I really thought there was a thread for this already - surprised there is not.

 

Regardless, here we go....

Cleveland International Film Festival to move to Playhouse Square, leave Tower City in 2021

 

The curtain is coming down on the Cleveland International Film Festival at Tower City Cinemas.

 

After 30 years in the downtown theater complex, the festival is moving to a new, permanent home for its 2021 fest and beyond. But not just any home. CIFF will be calling the city’s premier entertainment district home: Playhouse Square.

 

It was a move born of necessity, but one that should reap huge benefits for the festival, Playhouse Square — and downtown.

 

“Every year, we have had this uncertainty hanging over us with the future of Tower City,” says executive director Marcie Goodman. “We formed a committee way back in 2007 to start to look for options if we had to leave the theaters. This committee was busy for 12 years, and we visited every possible location. We always wanted to stay downtown if possible, but there really didn’t seem to be any option for that.

 

“Then last year we started hearing all of these stories about CityBlock and how that was going to impact the mall.”

 

Construction on CityBlock, a $110 million renovation of Tower City Center into a shared entertainment/entrepreneurship/lifestyle space, is slated to begin this year at the mall; Bedrock director of communications Gabrielle Poshadlo said there is “no update at this time” on a possible start date.

 

“We were told there would be a lot of construction in the public spaces,” says Goodman. “We use those. … And we started thinking we would have to spread out like other festivals.”

Then she had a fateful meeting with a friend, one who happens to be Playhouse Square’s president and CEO.

 

“Last January, Gina Vernaci and I were having lunch, and the talk turned to the festival and Tower City and our struggles,” says Goodman. “And she said, ‘What about Playhouse Square?’ ”

 

MORE:

https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/j66j-2020/01/ba6f995acc776/cleveland-international-film-festival-to-move-to-playhouse-square-leave-tower-city-in-2021-.html

 

How many theaters are at TC? I wonder if there'll be enough capacity in PHQ. It definitely isn't the prettiest site being in TC, but also it lends itself nicely to standby's and lineup situations.

 

My only issue with PHQ capacity really has to do with existing productions, would they put everything on hold for that week? Also, it seems a lot of the people that come to CIFF are of the mentality that "there's no parking!!!" (eg. folks from the suburbs, and arguably the same people that complain about WSM parking, but I digress), and wonder how they'll receive not having parking directly attached a la Tower City Parking (PHQ garage isn't quite as 'convenient' as TC to folks, I'd imagine).

 

Lots of assumptions on my part, and I'm low on caffeine so forgive any snarkiness, just thinking through things. Overall, I think it's a good move and it's not like it's going to be an immediate change, they'll have time to figure things out, I just see some complaints coming for that first year and some. I really think it'll be a boom to Playhouse, not to mention the VIP suite (if you could call it that), won't be stuffed away in a windowless room two floors from the theaters (I'd imagine them renting out Republic or something).

1 minute ago, GISguy said:

How many theaters are at TC? I wonder if there'll be enough capacity in PHQ. It definitely isn't the prettiest site being in TC, but also it lends itself nicely to standby's and lineup situations.

 

My only issue with PHQ capacity really has to do with existing productions, would they put everything on hold for that week? Also, it seems a lot of the people that come to CIFF are of the mentality that "there's no parking!!!" (eg. folks from the suburbs, and arguably the same people that complain about WSM parking, but I digress), and wonder how they'll receive not having parking directly attached a la Tower City Parking (PHQ garage isn't quite as 'convenient' as TC to folks, I'd imagine).

 

Lots of assumptions on my part, and I'm low on caffeine so forgive any snarkiness, just thinking through things. Overall, I think it's a good move and it's not like it's going to be an immediate change, they'll have time to figure things out, I just see some complaints coming for that first year and some. I really think it'll be a boom to Playhouse, not to mention the VIP suite (if you could call it that), won't be stuffed away in a windowless room two floors from the theaters (I'd imagine them renting out Republic or something).

They answer your questions in the article

Edited January 23, 20205 yr by bumsquare

12 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

They answer your questions in the article

 

Editing to say it answers some questions, and still leaves questions ?:

 

Answers: 

TC has 10 cinemas, of which they use 7-8

PHQ will continue regular programming with cooperation from productions.

 

 

Questions:

Daytime showings throughout the week/coexisting with productions (it's not like sets can just be moved out of place, and moved back in right quick)

Standby/Lineup

Parking

 

I still think not being in a traditional movie theater will cause some issues, especially after being in TC for so long.

Edited January 23, 20205 yr by GISguy
Read the article

A couple of responses not already touched on in the article:

• Opening night has been held at the Conner the past two years and were both sold out (iirc)
• Parking is always an issue - particularly during events like Indians Home Opener (ugh)
• There will actually be more parking in the same general footprint available for PSQ than at TC (CSU and other lots)
• We already have plans worked out for ticket holders vs. standby that have worked out just fine whenever we have had the neighborhood showings, so this is not a problem - and if there is a problem, we will tweak it just like we do every year
• Generally - suburbanites complain about everything ? 

15 minutes ago, musky said:

A couple of responses not already touched on in the article:

• Opening night has been held at the Conner the past two years and were both sold out (iirc)
• Parking is always an issue - particularly during events like Indians Home Opener (ugh)
• There will actually be more parking in the same general footprint available for PSQ than at TC (CSU and other lots)
• We already have plans worked out for ticket holders vs. standby that have worked out just fine whenever we have had the neighborhood showings, so this is not a problem - and if there is a problem, we will tweak it just like we do every year
• Generally - suburbanites complain about everything ? 

Thanks for a constructive response, I appreciate your insight! And agree about complainers, grumblers love to grumble lol.

Best possible news Musky! Almost a no-brainer really. So from the article it's hard to discern, but are CIFF's Ohio City offices moving to Playhouse Square also? 

No. They are not moving the offices.

19 minutes ago, musky said:

No. They are not moving the offices.

Interesting, it appears they deleted that sentence at the end of the article. 

Thanks.  

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/01/cleveland-international-film-festival-2020-theme-looks-to-the-future-see-beyond.html

 

CIFF44 is delighted to unveil this year’s theme: SEE BEYOND 

 

The theme is a nod to exploring new and different places, ideas, and conventions. The Festival enthusiastically challenges its audience to do this through the remarkable on-screen stories brought to Cleveland each year by exceptionally talented filmmakers from around the world. 

 

The theme, designed by the team at Type Twenty Seven is also a celebration of the Festival’s home in Tower City Cinemas for the last 30 years. During that time, the Festival’s growth exceeded all expectations by screening more than 7,000 films and welcoming over 1.6 million film fans.  
 
“See Beyond resonated with our design team as a way to showcase elements of Tower City Center that are not normally recognized,” said Brittyn DeWerth, Creative Director and Owner of Type Twenty Seven. “By looking beyond the basics, our goal was to illustrate the exquisite architectural details—revealing the beauty it holds. In addition, the choice of color allows for a visual pop of information, and subtle tone-on-tone in the background begs to be explored.” 
 
The Festival is once again working with Fusion Filmworks to produce the CIFF trailer, which will be released on Opening Night at Playhouse Square on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.   
 
The 44th Cleveland International Film Festival will be held March 25 – April 5, 2020 at Tower City Cinemas. More than 600 screenings will take place during the 12 days of the Festival, with over 400 guest filmmakers from around the world who will be on-hand for Q&As. CIFF44 program details will be available at clevelandfilm.org on Friday, February 28, with Program Guides hitting the streets the week of March 2. Tickets will go on sale to CIFF Members on Friday, March 6th and to the general public on Friday, March 13.

 

For more information, please visit clevelandfilm.org. 

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/02/cleveland-international-film-festival-to-feature-east-and-west-side-satellite-fests.html

CIFF44 Announces Opening Night and Closing Night Films

 

OPENING NIGHT AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

 

On Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 PM, CIFF44 will open with MILITARY WIVES. The film centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Faced with their loved ones’ absences, they come together to form the very first military wives choir, helping each other through some of life’s most difficult moments, and quickly find themselves on an international stage. Peter Cattaneo (THE FULL MONTY) directs Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan in this feel-good crowd-pleaser inspired by true events.

 

CLOSING NIGHT AT TOWER CITY CENTER

 

On Sunday, April 5 at 7:00 PM, the Festival will close with DREAM HORSE.  The film tells the inspiring true story of 
Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town Welsh bartender, Jan Vokes (Academy Award® nominee Toni Collette).  With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites.  The group’s investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks with grit and determination and goes on to race in the Welsh Grand National, showing the heart of a true champion.

All those in attendance at any of the films showing at Tower City Cinemas on Closing Night are invited to the Closing Night Ceremony (dessert reception and awards presentation) around the Tower City Center Grand Staircase after the screenings.

 

Tickets go on sale for CIFF members Friday, March 6 at 11:00 AM, and to non-members on Friday, March 13 at 11:00 AM. Tickets to any Closing Night film are $14 for CIFF members and $16 for non-members.

 

We will be hearing today, most likely, a decision regarding the status of the scheduled festival. 
There is news conference going right now at City Hall. Among the people there are representatives from CIFF

Edited March 11, 20205 yr by musky

It's cancelled 

 

 

Edited March 11, 20205 yr by TPH2

It's official:

 

COVID-19 CIFF STATEMENT

Updated: 03.11.2020 1:30 PM

While we are saddened that our film loving audience will not have the opportunity to experience CIFF44’s amazing films and talented filmmakers, we understand the City’s obligation to protect the health and safety of all residents. We regret not having the opportunity to celebrate our three decades at Tower City Center. But we look forward to presenting CIFF45, April 7-18, 2021, at our new and permanent home in Playhouse Square.” - CIFF Executive Director Marcie Goodman

 

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/plan-your-day/health-and-safety

Aw man, this stinks. Especially no rescheduling, pass on my apologies to the board @musky!

 

Also pass my thanks along for keeping the public in mind- this had to be a very hard decision for y'all to make.

Cleveland International Film Festival to stream this year's movies since festival canceled for coronavirus

 

The theme of the 44th annual Cleveland International Film Festival is "See Beyond," but because of coronavirus, no one will seeing any movies in-person at the festival this year. 

 

"We were grieving. We were in mourning," says executive director Marcie Goodman about canceling the festival. "It was such an enormous loss to have something that we had worked nonstop on, and then poof."

 

But like the well-known saying... The show must go on.

 

The festival committee decided to take a page out of their own book, going beyond to launch "CIFF44 Reinvented," a new way to watch the movies expected to debut at the festival this year and old festival alum favorites.

 

"We wanted a way to connect with our community, because that's really what it's all about," Goodman says.

 

A list of where to watch festival alum movies is now live at clevelandfilm.org/alums. Eventually, a streaming service of movies expected to debut at this year's festival will also be live.

 

Coming in April, CIFF Streams will give subscribers access to many of the feature and short films slated to be part of this year's CIFF44 lineup. Full information, including film details, pricing and launch date, will be released soon.

 

"This was supposed to be our 30th and last year at Tower City Center before moving to Playhouse Square next year. So one of the ironies was that -- who would ever imagined that last year would have been our last year at Tower City --but that's how it worked out," Goodman says. "But now 'See Beyond' has to be see beyond what's going on in the world right now, and see beyond to a much better time in front of us, that we can all get to if we do it together."

 

This year's film festival trailer was produced and created by Fusion Filmworks and features the song Miles To Go from local musicians Astronymer and Jul Big Green. Watch it in the player below:

 

Trailer

 

Among other festival familiarities, new episodes of the festival podcast 'CIFF Speaks' will be released, new merchandise can still be purchased and the annual Challenge Match program is still underway to fund the festival's operations. All those features are located on clevelandfilm.org. 

 

"All any filmmaker wants is for people to watch their film," Goodman says. "So to be able to give that to our film makers, and then to give our audience some kind of opportunity to view some of the content from this year's festival means so much to us. That's our mission, and we have to be able to fulfill our mission. To not do so, is unimaginable to us."

 

CIFF45 Announces Plans for 2021 Festival; Announces Artistic Leadership Changes

 

CLEVELAND (October 5, 2020) – The 45th Cleveland International Film Festival, which will take place April 7-20, 2021, will be held online in its entirety.

This decision, which was unanimously approved by the CIFF Board of Directors at its September 29, 2020 meeting, is based on science and community circumstances, as well as the state of the film, theater, and event industries. In addition, during this time of great uncertainty and in the throes of a resurgent coronavirus pandemic, the organization believes it is the most responsible option when it comes to the safety of all those involved – including attendees, filmmakers, volunteers, trustees, and staff.

 

“We are very much looking forward to building on the success of CIFF44 Streams, during which our audience proved that an online Festival is not only an option, but also the newest component to making CIFF the best and most accessible experience for our incredible patrons,” said CIFF Board President Chris Blake.

After quickly pivoting from an in-person Festival to the online CIFF44 Streams earlier this year, the CIFF’s invaluable connections to film, filmmakers, and the community remain unbroken, as well as deepened. The organization is viewing CIFF45 as a bridge to its future and looks forward to CIFF46 taking place in its new home at Playhouse Square during the spring of 2022.

 

CIFF45 will consist of hundreds of films, post-film conversations and Q&As with filmmakers, balloting, awards, and a slew of activities to make the online Festival a robust experience for all involved. The Festival will also include two extra days (making it a 14-day presentation) for extended viewing and engagement opportunities. CIFF Speaks (the organization’s podcast series) will be returning with episodes surrounding and during the Festival.

 

The road to CIFF45 also brings a change in the organization’s artistic leadership with the promotion of Mallory Martin to Artistic Director, effective October 1, 2020. Mallory joined the CIFF full-time in October 2011 as Programming Assistant. Following a number of advancements, she became Director of Programming and Projection in 2015 and remained in that position until her most recent appointment.

 

“We are so very excited for Mallory Martin and for the organization, knowing that the programming for CIFF45 and beyond is going to be remarkable. Both the filmmaker experience and the viewer experience will be exceptional because of Mallory’s talent and expertise,” CIFF Executive Director Marcie Goodman stated.

“At a time when the entire film industry is facing a transformation, I am both honored and eager to help lead CIFF into its new chapters and towards new possibilities. No matter where the CIFF will live in the future – be it our own living rooms or Playhouse Square – we remain dedicated to bringing the best of independent cinema home to Cleveland for many years to come,” said CIFF Artistic Director Mallory Martin.

 

Mallory Martin replaces Bill Guentzler, who has stepped down from his role after 22 years with the organization and 15 years as its Artistic Director (2005-2020). The CIFF is appreciative for Bill’s decades of dedication to the organization and for all of the amazing team accomplishments that occurred during that time.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to have spent half my life at CIFF. While I will no longer be the Artistic Director, I will always be part of the heart and soul of what CIFF is and stands for — and CIFF will always be a huge part of me,” noted Bill Guentzler.

 

Executive Director Marcie Goodman added, “Although the full-time Festival staff is small, any change is big. However, we fully support Bill Guentzler as he identifies and follows new hopes and dreams. And we understand that cannot be done while sitting in the dark. Plus, we suspect it will be nice for Bill to be able to watch movies without having to make any decisions about them!”

 

The 45th Cleveland International Film Festival will announce its program lineup in March 2021. For more information on CIFF, as well as its Halfway to CIFF45 event, Powered by PNC and taking place October 7 – 10, 2020, please visit clevelandfilm.org

 

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/news/2020/10/ciff45-announces-plans-for-2021-festival-announces-artistic-leadership-changes