Cleveland International Film Festival 48 // 2024

Support the Cleveland International Film Festival at the Challenge Match stations in the lobbies of the Allen Theatre and KeyBank State Theatre, or donate online at clevelandfilm.org

(click on the Donate button).

IN-PERSON DONATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES:

• With a $1 donation, choose one of our limited-edition buttons!

• Each $10 donation gives you a chance to win fantastic prize packages, including restaurants’ gift cards, a Wayside Furniture $1,000 gift card, tickets to see COMPANY at Playhouse Square, a hotel stay, and more!

• A $50 donation will receive a CIFF portable power bank phone charger.

All donations of at least $100 are entered to win a pair of all-access passes for CIFF49 in 2025!

Thank you for investing in the future of CIFF!

Your gift will enable us to promote artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the lives of the community.

The 48th Cleveland International Film Festival is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors and funders.

DIAMOND SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOVERNMENT SPONSORS

Family Foundation

GOLD SPONSORS

Strassman Insurance

MAJOR INDIVIDUAL DONORS

James Anderson and David Wittkowsky

Fran and Jules Belkin

Christopher S.W. Blake and Laura Watilo Blake

Jack and Mary Boyle

Mike and Nicki Cancelliere

Tom and Anita Cook

Lauren Rich Fine

Char and Chuck Fowler

Alistair and Joyce Fyfe

Stephanie and Bruce Hearey

Jinny and John Johnson

Jeff and Laura Nicholson

Julie and Peter Raskind

Deborah Bachman Ratner

Mark Smith and Janet Rosel Smith

Debbie and Jim Strassman

Tom Piraino and Barbara McWilliams

Taras Szmagala, Jr. and Helen Jarem

Roy and Debbie Turnell

Shelley Roth and Bruce Schwartz

Shifrin

SILVER

BRONZE SPONSORS

The Pesses/Meisel Families

Sherri Appleton

Jamie Babbit

Steven and Carolyn Blake

Jim Brumbaugh and Carolyn Berg

Jane and Eric Buder Shapiro

John and Allyn Davies

Bill DeCapite

Michael Fluellen

Heidi and Manuel Glynias Family

Debra S. Gold

Barbara Hawley and David Goodman

Marcie Goodman

Tom and Ginny Knoll

Bill and Teri Koeth

Lynn Milliner

Jeffrey Palmer

Bill Plesec and Susan Stechschulte

Ken Robinson

The Sloop Family

Cari Linden Stafford and Thomas G. Stafford Jr.

Floyd A. Trouten III

John C. Williams

Richard and Julie Zsigray

HOSPITALITY PARTNER

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS

INFLUENCER PARTNERS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Community Engagement Program builds and strengthens partnerships with other nonprofits by connecting them to Festival films that are relevant to their missions and work.

Here is the list of over 120 Community Partners for CIFF48 as of February 24, 2024:

• Achievement Centers for Children

• ACLU of Ohio

• America SCORES Cleveland

• Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

• Anti-Defamation League

• Beat the Streets Cleveland

• Benjamin Rose

• Black Women Werk

• BorderLight Theatre Festival

• Chagrin Documentary Film Festival

• ChamberFest Cleveland

• Church of the Redeemer UMC

• The City Club of Cleveland

• The City of Ohio Soccer Club

• Cleveland Arts Education Consortium

• Cleveland Asian Festival

• Cleveland Burlesque

• Cleveland Chapter of the Links

• Cleveland Comedy Festival

• Cleveland Council on World Affairs

• Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

• Cleveland Hiking Club

• Cleveland Hungarian Development Panel

• Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque

• Cleveland Sight Center

• Collaborate Cleveland

• College Now Greater Cleveland

• Comite Mexicano de Cleveland

• Community Assessment & Treatment Services, Inc.

• Community of Saint Peter

• Congregation Shaarey Tikvah

• Consulate of Lithuania in Cleveland

• Consulate of Sweden, Cleveland, Ohio

• Contemporary Youth Orchestra

• CWRU/UH AIDS Clinical Trials Unit

• DANCECleveland

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

• Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio

• Dobama Theatre

• Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio

• Drink Local Drink Tap

• Engage! Cleveland

• Equality Ohio

• Euclid Public Library

• FaCT (Faith Communities Together for a Sustainable Future)

• Graffiti HeArt Corporation

Great Lakes Science Center

• InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia

• Journey Center for Safety and Healing

• Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center

• Karamu House, Inc.

• Kol Israel Foundation

• Lake Erie Ink

• Lake Erie Native American Council

• LATINA, Inc.

• LatinUs Theater Company

• League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland

• The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

• LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland

• LGBT Legacy Project

• LifeAct

• Maltz Museum

• Mandel JCC’s Cleveland Jewish FilmFest

• The Nightlight

• North Coast Men’s Chorus

• North Eastern Ohio Education Association

• North Union Farmers Market

• Northeast Ohio Sierra Club

• PFLAG Cleveland

• Play Gap

• Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce

• Policy Matters Ohio

• Preterm

• Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation

• rePROFilm (a program of mamafilm)

• Rocky River Public Library

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio

• Shape Cleveland

• Sokol Greater Cleveland

• Special Olympics Ohio

• Stocker Arts Center

• Swedish American Chamber of Commerce—Ohio (SACC)

• Swedish Cultural Society

• Talespinner Children’s Theatre

• TransOhio

• Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

• Ukrainian Museum-Archives

• VASA Lodge Nobel-Monitor #130

• Vocational Guidance Services

• West Side Catholic Center

March

CIFF

March 15–30, 2024

April

Thursdays–Fridays

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Daily 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

877.304.3456 | clevelandfilm.org

Phone or Web Orders Only

April

April 2–12, 2024

Tuesdays–Wednesdays 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

CIFF BOX OFFICE

Thursdays–Fridays 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

April 1, 2024

Sunday 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

CIFF CONVERSATION CENTER

April 4–12, 2024

Thursdays–Fridays 1:00 PM–9:30 PM

Tuesday–Wednesday

April

April

AM–8:00 PM

Monday 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

April 2–12, 2024

Saturday 11:00 AM–9:30 PM

Sunday 11:00 AM–8:00 PM

Monday.... Closed

Tuesday–Wednesday. 1:00 PM–8:00 PM

April 13, 2024 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

CIFF GATHERING SPACE

CIFF MERCHANDISE STORE

April 4–12, 2024

Thursdays–Fridays 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

Monday.... Closed

Tuesday–Wednesday. 11:00 AM–7:30 PM

April 13, 2024 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

CIFF PASSHOLDER LOUNGE

Tuesdays–Wednesdays 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

April

Thursdays–Fridays... 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday.... 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday.... 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

April

Monday.... 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

April 4–12, 2024

Thursdays–Fridays 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Saturday 9:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sunday 9:00 AM–7:30 PM

April 4–12, 2024

Thursdays–Fridays 11:30 AM–9:30 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM–9:30 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM Closed

CIFF48 hours of operation will vary on Monday, April 8, 2024 (Total Solar Eclipse). Please visit clevelandfilm.org for updates.

AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE (PSQ),

WHERE DO I…

ENTER AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE FOR CIFF48?

• For the Gund Dance Studio and the Westfield Studio Theatre: Idea Center Main Entrance, 1375 Euclid Ave

• For the Allen Theatre and Upper Allen: Allen Theatre Main Entrance, 1407 Euclid Ave

• For the Mimi Ohio Theatre, KeyBank State Theatre, and Connor Palace: KeyBank State Theatre Main Entrance, 1511 Euclid Ave

• For any Theatre or CIFF Space: Bulkley Building Entrance, 1501 Euclid Ave and Playhouse Square’s Parking Garage Walkway

PURCHASE TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIPS PRE–FESTIVAL?

CIFF48 Box Office: Purchases can be made on clevelandfilm.org or by calling the CIFF48 Box Office at 877.304.3456, open daily, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM from March 15–30, 2024.

• CIFF48 tickets on sale to CIFF Members: March 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM ET

• CIFF48 tickets on sale to the General Public: March 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM ET

PURCHASE TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIPS DURING CIFF48 AT

PSQ?

CIFF48 Box Office: Located in Playhouse Square’s Ticket Office in the outer lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre and open April 1–13, 2024 for online (clevelandfilm.org), phone (877.304.3456), and in-person sales.

CIFF48 Box Office Hours of Operation:

• April 1, 2024: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

• April 2–12, 2024:

Tuesdays–Wednesdays: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

Thursdays–Fridays: 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

Monday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

• April 13, 2024: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM

PURCHASE STAND BY TICKETS?

Once all regular tickets to an in-person screening have been sold, a screening goes on Stand By. Patrons that would like to buy a Stand By ticket should line up 30 minutes before show time (be aware that the line sometimes forms earlier than this) in the Stand By line located in the lobby of the theatre where the Stand By screening will be shown.

PICK UP PASSES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MAILED?

CIFF48 Guest Services: Located in the inner lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre at Playhouse Square.

CIFF48 Guest Services Hours of Operation:

• April 4–12, 2024:

Thursdays–Fridays: 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

Monday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

Tuesday–Wednesday: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

• April 13, 2024: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM

LINE UP IF I’M A TICKET HOLDER?

Line up at least 15 minutes before show time behind the “Ticket Holders Line Up Here” sign in the lobby of the theatre where your screening is showing and have your ticket(s) ready to be scanned. Line placement varies based on the venue.

LINE UP IF I’M A STAND BY TICKET HOLDER?

Patrons who would like to buy a Stand By ticket should line up at least 30 minutes before show time in the Stand By line in the lobby of the theatre where the Stand By screening will be showing. Stand By tickets will only be sold to patrons just before show time, if there is space available in the theatre to accommodate them.

LINE UP IF I’M A PASSHOLDER?

Line up at least 30 minutes before show time behind the “Passholders Line Up Here” sign in the lobby of the theatre where the screening is showing, and have your pass ready to be scanned. Line placement varies based on the venue.

RECOVER ITEMS AT THE LOST AND FOUND?

Playhouse Square Central Security: Locate a Playhouse Square House Manager and they will contact Central Security, which is located backstage of the KeyBank State Theatre. You can also call Central Security at 216.640.8777 with inquiries regarding misplaced items. CIFF and Playhouse Square are not responsible for lost, stolen, or unclaimed items.

FIND OUT IN WHICH THEATRE A SCREENING IS BEING SHOWN?

Digital Schedules: Located throughout Playhouse Square, these wayfinding screens provide a guide for where screenings and their corresponding colored theatres can be located during the current block of time. Each CIFF theatre at Playhouse Square has been assigned a color that does not change throughout the Festival. For example, the Allen Theatre will always be the Orange Theatre.

FIND THE LATEST SCHEDULE AND PROGRAMMING UPDATES?

CIFF Website: Check the CIFF website for up-to-date schedule changes and programming updates.

MAKE A DONATION?

CIFF Website: clevelandfilm.org/support/donate

CIFF48 Challenge Match Stations: The primary station is located in the lobby of the Allen Theatre. There is a secondary location in the outer lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre (across from the CIFF48 Box Office).

CIFF48 Challenge Match Stations Hours of Operation:

• April 4–12, 2024:

Thursdays–Fridays: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

CIFF48 hours of operation will vary on Monday, April 8, 2024 (Total Solar Eclipse). Please visit clevelandfilm.org for updates.

BUY MERCHANDISE?

CIFF48 Merchandise Store: Located in the inner lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre, next to CIFF Guest Services.

CIFF48 Merchandise Store Hours of Operation:

• April 4–12, 2024:

Thursdays–Fridays: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

Monday: Closed

Tuesday–Wednesday: 11:00 AM–7:30 PM

• April 13, 2024: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

FIND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS & REPRESENTATIVES AFTER A SCREENING?

CIFF48 Conversation Center: Located in the Westfield Studio Theatre at Idea Center.

CIFF48 Conversation Center Hours of Operation:

• April 4–12, 2024:

Thursdays–Fridays: 1:00 PM–9:30 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM–9:30 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM

Monday: Closed

Tuesday–Wednesday: 1:00 PM–8:00 PM

• April 13, 2024: 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

BORROW ACCESSIBILITY DEVICES FOR THE HEARING AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED?

CIFF48 Box Office: Located in Playhouse Square’s Ticket Office in the outer lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre.

CIFF48 Box Office Hours of Operation:

• April 1, 2024: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

• April 2–12, 2024:

Tuesdays–Wednesdays: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

Thursdays–Fridays: 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

Monday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

• April 13, 2024: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM

BORROW A WHEELCHAIR FOR CIFF48 SCREENINGS?

For advance wheelchair reservations, CIFF48 Box Office: Wheelchair reservations can be made in advance of your visit to CIFF48 @ PSQ by calling the CIFF48 Box Office at 877.304.3456 during their hours of operation.

CIFF48 Box Office Hours of Operation:

• April 1, 2024: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

• April 2–12, 2024:

Tuesdays–Wednesdays: 10:30 AM–8:00 PM

Thursdays–Fridays: 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM–8:00 PM

Monday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM

• April 13, 2024: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM

For on-site wheelchair reservations, CIFF48 Guest Services: Located in the inner lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre at Playhouse Square.

CIFF48 Guest Services Hours of Operation:

• April 4–12, 2024:

FEATURE FILMS

PAGES 10–44

CIFF RETRO

New! Our CIFF Retro program features retrospective films, most of which played at previous Festivals. At the discounted price of only $5, these tickets will go fast, so get yours early!

CIFF48 Streams indications refer to those films that will be available on the virtual Festival platform, April 14–21, 2024.

Please note:

CIFF48 Streams highlighted in yellow have viewing restrictions

FILM GUIDE WRITER

Marcus Gorman

Film Guide information as of February 2024. For the most up-to-date information, please visit clevelandfilm.org.

CIFF CODE OF CONDUCT

CIFF48 films are unrated by the M.P.A.A. Viewer discretion is advised for all films.

Content warnings are specific to films that reference or depict suicide, domestic violence, sexual harassment or assault, eating disorders, animal cruelty, and post-traumatic stress disorder. No person under the age of 10 will be admitted to CIFF48 in-person screenings, except those in the Family Films and TeenFriendly Films sidebars.

The CIFF Code of Conduct serves to provide a clear understanding of the standard of conduct expected when participating in the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) and all its manifestations—meetings and gatherings, events and parties, venues, social media accounts, and official communications (verbal, written, and digital). The Code of Conduct serves as a guide to ensure the CIFF is a respectful, open, inclusive, and safe environment for all to gather, share, learn, and celebrate in an atmosphere free of harassment.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FULL CIFF CODE OF CONDUCT.

SHORTS PROGRAMS

PAGES 45–54

12:10 PM Sweet As 87 min / p 37 2:30 PM Shorts Program 1 95 min / p 41 5:00 PM

Ukrainian Shorts Program 100 min / p 54

11:55 AM La Maternal 120 min / p 26

WORLD PREMIERE 7:30 PM ( We Will Speak) 89 min / p 39 9:55 PM Manticore 115 min / p 28

2:35 PM My Sailor, My Love 103 min / p 29 5:05 PM

Rise and Rebuild: A Tale of Three Cities 74 min / p 32 7:25 PM The Year Between 94 min / p 39

PM Viking 104 min / p 38

In partnership with the Great Lakes Science Center Total Eclipse Fest, CIFF48 presents these special screenings at the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater. These screenings will be non-ticketed events that are free and available on a first come-first served basis.

We suggest arriving at the Great Lakes Science Center at least 30 minutes prior to the start times of each screening.

In partnership with the Great Lakes Science Center Total Eclipse Fest, CIFF48 presents these special screenings at the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater. These screenings will be non-ticketed events that are free and available on a first come-first served basis.

We suggest arriving at the Great Lakes Science Center at least 30 minutes prior to the start times of each screening.

12:10 PM Sweet As 87 min / p 37 2:30 PM Shorts Program 1 95 min / p 41 5:00 PM Ukrainian Shorts Program 100 min / p 54 WORLD PREMIERE

THE CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

THE CIFF48 MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS FIVE LEVELS TO CHOOSE FROM:

TICKET BUYER ($85)

STREAMS PASSHOLDER ($300)

FESTIVAL PASSHOLDER ($500)

HYBRID PASSHOLDER ($775)

VIP PASSHOLDER ($1,800)

JOIN TODAY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE.

All levels of CIFF48 membership receive a complimentary mailing of the CIFF48 Film Guide and the memberexclusive option to purchase a CIFF48 PSQ Parking Pass. Members also receive discounts on CIFF48 tickets ($2 off per ticket!), CIFF48 Ticket 10-Packs ($20 off), CIFF merchandise (20% off), and special events during CIFF48 and throughout the year (20% off).

The top three levels of CIFF48 membership (Festival Passholder, Hybrid Passholder, and VIP Passholder) include passholder access to all in-person CIFF48 screenings at Playhouse Square as well as the Passholder Lounge, with the top two levels of membership (Hybrid Passholder and VIP Passholder) also receiving access to all CIFF48 Streams online screenings.

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE STAFF

Lara Bowditch Administrative Coordinator

Gabrielle Burrage Education Director

Marcie Goodman Executive Director

Debbie “Sheepie” Marshall Director of Operations & Membership

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chris S.W. Blake President

Joe Marinucci President-Elect and Vice President of Development

Jerry Frantz Vice President of Strategic Planning

Pamela LeRose Vice President

Brett C. Altier

Jules Belkin

Mac Clough

Tom Cook

Tom Davis

Timothy Downing

Lisa Durst

Lauren Rich Fine

Coleen Fisher

Joe Foley

Char Fowler

Dion Hudnall

Gregg Levine

Joyce Martin-Fyfe

Kerry McCormack*

Lynn Milliner

Zach Milvo

Nadine Nana

Eric Patrick

Tim Piazza

Kevin Poor

Julie Raskind