39th Cleveland International Film Festival Roundup

Damn.

It's a sad fact that it's over, but the Cleveland International Film Festival finished in grand style with yet another record-breaking year. This year's challenge match raised $138,427, which will be matched by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Filmgoers were able to feast on the 196 feature films and 234 short subjects that came in from 60 countries.

I experienced more belly laughs, tear jerks and pulse-raising surprises than any fest in recent memory. And though I didn't see nearly as many films as I have historically seen at the fest, the overall quality of those I saw was remarkable. I applaud the staff, selection committees and volunteers that made this a stellar experience.

With my abbreviated time there, I was fortunate to meet quite a few of the approximately 300 filmmakers that CIFF hosted from around the world. The collective passion of these visionaries and their dialog with attendees added a level of immersion that is a precious component of this festival. This dialog provides filmgoers the opportunity to get inside the minds and the processes behind the moving images on the screen - the antithesis of the Netflix experience.

Anyway, I hope all of you film aficionados, acolytes, enthusiasts and noobs had a blast and were able to see some of these this year's amazing winners:

Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Film

Sponsored by the Callahan Foundation

BECOMING BULLETPROOF, directed by Michael Barnett (USA)

$10,000 cash prize

George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition

Presented with generous support from The George Gund Foundation

THE FOOL, Directed by Yury Byko (Russia)

$10,000 cash prize

Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition

Sponsored by Nesnadny + Schwartz

STRAY DOG, Directed by Debra Granik (USA, Mexico)

$7,500 cash prize

Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition

Presented with generous support from The George Gund Foundation

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, Directed by Thomas G. Miller (USA)

$5,000 cash prize

American Independents Competition

Presented with the generous support of Lauren Rich Fine and Gary Giller

THE YOUNG KIESLOWSKI, Directed by Kerem Sanga (USA)

$5,000 cash prize

Local Heroes Competition

Presented with the generous support of Mike and Nicki Cancelliere

FORCED PERSPECTIVE, Directed by Nick Cavalier (USA)

$5,000 cash prize

Global Health Competition

Sponsored by Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

BECOMING BULLETPROOF, directed by Michael Barnett (USA)

$5,000 cash prize

Music Movies Competition

Presented with the generous support of Jules and Fran Belkin

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, Directed by Martin Shore (USA)

$5,000 cash prize

ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman

Presented with the generous support of Deborah Bachman Ratner

Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli (for FRAME BY FRAME; Afghanistan)

$10,000 cash prize

FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film

BECOMING BULLETPROOF, Directed by Michael Barnett (USA)

$1,000 Cash Prize

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Subject

TILL THEN, Directed by Benjamin Wolff (Germany, USA)

$1,000 Cash Prize

Best Animated Short Award*

Sponsored by Reminger Co., L.P.A

BEAR STORY, Directed by Pato Escala (Chile)

$1,000 cash prize

Best Live Action Short Award*

Sponsored by Anne Bloomberg and Alan Gordon Lipson & Judy Harris

TILL THEN, Directed by Benjamin Wolff (Germany, USA)

$1,000 cash prize

FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Short Film

SUPER PIMP, Directed by John Jivan, Dustin Lee, Terry Geer, Ledion Isufaj, and Eric Schilling (USA)

$1,000 Cash Prize

*These award winners will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards®.

For a full list of short subject film award winners, please visit clevelandfilm.org.