The Cleveland International Film Festival kicks off Wednesday night in Playhouse Square and continues in person until April 2, when the viewing moves online for another week with CIFF Streams.
With more than 100 feature-length films and nearly 200 shorts, the festival offers plenty of variety. Here鈥檚 a sampling of films with Ohio or Ukrainian connections, as CIFF partnered this year with Ukraine鈥檚 Odessa Film Festival to offer several of the county鈥檚 films.
Films with Ohio links
鈥淲e are the Troopers鈥�
Explore the history of Toledo鈥檚 profession women鈥檚 football team with the documentary 鈥淲e are the Troopers,鈥� premiering at CIFF. Former players and supporters share their experiences with the team, which started in 1971 and was put up for sale in 1980.
鈥淭his is a really fun and entertaining documentary with some serious notes to it,鈥� said Mallory Martin, artistic director for CIFF.
One of the serious notes is how little the players were paid.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淵ears ago, these women were paid $25 a week.鈥�
Screening March 25, 4:50 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre, and online with CIFF Streams
鈥淧re Fab!鈥�
Parma native Todd Thompson directs this doc about the origins of the Beatles. 鈥淧re Fab!鈥� centers on Colin Hanton, a drummer with the Quarry Men, John Lennon鈥檚 1950s skiffle group, which later evolved into the Beatles.
In the film鈥檚 trailer, Hanton laughs while recalling his father saying to him 鈥渢hat could have been you.鈥�
鈥淐olin is a character,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淗im and his wife together are hilarious.鈥�
Several members of the production team also are from Ohio.
Screening March 26, 2:40 p.m. KeyBank State Theatre, and online with CIFF Streams
鈥淐itizen Sleuth鈥�
An amateur, true-crime podcaster set out to investigate the death of a woman from Marietta, Ohio, and struck a chord with listeners of her Mile Marker 181 podcast. 鈥淐itizen Sleuth鈥� follows Emily Nestor and her investigation as well as the ethical issues that emerged creating a true-crime podcast.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great examination into a big part of our culture,鈥� Martin said.
The documentary is also produced by Northeast Ohio natives Chris Kasick and Tyler Davidson.
Screening March 26, 9:50 p.m., and March 26, 7:25 p.m., Mimi Ohio Theatre
鈥淔ood and Country鈥�
This documentary examines the U.S. food industry, hit particularly hard during the pandemic, through discussions with restaurants owners and farmers, including Bob and Lee Jones of Huron.
鈥淎 lot of these sort of grassroots entities were taken advantage of by larger conglomerates,鈥� Martin said.
鈥淔ood and Country鈥� premiered at Sundance.
Screening March 31, 2:30 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre, and online with CIFF Streams
Ukrainian cinema
鈥淢avka: The Forest Song鈥�
The forest dwelling Mavka wants to protect her home and also her love, however the two come into conflict in this animated children鈥檚 tale. Presented in English, Ukraine鈥檚 鈥淢avka: The Forest Song鈥� is full of adventure.
鈥淭o be able to offer something that comes from the country that is lighthearted and uplifting is really great,鈥� Martin said.
Screening March 25, 12 p.m., Allen Theatre, and online with CIFF Streams.
鈥淧补尘蹿颈谤鈥�
Follow a father鈥檚 suspenseful journey to provide for his family in Western Ukraine despite major challenges. 鈥淧补尘蹿颈谤鈥� is a dramatic thriller in Ukrainian with English subtitles directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk.
鈥淚t's actually one of my favorite films in our festival this year,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淚t's a debut filmmaker, who, especially after you watch the film, it's just amazing that this is his first film that he's made.鈥�
Screening March 25, 10 p.m., and March 28, 2:25 p.m., Upper Allen
鈥�20 Days in Mariupol鈥�
Associated Press on-the-ground footage from the beginning days of the war documents the devastation in Ukraine. 鈥�20 Days in Mariupol鈥� is a compilation of reporting from journalists determined to show the world what was happening.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a film that everybody needs to see right now to remind us all, you know, what is happening over there,鈥� Martin said.
Screening March 26, 7:35 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre
鈥淎 Rising Fury鈥�
鈥淎 Rising Fury鈥� shows Ukrainian resistance to Russian forces over several years preceding Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
鈥淭his film in particular really taught me a lot about the complications and the complexities of this war and where things first started,鈥� Martin said.
One of the directors, Lesya Kalynska, is also coming to the festival.
Screening March 24, 5 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre and online with CIFF Streams
