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'Lost and Found in Cleveland' breaks attendance records at CIFF, Announces Nov. 7 theatrical release

Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak give direction on the set of 'Lost and Found in Cleveland' >>>

Cleveland’s found its latest box-office sensation, and it isn’t sporting an ‘S’ on its chest or zipping through the city’s eenie-meanie streets. It’s entirely homegrown.

The independent film Lost & Found in Cleveland made history at the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), drawing nearly 2,500 moviegoers to its Midwest premiere on March 30, setting the record for the largest single-screening audience in festival history. 

Not only did it outpace all previous CIFF screenings, but it also packed the house at Playhouse Square like no film has since the venue’s foundation was established in 1973, according to Cleveland.com

Moviegoers who missed the opportunity will have to wait until Nov. 7 to see the film in theaters nationwide. (unless Lost & Found enters more film festivals, of course). Double G Films announced Lost & Found's theatrical release in early April. This marks the first feature release from The Fithian Group's Attend platform, which connects filmmakers directly with theater owners through data-driven tools.

Staging a parade for 'Lost and Found in Cleveland'

Directed by Cleveland native Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman, Lost & Found in Cleveland weaves through the stories of five strangers brought together by an antiques appraisal show. 

The cast of Lost & Found in Cleveland includes: 

  • Dennis Haysbert as a mailman with an unassuming collection of vases 
  • Santino Fontana as a professor hoping to offload an embarrassing yet potentially valuable item 
  • Stacy Keach as a Korean War vet with a set of mysterious plates 
  • Liza Weil as a socialite with a statue of questionable origins, and, 
  • Benjamin Steinhauser as a precocious nine-year-old whose old letter might just change his life

Keep your eye out for June Squibb, who made a splash in Thelma, CIFF 48's opening night feature, and comedic icon Jon Lovitz as Cleveland's mayor

One more star: The city of Cleveland

Shot entirely in Cleveland in 2023, the film turns the city into a character all its own, showcasing landmarks like Playhouse Square, the West Side Market, and the Hope Memorial Bridge. Local staples such as Malley’s Chocolates, Discount Drug Mart, and Sherwin-Williams make appearances, further cementing the film’s deep ties to the city.

And who's familiar voice guides us through the movie? Legendary Cleveland broadcaster Leon Bibb, that's who. Bibb is no stranger to the silver screen. He also appeared in LeMaro Smith’s Affliction and Eric Swinderman’s Made in Cleveland.

For Gerchak, the film is more than just entertainment—it’s a mission. 

“Cleveland is the protagonist of this film,” he said in a recent Cleveland.com interview. “We want to change how people see the city, not just across the country but right here at home.”

Watch the Lost and Found in Cleveland trailer here!

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