Winners from the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival announced

[Press release from the Cleveland International Film Festival.]

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), presented by Dollar Bank, hosted record-breaking crowds during the 12-day event held in Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland and at eleven other neighborhood locations. The CIFF welcomed 100,204 attendees to its 500+ screenings and, in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, raised $138,427 in Challenge Match (annual campaign) donations.

The Festival showcased 196 feature films and 234 short subjects from 60 countries. FilmSlam (the CIFF’s high school and middle school mini-Festival) was attended by a record-breaking 8,800 engaged and enthusiastic students from 97 schools. More than 1,000 volunteers donated their time and talents to help pave the way for the success of the CIFF39, contributing over 11,000 hours of their invaluable time. And without the generous support of our 151 sponsors and funders, 178 non-profit community partners, and 80 media and neighborhood outreach partners, the CIFF39 would not have been possible.

The Other Side (March 27th at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[The Other Side, part of the “After Hours Shorts Program 3”, screens Firday March 27th at 11:00 pm at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

Kate (DeDe Drake) and Abby (Lidya Korotko) are a lesbian couple arguing about their relationship while driving through the desert. Abby is upset that Kate doesn't share her level of commitment, and by the time the couple reaches their destination more or less in the middle of nowhere, she's ready to break up. Just one last bit of business to handle: the two have been paid to dispose of a body. Once it's buried, though, that's it. Only problem is, the body isn't quite as dead as it was supposed to be. Ethan (Brandon Bales) pleads for his life while the women try to figure out what to do. Burying a corpse is one thing, but they aren't killers.

An Interview with Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom, directors of 'An Honest Liar'

[AN HONEST LIAR screens Saturday March 28th at 4:20 pm and Sunday March 29th at 11:35 am at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

While I probably saw James “The Amazing” Randi on TV as a kid performing some sort of magic or escape, I first really became aware of him in my early twenties when I took a college course at the University of Akron called “Lost Tribes and Sunken Continents” that taught critical thinking about paranormal claims (i.e. stuff likes psychics, ghosts, UFOs, etc.). In this world, Randi was one of the key figures, debunking psychics, faith healers, poltergeists, and the like with his knowledge, based on years in the illusion biz, of how the human mind can be tricked.

An Honest Liar (March 28th and 29th at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[AN HONEST LIAR screens Saturday March 28th at 4:20 pm and Sunday March 29th at 11:35 am at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

When co-directors Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom began shooting their documentary AN HONEST LIAR, it's subject, stage magician/escape artist turned skeptical paranormal investigator James Randi, had already lived a life more than worthy of a film. What the filmmakers couldn't possibly have known was that during the course of filming, a shocking revelation would come to light regarding Randi's long time companion (now husband) Jose Alvarez. It's the kind of surprising turn of events that some filmmakers might have used to paint their subject in a negative light, while others might have simply swept it under the rug rather than make their subject uncomfortable. It's to Weinstein and Measom's credit that instead they tackle the issue head-on, showing Randi as a more human and fallible figure than his public persona often suggests, all without undermining the important work the self proclaimed charlatan has done in exposing phony psychics, faith healers, and the like.

'The Incredible Adventure of Jojo (and his Annoying Little Sister Avila) (recently shown at the Cleveland International Film Festival)

[THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE OF JOJO (AND HIS ANNOYING LITTLE SISTER AVILA) recently played at the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE OF JOJO (AND HIS ANNOYING LITTLE SISTER AVILA) opens with a warning. “This is not a film for overprotective parents. Boys use pocket knives. Girls eat bugs. You know, like the good 'ol days when parents had no idea what the heck their kids were doing.” Given that many modern parents won't even let their kids walk to the end of the block without adult accompaniment, that's a downright terrifying prospect for some, and one the movie indeed makes good on. In addition to the knife using and bug eating, there's also a fair amount of urinating on critters (including a cranky hobo), playing with wolf traps, and other precarious activities and situations that would give even the most laid back parents pause.

The Incident (recently screened at the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[THE INCIDENT recently screened at the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

Two brothers are busted by police officer in their apartment. While trying to flee through the apartment building’s stairway, one of the brothers is shot in the leg. After a tourniquet is tied around the wound, the officer tries to escort the two out of the building and down to the police station. Only problem is, none of the doors out of the stairwell can be opened and the elevator doesn't work. More alarming, the stairwell itself seems to be some kind of mobius strip: descend all the way to the first floor and it keeps going, but loops back to the top floor. Fortunately there's a perpetually full vending machine of snacks and water for sustenance, but that won't help the wounded brother if he doesn't get to a hospital soon.

Stella Walsh (March 25th at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[Stella Walsh (included in the Ohio Shorts 2 program) screens Wednesday March 25th at 9:20 pm at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

Born in Poland, athlete Stella Walsh (Polish name Stanisława Walasiewicz) grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she lived most of her life. She won numerous medals (including an Olympic gold in 1932 for the 100 meter while on the Polish team) and broke numerous national and world records. When she retired, she settled down in Cleveland where she trained younger female athletes.

On December 4^th, 1980, Stella Walsh was murdered in a grocery store parking lot. Shortly thereafter an autopsy revealed that Stella had what was referred to as “ambiguous genitalia”. It's a fascinating story even if, like me, you couldn't care less about sports.

An interview with Lance Kinsey, director of 'All-Stars' (screening March 19 at Chagrin Cinemas and March 20th and 21st at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

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Interview by Bob Ignizio

Lance Kinsey was born in Arlington, VA in 1959, but he grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His parents were involved with the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, and Lance got his first taste of acting at the age of 9 playing the role of Miles in a stage production of “The Innocents”. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, Kinsey eventually made his way to Chicago where he joined the Second City comedy troupe. Lance eventually got into film and television acting, and is probably most famous for playing the role of Proctor in POLICE ACADEMY 2 through 6.

Now Lance has directed his first feature film, the mockumentary ALL-STARS which he also wrote, produced, and stars in. It's a very funny spot-on look at a girls' softball team, parents who are sometimes more intent on winning than the kids, and the coaches and officials who have to deal with it all while trying to make sure everyone has a good time. The film plays at the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival, first with a special “neighborhood screening” at Chagrin Cinemas on Thursday March 19th at 7:00 pm, followed by two showings at the Film Festival proper in Tower City Cinemas on Friday March 20th at 5:00 pm and Saturday March 21st at 2:45 pm.

I contacted Lance ahead of the film's screening, and he graciously agreed to answer my questions about both his past work and the new film.

39th CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF) KNIGHT AND DAY IN AKRON

On Friday, March 20^th and Saturday, March 21^st CIFF39 will present its third annual Knight and Day in Akron – made possible with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and with additional support from the Akron Community Foundation, the GAR Foundation, and the Gay Community Endowment Fund. 

 

The Knight and Day in Akron will offer a screening of FINDING THE GOLD WITHIN on Friday, March 20^th at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, followed by a full day of programming on Saturday, March 21^st at the Akron Art Museum, Akron-Summit County Public Library, and The Nightlight. 

 

Havana Curveball (March 19th and 20th at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[HAVANA CURVEBALL screens Thursday March 19th at 4:40 pm and Friday March 20th at 11:35 am at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

Imagine: a husband-and-wife team of filmmakers showcase their own school-age son as subject of a feature. Yeah, ultimate stage parents. Yeah, the kid stays in the picture, all right. Sounds like a real recipe for disaster, or have we all forgotten AFTER EARTH? 

Still - coming along with exquisitely good timing courtesy the Obama Administration's moves to normalize relations with Cuba - movie couple Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider have done a lot more than make a glorified home movie with their modestly impressive short docu-feature HAVANA CURVEBALL.

All-Stars (March 19th at Chagrin Cinemas and March 20th and 21st at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[ALL-STARS screens Thursday March 19th at 7:00 pm at Chagrin Cinemas, Friday March 20th at 5:00 pm, and Saturday March 21st at 2:45 pm at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

With his debut feature as director, veteran character actor Lance Kinsey (perhaps best known as Proctor in POLICE ACADEMY 2 through 6) opts to follow in the mockumentary footsteps of Christopher Guest's WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, BEST IN SHOW, and A MIGHTY WIND . ALL-STARS may not be reinventing the wheel, but it's a consistently funny film about a girl's softball team, their often obnoxious parents, and the put-upon coaches and officials trying to achieve the impossible task of making everyone happy while still finding a way for the kids to have a good time.