HIGHLIGHTSFROM THE

100,2048,900+FilmSlam (middle school and high school Film Festival) attendees from 97 schools

191 sponsors and funders

178 non-profit community partners

80 media and neighborhood outreach partners

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

1,008 volunteers contributed over 11,000 hours of their invaluable time

VOLUNTEERS

220 seasonal staff8 full-time staff

STAFF

37 Trustees

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1,474 members

MEMBERS

193 feature films

238 short films

60 countries of origin

300 visiting filmmakers

511 screenings

Thank

Over the past 15 years, ATTENDANCE HAS TRIPLED at the CIFF!

FILMS AND FILMMAKERS

$141,031

FOR BEING THEINSPIRATION FOR OUR

SUCCESS.

SAVE THE DATES

40th Cleveland International Film Festival•Tower City Cinemas

Wednesday, March 30 - Sunday, April 10, 2016

in Challenge Match donations,

surpassing our $125,000 goal

You!

Best Ohio Short AwardSponsored by Oswald Companies

ANIMATOR VS. ANIMATION IVDirected by Alan Becker, USA

Best Student Short AwardSponsored by MP Star Financial

STEALTHDirected by Bennett Lasseter, USA

Best Women’s Short AwardSponsored by Jinny and John Johnson

BROKEN BRANCHESDirected by Ayala Sharot, Israel

The Clover and Maggie Award: In Celebration of LifeSponsored by Barbara Hawley andDavid Goodman

IN THE CLOUDSDirected by Marcelo Mitnik, Argentina, USA

FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Short

SUPER PIMPDirected by John Jivan, Dustin Lee,Terry Geer, Ledion Isufaj, and Eric Schilling, USA

Programmers’ Choice Award for Best Short: In Celebration of the Life of Toni Oliverio

RÚBAÍ (Ruby)Directed by Louise Ní Fhiannachta,Ireland

The Spalding and Jackson Award: In Celebration of JoySponsored by Marcie Goodman andJohn C. Williams

WELCOME(Bienvenidos)Directed by Javier Fesser, Spain

Audience Choice Award for Best Short

BIS GLEICH (Till Then)Directed by Benjamin Wolff, Germany, USA

Best Animated Short Award*Sponsored by Reminger Co., L.P.A.

BEAR STORYDirected by Gabriel Osorio, Chile

Best Comedy Short AwardSponsored by David K. Ream

LE REFUGEDirected by Elliot Thomson, USA

Best Documentary Short AwardSponsored by Jules and Fran Belkin

ON BEAUTYDirected by Joanna Rudnick, USA

Best International Short AwardSponsored by MP Star Financial

ALBERTINEDirected by Alexis Van Stratum, Belgium, France

Best LGBT Short Award: Given in Celebration of the Life of Nikki BabbitSponsored by Jan and Harold Babbit

ABAN & KHORSHIDDirected by Darwin Serink, USA

Best Live Action Short Award*Sponsored by Anne Bloomberg and Alan Gordon Lipson & Judy Harris

BIS GLEICH (Till Then)Directed by Benjamin Wolff, Germany, USA

Feature Films

Short Films

Award and

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

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

THE YOUNG KIESLOWSKIDirected by Kerem Sanga, USA

FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature

BECOMING BULLETPROOFDirected by Michael Barnett, USA

George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European CompetitionPresented with generous support from The George Gund Foundation

THE FOOLDirected by Yury Bykov, Russia

Global Health CompetitionSponsored by Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

BECOMING BULLETPROOFDirected by Michael Barnett, USA

Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition Presented with generous support from The George Gund Foundation

LIMITED PARTNERSHIPDirected by Thomas G. Miller, USA

Local Heroes CompetitionPresented with the generous support of Mike and Nicki Cancelliere

FORCED PERSPECTIVEDirected by Nick Cavalier, USA

Music Movies CompetitionPresented with the generous support of Jules and Fran Belkin

TAKE ME TO THE RIVERDirected by Martin Shore, USA

Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition Sponsored by Nesnadny + Schwartz

STRAY DOGDirected by Debra Granik, USA, Mexico

ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence inDirecting by a WomanPresented with the generous support of Deborah Bachman Ratner

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

Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best FilmSponsored by the Callahan Foundation

BECOMING BULLETPROOFDirected by Michael Barnett, USA

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival

Winners

Thibault Arbre

NOW WE’RE ALIVE (France/Belgium, 2014)

Douglas Boswell

LABYRINTHUS (Belgium/Netherlands, 2014)

Bas Devos

VIOLET (Belgium/Netherlands, 2014)

Isaac Ezban

THE INCIDENT (Mexico, 2014)

Abhay Kumar

PLACEBO (India, 2014)

Ann-Marie Schmidt & Brian Schmidt

THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF JOJO (ANDHIS ANNOYING SISTER AVILA) (USA, 2014)

Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy

THE TRIBE (Ukraine, 2014)

Sarah Adina Smith

THE MIDNIGHT SWIM (USA, 2014)

Khalil Sullins

LISTENING (USA/Cambodia, 2014)

Joshua Tate

LOVE LAND (USA, 2014)

Mike OttFilms Screened at the 39th CIFF

LAKE LOS ANGELESPEARBLOSSOM HWYLITTLEROCK

Bill Ross IV and Turner RossFilms Screened at the 39th CIFF

WESTERNTCHOUPITOULAS45365

Someone to Watch

New Direction

3

CIFF39 was proud to present New Direction, a program showcasing debut feature length filmmakers who are taking an innovative approach to film.

Sponsored by:

Akron Art Museum Akron

Akron-Summit County Public LibraryAkron

Beachland Ballroom & TavernCleveland’s Waterloo Arts District

Capitol TheatreCleveland’s Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood

Cedar Lee TheatreCleveland Heights

Chagrin CinemasChagrin Falls

Neighborhood ScreeningsThis year the Cleveland International Film Festival was excited to explore—and introduce our audience to—more Northeast Ohio neighborhoods than ever before by adding Festival screenings throughout the region tocomplement our Downtown Cleveland hub at Tower City Cinemas.

Cinemark Valley ViewValley View

Cleveland Museum of Art Gartner AuditoriumCleveland’s University Circle

Hanna Theatre at Playhouse SquareDowntown Cleveland

The NightlightAkron

Shaker Square CinemasCleveland’s Shaker Square Neighborhood

Someone to Watch highlights the work ofmid-career filmmakers who we believe arerising stars in international filmmaking.

PRESENT ING SPONSOR

D IAMOND SPONSORS

PLAT INUM SPONSORS

The Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers of the ClevelandInternational Film Festival wouldlike to extend our heartfelt thanksto all of our Sponsors and Patronsfor their support of the record-breaking 39th CIFF. You are theinspiration for our success.

4

FOUNDAT ION SUPPOR T

S I LVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MAJOR I ND IV IDUAL DONORS

5

GOLD SPONSORS

GOVERNMENT SUPPOR T

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival

HOSP I TAL I TY SPONSORSOFF IC I A L SPONSORS

MED IA SPONSORS

NE IGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PAR TNERS

6

PREM IUM F I LM SPONSORS

F I LM SPONSORS

NANCE HIKES and MICHAEL MELAMPY

CARL and GEORGINE RAK

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival 7

ALISTAIR and JOYCE FYFE

CHRIS S. W. and LAURA WATILO BLAKE

ROSE PRISKO

THE GUENTZLER FAMILY

DR. DAVID PERSE

SUSAN SPECTOR

ROLFE PORTER

ART and CAROL ANTON

LYNN GOTTLOB

JAMES S. ANDERSON and DAVID W. WITTKOWSKY

COMMUN I TY PAR TNERS

8

The Medical Mutual Community Engagement Program builds andstrengthens partnerships with other non-profits by connecting them tofilms in the Festival. As a result, the CIFF continues to embed itselfinto the fabric of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Northern Ohio.

Medical Mutual Community Engagement Program

COMMUN I TY PAR TNERS

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival 9

“

The Cleveland International Film Festival was one of my all-timefavorite festival experiences. Amazing organizers and best of all, theaudiences, which were packed and engaged and thoughtful and warmand welcoming and lovely. Every moment at CIFF was top notch!Thanks for the love Cleveland. Can’t wait to return.”—Michael Barnett, Director, BECOMING BULLETPROOF

“

The cast and crew of BECOMING BULLETPROOF gather on stage toaccept the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film.

CIFF blew us away. It means so much to

filmmakers to screen your film in front of a

packed theater, let alone multiple packed

theaters. It was a gift to show FRAME BY

FRAME at this festival and it was an honor

to receive the ReelWomenDirect award at a

festival that recognizes the need for more

women in film. Thank you CIFF!”

—Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli, Co-Directors, FRAME BY FRAME

10

Photo by Hilary Bovay

For the first time in the organization’s history,CIFF held screenings at the world-renownedCleveland Museum of Art in University Circle.

All photos by Cleveland International Film Festival

CIFF39 Opening Night film I’LL SEE YOUIN MY DREAMS director Brett Haley andproducer Rebecca Green pose before theirscreening to 1,500 attendees.

Douglas Boswell, Brian Schmidt, Ann-Marie Schmidt, Abhay Kumar, Khalil Sullins, and Joshua Tateparticipate in the New Direction panel discussion.

“

Approximately 2,000 film fans attendedCIFF39 Closing Night Ceremonies.

Having grown up in Cleveland, it was a dream of

mine to bring ALL-STARS to CIFF and share it with

Cleveland audiences. When that dream became a

reality, the experience far surpassed anything I

could have imagined. CIFF sets the gold standard

for film festivals for both filmmakers and audiences

alike. Everyone involved, from the board members

and staff to every single volunteer, shared a tireless

spirit and boundless enthusiasm for film that trans-

lated to an unparalleled festival experience. To have

such massive and well-informed audiences who

were so eager to engage with filmmakers creates a

unique atmosphere. Another way of putting it is:

CIFF 39 was the best, the greatest, and flat-out fun!

Thanks to everyone for making CIFF 39 so special.

I couldn’t be prouder to be a Clevelander!”

—Lance Kinsey, Director, ALL-STARS

“

Cleveland International Film Festival is a rocket’s red glare acrossthe American cultural firmament. I was blown away by the magnitudeand artistry of the operation you conduct.”—Elliot Thomson, Director, LE REFUGE

The 39th Cleveland International Film Festival 11

The cast and crew of ALL-STARS during their Q&A: Miriam Flynn, Fred Willard, Lance Kinsey, and James Portolese.

A record-setting 8,900 junior highand high school students participatedin FilmSlam at CIFF39.

“Having the opportunity to premiere

my first film FORCED PERSPECTIVE—

which was filmed in Cleveland and is

about a Cleveland artist—with the

fantastic and receptive audiences in

the city I’m from, was a huge honor

and an unforgettable experience. It

made me feel like a Local Hero.”

—Nick Cavalier, Director, FORCED PERSPECTIVE

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONALFILM FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Smith, President

Chris S.W. Blake, Vice President of Strategic Planning

Nancy Callahan, President-Elect, Vice President of Development

William E. Koeth, Vice President of Finance

Kevin Poor, Vice President of Marketing

Kate O’Neil, Secretary

Joe ArezoneJules BelkinFrank Bird IIIAnne E. BloombergJack BoyleRobert BryanCarolyn BullerHon. Joe Cimperman, ex officioJennifer Coleman Jim CrutchfieldJohn DaviesCourtney DeOreoTimothy J. DowningLauren Rich FineChar FowlerScott GainesDebra S. GoldDean IlijasicJinny JohnsonGretchen JonesLisa KingLisa Kreiger Toby Devan LewisAlan Gordon LipsonTodd MesekNjeri Nuru-Holm, Ph.D. Carla Streep O’Day, M.D. Carl RakDavid K. ReamIvan Schwarz, ex officioRoy Turnell

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALEXECUTIVE STAFF

Debby Samples DziobaMarketing Director

Marcie GoodmanExecutive Director

William Frank GuentzlerArtistic Director

Debbie “Sheepie” MarshallOffice Manager and Membership Director

Mallory MartinAssociate Programmer and Projection Manager

Allie PerrettDevelopment Assistant

Beth Steele RadisekSpecial Projects Director

Patrick ShepherdAssociate Director

Gail SullivanFinancial Consultant

The Cleveland

International Film

Festival promotes

artistically and

culturally significant

film arts through

education and

exhibition to enrich

the life of the

community.

M I S S I O N

Cleveland International Film FestivalBusiness Office2510 Market Avenue / Cleveland, OH 44113-3434216.623.FILM (3456) / cfs@clevelandfilm.orgclevelandfilm.org

CIFF Merchandise is available online at clevelandfilm.org

CIFF Membership is available online at clevelandfilm.org

Members have the opportunity to buy discounted tickets a week before the general public.

SAVE THE DATES

40th Cleveland International Film Festival

Tower City Cinemas

Wednesday, March 30 - Sunday, April 10, 2016

YOUR FSC LOGO HERE