Sat 2/22 + Sun 2/23 @ Noon
Despite the title, the Short. Sweet. Film Fest is difficult to summarize quickly. In its third year, this annual event is expanding to be inclusive of more local, national and international filmmakers, as well as the local music scene. This year’s fest offers dozens of short films, many Q & As with the filmmakers and a full post-fest concert. It all takes place at Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City.
“The film festival has grown in a different way this year,” explains festival organizer and judge Mike Suglio. “Besides receiving more submissions from more places around the world and receiving more local films we have created a sense of community in Cleveland. Many local artists look forward to the festival and this year we have started collaborating with other mediums of art. We are ending the festival with a mini-music festival featuring several local bands. We found (to no surprise) filmmakers enjoy music and musicians enjoy film.”
This year’s festival focuses on films under 25 minutes in length, and organizers worked hard to highlight the works of student filmmakers throughout the nation. Each day of the festival includes over a dozen films discussing a variety of issues. Many of the films are challenging to the audience – a breath of fresh air to audiences frustrated by mainstream Hollywood films.
“This year we are very excited to screen local congressman Matt Zone’s film, Project 5: When I Hear Music, which features Matt Zone’s hip-hop dance troupe from the 1980s,” elaborates Suglio. “We are also the first festival to premiere Luke Wilson’s new film, Satellite Beach, as well as we are premiering the new Palms music video, Rogue Warrior, made by Clevelander, Jon Mancinetti.
“Bryant Clifford Meyer, member of Palms and Isis, will be doing a Q & A session after the screening. Filmmakers are flying in from not only all over the country, but from Canada and England as well to do Q & A sessions about their films.”
Other notable films include Andrew, following a young man diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, OCD and anxiety at the age of 4, and his family as they search for ways to help him grow into the person he is, rather than being defined by his condition. Andrew was filmed in Cleveland by local filmmakers Joseph Jurecki and Travis Pollert.
If you’re a fan of puppets, you won’t want to miss Travis Aitken’s Liability, a dark comedy about a husband who returns home to discover his wife is the victim of a brutal attack. It’s not your typical puppet show. Both films feature Q & A sessions afterwards.
Treasure: The Story of Marcus Hook is sure to resonate with Clevelanders. This documentary by Valerio Ciriaci chronicles the efforts of residents of Marcus Hook, PA (close to Philadelphia) after their largest employer – a Sunoco refinery – shuts down production. The residents rallied and united around a common goal. It’s the story of a community who refused to let itself be defined by a tragedy.
On Sunday, following the last film (Satellite Beach) and a Q & A with Tyler Hoffman from the Observer, an awards ceremony will be held. Afterwards, a concert will feature Meag and the Degrees of Freedom, Christopher Black, Falling Hollywood and local headliner Honeybucket. You won’t want to miss a minute of this festival!
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.