February 26, 2016

CIFF40 Announces Opening Night, Closing Night and 40th Anniversary Signature Event

THE 40TH CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF) TO OPEN WITH: GOOD OL’ BOY

TO CLOSE WITH: HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

TO CELEBRATE ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE SIGNATURE EVENT: THE WORLD PREMIERE OF BELIEVELAND

Coming-of-age films will bookend the 40th Cleveland International Film Festival, presented by Dollar Bank. CIFF40 will be held March 30 – April 10, 2016 at Tower City Cinemas and other select locations.

Opening Night

On Wednesday, March 30th the Festival will open with GOOD OL’ BOY. Directed by Frank Lotito, the film introduces us to ten-year-old Smith, whose family immigrated to the United States from India. While his parents pursue the late 70s version of the American dream, Smith has other plans. This charming ode to a time when socks were knee-high and Tab was sipped through a straw also features a Lone Ranger named Butch, played by Jason Lee.

Tickets to the Opening Night Gala are $200 per person ($175 for CIFF members). The evening includes the 7:00 p.m. screening of the film at Tower City Cinemas, followed by a reception at Post Office Plaza in Tower City Center. Scheduled special guests include: director/producer Frank Lotito; producer/screenwriter/actor Anjul Nigam; and young actor Roni Akurati.

Closing Night

On Sunday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m. the Festival will close with HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE. In a story that is equal parts road comedy and coming-of-age drama, director Taika Waititi masterfully weaves lively humor with emotionally honest performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison. Never short on laughs, this touching film reminds us that growing up (at any age) is a journey that would not be possible without those who help us along the way.

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 a dessert reception and awards presentation program on 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.

40th Anniversary Signature Event

On Thursday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. the CIFF will celebrate its 40th anniversary with the world premiere of BELIEVELAND at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace. Directed by Ohio native and University of Toledo graduate Andy Billman, this documentary is part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series. The film attempts to explain the devotion of Cleveland sports fans throughout the decades of The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, and The Decision.

BELIEVELAND features Jim Brown, Mike Brown, Earnest Byner, Jim Donovan, Craig Ehlo, Dan Gilbert, Aaron Goldhammer, Bob Golic, Tony Grossi, Arsenio Hall, Tom Hamilton, Mike Hargrove, Paul Hoynes, Kenny Lofton, Kevin Mack, David Modell, Charlie Nagy, Fred Nance, Scott Raab, Tony Rizzo, Marty Schottenheimer, Jim Thome, Wright Thompson, Mo Williams, Brian Windhorst, Felix Wright, and many more well-known figures from the history of Cleveland sports.

Tickets to the anniversary screening of BELIEVELAND are $14 for CIFF members and $16 for non-members.

CIFF40

For more information on the 190+ feature films and 210+ short films that will be shown between Opening Night and Closing Night, log onto www.clevelandfilm.org beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4th. Program Guides will be available throughout the area (including at all Dollar Bank branches) the week of March 7th. Tickets go on sale to CIFF members at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11th and to the general public at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 18th. Tickets will be available on line (www.clevelandfilm.org), 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.