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.
