February 26, 2018

CIFF42 Announces Opening Night and Closing Night Films

The 42nd Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF42) is kicking-off its 12-day run with a story of new-formed friendship, and closing with a look at an epic rivalry that took the tennis world by storm. CIFF42 will be held April 4 – 15, 2018 at Tower City Cinemas and select neighborhood screening locations.

OPENING NIGHT AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE
On Wednesday, April 4th the CIFF42 will open with THE DRUMMER AND THE KEEPER. Directed by Nick Kelly, the film tells the story of the unlikely friendship formed between two young men: Gabriel, a reckless young drummer with bipolar disorder; and, Christopher, a 17-year-old with Asperger’s Syndrome, who yearns to fit in. This heartwarming story shows the strength of the human bond in the face of adversity. The film stars a collection of talented Irish actors including Dermot Murphy, Jacob McCarthy, and Peter Coonan. Special Guests expected to be in attendance on Opening Night include director Nick Kelly, producer Kate McColgan, as well as actors Dermot Murphy and Jacob McCarthy.

Tickets to Opening Night at Playhouse Square are $225 per person ($200 for CIFF members). The evening includes the 7:00 p.m. screening of the film in the Connor Palace, followed by a reception in the KeyBank State Theatre.

CLOSING NIGHT AT TOWER CITY CENTER
On Sunday, April 15th at 7:00 p.m. the Festival will close with BORG VS. MCENROE. Directed by Janus Metz, the film tells the story of the rivalry between two tennis champs: the calm and cool Björn Borg, played by Sverrir Gudnason, and his fiercest competitor, the brash John McEnroe, played by Shia LaBeouf. The story culminates with a legendary meeting on the court at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships.

Closing Night is sponsored by University Hospitals. 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 to any Closing Night film are $14 for CIFF members and $16 for non-members.

CIFF42
For more information on the 214 feature films and 253 short films that will be shown between Opening Night and Closing Night, visit www.clevelandfilm.org beginning Friday, March 9th at 11:00 a.m. Program Guides will be available at all Dollar Bank branches, AT&T retails stores, and throughout the area the week of March 12th. Tickets go on sale to CIFF members on Friday, March 16th at 11:00 a.m. and to the general public on Friday, March 23rd at 11:00 a.m. Tickets will be available online, by phone (1.877.304.FILM), or in-person at the Film Festival Box Office in the lobby of Tower City Cinemas.

The Cleveland International Film Festival is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.