When the 40th annual Cleveland International Film Festival kicks off March 30, at least 100,000 people are expected to attend the 12-day movie marathon in theaters around Northeast Ohio.
“We like to say there’s something in this festival for everyone,” says Patrick Shepherd, CIFF associate director. “People hear “international film festival” and they think they’re walking into a film with subtitles, and that’s true for some, with films from over 60 countries. But it’s a wide selection of films and lots of documentaries.”
The CIFF offers a great opportunity not only to see unusual and highly regarded films, but also to interact with the people who make them, he adds.
“A lot of times the credits will roll and the lights go up and the director or an actor or the subject of a documentary is there and there are discussions,” Shepherd says.
PLENTY OF CHOICES
From family-friendly films, which are perfect for all ages, to intense documentaries and quirky feature films, choices are broad and the selection vast.
“Some people want a film from their ancestral homeland. Others want to see films of women of the world,” Shepherd says.
An average of 45 screenings are held each day starting around 9:15 a.m. The late shows begin Fridays and Saturdays with 11:30 p.m. screenings. In all, around 400 films will be shown. More than 500 screenings are scheduled.
Most films are in the Tower City Cinemas, offering a convenient way to see movies all day, every day throughout the event, Shepherd says.
One way to plan your day – or days – at the festival is to look at the festival program and choose a category of films to see. The program meticulously indexes the films to make it easy for visitors to find a good film fit, he adds.
This year, join thousands of others for some “fun in the dark.”
“Film is very accessible,” Shepherd adds. “It’s something that most people have an affinity for in one way or another.”
A 204-page guide and schedule is available online at clevelandfilm.org.
