Inaugural Cleveland International Kids Film Festival debuts this weekend

Midwinter is often when the heart of the film festival season kicks off, with Sundance in late January followed by South by Southwest (SXSW) in March, the Los Angeles Film Festival in early summer and the New York Film Festival in June.

Those are the big festivals, though. There are hundreds (maybe thousands?) of film festivals across the country. From the prestigious Columbus International Film and Animation Festival to the true grassroots indie FunMill Films Festival, there’s a place to showcase your work.

Even if you’re a kid.

Introducing the Cleveland International Kids Film Festival

This weekend, the Cleveland International Kids Film Festival will unspool 21 films from young filmmakers ranging in age from 7 to 17. The festival is a division of the non-profit The Young Filmmakers Academy (YFA), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

“We have submissions from nine countries, from the U.S., Iran, Switzerland and more,” says film festival organizer Eric Swindermann. “We’re showcasing 21 films with nine films in contention for the top prize, Best Picture. As we grow we hope to increase our number of submissions so that we can showcase hundreds of films.”

The festival is hosting its inaugural year online, due to COVID. For those who want to watch any of the narrative and documentary film submissions - and catch sneak peeks at many of the movies - visit www.clevelandkidsfilmfest.com. The festival runs from February 25 to 27.

Digital tickets to individual films will cost viewers $1.99 each. A festival pass, allowing access to all films, runs $25. The festival will also host a Q&A session with the filmmakers, viewable online. Actress Giselle Eisenberg (The Wolf of Wall Street, American Housewife, Puppy Dog Pals) will announce the festival winners on Feb. 27.

Comments

Everything we know about ‘Eenie Meanie’ on set in Cleveand, Toledo and Sandusky

Samara Weaving as Edie in 'Eenie Meanie' Before James Gunn and the cast and crew of Superman took over Cleveland, another star-studded feature film was laying claim to the sights and sounds and gritty streets of Northeast Ohio: Shawn Simmons Eenie Meanie , debuting today on Hulu. While both films tell the tale of a misunderstood hero just trying to live an honest life, each production brought an entirely different vibe to Cleveland’s neighborhoods. And I say this from personal experience. As a cinephile working downtown during Superman ’s shoot, getting a peek behind the scenes was an exercise in watching from a distance, peering through second-story grocery store windows, or finding hidden spots in parking decks looking over Progressive Field. Eenie Meanie ? Well, all you had to do was ask, and the crew would point you to a good spot on set to watch the action. The set was so open and friendly on the one day I went exploring in Ohio City, I was too self-conscious to take pictu...

Mike Judge's 'Automated Trucking' one of several films awarded tax credits for 2025

Mike Judge and Alec Berg, creators of 'Automated Trucking' >>> Automated Trucking , a new comedy feature from Mike Judge, creator of Office Space , Beavis and Butthead , and King of the Hill , will shoot in Ohio this year - but where in Ohio is the real question. Automated Trucking was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state. The newly launched Ohio Film & Theater Capital Improvements Tax Credit Program (OFATCI) will provide more than $7.3 million to support capital improvements for film and theater production. "Our film tax credits bring producers and stars to Ohio, and they create opportunities for the local businesses, skilled trades, and creatives already here," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The expansion of film in...

Catching up with Erik Bork and 'The Elephant in the Room'

Sean Kleier and Alyssa Limperis play political opposites in love Since our last conversation with Dayton native Erik Bork , the Emmy-winning writer has embraced new creative ventures, including directing his debut feature film, Elephant in the Room . The “red-blue rom-com,” as Bork calls it, delves into political polarization through the intertwined lives of three unexpected companions. And with the 2024 election looming large, what better time for a film like Elephant in the Room ? Set in December 2020, the story follows a progressive Los Angeles woman who meets a Trump supporter and unexpected sparks fly. In the aftermath of their meet-cute, however, she questions whether they can overlook their political differences to build something more. “The film is less about political debate and more about flawed yet relatable characters who explore their differences while trying to figure out their lives and relationships in a heartfelt, humorous way,” explains Bork. Alyssa Limperi...

Midwest Movie Maker

Search This Blog