The Ohio Independent Film Festival comes bop-bop-boppin' along, November 10-11

Okay, so Trump won the presidency, and we are likely doomed. It’s okay; we would be doomed under President Hillary Clinton as well, just not quite so entertainingly. Chin up, troops, Cleveland has come back from worse disasters, catastrophes and setbacks than this. There was the time…. (open calendar to any date at random in last 200 years).

Or take as inspiration the Ohio Independent Film Festival, AKA the film festival That Will Not Die. The go-to venue for local filmmaking, workshops, staged readings and, of course, screenings, it started in a Tremont gallery-storefront as the Off-Hollywood Flick Fest in 1993. At one point it happened four times per year!

Still time to submit your film to the Ohio Independent Film Festival

[Press release from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

 

EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 07.

You have some time to enter your film, but not much!

Greetings!

The Ohio Independent Film Festival is scheduled for November 6th through the 9th at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore. We are working hard to make this the best exhibition of independent film in Ohio. 

To date, we have received some outstanding films (features and shorts) in all genres and categories including narrative, documentary and animation. We are encouraging filmmakers who are considering entering our festival to do so now (click here). This is one of the best ways to expose your work to other filmmakers, peer groups, industry professionals and independent film fans in Northeast Ohio. 

Thank you for your continued interest in independent film and our festival; please be on the lookout for details about attending The Ohio Independent Film Festival in the coming weeks. 

Best Wishes,

Peter Balint

Executive Director

Independent Pictures

Independent Pictures and Waterloo Arts present The Exploitation Film Classics Series

[Press release from Independent Pictures.]

Independent Pictures, the parent organization of the Ohio Independent Film Festival, announces the screening of rare exploitation films from the 1930s at Waterloo Arts 15605 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110 (216) 692-9500. “This is the perfect film festival for the Waterloo Arts entertainment district”, states Todd Kwait, Board Member of Independent Pictures.



Kwait states “The popularity of our December 2013 screening of MANIAC (1934) has prompted us to dig deep into our vaults and unearth more exploitation classics. The so-called "educational" aspects of these films allowed the depiction of taboo subjects that were prohibited by The Motion Picture Code. Watching these films today is a real hoot! They are best enjoyed as a group activity, primed by liquor, etc. Come on down and have a blast!” Admission is free!!!!



All Films Will Start at 8:00 PM



Enter at the Café located on the corner of East 156th Street and Waterloo



Hosted by Todd Kwait and Robert Banks of Independent Pictures. Full schedule follows after the break.

Losing LeBron (November 8 at 6 p.m. at the Ohio Independent Film Festival at Atlas Lakeshore Cinemas)

[LOSING LEBRON screens Friday November 8th at 6:00 pm at the Ohio Independent Film Festival at Atlas Lakeshore Cinemas.]

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

You'll be hearing a lot this month about the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination. Typically the local-new-anchor clich‚ of `where were you when you heard the news?' In 1963, I myself was under a month old, so my memories are indistinct. Most likely I was in my crib, busy filling out resumes and job applications at the time. Even so, I was too late. All the jobs were already taken, nobody was hiring. At least that's the line I've been fed ever since.

But I do remember where I was when I heard LeBron James was leaving Cleveland, oh yeah. After nearly 50 years of my own rejection and futility in trying to find gainful, full-time employment in this area, I sure do remember.

Ohio Independent Film Festival Coming November 7th

[Press release from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

20th Ohio Independent Film Festival comes to Atlas Cinemas

We are proud to announce the return of your favorite film festival. In less than 30 days we will be celebrating this 20 year old tradition at the Atlas Lakeshore Cinema in Euclid Ohio. We have selected some outstanding films ranging from independent features to shorts to documentaries. Come and express your passion for independent film while supporting filmmakers from around the country.  

VIEW SCHEDULE

Open Call For Entires -Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards

[Press release from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

There is still time!

August 15th is the regular deadline for the Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards. But don't fret-the late deadline is September 1, 2013. This gives you plenty of time to wrap it up and send it off. If you know anyone who may be interested in submitting a screenplay, please forward this email.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards features three different awards: 

• Best Screenplay Award
• Best Northcoast Screenplay Award
  (majority of the screenplay set in Northern Ohio), created to encourage filmmaking in Ohio
• Best Voice of Color Screenplay Award
  (story that reflects people of color and/or written by a writer who is a person of color)

All judging is done on merit and quality of the work only. The first round of judging is by completed by Independent Pictures' readers; they choose the finalists for each award from the submissions.

The final round of judging is by area industry professionals. They choose the Best Screenplay, Best Northcoast Screenplay, and Best Voice of Color Screenplay from the finalists.

Independent Pictures announces the call for screenplays for The Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards

[Press release from Independent Pictures.]

Independent Pictures, the parent organization that brings the Ohio Independent Film Festival to Cleveland each year, announces the call for entries for the 2013 Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards contest. Aspiring writers have a chance to win one of three awards: Best Screenplay; Best North Coast Screenplay (set in or about Cleveland) or Best Voice of Color Screenplay (written by or about people of color). Early deadline for the contest is July 1, 2013. Entrants are encouraged to visit www.withoutabox.com for full details including submission fees and all deadlines. Writers can also receive information by sending an email to ohiofilms@yahoo.com . Winners will be announced during the 2013 Ohio Independent Film Festival, which celebrates its 20th year of programs, November 7-10, 2013.

Independent Pictures announces the call for entries for its 2013 Ohio Independent Film Festival, now in its 20th year of programs!

[Press release from Independent Pictures.]

Independent Pictures, the parent organization of the Ohio Independent Film Festival, announces the call for entries for the 2013 Ohio Independent Film Festival, held November 7 – 10, 2013 in Cleveland and Euclid. Submissions are accepted online via www.withoutabox.com; filmmakers can also send an email to ohiofilms@yahoo.com in order to obtain a downloadable entry form. Fees vary based on length of film and submission deadline (early deadline is July 1; regular deadline is August 1).

Filmmakers from Cleveland, from Ohio and around the world are encouraged to submit their short and feature-length films for possible acceptance into the Ohio Independent Film Festival, one of the leading showcases for independent films in the Cleveland area.

Local independent film 'Shelter' to play at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore Theatre in Euclid

[Press Release from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

In collaboration with Atlas Cinemas and the Ohio Independent Film Festival, Independent Pictures is screening the independent film, "Shelter," written, produced and directed by Ohioans Adam Caudill and Wrion Bowling. "Shelter" will show at 7:00 PM on Friday, November 16 at the Lakeshore Theatre in Euclid, 22624 Lakeshore Blvd. in beautiful downtown Euclid. Tickets are $9.00 and are available at the door or in advance by visiting www.atlascinemas.net.

Shaker Heights filmmaker and Independent Pictures' Board Member Todd Kwait will emcee the screening of the film, which tells the story of five survivors forced to wait out their respective fates in a bomb shelter with no contact to the outside world. Produced on a micro-budget, "Shelter" is an exceptionally-made example of the talent that can come from our fine state. Bob Ignazio of the Cleveland Movie Blog writes, "Despite being a micro budget production, there's no need to grade SHELTER on a curve. The writing and directing team of Adam Caudill and Wrion Bowling have crafted a taut little thriller here that feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone that's been stretched out to feature length without feeling padded." (full review here).

Dislecksia: The Movie (May 20th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[DISLECKSIA: THE MOVIE screens Sunday May 20th at 3:00 pm at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

I’ve got a pretty sweet deal at the Cleveland Movie Blog insofar as editor/founder Bob Ignizio doesn’t edit my writing much. At the most he maybe just tones down my penchant for racism, homophobia and gratuitous nudity. I haven’t been so fortunate with a lot of my other editors who, ineptly playing Edward Scissorhands of the newsroom, macheted my prose apart – sometime to the better, sometime making it into verbal confetti and word salads (one of them almost invariably turned “Gallic” into “Gaelic”; must’ve been some Ohio Freedom Fries thing). When you read me at the Movie Blog I’m all here, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Perhaps my former editors were all dyslexic, hobbled by an inability to read. Or they operate under a mandate to publish material suitable for a dyslexic readership. That would sure explain the state of the American media. In any case, given these no-responsibility days, when kids and adults are practically standing in line to be diagnosed with autism and Aspberger's – and I'm given to understand that labeling yourself "special needs" guarantees quite a few nice perks and privileges - I could well believe that newspapers, magazines and website would hire a dyslexic over someone who can read without difficulty. “Diversity” and all that.

The Custom Mary (May 19th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[THE CUSTOM MARY screens Saturday May 19th at 7:00 pm at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

If you believe, as a good number of people do, that the Shroud of Turin was used to cover the body of the crucified Jesus, then it stands to reason there might be some of his DNA on the object. From there, it's another small leap to the premise of THE CUSTOM MARY, which is that one could clone Jesus. The vessel chosen for this purpose is a modern day virgin Mary (Alicia Marie Sixtos), a pious young Latina who works at a translation office. That's where she meets Joe (James Jolly), a young black man who customizes cars, turning them into lowriders.

The two start seeing each other, while at the same time the pastor of Mary's church tells her that a shadowy group wants to use her to bring about the second coming. Although she has a few doubts (one would hope), Mary eventually assents to the procedure. When the baby is born by C-section almost 9 months later on Christmas Day, however, he isn't quite what the true believers were expecting: The boy is mute, and his dark skin makes some suspect that the child is perhaps Joe's rather than the reborn son of God.

Murgi Keno Mutant (Attack of the Killer Mutant Chickens) (May 20th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[Murgi Keno Mutant screens Sunday May 20th at 1 pm as part of a program of shorts at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

Okay, if you’ve gone over the 2012 Ohio Independent Film Festival program by now you are probably thinking that MURGO KENO MUTANT ("Attack of the Killer Mutant Chickens") is some sort of prank announcment; a Bangladeshi short about martial-arts chefs battling a flock of deadly chickens ravaging the future Bangladesh. What is this thing? First of all, for those of you unfamiliar with world geography (those whose map of the world probably just shows a large “DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND CASINO” landmass and not much else), Bangladesh is a small, rather impoverished country adjacent to India. No, the United States is not at war with them as yet.

I think MURGO KENO MUTANT might be the first piece of Bangladeshi cinema I’ve ever beheld, and while it is probably not representative, all I can say is...wow!

All Day Yeah (May 18th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[All Day Yeah screens Friday May 18th at 6:00 pm as part of a program of shorts at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

There's a trend in modern short stories to more or less forget about the “story” aspect and instead just capture a moment in time. While it's not my favorite approach, there are times when it works for me. The same holds true in short films. In general, I like a plot, but I'm not entirely opposed to dispensing with structure, provided it's done well. Charles Anderson's narrative in All Day Yeah may be a bit meandering, but it flows well, has some nice shots, and the performances feel naturalist. No complaints from me.

Basically we follow a slacker skater dude through his day, rummaging through unlocked cars for spare change, fixing his shoe with duct tape, stopping by his mom's house to find the locks have been changed, and so on. The one truly notable thing, which the skater dude at first ignores, is the discovery that one of the unlocked vehicles he rummages through has the keys inside. It's sort of an allegory for having the universe hand you something on a silver platter if you're just willing to take it. Does the skater dude take advantage of what he's offered? Hey, it's only 20 minutes out of your life to find out, so don't expect me to tell you. 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Shelter (May 19th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[SHELTER screens Saturday May 19th at 9:00 pm at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Five people who barely know each other find themselves locked in a bomb shelter after what appears to be an apocalyptic event takes place. The shelter is reasonably well stocked, but the question isn't so much whether the survivors will run out of food as it is whether they will run out of patience with each other. SHELTER jumps back and forth in time, we know fairly early on that something has happened to at least one of the five survivors since they aren't present in any of the later scenes, but the film draws out the mystery of exactly what took place almost to the end.

Despite being a micro budget production, there's no need to grade SHELTER on a curve. The writing and directing team of Adam Caudill and Wrion Bowling have crafted a taut little thriller here that feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone that's been stretched out to feature length without feeling padded. Like even the best TZ episodes, SHELTER is a bit contrived at times, and perhaps a bit too reliant on plot twists, but that's not to say the film isn't entertaining, and even thought provoking at times.

Sucker (May 17th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[Sucker screens Thursday May 17th at 6 pm as part of the "Ohio Shorts" program at the 2012 Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

10 year old Betsy (Angela Fetsic) takes to heart the campfire story she hears about a creature called “The Sucker”, which supposedly lurks in the woods near her house and has a taste for little blonde girls like her. Betsy decides to strike preemptively, plotting ways to capture the beast despite her fears. It seems an impossible task, even with the help of a neighborhood boy and some encouragement from her older brother, but failure is not an option.

Sure, the symbolism of overcoming the titular monster as a rite of passage from childhood to adolescence is a bit obvious, but Sucker is nonetheless enjoyable. Kristyne Fetsic's direction is hampered somewhat by the cast of amateurs, but she still comes through in the end showing the potential for better things if given a bigger budget and a more experienced cast. Regardless of its rough edges, Sucker is a cute little coming of age story. 2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

For the Love of the Music: The Club 47 Folk Revival (May 20th at the Ohio Independent Film Festival) (May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ohio Independent Film Festival)

[FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC: THE CLUB 47 FOLK REVIVAL screens Sunday May 20th at 7:30 pm at the Beachland Ballroom as part of the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

As we all know, ever since LeBron James left, the only thing significant about Cleveland is Todd Kwait, a local lawyer who has turned into a quite capable documentarian on American popular music. One can't quite call him a "rockumentarian" as he has focused more on the rarely examined folk and jug-band traditions. Maybe "washboardentarian" will do.

In his latest FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC: THE CLUB 47 FOLK REVIVAL, co-directed with Rob Stegman, Kwait answered a question that was so obvious it had just never occurred to me. Why did folk music, of all things, captivate the eastern college-campus intelligentsia in the late 1950s? When I went to college the craze  was all reggae all the time - perfectly understandable when you recognize that pot smoking came as part of the cultural baggage. Yeah, world peace, Bob Marley, almighty Jah, - blah blah blah. My university confederates, as I recall, would have listened to marathons of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir if it gave them cachet to be stoned all the time.

The 2012 Ohio Independent Film Festival begins May 17th

Event preview by Bob Ignizio

While not as big or flashy as some other NE Ohio movie fests, since 1993 the Ohio Independent FilmFestival has been treating area cinephiles to a diverse and challenging lineup films from around the world, with a special emphasis on filmmakers with ties to the Buckeye State. This year's edition of the festival is no exception. It opens on Thursday, May 17th at 6 p.m. at Arts Collinwood with a program of short films directed entirely by Ohio filmmakers. The festival concludes on Sunday, May 20th at the Beachland Ballroom with a 7:30 p.m. screening of Shaker Heights resident Todd Kwait's third film “For the Love of Music:The Club 47 Folk Revival”, a documentary on the Cambridge, Massachusetts music venue that played an important role in the folk scene from 1958 to 1968.

The 2012 Ohio Independent Film Festival kicks off with wine and a movie

[Press release from the Ohio Independent Film Festival.]

The 2012 Ohio Independent Film Festival presents a wine tasting and screening of the documentary BOOM VARIETAL  on Thursday May 17th at 7 pm.

 This year’s film festival will kick off with a wine tasting at the Arts Collinwood Café preceding a documentary detailing the history of Malbec wine production in Argentina. Currently, fifth in the word for wine production, Argentina, is the leader in producing “Malbec “ originally a French wine and now one of the most popular wines through the world.

Win free passes to see 'For the Love of the Music: The Club 47 Folk Revival'

The closing film of this year's Ohio Indpendent Film Festival is FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC: THE CLUB 47 FOLK REVIVAL. The Festival website describes the film thusly:

"For The Love of the Music : The Club 47 Folk Revival, explores the history of Club 47 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with emphasis on the years 1959-1968. The film, narrated by Peter Coyote, traces the career of Joan Baez and the evolution of the folk revival from the interpretation of traditional ballads to the singer-songwriter era. Featured are interviews with Joan Baez, Taj Mahal, Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, Jackie Washington, Jim Rooney, Peter Rowan and many more. Previously unreleased audio recordings and photographs are utilized featuring Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Eric Von Schmidt. Newly filmed performances are included featuring the stars from Club 47 performing with today's emerging folk performers, as the folk process continues."

If that sounds like your kind of movie, here's your chance to win a pair of passes to see it for free at the Beachland Ballroom on Sunday May 20th at 7:30 pm. Just be one of the first two people to send an email to clevelandmovieblog@gmail.com and we'll have 'em put your name on the guest list at the Beachland. Pretty easy, huh? Be sure to include your real name, since you'll have to show ID at the door to get in (unless you have a pretty convincing fake ID that really does say "McLovin" on it).

Subprime (November 18th at Arts Collinwood)

[SUBPRIME screens Saturday November 18th at 7 pm at Arts Collinwood. Admission is free.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Wall Street doesn't deserve all the blame for America's financial woes. Someone had to sell those toxic mortgages that the big firms bundled together in the first place. For that, you don't want a banker; you want someone with even more flexible morals. Someone who can get down in the trenches of middle America and convince Grandma to take advantage of all that equity in her home. Someone willing to make false promises of low payments and fixed interest rates if that's what it takes to get a signature on the dotted line. In short, you need a salesman.