The Cleveland International Film Festival is readying to return to Playhouse Square in its 48th year, featuring dozens of films over the course of 11 days (April 3-13).
And while we're still waiting for the full festival lineup to arrive (that'll happen on March 8, by the way), today CIFF shared a taste of the upcoming fun with its opening night, closing night and Groundbreaker award film selections.
The fest will kick off with Thelma on April 3 at Connor Palace, during the festival's opening night bash. The comedy follows 93-year-old Thelma Post (June Squibb) who becomes a victim to a phone scammer — and who goes on a mission to get her $10,000 back. (Thelma marks actor Richard Roundtree's final role before he died in October 2023.)
CIFF will also feature, this year, filmmaker Set Hernandez's documentary Unseen, the winner of the fest's Groundbreaker Award. The honor, awarded to filmmakers who elevate marginalized voices in their work, comes with a $5,000 prize. Unseen, which will screen at 2:25 p.m. on April 5 and 5 p.m. on April 6, follows a social worker who works with a blind undocumented immigrant on his path to get a college degree.
CIFF will wrap up in a very Northeast Ohio way: with a new Devo documentary, screening at 7:30 p.m. on April 13. DEVO, a film featuring archived interviews with band members Jerry Casale and Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, follows the group's 50-year anniversary last year, and tracks its early iterations at Kent State University and its rise to fame. Tickets to the closing night event are $18, or $16 for CIFF members.
RELATED: Q&A: Mark Mothersbaugh Talks DEVOtional, Devo’s Rock Hall Snub and COVID-19
Along with the three CIFF movies announced, the festival shared the news that it selected R.C. Sanford of Sankora Studios as the 2024 award artist. The Ohio artist will design and craft this year's awards, given to more than 30 filmmakers from around the world, according to a news release.
“Combining wood and art glass requires attention to detail at every step, from the selection of locally sourced hardwoods to the milling and finishing of the piece. The filmmakers selected by the 48th Cleveland International Film Festival produce the highest quality and most evocative films of the time," Sanford said in a news release. "I am honored to have been chosen to create the Filmmaker Award, and aim to provide the highest quality craftsmanship to reflect their excellence.”
Can't make it to Playhouse Square for CIFF's movie screenings? Following the festival's in-person events will be the online version, CIFF Streams, April 14-21. CIFF tickets will be on sale to members March 15, and to the general public a week later, on March 22, at clevelandfilm.org.
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