKE finds a woman trying to decide what to do about her boyfriend’s lack of interest in her social media life.

CURE is the musically told tale of one man and his battle with stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma • seven homeless people share their stories in WINDS OF DOWNHILL • ONCE UPON A LINE is the animated story of a man whose monotonous, humdrum existence is transformed when he falls in love • a man faces an unusual request in ÉCLAIR • FAMILY SHADOWS is the touching story of a son and his father • a teenage girl will go to great lengths to gain acceptance in HOT SEAT • WHEN DEMONS DIE is the story of an eight-yearold boy who has never left his home for fear of the creatures outside • while packing his deceased wife’s belongings a man comes across an odd object in VIBRATION.

A retiree is reconsidering his need for a new hot tub in THE SPA • TOYS tells the tale of a father who wanted a son but got a daughter instead • mankind’s dark inclinations are explored in the experimental THE HUMAN • despite controversy and threats, Ani Zonneveld takes a stand for justice and a progressive practice of Islam in AL IMAM • SECOND TO NONE finds the world’s second-oldest man hatching a plan to eliminate the competition • a father reaches out on behalf of his son in HAN • EULOGILIA is the tale of a young woman with a rather odd addiction • a father and son grieve together over a traditional family meal in RICE BALL.

Marc Reisbig, Norway, 4 min.

Carlos Lascano, Argentina/Spain, 9 min. Khaled Ridgeway, USA, 5 min. Megan Park, Canada, 12 min. Amanda Zackem, USA, 15 min. Mélanie Laleu, France, 17 min. Matthys Boshoff, South Africa, 25 min. Theodore Bezaire, Canada, 8 min.

Lila

Peter Baynton, United Kingdom, 2 min. Todd Wider & Jedd Wider, USA, 21 min. Alicja Jasina, USA, 7 min. Hugo Keijzer, Netherlands, 13 min. Laura Malatos, USA, 5 min. Anna Kerrigan, USA, 13 min. Daniel Ruebesam, Germany, 19 min. Bareun Jo, United Kingdom, 15 min.

Cure

Will Goodfellow, Australia, 8 min. Amanda Quaid, USA, 2 min. Murad Ibragimbekov, Russia, 8 min. Omar Al Dakheel, USA, 19 min. Vincent Gallagher, United Kingdom, 8 min. Jonathan Choo, Singapore, 20 min. Alex Grossman, USA, 12 min. Yusuke Oishi, Japan, 15 min.

al imam

176

PROGRAM 13 95 minutes

PROGRAM 14 95 minutes

PROGRAM 15 95 minutes

Thursday, April 6

Friday, April 7

Friday, April 7

5:35 PM

4:15 PM

1:55 PM

I

Code GRAM06

I

Code GRAM07

I

Code PROG07

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 8

Saturday, April 8

11:45 AM

9:05 AM

11:15 AM

I

Code SHRT07

I

Code SHRT08

I

Code PROG08

8AM

Cycle

Test Drive

Buttercup

Forever Home

The Collinwood Fire

Follow Your Heart

Birdlime

Bernie and Rebecca

The Eleven O’Clock

The Nation Holds Its Breath

The Margaret Lambert Film

Sign

Project X

5 Films About Technology

Gridlock

Backstory

The App

The Illumination

Domingo

It’s Just a Gun

In 8AM a numbers-obsessed man misses an opportunity to cherish what really counts • a touching tale of grief, friendship, and dealing with the loss of those closest to us is told in BUTTERCUP • FOLLOW YOUR HEART is the animated tale of a world where people’s hearts are like pets • a delusional patient and a psychiatrist square off in THE ELEVEN O’CLOCK • SIGN is the story of the challenges facing a hearing-impaired man and his hearing partner • a missing girl and a traffic jam are the ingredients for the edgy thriller GRIDLOCK • the incredible results of Gordon and Lulie Gund’s 45-year effort to cure blindness are documented in THE ILLUMINATION.

A newly separated woman has a transformational experience with a burglar in CYCLE • FOREVER HOME documents the story of a family built on love and adoption • an animated portrait of the exotic bird trade is featured in BIRDLIME • on the day of the most important football match in Irish history one man’s allegiance will be tested in THE NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH • PROJECT X shares a government handbook for agents of the NSA • in BACKSTORY we are reminded that all things come and all things go • an aspiring soccer commentator practices in his neighborhood in DOMINGO.

Hai

Emily Pando, USA, 8 min. Megan Brotherton, USA, 12 min. Rob O’Neill, USA, 8 min. Derin Seale, Australia, 13 min. Andrew Keenan-Bolger, USA, 15 min. Ian Hunt Duffy, Ireland, 19 min. Tom Scott, USA, 20 min.

Gridlock

Isabelle Sieb, United Kingdom, 12 min. Raquel Korman, USA, 14 min. Evan DeRushie, Canada, 11 min. Kev Cahill, Ireland, 20 min.

Laura Poitras & Henrik Moltke, USA, 10 min. Joschka Laukeninks, Germany, 8 min. Raul L. Echeverria, Mexico, 20 min.

Domingo

Jim Ford, United Kingdom, 1 min. Daniel Houghton, USA, 7 min. Melissa Kent, USA, 15 min.

Nina Horowitz, USA, 25 min. Peter Huang, Canada, 5 min.

Julián Merino, Spain, 16 min. Brian Robau, USA, 13 min. Jasmine Chiong, USA, 13 min.

This is not going to be your run-of-the-mill TEST DRIVE • THE COLLINWOOD FIRE is the animated tale of how a newspaper reporter and young filmmaker turned a local tragedy into a media sensation • a blind date turns into the experience of a lifetime in BERNIE AND REBECCA • THE MARGARET LAMBERT FILM documents the story of a Jewish athlete who was denied the opportunity to compete in the 1936 Olympic games • 5 FILMS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY takes a look at the ridiculous side of our mobile lives • in THE APP a man confronts a disturbing contradiction • a boy finds a .38 caliber revolver that will change his life forever in IT’S JUST A GUN • in HAI a young online couple finally meet for the first time.

The Collinwood Fire

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10% PROGRAM 95 minutes

AFTER HOURS PROGRAM 1 95 minutes

AFTER HOURS PROGRAM 2 95 minutes

Friday, March 31

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

9:25 PM

11:35 PM

11:25 PM

I

Code TENS31

Princessboy

I

Code AHSH31

I

Code AHSH01

Cover Up

Satya Bhabha, USA, 3 min.

Small Platelet Dining

Sosi Chamoun, Sweden, 9 min.

A Doll’s Eyes

Immure

Conscian Morgan, United Kingdom, 20 min.

Pet Monkey

Jonathan Wysocki, USA, 12 min.

Cake

Who’s Who in Mycology

Marie Dvorakova, Czech Republic/USA, 15 min.

Club Policy

Anne Hu, USA, 9 min.

Cold Feet

Little Dude Anthem Ben Giroux, USA, 5 min.

Incendio

Jordan Rennick, USA, 5 min.

Grace and Betty

There Is No Door

Ward Crockett, USA, 23 min.

They Charge For the Sun

Zoe Lubeck, USA, 9 min.

Sign

Stick To Your Gun

Morgan Leigh Stewart, New Zealand, 10 min.

How Deep Can I Go?

Andrew Keenan-Bolger, USA, 15 min.

The Candidate

No Evil

Mike Gan, USA, 19 min.

The Babysitter Murders

Michael Hilf, USA, 6 min.

The Whole World

A man (Jason Ritter) learns his girl is more than just a pretty face in COVER UP • IMMURE finds one man going to great lengths to protect his mother’s room • a trombone player has a strange adventure in WHO’S WHO IN MYCOLOGY • little dudes rap to make a point in LITTLE DUDE ANTHEM • THERE IS NO DOOR is the tale of one woman facing her family’s curse • a woman is confronted by a surprising adversary in STICK TO YOUR GUN • NO EVIL features a couple experiencing a strange phone call that leads to a chilling game of cat and mouse.

The Hobbyist

Julián Quintanilla, Spain, 30 min.

A boy prefers the life of a princess in PRINCESSBOY • a filmmaker explores his ongoing obsession with the movie “Jaws” in A DOLL’S EYES • in CAKE a woman tries to spice up her marriage by giving her husband an unexpected gift • in only five minutes a man will take his vows, but for now he has COLD FEET • surprises abound when Grace decides to come out to her grandmother in GRACE AND BETTY • SIGN is the story of the challenges facing a hearing-impaired man and his hearing partner • one man goes through a rigorous vetting process in THE CANDIDATE • THE WHOLE WORLD finds one man discovering something he never knew about his dearly departed mother.

The Whole World

Stick To Your Gun

John Putch, USA, 9 min. Eric Maira, USA, 9 min.

New Media Ltd, USA, 10 min. Slater Dixon, USA, 6 min. Terence Nance, USA, 16 min. Kai Smythe, Australia, 5 min. Ryan Spindell, USA, 21 min. George Vatistas, USA, 9 min.

The Robbery

Jim Cummings, USA, 10 min.

A Tinder date leads to an exciting night in SMALL PLATELET DINING • PET MONKEY finds a man determined to buy his girlfriend a monkey • a couple serves up tragedy on the squash court when someone doesn’t abide by CLUB POLICY • INCENDIO proves anything can happen in the world of online dating • a young girl will discover a hidden truth in a nocturnal dystopian future in THEY CHARGE FOR THE SUN • HOW DEEP CAN I GO? explores the darker side of attraction • THE BABYSITTER MURDERS features a dark stormy night, a babysitter, and an escaped psychopath in a twisted tale • a man seeks an undetectable poison but gets something quite different in THE HOBBYIST • an attempted liquor store heist goes slightly awry in THE ROBBERY.

Incendio

178

AFTER HOURS PROGRAM 3 95 minutes

AFTER HOURS PROGRAM 4 95 minutes

A N I M AT E D P R O G R A M 89 minutes

Friday, April 7

Saturday, April 1

Thursday, March 30

11:40 PM

10:30 PM

6:10 PM

I

Code AHSH07

Roach

Jonathan Hashiloni, Israel, 14 min.

Girl #2

David Jeffery, USA, 10 min.

Noro

Duncan Roe, United Kingdom, 19 min.

Black Mountain

Nicholas Mockridge & Lilja Rupprecht, Germany, 11 min.

The Lock-In

I

Code ANIG01

At The Nightlight (see page 49)

Saturday, April 1 10:40 PM

I

Code AART01

At the Akron Art Museum (see page 49)

Saturday, April 8 11:45 PM

I

Code AHSH08

Critical Miss

John Burgio, USA, 7 min.

A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky Quarxx, France, 36 min.

Will Norris & Craig Gallivan, United Kingdom, 20 min.

A Zombie Love Story

Born Again

Dawn of the Deaf

Jason Tostevin, USA, 7 min.

Thresher

Alex Clark, Canada, 14 min.

Almog Avidan Antonir, USA, 4 min. Rob Savage, United Kingdom, 12 min.

Next Time You’ll Know Better Jennifer Stachovic, USA, 3 min.

An inventor attempts to save himself and his would-be girlfriend from an inevitable nuclear holocaust in the animated ROACH • a deranged killer sets his sights on an unsuspecting sorority in GIRL #2 • NORO finds a woman discovering a stunning truth while trying to cope with the loss of her child • a ten-minute techno take on Richard Wagner’s Parsifal is on display in BLACK MOUNTAIN • after years of putting up with vile customers a pub owner will finally take a stand in THE LOCK-IN • BORN AGAIN features a group of friends trying to conjure a dark spirit • a burglar terrorizes one of his victims in THRESHER.

Night of the Slasher

Born Again

Night of the Slasher

Shant Hamassian, USA, 12 min.

It’s Been Like a Year Cameron Fay, USA, 8 min.

Monitor

Paul Holtzhausen, USA, 13 min.

A game of Dungeons & Dragons takes some interesting turns in the locally made CRITICAL MISS • a man’s remorse deeply affects the rest of his life in the disturbing A NEARLY PERFECT BLUE SKY • A ZOMBIE LOVE STORY is the musical tale of an unacceptable romance • a strange sound will forever change the world as we know it in DAWN OF THE DEAF • NEXT TIME YOU’LL KNOW BETTER is an animated film that reveals the dark answer to a common question • a teenage girl has a rather surprising plan in NIGHT OF THE SLASHER • IT’S BEEN LIKE A YEAR finds one young man getting far more than he bargained for • a mysterious package will lead a man to question his sanity in MONITOR.

I

Code ANIM30

Next Time You’ll Know Better Jennifer Stachovic, USA, 3 min.

Once Upon a Line

Alicja Jasina, USA, 7 min.

Open Carry, USA

Ron Fleischer, USA, 5 min.

Lila

Carlos Lascano, Argentina/Spain, 9 min.

Pearl

Patrick Osborne, USA, 6 min.

The Collinwood Fire

Daniel Houghton, USA, 7 min.

The Race

Michael Le Meur, France, 14 min.

Second to None

Vincent Gallagher, United Kingdom, 8 min.

My Heart Attack

Sheldon Cohen, Canada, 14 min.

Green Light

Seongmin Kim, South Korea, 16 min.

NEXT TIME YOU’LL KNOW BETTER reveals the dark answer to a common question • ONCE UPON A LINE is the story of a man whose monotonous, humdrum existence is transformed when he falls in love • OPEN CARRY, USA is where you’re welcomed with open arms by the openly armed • LILA reinvents the world around her with the assistance of her handy sketchpad • a father and daughter experience a crosscountry journey together in search of their dreams in PEARL • THE COLLINWOOD FIRE is the tale of how a newspaper reporter and young filmmaker turned a local tragedy into a media sensation • mankind’s rise to dominance is visually told in the sci-fi THE RACE • SECOND TO NONE finds the world’s second-oldest man hatching a plan to eliminate the competition • a filmmaker documents his experience with invasive heart surgery in MY HEART ATTACK • a girl finds a new friend in her post-apocalyptic world in GREEN LIGHT. My Heart Attack

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COMEDY PROGRAM

FA M I LY P R O G R A M 1

FA M I LY P R O G R A M 2

94 minutes 96 minutes

95 minutes

97 minutes

Saturday, April 1

Saturday, April 1

Saturday, April 1

9:10 PM

11:00 AM

12:00 Noon

I

Code COMS01

Saturday, April 8 10:00 PM

I

Code COMS08

Just a Song

Gina Hirsch, USA, 6 min.

Tripolar

Alexander Gruszynski, USA, 14 min.

Mine

Simon Berry, United Kingdom, 8 min.

The Robbery

Jim Cummings, USA, 10 min.

The Candidate

Michael Hilf, USA, 6 min.

Rekindled

Erin Brown Thomas, USA, 12 min.

How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps Ben Berman, USA, 6 min.

Fanny Pack

Uttera Singh, USA, 10 min.

5 Films About Technology Peter Huang, Canada, 5 min.

Rated

John Fortson, USA, 19 min.

When a songwriter shares a new song with his girlfriend, things get a little weird in JUST A SONG • in TRIPOLAR a passionate couple reveals their innermost selves • a man is at the mercy of his wife in MINE • an attempted liquor store heist goes slightly awry in THE ROBBERY • one man goes through a rigorous vetting process in THE CANDIDATE • REKINDLED finds a woman trying to turn back the clock on her challenging love life • HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS is a guide to overcoming one of life’s most ubiquitous challenges • looking for answers, a father pursues his fiercely independent daughter in FANNY PACK • 5 FILMS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY takes a look at the ridiculous side of our mobile lives • in RATED one woman has to own up to her behavior in a world where everyone is scored. Rated

I

Code FAMS01

Just One Drop

Katie Cirincione, USA, 2 min.

Princessboy

Sosi Chamoun, Sweden, 9 min.

Albedo Absolute

Vlad Marsavin, USA, 15 min.

Spring Jam

Ned Wenlock, New Zealand, 5 min.

Mdudu Boy

Ella Smith, United Kingdom, 20 min.

Perfect World

Karni & Saul, United Kingdom, 4 min.

Chapter No. 1

Christian Strevy, USA, 9 min.

All the Marbles

Michael Swingler, USA, 17 min.

Green Light

Seongmin Kim, South Korea, 16 min.

The environmental impact of repairing all those leaky faucets is explored in JUST ONE DROP • a boy prefers the life of a princess in PRINCESSBOY • a kaleidoscopic curiosity sends two sisters on a mystical journey of no return in ALBEDO ABSOLUTE • a young stag needs a helping hand during mating season in the animated SPRING JAM • a Kenyan boy has high hopes in MDUDU BOY • a magical relationship between mother and child is sweetly told in the beautiful music video PERFECT WORLD • CHAPTER NO.1 finds Gunner’s quiet day of research interrupted by a feisty would-be partner • in ALL THE MARBLES a timid boy decides to challenge a villainous bully • a girl finds a new friend in her post-apocalyptic world in the animated GREEN LIGHT.

All the Marbles

I

Code AFAM01

At the Akron Art Museum (see page 49)

Saturday, April 8 2:15 PM

I

Code FAMS08

Fred

Leftchannel, USA, 1 min.

Take My Heart Away

Jaron Clegg, South Africa, 4 min.

Lemonade Mafia

Anya Adams, USA, 9 min.

The Gift

Kohei Kajisa, Japan, 5 min.

Pearl

Qianhang Shao, USA, 16 min.

The Boy Who Learned to Fly

Limbert Fabian & Jake Wyatt, USA, 7 min.

Waterbaby

Pia Shah, India, 15 min.

Birdlime

Evan DeRushie, Canada, 11 min.

A Children’s Song

Shayna Cohen, USA, 27 min.

A pair of would-be thieves think they’ve finally defeated their nemesis in the animated FRED • TAKE MY HEART AWAY is a cosmic music video that finds a boy dreaming of a trip to the stars • a girl’s organic lemonade dynasty is being threatened in LEMONADE MAFIA • THE GIFT is the animated tale of a girl’s plan for her parents’ anniversary • a lonely puppeteer offers assistance to a mermaid in the fairy tale PEARL • THE BOY WHO LEARNED TO FLY is the animated true story about the life of Brazil’s Usain Bolt • a boy must face his fear to impress the new girl in WATERBABY • an animated portrait of the exotic bird trade is featured in BIRDLIME • A CHILDREN’S SONG is the story of a boy who meets a new friend when he and his father are forced to flee Nazi Germany.

Lemonade Mafia

180

H O L LY W O O D P R O G R A M 90 minutes

Sunday, April 2 2:25 PM

I

Code HOLL02

Cover Up

Satya Bhabha, USA, 3 min.

He Said

Tara Lynn Orr, USA, 14 min.

THE NEXT WEBISODE 73 minutes CIFF’s returning Web Series program!*

97 minutes

Saturday, April 1

8:45 PM

2:15 PM

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At the Akron Art Museum (see page 49)

Sunday, April 2 7:00 PM

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Code NEXT02

How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps

“Chapter No. 1” from Gunner Jackson

A Beautiful Day

“Family” from Almost Asian

My Mom and the Girl

“Moyzee” from Amy Street

Home

“Lydia Might Be a Lesbian” from Guest Appearances

Ben Berman, USA, 6 min.

Phedon Papamichael, USA, 22 min. Susie Singer Carter, USA, 21 min. Russell Simpson, USA, 14 min.

Fanny Pack

Uttera Singh, USA, 10 min.

A man (Jason Ritter) learns his girl is more than just a pretty face in COVER UP • HE SAID , with Michael Gross, is the story of two people whose lives will be changed forever after a single fateful encounter • featuring Conan O’Brien, HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS is a four-step guide to overcoming one of life’s most ubiquitous challenges • James Brolin plays a father who has decided the time has come in A BEAUTIFUL DAY • Valerie Harper stars in a different kind of Alzheimer’s story in MY MOM AND THE GIRL • Sharon Lawrence is a woman trying to find her place in the world after years behind bars in HOME • looking for answers, a father (Brian George) pursues his fiercely independent daughter in FANNY PACK.

A Beautiful Day

OHIO PROGRAM 1

Christian Strevy, USA, 9 min.

Jessica Sanders, USA, 3 min.

Kirsty Griffin & Viv Kernick, New Zealand, 7 min.

Elizabeth Guest, USA, 10 min.

“Project X” from Field of Vision Laura Poitras & Henrik Moltke, USA, 10 min.

“Honk” from The Wizards of Aus Michael Shanks, Australia, 14 min.

“Adam Vicarel – Designer” from Artisans Thomas Sawyer, USA, 3 min.

“Pilot” from Seeking Sublet Katie Tibaldi, USA, 7 min.

“The Robbery” from The Minutes Collection Jim Cummings, USA, 10 min.

A self-proclaimed inventor is distracted by an unwelcome admirer in GUNNER JACKSON • in ALMOST ASIAN, follow Katie as she awkwardly attempts to maneuver through L.A. as a half-Asian • a look at the residents of AMY STREET—all adults with intellectual disabilities and largerthan-life personalities • Lydia’s already complicated love life takes another turn under the watchful eye of her four parents in GUEST APPEARANCES • FIELD OF VISION features visual journalism that pairs filmmakers with developing stories around the globe • everybody needs good neighbors in THE WIZARDS OF AUS — even if those neighbors are homicidal wizards from the seventh dimension • follow Cleveland ARTISANS at work, showcasing that the process by which they make their art is art itself • SEEKING SUBLET is a comedy series about two roommates in search of the perfect third roommate in NYC • pivotol moments in various characters’ lives are shot in single takes in THE MINUTES COLLECTION. *Additional webisodes available to CIFF members only in the CIFF website screening room. To become a CIFF member, see page 19.

Tuesday, April 4

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Mike Has a Date

Mick Jones, USA, 2 min.

Fresh

Leah Aki Wood & Geoff Pingree, USA, 6 min.

Bang!

Kamisha Thomas & Kara Lynch, USA, 10 min.

Arriving at Bessie

Craig Duff & Kelly Bancroft, USA, 7 min.

A Quiet House

Robert Puzzitiello, USA, 7 min.

Pearl

Patrick Osborne, USA, 6 min.

The Things We Do They Don’t Understand

Ashley Michel Hoben, USA, 20 min.

Praise & Blame

Fred Scott, USA, 39 min.

Mike gets himself ready in MIKE HAS A DATE • FRESH explores food access in Northeast Ohio through City Fresh • a single mother is pushed to the brink in BANG! • ARRIVING AT BESSIE finds an Ohio woman investigating the mysterious 1910 death of her great aunt in Cleveland • a deaf woman house-sits in the thriller A QUIET HOUSE • a father and daughter experience a cross-country journey together in search of their dreams in the animated PEARL • in THE THINGS WE DO THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND two women overcome a language barrier to find an unexpected connection • the life of 28-year-old rapper Charles Hamilton is documented in PRAISE & BLAME.

Mike Has a Date

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OHIO PROGRAM 2 91 minutes

OHIO PROGRAM 3 92 minutes

Wednesday, April 5

Thursday, April 6

9:30 PM

9:35 PM

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Code OHSH06

Where We’ve Been

Born Again

Technically, Marvin

Blight

Ashley Brandon, USA, 5 min. Andrew Gorell, USA, 19 min.

The FBI Blew Up My Ice Skates

Lindsey Martin & Sara Zia Ebrahimi, USA, 7 min.

Playground

Drew Dickler & Jakob Hochendoner, USA, 17 min.

Jason Tostevin, USA, 7 min. Babaak Parcham & Geoff Pingree, USA, 6 min.

The Collinwood Fire

Daniel Houghton, USA, 7 min.

Standard Definition Tim Young, USA, 19 min.

P L AY L I S T 76 minutes CIFF’s returning Music Video program!

Sunday, April 2 6:00 PM

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At the Beachland Ballroom (see page 50)

Monday, April 3 5:50 PM

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“Because I’m Me”–The Avalanches Greg Brunkalla, USA, 5 min.

“Stay”– Talisco

Cloé Bailly, France, 4 min.

“Demons”– Oliver Tree ft. Beat Culture & Lena Kuhn

Last Call Lenny

Belle

Gotta Groove Records

Ophelia

Bernie and Rebecca

Rekindled

Erin Brown Thomas, USA, 12 min.

rubberband. (Jason Sondock & Simon Davis), USA, 4 min.

Dementia steals the memories from a woman who has dedicated her life to remembering the past in WHERE WE’VE BEEN • TECHNICALLY, MARVIN tells the story of a middle-aged man who hopes his mail-order bride will be the woman of his dreams • THE FBI BLEW UP MY ICE SKATES is an animated short based on true events that took place during the Iran hostage crisis • PLAYGROUND offers a portrait of a community overcoming tragedy through art • A jazz radio DJ seeks assistance to end his life in LAST CALL LENNY • GOTTA GROOVE RECORDS documents how vinyl is made through the lens of the local company • a blind date turns into the experience of a lifetime in BERNIE AND REBECCA.

The Illumination

“Hudson Hill”–The Whiskey Hollow

Julien Lasseur, USA, 13 min. Nick Cavalier, USA, 15 min. Melissa Kent, USA, 15 min.

Katy Scoggin, USA, 13 min. Anthony Garland, USA, 8 min.

Tom Scott, USA, 20 min.

BORN AGAIN features a group of friends trying to conjure a dark spirit • an organization that helps struggling neighborhoods transform themselves is featured in BLIGHT • THE COLLINWOOD FIRE is the animated tale of how a newspaper reporter and young filmmaker turned a local tragedy into a media sensation • two filmmakers who find a seemingly magical camera are featured in STANDARD DEFINITION • at 94 years old BELLE is an activist for seniors • a woman’s insecurities manifest as a surreal job interview goes awry in OPHELIA • REKINDLED finds a woman trying to turn back the clock on her challenging love life • the incredible results of Gordon and Lulie Gund’s 45-year effort to cure blindness are documented in THE ILLUMINATION.

Luisa Betancur, USA/Colombia, 5 min.

“Motion Sickness/Grass” – Topaz Jones

Stephen Mlinarcik, USA, 5 min.

“Magnetic”– Dan Sultan

Jonathan Chong, Australia, 4 min.

“Kerala”– Bonobo

Dave Bullivant, United Kingdom, 4 min.

“Perfect World”– Katie Melua Karni & Saul, United Kingdom, 5 min.

“Dreams”– Sofie Winterson Bear Damen, Netherlands, 5 min.

“I Know”– Shovels & Rope

The Moving Picture Boys, USA, 4 min.

“Shooter”– Clipping

Carlos Lopez Estrada, USA, 4 min.

“Postdoc Blues”–John K. Samson Nathan Boey, Canada, 4 min.

“Internal World”– Cloud Nothings Jonny Look, USA, 5 min.

“Small Bill$”– Regina Spektor Steven Mertens, USA, 4 min.

“Wonderful”– Francobollo

Christopher Watson-Wood, United Kingdom, 4 min.

“Tulips”– Tigerilla ft. Gill Bates Tom Noakes, Australia, 4 min.

“Take My Heart Away”– Johnny Clegg Jaron Clegg, South Africa, 6 min.

Gotta Groove Records

Rekindled

Magnetic

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©2017 Closet Factory. All rights reserved.

THERE’S A REASON WE’RE IN THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR.

You want to give the audience a performance to remember. We want to give one you can be proud of. There is no “take 2” in live events. The CSR team of in-house event producers, audio and video engineers, lighting and scenic designers, and meeting and event specialists consistently stir emotions, create memories, and deliver flawless presentations. The technology and the people that make it work live in our house. And we can do it all within your budget. • Corporate meetings and conferences • Webcasts • Conventions • Trade shows

• Special events • Concerts & Entertainment • Fund raisers • Association Conferences • Oh yeah, and film festivals

Proud to be the technology partner for THE 41ST ANNUAL CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.

www.csrav.com | 440-914-9500

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GUEST FILMMAKERS PROGRAM Generously Sponsored by

MARK SMITH AND JANET ROSEL SMITH

Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality

PROUDLY SUPPORTS

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Bright Illumination by Award Winning Design! The Transformer Station - Ohio City

Palindrome Home - Cleveland Heights

PROCESS

C R E AT I V E S T U D I O S

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The arts enrich all our lives. A community is more than a collection of homes and businesses. It’s also the institutions that improve our lives through art, music, dance, and theater. KeyBank supports a wide range of arts organizations, because we know that a vibrant cultural scene is vital to bringing the people of our communities closer through their shared appreciation of the diverse talents they provide. That’s why KeyBank is a proud sponsor of the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival. KeyBank helps people and businesses thrive. Learn more. Contact KeyBank at key.com/community.

Key.com is federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2016 KeyCorp. KeyBank is a Member FDIC. 4010246

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186 COMMITTEES CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy Callahan, President Jules Belkin, Vice President of Development Chris S.W. Blake, Vice President of Strategic Planning William E. Koeth, Vice President of Finance Kevin Poor, Vice President of Marketing Scott Gaines, Secretary Joe Arezone Cheryl Bailey Frank Bird III Anne E. Bloomberg John J. Boyle III Robert Bryan William Busta Pat Cirillo Odell Coleman Tom Cook John Davies Timothy J. Downing Lauren Rich Fine Char Fowler Debra S. Gold Lynn Gottlob Dean Ilijasic Jinny Johnson Sawssan Khoury Lisa King Lisa Kreiger Gregg Levine Toby Devan Lewis Alan Gordon Lipson Joyce Martin-Fyfe Kerry McCormack* Todd Mesek Tim Piazza Sarah Rathke David K. Ream Ivan Schwarz* Mark Smith Roy Turnell Byron P. White, Ph.D. Beth Yates

Shorts Programming Committee JoAnn Granke Christopher Johnston Paul Sloop Kim Yanoshik

Screening Committee Mary Ann Arnold Chris Arthur Caroline Auger Margaret Aylward Jerry Bajbus Catherine Baker Melissa Baker Ryan Balas Leah Barmasse Morgan Barnes Rob Bauer Aurélien Bayo Brook Benko Elias Berbari Matthew Bestic Julia Biars Jacob Black Paul Bock Doug Bonebrake Michael Bratanov Laura Brindza Justin Brown Pat Caine Sean Caszatt James Catullo George Chan Anna Chanakas Casey Chanter Shaun Chapman Barbara Cicerchi Annette Clawson Eileen Coan Amy Collins Suzanne Conway Marc Copfer Scott Crawford Lisa Curland

Chandler Curtis Jacquie Davis Samantha DeGrandis Randy DeMuesy Marissa Desantis Raymond Dessoffy Mark Destino Nancy Di Alesandro Brynne Donoughe Leanne Dormer Roberta Duchon Jill Dunmire Theodore Eiben Kelly Evans Michael Ferry Eddie Fleisher Eileen Fleisher Michael Fluellen Holly Foster Melinda Franco Cassandra Franklin Marti Franks Kathy Fredrick Lois Freedman Kenneth Frisof Melissa Gardner Jeanne Goldberg Ashley Gomes Lynn Gottlob Darlene Grant Jessica Hagerty John Hagerty Scott Hallgren Annie Hanks Carrie Hansen Dennis Hansen Rita Hanuschock

* Ex officio

Jared Harger Susan Harnden Taylour Harris Patti Hart Samira Hassan Kerri Hatch Coleen Herbe Daniel Hinze Tom Hoadley Mike Hoffman Barbara Howell Peter Huston Becky Ivcic Patti Jagodnik Michelle James Kyle Johnson Corliss Jordan Chip Joseph Amanda Kafcsak Fran Kalafatis Roma Kassaraba Tim Keller Mark Kerecman Cris Knox Gwendolyn Kochur Garrett Komyati Lauren Kotmel Diane Kozak Kristi Krueger Nicholas Kuhar Jennifer Lee Beth Lewin Amanda Lindsay Krista Macomber John Marfy Robert Markee Andrew Marquard

Richard Marshall Gabrielle Matthews Rick Mayor Brett McCoy Linda McCoy Eric McGuinn Pat Metzler George Michaels Lynn Milliner Olivia Moe Oksana Moissis Martin Mondello Christopher Muller Scott Muscatello Greg Nachman Jackie Nachman Jody Nappier Loresa Novy Clair O’Brien Jim Ockuly Rachel Ockuly Kathryn O’Connor Brandon Olsen Michele Owen Nia Owen Cheri Passell Pratik Patel Eric Patrick Bill Peterson David Phillips Ronald E. Pitts Carol Pred Amy Preneta Dee Price Darcy Prince

Janine Purcell Anne Reid Robbie Reid Julia Rigaud Dawn Roche Bruce Rose Ken Rubenstein Marianne Scherry Brian Schultz Benjamin Senter Ronald Shoda Paul Silla Dionne Sims Elaine Skirvin Cigdem Slankard Rochelle Solomon Marilyn Stano Jason Stone Barbee Thomas Christopher Tippet Fran Veliconia Elaine Vincent Amy Voss Laura Walter Jane Warner Lynda Warner Roger Warner Gina Washington Laura Weiss Krissie Wells Katie Whinnery Loy Wiley Andria Young Mitchell Zito

Ralph D. Howard, 1940-2012

Our volunteer program is sponsored by:

Volunteers Our endless thanks go to the more than 1,000 volunteers who tirelessly offer their services, skills, and smiles to ILLUMINATE the CIFF. We couldn’t do it without you.

One of our most beloved volunteers, Ralph D. Howard, passed away on November 14, 2012. Ralph dedicated over a decade of service to the Festival, among countless other organizations throughout Cleveland. From his “Albert Einstein” hair to his emphatic fist thump when validating parking tickets, he is remembered by so many of the staff and patrons of the Festival. Ralph frequently carried a bag of photographs and memorabilia recalling the people and events that shaped his remarkable life; we feel honored to have been a part of it. In tribute to his memory, we are presenting the Ralph D. Howard Memorial Volunteer Award for the fifth year. This honor recognizes a CIFF volunteer who, like Ralph, continues to strive toward selflessness to the community. Previous recipients of this award are:

All lists are as of February 20, 2017

2016 2015 2014 2013

I Mary Urban I Mario Pollard I Sandra Beasley I Vladimir Swirynsky

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CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE STAFF Debby Samples Dzioba Marketing & Media Director Allie Freeman Development Manager Marcie Goodman Executive Director William Frank Guentzler Artistic Director Debbie “Sheepie” Marshall Membership Director & Operations Manager Mallory Martin Director of Programming & Projection Beth Steele Radisek Special Programs Director Patrick Shepherd Associate Director Gail Sullivan Financial Consultant

The Cleveland International Film Festival Executive Staff (clockwise from top): Patrick Shepherd, Debbie Marshall, Mallory Martin, Debby Samples Dzioba, Bill Guentzler, Marcie Goodman, Allie Freeman, Beth Steele Radisek

To Our Families and Friends: We miss you! We haven’t seen you in a while, but we think about you all the time. Thank you for being there for us even when we’re not there ourselves. Thank you for your patience and understanding, for your love and support. You ILLUMINATE our lives.

GILDA AND SAMMY AGREE THAT THE CIFF IS ILLUMINATING!

CLEVELAND CINEMAS/ TOWER CITY CINEMAS STAFF Jonathan R. Forman, President Jackie Koral, Vice President Sean Denny, Director of Operations David Huffman, Director of Marketing Nikki Zimmerlin, Event Coordinator & Group Sales Ron Fleming, Facility Maintenance Coordinator Russ Jarjabka, Concessions Manager Kev Boycik, Administrative Services Manager Jeff Belter, General Manager, Tower City Cinemas William Slate, Assistant Manager, Tower City Cinemas Rebecca Green, Assistant Manager, Tower City Cinemas Greg Braun, Assistant Manager, Tower City Cinemas Vanessa Sas, Assistant Manager, Tower City Cinemas Aaron Spears, House Manager, Cedar Lee Theatre Liz Waski, General Manager, Cedar Lee Theatre Courtney King, Security Team Carlos Demore, Security Team Derrick Paris, Security Team Kasey Kirksey, Security Team Khyo Mason, Security Team

41st CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL STAFF Marie Abdelnour Mike Alayamini Ashley Alexandersen Silk Allen Nathan Alley Ray Allmond Megan Anderson Linda Aring Keith Auk Nigel Avilés Jerry Bajbus Andi Barnett Anna Barth Dylan Bartolovich Rhonda Bauman Aurélien Bayo William Beard IV Jomo Benn Brenda Benthien Gail Bisesi Kathie Blakeman Pat Bland Elena Bonomo Hilary Bovay Eddie Boyte Evan Bramberg Jay Bravo Amy Brown Dave Brown Justin Brown Mary Brown Mindy Brown Tempest Brown Byron Brubaker Eileen Cassidy Joey Cayabyab Noelle Celeste Missy Chambless Lauren Chapman Jared Cogar MiLisa Coleman Andrew Collings Deb Collins Stephen Colotto Suzanne Conway Danielle Coppola-Smith Mackenna Crosby P.J. Dantonello Danielle Bean Davis Jacquie Davis Bill DeCapite Rose DeCapite Amanda DeLauder Chuck Delpapa Kennedy DeMaine Eric L. Dicken Matthew Dilts-Williams Anne M. DiTeodoro Timothy Dolan Kate Schnabel Downey Danielle Doza Molly Drake Susanne Eagan Christina Easter Bruce H. Ente Tony Evanovich Christa Evans Lisa Evans Jennifer Feierabend James Di’Angelo Felder Sara Finch Ketti Finneran Eddie Fleisher May Flores Faye Foote Jessica Forrester Emily Foster Thomas Francescangeli E.G. Franko Tamara French Isabel Gálvez Amanda Gedeon Mike Gibbons Maria Gigante

Giselle Golphin Jasmine Golphin Joe Gould Darrick Grant Julian Gulyas Erahlea Haidet Lukas Hamlescher Mike Hanks Una Hanley Jessica Hardesty Antonio Harper Damon Harris Samira Hassan Consuela Hayes Steve Heintel Samantha Heuer Christopher Higgins Jessie Higgins Tabatha Hochevar Marlie Erika Hooper David J. Hrop Kevin Inthavong David Isabella Dianne Jackson Stephanie A. Jansky Christian Johnson Flash Johnson Kyle H. Johnson Alexa Jones Corliss Jordan Jason Kane Leslie Kaplansky Hannah Kasamias Charity Herb Katz Bethany Kaufman Bob Kellner Kevin Kelly Blue L. Keough Roseanna Keough Sam Kepp Chelsea Kertes Xavier Khan Scott Kittredge Lara Klaber Bridget Klinger Ann Kocarek Greg Koenig Paul Kosiewicz Michael Krasnonos Lis Kroepel Wally Kudlaty Kevin Kvasnicka Vy Lam Steven Lee Alex Leopold Mike LJ Littlejohn Mary Lou Maechner Anthony Mahramus Elaine M. Manusakis Joe Marco Joe Martin Francis Matese Darrick Matthews Richard Maxwell Amanda McCoy Nic McCully Susie McGarry Patrick B. McNeely Lynne Meilleur-Brenner Alice Merkel Nathan Migal Takura Mikel Yolanda Blanca Miller Megan Mingus Robert Moore Dannesh Moosa Nanekia Morgan Michael Moritz Dan Moulthrop Shawnda Moye Danny Murtaugh Scott Muscatello Polly Mytinger Carla Neimes

Gayle Norris Loresa Novy Acelyn Obias Heath Olausen Brandon J. Olsen Madoka Ozaki Carson Parish Beth Paskin Amber Patrick JoAnne Podis Azaria’h Pollard David Popovich Emilie Poua Unity Powell Dee Price Richard Purgert Fran Pusl Paul G. Putman Deb Ramsey-Moor Bob Reiland Michele Ricco Constance Karniotis Richter Julia Rigaud Julia S. Roberts Preston Roberts Violette Robinson Clint Rohrbacher Tony Rosario Jessica Rosenblatt Barbara Sanderson Andrew Schaeffer Nikki Schiro Maria Schofield Brittany Schultz Pamela Secci Bob Sferra Bethany Skvasik Paul Sloop Timothy Smith Jared Michael Sobotka Krista Sonnhalter Elana Spieth Katharyne L. Starinsky Franz L.C. Stevens Peggy Sugerman Mike Suglio Grace Sullivan Kathy Synk Barbara Szaibel J. Andrew Thames Weezie Thomey Cheryl Thompson Dewayne Tindall Chris Tippet Michelle Tirpak Anand Raj Tiwari Mirella Tomaro Jerry Tomasek Rob Townsend Nicole Turkalj Michael Vasey Julie Verdon Jen Vinson Jessica Vinson Fay Walker Shawnte Walthaw Kailyne Waters Andrea Wedren Mike Wendt Deb Wentz Kyla Werlin Tyler JC Whidden Cassandra Widlak Laura Wiegand Angelia Williams Mercedes Wilson Hannah Wolfe Katie Woods Rob Woods Barb Wynveen Tim Yanko Mark Yasenchack Annie Zaleski

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V ERY SPECIA L THANK S FROM THE CIFF T he Ci tizen s o f Cu yahog a Coun t y BEDROCK DE T ROIT

CL O SET FACTORY

F ORM

HESS PRINT SOLUTIONS

Dan Gilber t Jim Ketai Tamara Knapp Cas Daniewski Nick Sislan Andrew Fernandez Jason Howe Mark McInt yre Rita Cek Gudy Sabol Stephaine Shepherd Christine Smiley Valerie Flowers Darrell Mayo Dana Caldwell Karl Kalberer Michael Munoz John Jermann Denise Hohf

SueAnn Ochenas Bob Pietrick Kathy Pietrick

Steve Cencula Teresa Kiplinger Cr ystal Angersola Katelyn Fuhr y Justin Holm A shleigh Lisz t Kor y Sharp Joshua Slatinsky Jacob Wadenpfuhl

Kim D oepker Bonnie S ever t

CSR Mike DeGeorge Jason Howes Andrew Kramer B ob L e on Brent Motika David N etzel Joe Phillips Bill R eicher t Jeff Sp ecker Sean Vanidestine FA LL S C OMMUNICATIONS Christopher Suster

PA M CERIO DESIGN L A Z PA R K ING

Pam Cerio

Chris Apathy J a m e s L ah o o d Amie Gilroy Demons Hambrick Dominique Burch David Squirek

Lou LaGuardia, Sr. Rod Loy

FUSION FILMWOR KS Jon LaGuardia Grace Nowak

Marisol Or tiz Randy Zuendel

M AIN STRE AM ENT ERPRISES, INC.

REPROS

R O CK V EN T UR E S SECURIT Y Patrick Reynolds /DZUHQFH*ULI ÐQ

Amy Main Morgenstern GR E AT L A K ES PUBLISHING Paul Klein Steve Zemanek

T Y PE T W ENT Y SE V EN ONELINK TECHNICA L SERV ICES DeWayne Ashcraf t Rita Clark Andrew Florian Patrick McGannon

Britt yn DeWer th Nick Hafner WASY LYSH Y N DESIGN Nancy Wasylyshyn

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Proud sponsor of “Women of the World” for the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival

gathering

perspectives

understanding

needs exploring

options

building

capacity leading

measuring

change

outcomes

managing

public - private partnerships www.cobaltgroupinc.com

Celebrating 20 years of Connecting People and Ideas to Knowledge and Action.

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Wayside Wayside is thrilled to help bring the Cleveland Film Festival to our river city on the lake. Northeast Ohio has a long history of supporting the cr eative creative fr ee spirit of the arts. W ayside Fur niture is lucky free Wayside Furniture to have called it home ome for 8 78 80 0 years. Open Sundays: Open Sundays: 12-6; 12-6; M–F: 10-9; M–F: 10-9; Saturdays: Saturdays: 10-6 10-6 S Since ince 1 1937 937

“Where Wherre you’ll find better furniture furniturre priced lower.” lowerr.” .”

wayside-furniture.com wayside-furniture.com

1367 Canton 1367 Canton Rd., Rd., Akron, Akron, OH OH On Rt. On Rt. 91, 91, just just south south of of Rt. Rt. 224 224 Phone: 330.733.6221 Phone: 330.733.6221 Toll T oll Free: Free: 877.499.3968 877.499.3968

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Happy 41 st CIFF! The City Club of Cleveland (aka “the citadel of free speech”) wants to test your free speech/movie trivia: 1. What 1980 comedy film featured a fictionalized version of the proposed event which led to the landmark free speech case National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie? 2. What movie also turns 41 this year whose opening scene overlays gunshots and typewriters to highlight the power of words as weapons? 3. What movie about the life of an Ohio pornographer climaxes in a triumphant Supreme Court victory? 4. What 2005 historical drama about the “Red Scare” was filmed on color film stock on a greyscale set, and was color corrected to black and white during post-production? 5. What 1999 comedy, a pointed critique of censorship, received a Guinness World Record for “Most Profanity in an Animated Film”?

How’d you do? Check out the answers at cityclub.org/blogs/ciff41 and while you’re there, find out how you can support free speech.

#

y Ci t

Bringing art to life Sharing art is sharing life. Whether it’s hanging in a museum or stuck on the refrigerator. At AT&T, we believe in the power of the artistic experience. That’s why we’re proud to support the Cleveland International Film Festival.

INSPIRED BY TOMORROW Forest City is proud to support the Cleveland International Film Festival in their efforts to illuminate our community. www.forestcity.net

© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.

Cl u

b

thank you CIFF for 41 illuminating years! fusion filmworks is a proud sponsor and filmmaking partner to the Cleveland International Film Festival

f i l m m a k i n g



c i n e m a t o g r a p h y



a n i m a t i o n



m o t i o n

d e s i g n

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EST. 1871

Ursuline College educates women in an environment that promotes an inclusive, global perspective. It’s built into our mission and it’s why we’re delighted to serve as Presenting Sponsor of the CIFF 2017 World Tour Sidebar. ursuline.edu

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Ticket Prices

Members Non-Members Students/Seniors (65+), in-person and w/current ID only

10 or More

$14.00 $16.00 $14.00

Great Savings!

Placing a large ticket order? Now you can automatically save $2 off the price of every ticket when your order contains 10 or more tickets. Members – $12 per ticket for 10 or more Non-Members – $14 per ticket for 10 or more Not valid for Opening Night Gala tickets, special events, or in combination with any other discount offer or discount code.

Gift Certificates Give the gift of film with a Cleveland International Film Festival Gift Certificate! Gift certificates can be purchased year-round online (under the “Store” tab at www.clevelandfilm.org), by phone (216.623.3456), in-person at the CIFF business office (2510 Market Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113), and during the Festival at the Film Festival Box Office located in the lobby of Tower City Cinemas. They can be redeemed online, by phone, in-person, or by mail for tickets, merchandise, or memberships.

Opening Night Film and Gala Film, Party Members Non-Members

$175.00 $200.00

Seating Policy at Tower City Cinemas General admission seating for ticket holders, which is limited to 100 spaces per screening, is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Passholder seating is also limited to 100 spaces per screening and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Passholders and ticket holders must arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled start of any screening for admission. However, early arrival does not guarantee seating. Theater personnel may refuse to permit late seating. Seating policies at Film Festival neighborhood locations vary.

Important Exchanges will be subject to a $4.00 processing fee per order. Please note, exchanges are not always possible. No refunds except in the case of a cancelled screening. The last day for refunds is April 9, 2017. All films are subject to change. No one under age ten will be admitted, except to Family Films. All children must have a ticket. No Tower City Cinemas or Cleveland Cinemas discount tickets, coupons, or passes will be accepted.

Questions? Contact the Box Office Call 877.304.3456 E-mail [email protected]

How To Buy Tickets For Members only: Tickets go on sale Friday, March 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM via all four options below. For the general public: Tickets go on sale Friday, March 17, 2017 at 11:00 AM via all four options below. NOTE: Orders received on or before March 21, 2017 will be mailed; otherwise, tickets will be held at the Film Festival Duke Desk (Will Call) at the entrance to Tower City Cinemas. Please bring your credit card or other identification when picking up your order. 1 Online Ticketing System Purchasing tickets is easy on our secure website, www.clevelandfilm.org. Use our online shopping cart to purchase all of your tickets at once. A handling fee of $4.00 is added to each order. Tickets will be sold on the day before the screening until 12 Midnight. 2 Phone via 877.304.FILM (toll-free) Toll-free calls will be directed to the Film Festival Box Office. A handling fee of $4.00 is added to each order. Tickets will be sold on the day before the screening until 10:00 PM, Sunday-Thursday, and until 12 Midnight, Friday-Saturday. 3 U.S. Mail Order forms can be found on page 197 of the 41st CIFF Program Guide. A handling fee of $4.00 is added to each order. Orders should be mailed to the CIFF business office (see address below). 4 In-Person at the Film Festival Box Office Tower City Cinemas at Tower City Center (230 W Huron Road, Cleveland, OH 44113)

For Members only

Store hours between March 10 and March 16 are as follows: Monday – Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM Sunday, 12 Noon – 5 PM

For the general public

Sold Out? Nope – Just on Stand By! Only a portion of the tickets to any film are sold in advance so we can save room for our passholders. Therefore, even for crowded films, we can often accommodate many patrons just before showtime. Numbered Stand By tickets are sold beginning one hour before showtime, outside the theater lobby. (Be aware that a line sometimes forms earlier than this.) Then just before the film begins, Stand By ticket holders are admitted, in numerical order, on a space-available basis until the theater is full. Those who cannot get in receive a replacement voucher or refund. Cash or vouchers only; no checks or credit cards accepted. Hint: buy your tickets early or, better yet, become a passholder-level member to avoid Stand By!

Store hours between March 17 and March 29 are as follows: Monday – Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM Sunday, 12 Noon – 5 PM Store hours between March 30 and April 9 are as follows: Sunday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday – Saturday, 8:30 AM – 12 Midnight No handling fees!

Cleveland International Film Festival Business Office 2510 Market Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113-3434 Please mail ticket orders to this address.

www.clevelandfilm.org

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877.304.FILM

Charge my:

Cardholder’s Name

MasterCard Name(s)

VISA

Address City

State

Zip

E-mail Address

CIFF Membership #

Card #

AmEx

Exp. Date

Discover

Signature

Security Code

Check (made payable to CIFF) enclosed

Hold in Will Call

Mail by March 21st

Please bring your credit card or other identification when picking up your order at the Duke Desk (Will Call).

Phone

Film Title

Price Overview

(see page 196 for details)

Film Tickets

Members Non-Members Students/Seniors (65+), in-person and w/current ID only

Film Tickets

$14.00 $16.00 $14.00

10 or More

Orders containing 10 or more tickets will receive a discount of $2 off the price of every ticket. Not valid for Opening Night Gala tickets, special events, or in combination with any other discount offer or discount code. Members (for 10 or more) $12.00 Non-Members (for 10 or more) $14.00

Opening Night Gala (see page 54) Members @ $175

=$

Non-Members @ $200

=$

CIFF Memberships

See page 19, visit www.clevelandfilm.org, or call 216.623.FILM, ext. 10 for details.

Film Student @ $30

=$

(w/current ID only)

Date Ticket Code Qty x

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Film Buff @ $75

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Film Fanatic @ $175

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Film Star @ $400

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22

x

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Director* @ $700

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Gift Certificate Code:

Less

$

Discount Code for $2 savings on every ticket:

Less

$

Executive Producer* @ $900 = $ Movie Mogul* @ $1,500

=$

*Includes Film Festival all-access pass

Questions? Contact the Box Office Call 877.304.3456 E-mail [email protected]

Store

Initials Phone

$

Tax-Deductible Challenge Match Donation

$

Handling Fee

$

TOTAL

$

$150,000 Challenge Match

For Office Use Only Order Date

Memberships, Opening Night, Special Events

Web

Confirmation Number Date Printed

Initials

Date Mailed

File in Will Call

Mail

In celebration of the 41st Cleveland International Film Festival, we are presenting our annual Challenge Match. Our generous support provided by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, which is funded by the residents of Cuyahoga County, must be matched annually. Your tax deductible contribution can ensure our success!

Total

4.00

198

Country List FILMS LISTED UNDER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, PRODUCTION, SETTING, OR SUBJECT

A, B

Argentina Lila THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS EL REVENGE Australia THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM The Eleven O’Clock Gambling With Minds Honk How Deep Can I Go? Magnetic The Spa Stripped Tulips Austria IN LOVE WITH LOU—A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE Bahamas PLAY THE DEVIL Belgium AFTER LOVE EVERYBODY HAPPY FANNY’S JOURNEY KING OF THE BELGIANS LOST IN PARIS VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD WAITING FOR GIRAFFES A WEDDING Bosnia and Herzegovina NIGHTLIFE Brazil EL REVENGE Three Kinds of Fear Bulgaria GLORY THE GOOD POSTMAN KING OF THE BELGIANS C, D, E

Canada 5 Films About Technology 24x36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS Birdlime GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD Love in the Age of Like Lucy In My Eyes MIXED MATCH My Heart Attack NELLY OLD STONE Postdoc Blues RIVERBLUE RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD Stir Thresher X500 Chile THE GROWN-UPS JESUS YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE China BARKLEY DESTINY OLD STONE Colombia Demons JESUS X500

Congo, Democratic Republic of the CITY OF JOY Croatia HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE ON THE OTHER SIDE Czech Republic HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! MURDEROUS TALES THE TEACHER Who’s Who in Mycology Denmark BUGS THE COMMUNE HEARTSTONE LAST MEN IN ALEPPO LITTLE WING SAMI BLOOD THE WAR SHOW Dominican Republic JEFFREY Ecuador ALBA Egypt CLASH TICKLING GIANTS Estonia LAKE BODOM THE SPY AND THE POET F, G, H, I

Finland THE GOOD POSTMAN LAKE BODOM THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE LITTLE WING TALE OF A LAKE France AFTER LOVE ALOYS The Amazing Rocambole APPRENTICE Auto-Stop (Hitchhiking) BUGS CLASH THE COUNTRY DOCTOR FANNY’S JOURNEY THE FIXER Get Up Kinshasa! THE GROWN-UPS IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD JEFFREY JESUS LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD LIKE CRAZY LOST IN PARIS MERCENARY A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky No Drowning OPEN AT NIGHT PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO The Race Stay THERAPY VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD A WEDDING ZOOLOGY Germany AMERIKA SQUARE ANISHOARA APPRENTICE Backstory Black Mountain BUGS

NOTE: Feature Films are in ALL CAPS

CENTER OF MY WORLD CLASH HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! IN LOVE WITH LOU—A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE JESUS KATI KATI THE OLIVE TREE PARADISE SHALOM ITALIA Speechless THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD AN UNHEARD WOMAN When Demons Die THE WHITE KING ZOOLOGY Greece ALBA AMERIKA SQUARE GLORY JESUS Hong Kong 29 + 1 APPRENTICE Hungary IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE KILLS ON WHEELS THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD THE WHITE KING Iceland HEARTSTONE India HALF TICKET LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA PSYCHO RAMAN Schirkoa The School Bag Waterbaby Iran LANTOURI Ireland FOREVER PURE Gridlock The Nation Holds Its Breath THE YOUNG OFFENDERS Israel FOREVER PURE The Little Dictator NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER PERSONAL AFFAIRS Roach SHALOM ITALIA THE WOMEN’S BALCONY Italy LIKE CRAZY SPETTACOLO J, K, L, M

Japan AFTER THE STORM The Gift RAGE Rice Ball SACRED Jordan ZAATARI DJINN Kenya KATI KATI Libya STRONGER THAN BULLETS Luxembourg A WEDDING

Macedonia THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE NIGHTLIFE Mexico ALBA Domingo TEMPESTAD X500 Moldova ANISHOARA N, P, Q, R, S

Netherlands BUGS THE CHOCOLATE CASE Dreams Éclair THE GROWN-UPS KING OF THE BELGIANS MOOS (Otto) TONIO WAITING FOR GIRAFFES ZAATARI DJINN New Zealand Moyzee Spring Jam Stick To Your Gun Norway ALL THE BEAUTY CAVE FOREVER PURE GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE NOWHERE TO HIDE SAMI BLOOD Working With Animals Pakistan GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER A WEDDING Palestine IN BETWEEN WAITING FOR GIRAFFES Peru ICAROS: A VISION TAMARA Philippines AREA OUT RUN Poland AFTERIMAGE WAVES Puerto Rico MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART Qatar APPRENTICE HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! Romania THE FIXER THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD Russia Big Boom The Human PARADISE THE STUDENT ZOOLOGY Saudi Arabia BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH Singapore APPRENTICE Han POP AYE Slovakia MURDEROUS TALES THE TEACHER

www.clevelandfilm.org

I

199

877.304.FILM

NOTE: Feature Films are in ALL CAPS

Slovenia HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! NIGHTLIFE South Africa Flesh of My Flesh SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS Take My Heart Away South Korea Green Light Spain The App Lila THE OLIVE TREE REALIVE SANTOALLA THE SHEPHERD STRANGERS ON THE EARTH The Whole World ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND Sweden NOWHERE TO HIDE Princessboy SAMI BLOOD THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD THE WHITE KING Switzerland ALOYS DARK FORTUNE Syria LAST MEN IN ALEPPO THE WAR SHOW T, U, V

Taiwan BARKLEY GODSPEED Thailand POP AYE Trinidad and Tobago PLAY THE DEVIL Turkey RESISTANCE IS LIFE United Arab Emirates CLASH United Kingdom AMERIKA SQUARE City Lights Cure Cycle Dawn of the Deaf Dear Mr. Shakespeare The Driving Seat FOREVER PURE THE HIPPOPOTAMUS Immure Kerala LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD THE LIBRARY SUICIDES The Lock-In Mdudu Boy Mine Mordechai Noro Perfect World The Question Second to None SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK Test Drive Vibration THE WHITE KING Wonderful

United States of America 8AM 24x36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS 44 PAGES 78/52 90 Days ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL Adam Vicarel-Designer THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES al imam Albedo Absolute All the Marbles ALL THIS PANIC AMERICAN ANARCHIST American Psychosis The Arrival Arriving at Bessie AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR Bang! The Babysitter Murders BE RELENTLESS A Beautiful Day BEAUTIFUL GARDEN Because I’m Me Belle Bernie and Rebecca BIG SONIA Blight Born Again The Boy Who Learned to Fly BREAKING BALLS Bullied BURN THE SHIPS BUSTER’S MAL HEART Buttercup Cake California Dreaming CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER Can A Museum Help America Heal? The Candidate The Carousel CARRIE PILBY Chapter No. 1 A Children’s Song CITY OF JOY Closure Club Policy Cold Feet The Collinwood Fire CONTEMPORARY COLOR Cover Up Critical Miss DAVE MADE A MAZE DAYVEON DEAD AWAKE DEAN Democracy in the Driver’s Seat Demons DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? A Doll’s Eyes DOLORES DOMAIN Eulogilia Family Family Shadows Fanny Pack The Fare The FBI Blew Up My Ice Skates FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE Five Awake Follow Your Heart FOOD EVOLUTION FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY

THE FORCE Forever Home THE FOUNDERS FRAUD Fred Fresh Game Girl #2 Go Cart Gotta Groove Records Grace and Betty Hai The Hama Hama Way He Said THE HERO The Hobbyist Home HOOP DREAMS Hot Seat How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps Hudson Hill I AM ANOTHER YOU I Know ICAROS: A VISION The Illumination IN THE RADIANT CITY Incendio Internal World It’s Been Like a Year It’s Just a Gun Jeff Just a Song Just One Drop Last Call Lenny THE LAST DALAI LAMA? Lemonade Mafia LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD LETTING GO OF ADELE LIFE ITSELF Little Dude Anthem The Little Stage THE LOST CITY OF Z LOVETRUE Lydia Might Be a Lesbian The Margaret Lambert Film MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART MENASHE Mike Has a Date MILES Monitor MONSTER IN THE MIND Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano A MORE CIVIL WAR Motion Sickness/Grass MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA My Mom and the Girl Next Time You’ll Know Better Night of the Slasher THE NIGHT WATCHMEN THE NINE No Evil NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER Once Upon a Line One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts Open Carry, USA Ophelia Otherhalf OUT RUN OVARIAN PSYCOS THE PEACEMAKER Pearl Pearl Pet Monkey

Pilot PLAY THE DEVIL Playground Praise & Blame PRISON DOGS Project X PUSHING DEAD QUEST A Quiet House Rated REENGINEERING SAM Refugee Rekindled REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK RESISTANCE IS LIFE THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS The Robbery SACRED SANTOALLA THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY SEPTEMBER 12TH Shooter SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK Sign SIGNATURE MOVE Skinny Fat Girl Small Bill$ Small Platelet Dining SOME FREAKS SPETTACOLO Standard Definition Standing Rock STRANGERS ON THE EARTH STRONGER THAN BULLETS STUMPED SUPERGIRL Swiped SYMPHONY IN D Technically, Marvin There Is No Door They Charge For the Sun The Things We Do They Don’t Understand THRILL RIDE TICKLING GIANTS Toys THE TRANSFIGURATION Tripolar THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL THE UNIVERSITY UNREST THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN UNTOUCHABLE VEGAS BABY VOICES OF THE HILL WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH WHEN I STUTTER Where We’ve Been WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? Who’s Who in Mycology WHOSE STREETS? Winds of Downhill WOMEN WHO KILL WOVEN Zaar A Zombie Love Story Uruguay TAMARA Venezuela TAMARA

200

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A, B 5 Films About Technology . . . . . . . . . 176, 179 8AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 24x36: A MOVIE ABOUT MOVIE POSTERS . . 60 29 + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 44 PAGES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 78/52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 90 Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL . . . . . . . 62 Adam Vicarel—Designer . . . . . . . . . . 174, 180 AFTER LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 AFTER THE STORM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 AFTERIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES. . . . . . . . . . . 64 al imam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 ALBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Albedo Absolute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 ALL THE BEAUTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 All the Marbles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 ALL THIS PANIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 ALOYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Amazing Rocambole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 AMERICAN ANARCHIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 American Psychosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 AMERIKA SQUARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 ANISHOARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 The App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 APPRENTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 The Arrival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Arriving at Bessie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Auto-Stop (Hitchhiking) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 The Babysitter Murders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Backstory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Bang! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 BARAKAH MEETS BARAKAH . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 BARKLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 BE RELENTLESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 A Beautiful Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 180 BEAUTIFUL GARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Because I’m Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Belle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Bernie and Rebecca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 181 Big Boom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 BIG SONIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Birdlime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 179 Black Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Blight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Born Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178, 181 The Boy Who Learned to Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 BREAKING BALLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 BUGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Bullied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 BURN THE SHIPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 BUSTER’S MAL HEART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Buttercup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 C, D Cake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 177 California Dreaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Can A Museum Help America Heal? . . . . . . 172 The Candidate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 177, 179 The Carousel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 CARRIE PILBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 CAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 CENTER OF MY WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Chapter No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179, 180 A Children’s Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 THE CHOCOLATE CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

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City Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 CITY OF JOY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 CLASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Closure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Club Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Cold Feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 177 The Collinwood Fire . . . . . . . . . . 176, 178, 181 THE COMMUNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 CONTEMPORARY COLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 THE COUNTRY DOCTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Cover Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177, 180 Critical Miss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Cure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 DARK FORTUNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 DAVE MADE A MAZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Dawn of the Deaf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 DAYVEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 DEAD AWAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 DEAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Dear Mr. Shakespeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM . . . 81 Democracy in the Driver’s Seat . . . . . . . . . . 174 Demons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 DESTINY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 DISPATCHES FROM CLEVELAND . . . . . . . . . 82 THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US . . . . . . . . . . . 82 DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 A Doll’s Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 177 DOLORES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 DOMAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Domingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 The Driving Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 E, F, G Éclair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 The Eleven O’Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Eulogilia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 EVERYBODY HAPPY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Family Shadows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Fanny Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 179, 180 FANNY’S JOURNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 The Fare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 The FBI Blew Up My Ice Skates . . . . . . . . . 181 FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Five Awake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 THE FIXER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Flesh of My Flesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Follow Your Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 FOOD EVOLUTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 FOOTPRINT: POPULATION, CONSUMPTION, AND SUSTAINABILITY . . . . 87 THE FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Forever Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 FOREVER PURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 THE FOUNDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 FRAUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Fred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Fresh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Gambling With Minds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Get Up Kinshasa! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 The Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 GILBERT’S GRIM REVENGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Girl #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 GIRL UNBOUND: THE WAR TO BE HER . . . . 90 GLORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Go Cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 GODSPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 THE GOOD POSTMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

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Gotta Groove Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Grace and Betty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 177 Green Light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 178, 179 Gridlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 THE GROWN-UPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 H, I, J, K Hai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 HALF TICKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 The Hama Hama Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Han . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 He Said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 180 HEARTSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 THE HERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 THE HIPPOPOTAMUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 The Hobbyist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 180 Honk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 HOOP DREAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Hot Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! . . . . . . . 94 How Deep Can I Go? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 177 How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 179, 180 Hudson Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 181 The Human . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 I AM ANOTHER YOU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 I Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 ICAROS: A VISION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 The Illumination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 181 Immure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 IN BETWEEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 IN LOVE WITH LOU—A PHILOSOPHER’S LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 IN THE RADIANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Incendio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Internal World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 It’s Been Like a Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 It’s Just a Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE . . . . . . . . . 97 IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD . . . . . 109 Jeff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 JEFFREY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 JESUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Just a Song. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 174, 179 Just One Drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 KATI KATI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Kerala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 KILLS ON WHEELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 KING OF THE BELGIANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 L, M LAKE BODOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 LANTOURI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Last Call Lenny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 THE LAST DALAI LAMA? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 LAST MEN IN ALEPPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Lemonade Mafia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 LETTING GO OF ADELE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 THE LIBERATION OF SKOPJE . . . . . . . . . . 115 THE LIBRARY SUICIDES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 LIFE ITSELF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 LIKE CRAZY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Lila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175, 178 LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA . . . . . . . . . 117 The Little Dictator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Little Dude Anthem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 The Little Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 LITTLE WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 The Lock-In. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

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THE LONG NIGHT OF FRANCISCO SANCTIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 THE LOST CITY OF Z. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 LOST IN PARIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Love in the Age of Like . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 LOVETRUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Lucy In My Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Lydia Might Be a Lesbian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Magnetic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 The Margaret Lambert Film . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Mdudu Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART. . . . . . 120 MENASHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 MERCENARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Mike Has a Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 MILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Mine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 179 MIXED MATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 MONSTER IN THE MIND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151, 173 MOOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Mordechai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 A MORE CIVIL WAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Motion Sickness/Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Moyzee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 MURDEROUS TALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 My Heart Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 178 My Mom and the Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 180 N, O, P The Nation Holds Its Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 NELLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Next Time You’ll Know Better . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Night of the Slasher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 THE NIGHT WATCHMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 NIGHTLIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 THE NINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 No Drowning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 No Evil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 NO LIGHT AND NO LAND ANYWHERE . . . . 127 NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER . . . . 127 Noro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 NOWHERE TO HIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 OLD STONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 THE OLIVE TREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 ON THE OTHER SIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Once Upon a Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175, 178 One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts . . . . 172 OPEN AT NIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Open Carry, USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 178 Ophelia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Otherhalf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 (Otto) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 OUT RUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 OVARIAN PSYCOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 PARADISE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 PARIS 05:59 THEO & HUGO . . . . . . . . . . . 132 THE PEACEMAKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Pearl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Pearl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 178, 180 Perfect World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179, 181 PERSONAL AFFAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Pet Monkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 PLAY THE DEVIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Playground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

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POP AYE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Postdoc Blues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Praise & Blame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Princessboy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 177, 179 PRISON DOGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Project X. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 180 PSYCHO RAMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 PUSHING DEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Q, R, S, T QUEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 The Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 A Quiet House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 The Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172, 178 RAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Rated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 179 REALIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 REENGINEERING SAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Refugee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Rekindled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 179, 181 REQUIEM FOR A RUNNING BACK . . . . . . . 138 RESISTANCE IS LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 EL REVENGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD . . 139 A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS . . . . . . 140 Rice Ball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 RIVERBLUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Roach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 The Robbery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177, 179, 180 RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 SACRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 SAMI BLOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 SANTOALLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING . . . 143 Schirkoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 The School Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY . . . 143 Second to None. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175, 178 SEPTEMBER 12TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 SHALOM ITALIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 THE SHEPHERD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS . . . . . . . . . . 145 Shooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176, 177 SIGNATURE MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Skinny Fat Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Small Bill$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Small Platelet Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 SOME FREAKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 The Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Speechless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 SPETTACOLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Spring Jam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 THE SPY AND THE POET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Standard Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Standing Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Stay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Stick To Your Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Stir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 STRANGERS ON THE EARTH. . . . . . . . . . . 148 Stripped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 STRONGER THAN BULLETS . . . . . . . . . . . 149 THE STUDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 STUMPED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 SUPERGIRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Swiped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 SYMPHONY IN D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Take My Heart Away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179, 181 TALE OF A LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

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TAMARA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 THE TEACHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Technically, Marvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 TEMPESTAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Test Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 THAT TRIP WE TOOK WITH DAD . . . . . . . . 153 THERAPY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 There Is No Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 They Charge For the Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 The Things We Do They Don’t Understand . . 180 Three Kinds of Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Thresher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 THRILL RIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 TICKLING GIANTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 TONIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Toys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 THE TRANSFIGURATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Tripolar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 179 Tulips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 U, V, W, Y, Z AN UNHEARD WOMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY OF PETER ERTEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 THE UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 UNREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 UNTOUCHABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 VEGAS BABY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Vibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 VINCENT AND THE END OF THE WORLD . . 160 VOICES OF THE HILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 WAITING FOR GIRAFFES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 WALK WITH ME: THE TRIALS OF DAMON J. KEITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 THE WAR SHOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Waterbaby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 WAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 A WEDDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 When Demons Die . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 WHEN I STUTTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Where We’ve Been . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 THE WHITE KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 The Whole World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173, 177 Who’s Who in Mycology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 WHOSE STREETS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Winds of Downhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 WOMEN WHO KILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 THE WOMEN’S BALCONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Wonderful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Working With Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 WOVEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 X500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 THE YOUNG OFFENDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Zaar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 ZAATARI DJINN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN’S ISLAND . . 169 A Zombie Love Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 ZOOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

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