Chagrin Falls
Ohio
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 2023
Arts and Entertainment
October 3, 2023
From: Chagrin Documentary Film FestivalDedicated to educating audiences and empowering talented filmmakers to tell their stories.
The Festival is a five day celebration of the art of documentary film, at venues in and around the century village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. This inspiring event draws audiences from all over Northeast Ohio, the US and the world to experience documentary films and the compelling art and culture they highlight.
Schedule :
October 3, 2023
5:30 PM : CDFF's 14th Annual Opening Night VIP Reception & The Big Watch - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Special VIP Reception prior to "The Big Watch". Join host Gabe Spiegel of Fox 8 as we open the 14th Annual CDFF and launch THE BIG WATCH, an Ohio Humanities partnership that brings families together to experience a heartwarming documentary for all ages. Walk the red carpet with filmmakers and local celebrates. Enjoy a cocktail and a large selection of appetizers from some of the best local restaurants. VIP ticket includes the film "My Name is Annabel", following the reception. $75 Individual ticket, included in membership for Family Explorer and up.
6:30 PM : My Name is Annabel Opening Night - The Big Watch - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Sponsored by Ohio Humanities
6:30 PM - General public is invited to join the red carpet.
Join host Gabe Spiegel of Fox 8 as we open the 14th Annual CDFF and launch THE BIG WATCH, an Ohio Humanities partnership that brings families together to experience a heartwarming documentary for all ages.
Bring your family for a night of film, fun and popcorn! Film starts at 7:00 PM. $12 individual film ticket (students with a parent are free!)
My Name Is Annabel
Annabel Hernandez is a performer with Down syndrome. She shares the story of her passion for performing and how her family and friends have helped her along her journey.
Runtime: 20 minutes
Director: Ida Joglar
7:00 PM : Film Fest Lighting of the Falls! - Riverside Park
In loving memory of Ron Humprey
Nightly, Wednesday, October 3 through Sunday, October 8. The 14th Anniversary Festival spotlight is on Chagrin Falls as the upper and lower are lit nightly!
October 4, 2023
9:00 AM : Historical Shorts - Films, Bagels, and Coffee - Chagrin Falls Historical Society
Film, Bagels and Coffee. Take a morning stroll over to the Historical Society to enjoy historical short films. $15 individual tickets, included for members Igniter and above.
Carpenter
Watch the process of Hussein Mahmood, a carpenter who uses his skills to make wooden legs for amputees.
Runtime: 14 minutes
Director: Xelîl Sehragerd
Witch Hunt
In WITCH HUNT, Conrad Bromberg tells the story of his father, J. Edward Bromberg, and his fight against communist claims against him that ultimately ended his Hollywood career.
Runtime: 31 minutes
Director: Anthony J. Sherin, Geneviève Mathis
The Syrian Cosmonaut
This is the story of Muhammed Faris, the first Syrian to go to outer space. He is forced to flee his country, as his ideas for a free Syria make him a target.
Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: Charles Emir Richards
11:00 AM : Monument - Methodist Church
Filmmaker Michael Turner brings us on a deeply personal journey as he documents his first visit to a memorial for family members lost at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. The memorial was created by his own grandmother, a Hungarian Jew, for her beloved parents and sister, bringing a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking generational impact of the Holocaust . MONUMENT is a powerful and poetic story of relatives meeting through time and space to carry the memory of the Hungarian Jews forward.
11:15 AM : Undertaker for Life! - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
This charming yet unexpected film shows us the lighter side of death and those who work with it. Although undertakers work with the dead, they often oversee the living. Helping families grieve is a big part of their work. In UNDERTAKER FOR LIFE!, we learn that their love of life and the living, their dark humor and comforting wisdom are the best remedies against existential despair. Director Georges Hannan tackles a taboo subject and lifts the veil from an under-appreciated world.
Runtime: 52 minutes
Director: Georges Hannan
11:30 AM : Inspiration of Art - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
A Chocolate Lens
Steven Cummings uses his skills as a photographer to tell stories. Learn about his journey in a disappearing Black Washington, D.C. using photography to show his love for black culture across the country.
Runtime: 21 minutes
Director: Gabriel Veras
Handwritten
In this beautifully animated documentary, Jaime Sunwoo looks at how handwriting plays into her self-perception, from her past, her present, and into her future.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Jaime Sunwoo
The Vanishing Strings of the Andes
Visit Ecuador in this moving documentary that chronicles the decline of guitar tourism and the guitar-making craft.
Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: Sam Watkins
12:45 PM : Abled - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Blake Leeper has always dreamed of running in the Olympics. He has the training, ambition, and even the qualifying times, but there is one thing preventing him— Blake is disabled. The International Track Federation believes Blake has an unfair advantage due to his prosthetic legs and has declared he must prove them wrong. Join Blake as he endures test after test to prove that he, and other disabled athletes, should be allowed to compete with able-bodied athletes.
Runtime: 89 minutes
Director: Einar Thorsteinsson
1:00 PM : Down River Jordan - Methodist Church
Once a sacred life-giving site, the Jordan River today carries a different story – one of human conflict and the ravages of pollution. As Israel’s primary water source, the Jordan River's flow has diminished by nearly 95% over the last 60 years. DOWN RIVER JORDAN follows the journey of five river guides embarking on an adventure to kayak the length of the roaring Jordan River. What they witness is the heart-breaking impact that environmental neglect has had on this beloved river, as well as the fierce hope of those who are battling to save it.
Runtime: 60 minutes
Director: Addie Navarro
2:00 PM : Filmmaker Q&A - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Meet the filmmakers as they share their story about creating their documentaries. Stay tuned for the line-up filmmakers.
3:00 PM : The Radical - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Living as a queer person, even in places where laws are supportive and acceptance is common, can be challenging. However, being a queer Muslim in Africa requires even more courage, faith, and perseverance. Muhsin Hendricks, South Africa's first openly gay Imam, is leading the way for other LGBTQ Muslims in their journey toward acceptance by promoting the idea that true Muslim values involve unconditional love and the Quran's teachings of justice for all.
Runtime: 87 minutes
3:00 PM : City Kids & Going Home - Methodist Church
In Community Partnership with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking
City Kids
Every childhood has a story… but inner city youth often don’t get the chance to experience nature and outdoor adventure. To address this, Leon and Leticia McNeil founded City Kids Adventures, a program that gives these children a chance to explore the outdoors. As City Kids Adventures has grown and improved, many kids have been empowered to thrive, each with their own unique story.
Runtime: 63 minutes
Director: Zac Zlatic
Going Home
GOING HOME introduces us to four homeless people in California. They share the stories of how they ended up homeless and what their goals are for their futures.
Runtime: 23 minutes
Director: Alessandra Carlino
4:00 PM : This is San Esteban Learn 3D Surveying - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Professional Surveyor, David Bodo Jr., shows us what it’s like to work in the field with 3D surveying equipment. Free will donation ticket for demonstration and film.
Have you ever wanted to join an archeological dig? THIS IS SAN ESTEBAN details a dig from a non-archaeologist’s perspective.
5:00 PM : Everyone's A Critic - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
YOU can help to choose the winner of CDFF’s “Everyone’s a Critic” award!
This is your chance to select the documentary short winner of the Everyone’s a Critic Award! The fun starts at 5:00 PM with appetizers and a cocktail. The films begin at 5:30 PM and voting will occur after each film.
$30 for individual tickets, included in memberships Igniter and up.
Carpenter
Watch the process of Hussein Mahmood, a carpenter who uses his skills to make wooden legs for amputees.
Runtime: 14 minutes
Director: Xelîl Sehragerd
A Chocolate Lens
Steven Cummings uses his skills as a photographer to tell stories. Learn about his journey in a disappearing Black Washington, D.C. using photography to show his love for black culture across the country.
Runtime: 21 minutes
Director: Gabriel Veras
Zambezia: A Well for Change
Ibrahim Manuel is a community leader in Zambezia, Mozambique, where he is bringing water wells to communities in need.
Runtime: 23 minutes
Director: AMINE HARBOUL
5:15 PM : People You Need to Meet - Methodist Church
Strong Grandma
Catherine Kuehn, a 95-year-old world-record winning power lifter prepares for her last competition and reflects on the love, and the loss, that brought her to this moment.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Cecilia Brown, Winslow Crane-Murdoch
Uncle Bully's Surf Skool
After the pandemic tanked tourism in Hawaii, Bull “Bully” Kotter’s surfing school had to find a new way to operate. Now, Uncle Bully teaches children how to surf and other life lessons they aren't getting elsewhere.
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Leah Warshawski
5:30 PM : Earthbound: Nzambi Matee & Zambezia: A Well for Change - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Earthbound: Nzambi Matee
The inspiring story of how one dynamic human being can change the world and improve lives at the same time. During the catastrophic plastic waste crisis in her hometown of Nairobi, Kenya, Nzambi Matee risks everything to pioneer a technology that transforms plastic waste into sustainable building bricks. Nzambi’s bricks not only help solve the pollution crisis but can be used to create affordable housing in her hometown and across the globe. Nzambi Matee inspires all of us with her message of never giving up.
Runtime: 47 minutes
Director: Farhoud Meybodi
Zambezia: A Well for Change
Ibrahim Manuel is a community leader in Zambezia, Mozambique, where he is bringing water wells to communities in need.
Runtime: 23 minutes
Director: AMINE HARBOUL
5:30 PM : Explore the Neo Cycling Scene - Riverside Park
Hosted by Major Bill Koons and the Mayfield Wildcat Cycling Group
Film: Eighteen Tuesdays
Put on your club jersey (or not!) and join regional cycling groups for a film and discussion of the great trails and cycling experiences happening right here in our community.
Eighteen Tuesdays
Two filmmakers bring their friends together to cycle the streets of Cleveland. Over the next EIGHTEEN TUESDAYS, their community becomes stronger in a way they never expected.
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: merrick apple presser, Tommy cobby sheridan
6:45 PM : Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc's Adventure in Plastic - Methodist Church
Remember Tupperware parties? This award-winning documentary follows Phranc, a Jewish, lesbian folk singer who reached notable fame in the 1980s, in her escapades as a Tupperware saleswoman. Phranc finds great joy with her new occupation as well as success in her unique and fun-filled sales approach. Phranc also encounters the politics of being in an industry among housewives and executives not accustomed to her lifestyle.
Runtime: 58 minutes
Director: Lisa Udelson
7:00 PM : The Other Fellow/Shaken Not Stirred - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Like secret agent James Bond, we like our martinis- shaken not stirred. Meet some of the “James Bond” subjects of the film while enjoying Mr. Bond’s favorite drink before the film to celebrate the premier of The Other Fellow.
$30 individual ticket, included in their membership for Igniters and up.
The Other Fellow
Bond, James Bond. Author Ian Fleming was on the hunt for a name to call his hero when he came upon a bird book by Philadelphia ornithologist James Bond. The rest is history. Today there are nearly one-million people who carry the name. Not all are happy with their secondhand claim to fame. Some don’t mind, including a Swedish James Bond who is a 007 impersonator and founder of a museum honoring the famous spy and a British woman who took the name to throw an abusive ex-husband off her trail.
Runtime: 80 minutes
Director: Matthew Bauer
7:15 PM : The Space Race - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
THE SPACE RACE uncovers the little-known stories of the first black pilots, engineers, and scientists to become astronauts in the United States.
Simultaneously championed and exploited as political pawns, some made it to space, while others were erased from history. For the first time, THE SPACE RACE puts their lived experiences back into the space exploration narrative and uncovers what it means for the future generation of black astronauts.
October 5, 2023
9:00 AM : Docs & Donuts - Parents Morning Out - St. Joan of Arc Church
Ditch the drop off blues and join us for donuts, coffee, and riveting docs!
Film: A selection of short films. $12 Individual tickets- Included with membership Family Explorer and up.
Handwritten
In this beautifully animated documentary, Jaime Sunwoo looks at how handwriting plays into her self-perception, from her past, her present, and into her future.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Jaime Sunwoo
Healing Paws
Cleveland’s University Hospital is part of a unique facility dog program that encourages dogs to intuitively help patients, rather than follow commands, resulting in patients making healing connections.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Henry Ortlip
Strong Grandma
Catherine Kuehn, a 95-year-old world-record winning power lifter prepares for her last competition and reflects on the love, and the loss, that brought her to this moment.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Cecilia Brown, Winslow Crane-Murdoch
Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
Mark Racop took his interest in Batman from being a simple fan to becoming a master mechanic, crafting custom batmobiles for sale. Mark then ends up in a criminal court case fighting for what is right.
Runtime: 12 minutes
Director: Aidan Merck
Many Hearts - One Community
Organizations come together to create a beautification project in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood of Cleveland, consisting of murals around the area as a way to bring the community together.
Runtime : 6 minutes
Director : Dave Tarbert
10:30 AM : Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc's Adventure in Plastic - Methodist Church
Remember Tupperware parties? This award-winning documentary follows Phranc, a Jewish, lesbian folk singer who reached notable fame in the 1980s, in her escapades as a Tupperware saleswoman. Phranc finds great joy with her new occupation as well as success in her unique and fun-filled sales approach. Phranc also encounters the politics of being in an industry among housewives and executives not accustomed to her lifestyle.
Runtime: 58 minutes
Director: Lisa Udelson
11:00 AM : International Stories - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
The Syrian Cosmonaut
This is the story of Muhammed Faris, the first Syrian to go to outer space. He is forced to flee his country, as his ideas for a free Syria make him a target.
Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: Charles Emir Richards
Diables
With gorgeous and fiery cinematography, the Diables or ‘devils’ participate in a ritual of fire to express the independence and culture of Catalonia.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Tom Sweetland
Finding Ubuntu
Maick Mutej is a survivor of displacement due to internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After losing his family, he became a leader for thousands of other refugees.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Director: Annette King, Ishmael Azeli
Kumari: A Father's Dream
In the community of Kumari, Nepal, Jagat Lama followed his father’s dying wish to build a medical clinic in the area. Less than 2 years later, a massive earthquake hits Nepal wreaking havoc on the small town. Now, Jagat and his guides must also help the city rebuild.
In loving memory of George Ricketts
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Sean O'Connor
The World Cup Whistleblower
Anish, a huge football fan, was excited to work on the construction team for the stadiums for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His excitement quickly faded when he faced dangerous working conditions and very little pay.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Fred Grace
11:00 AM : The Last Bumblebee - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
After the film: Come and taste all that the bees have to offer! Apiarists from all over Northeast Ohio bring their best batches of honey for you to try. Taste what each region has to offer.
The Last Bumblebee
For millions of years, bumblebees have populated the earth, tirelessly pollinating our crops and contributing to the biodiversity of our ecosystems. But with environmental and other threats, the survival of these beloved pollinators has been put in jeopardy. "Franklin's Bumblebee," a once-common species, is now critically endangered, with the last sighting dating back to 2006. Through stunning cinematography and insightful interviews, we explore the vital role of bees in our ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these important pollinators.
12:00 PM : Oppenheimer After Trinity - Methodist Church
How would it feel to have just created a weapon which resulted in massive death and destruction? Explore the mindset of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer on a journey to discover what took place before, during, and after the testing of the world's first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. Events quickly unfolded that caused a course of action that is still debated today. Using the written and spoken words of Dr. Oppenheimer, we understand the weight of the world that was on his shoulders at that moment in time.
12:00 PM : Student Shorts - Riverside Park
Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
Mark Racop took his interest in Batman from being a simple fan to becoming a master mechanic, crafting custom batmobiles for sale. Mark then ends up in a criminal court case fighting for what is right.
Runtime: 12 minutes
Director: Aidan Merck
Do You See Me?
Blind musical prodigy Kyle Woodruff defies prejudice and expectations to become a skilled educator and the first blind male member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Director: Camille Gottscheck
Finding Peace: The Story of Cliff Kent
Cliff Kent, a commercial fisherman in Santa Barbara, recounts the story of his near-death experience on a trip with his friends Michael Caligiuri and Joseph Breck— a trip they will never forget.
Runtime: 16 minutes
Director: Drew Rasmus
World Between Our Ears
Columbus-based musician and comic book writer Miles Curtiss navigates his return to live music after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Rory Klein, Miles Curtiss
12:30 PM : A Taste of Local Honey - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Special event after the film: The Last Bumblebee. Come and taste all that bees have to offer! Apiarists from all over Northeast Ohio bring their best batches of honey for you to try. Taste what each region has to offer.
1:00 PM : Under the Sea - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
A 20-Nautical Mile Journey Back to Safety
On April 19, 2022, a sperm whale ran aground in Xiangshan, Ningbo. With the active efforts of many, the whole community came together to send the whale back to his home.
Runtime: 19 minutes
Director: Claire Cai
Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks
Come visit Malpelo, a secluded island in the Pacific Ocean that is home to hundreds of sharks. But like many wild places, this one is in grave danger. Illegal fishing and shark-finning might soon deplete this natural wonder.
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Kevin Mannens
Mermaid
Sisilie is about to become the new captain of the fishing boat she has inherited from her father. As she navigates her relationship with her dad, will Sislie find her own feet as a fisherwoman?
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Eilif Bremer Landsend
School of Fish
Salmon are vital to the history and lives of the Indigenous people in Bristol Bay, Alaska. As corporations move into the area, their livelihoods are at stake. Can they defend the most prolific salmon run left on earth?
Runtime: 19 minutes
Director: Colin Arisman, Oliver Sutro
1:00 PM : Taken: An American Hostage Story - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Mark McAlister and John Hamen III had just landed in Yemen. They'd both been hired to renovate a hotel for the U.S. State Department in the Middle East. Amid a brutal civil war, they soon became bargaining chips. This is a story of what happens when one's worst nightmare becomes national news – after the spotlight fades, but the suffering doesn't. This is a story about the hidden cost of war.
Runtime: 45 minutes
Director: Meg Vogel
1:20 PM : The Wagner Group. Putin's Mercenaries - Methodist Church
We’ve heard about them in the news, now this film takes us behind the scenes. During the war in Ukraine, the Wagner Group, a private military company in Russia, rose in popularity and power. THE WAGNER GROUP. PUTIN’S MERCENARIES speaks with former members of the group who fled west as they disagreed with the group’s methods of operation. With never before seen footage of the Wagner Group during the Ukrainian war, this film gives viewers an inside look at the group’s role in corruption and destruction.
Runtime: 43 minutes
Director: Ewa Galica
2:30 PM : The Mission - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
As a young boy, John Chau dreamed of the life of an explorer. As a young adult and devout Christian, Chau took this dream further, becoming consumed by a controversial goal: to be the first Christian missionary to convert the most isolated tribe of people in the world, the Sentinelese. Driven by his faith, Chau went forward and paid the ultimate price. THE MISSION pieces together this multifaceted story using interviews and excerpts from Chau’s diary, leading to the journey that would ultimately take his life.
Runtime: 103 minutes
Director: Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine
3:15 PM : Letters from the Blue - Methodist Church
We meet three inmates on Death Row in the U.S. and their long term pen pals in the UK who have forged remarkable and intimate relationships outside of prison through the everyday gift of a letter. The bond of friendship is formed over the years and the inmates help their pen pals with their everyday struggles, despite their looming executions. LETTERS FROM THE BLUE introduces us to these very unlikely pen pals and reminds us of the unbreakable nature of the human spirit and the unexpected bonds that form.
Runtime: 55 minutes
Director: Nick Calori, Nico Sersale
3:30 PM : People You Need to Meet - Riverside Park
Strong Grandma
Catherine Kuehn, a 95-year-old world-record winning power lifter prepares for her last competition and reflects on the love, and the loss, that brought her to this moment.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Cecilia Brown, Winslow Crane-Murdoch
Uncle Bully's Surf Skool
After the pandemic tanked tourism in Hawaii, Bull “Bully” Kotter’s surfing school had to find a new way to operate. Now, Uncle Bully teaches children how to surf and other life lessons they aren't getting elsewhere.
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Leah Warshawski
4:00 PM : Mompreneur Podcast - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Mompreneur podcaster Megan Moran interviews some of CDFF’s visiting women filmmakers. Free and open to the public.
4:00 PM : Ladies Night!
Gather your friends and catch some great documentary films! Make a memorable evening of it at CDFF!
$30 includes films after 4 pm on 10/5, a special cocktail and snacks at MBevy at 6:30.
Stop by Sanity from 3-6 pm for champagne and discounts.
Reservations required in advance. Included in Igniter and above membership levels.
Suggested Ladies Night Films:
9to5: The Story of a Movement, Ohio Stories, Patrick and the Whale, Anna and the Egyptian Doctor
5:15 PM : 9to5: The Story of A Movement Tribute to Ohio Documentarian Julia Reichert - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
CDFF pays tribute to Academy Award winning documentarian Julia Reichert who passed away in 2022. Julia’s husband Steve Bognar will join CDFF in honoring the life and work of this trailblazing filmmaker.
9to5: The Story of A Movement
When Dolly Parton sang “9 to 5,” she was doing more than just shining a light on the fate of American working women. Parton was singing the true story of a movement that started with 9to5, a group of Boston secretaries in the early 1970s. Their goals were simple—better pay, more advancement opportunities and an end to sexual harassment—but their unconventional approach attracted the press and shamed their bosses into change. 9TO5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT is the untold story of the fight that inspired a hit and changed the American workplace.
Runtime: 85 minutes
Director: Julia Reichert, Steven Bognar
Buy Tickets
5:15 PM : The Other Fellow - Methodist Church
Bond, James Bond. Author Ian Fleming was on the hunt for a name to call his hero when he came upon a bird book by Philadelphia ornithologist James Bond. The rest is history. Today there are nearly one-million people who carry the name. Not all are happy with their secondhand claim to fame. Some don’t mind, including a Swedish James Bond who is a 007 impersonator and founder of a museum honoring the famous spy and a British woman who took the name to throw an abusive ex-husband off her trail.
Runtime: 80 minutes
Director: Matthew Bauer
5:30 PM : Ohio Stories - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Many Hearts - One Community
Organizations come together to create a beautification project in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood of Cleveland, consisting of murals around the area as a way to bring the community together.
Runtime: 6 minutes
Director: Dave Tarbert
Armor at the Arnold
A fascinating look at the growing sport of Armored Combat through the eyes of participants in the Medieval Fighting Invitational at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.
Runtime: 4 minutes
Director: Steve K. Oldfield
Go-kart Therapy
How do you cope with stress? These fun-loving guys use go-karts! After transforming an old go-kart into a Cleveland Browns-themed vehicle, they now use it as a form of therapy to help with the struggles of being a Cleveland sports fan.
In loving memory of John Kusik
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Ron Hill
Junk Genius
Damon Drummond takes the ”junk” from scrap yards and transforms them into art.
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Kelley Wolf Griffith
Ward 5 United
Lacking enough 12-year-old boys to form a football team in one Cleveland neighborhood, coaches decide to merge teams from two rival neighborhoods. Their goal is to construct a winning squad and build bonds that reach beyond the field.
Runtime: 24 minutes
Director: Mark Naymik
5:30 PM : Bourbon Tasting at Paris Room Tent - Paris Room Tent
VIP guests can attend a special bourbon tasting with dinner. Then view "Williams & Mansell: Red 5" at The Chagrin Valley Little Theatre which starts at 7:30PM. Individual tickets $85, includes tasting, dinner and film (limited capacity). Special event included in membership for Dreamers.
Call 440-247-0444 or email [email protected] for reservations.
6:00 PM : Cars, Cigars & Craft Beers Williams & Mansell: Red 5
In Partnership with the Chagrin Valley Jaycees
The trifecta to a perfect evening. Join us as we gather at the patio to the right of The Chagrin Little Theatre before the fun racing film Williams & Mansell: Red 5 for conversations about craft beers, cars & cigars. Enjoy a light fair of local favorite snacks while sipping on a craft beer from Crooked ******. $30 includes beer, snacks and a great film. Then it's off to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre for the Film: Williams & Mansell: Red 5 (Film only at 7:30 PM) Included in Igniter and up memberships.
7:15 PM : Anna and the Egyptian Doctor - Methodist Church
This is the incredible story of Arab Egyptian Doctor Mohamed Helmy, who risked everything to save a young girl during the Nazi regime in Germany. He pretended to support the Nazis and gained their trust as a physician. When a Jewish girl, Anna, received a deportation notice, he took her on as his assistant. As conditions in Germany worsened, Dr. Helmy hid her in the outskirts of Berlin, putting his life in danger to protect hers. Years later, Anna's daughter and Dr. Helmy's nephew meet to receive the “Righteous Among the Nations” award from Yad Vashem.
Runtime: 76 minutes
Director: Taliya Finkel
7:30 PM : Patrick and the Whale - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Patrick Dykstra has dedicated his life to following and diving with whales. In 2019, Patrick developed a life-changing relationship with a female sperm whale he named "Dolores." This is the story of Patrick's return to Dolores. Through stunning underwater footage, you will be transported into the depths of the ocean to explore the fascinating nature of the sperm whale. This engaging film shines a light on its intelligence, complexity, and powerful relationship with humankind.
Runtime: 72 minutes
Director: Mark Fletcher
7:30 PM : Williams & Mansell: Red 5 - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Nigel Mansell is recognized as one of the greatest race car drivers of all time, but how did he get there? He struggled through race after race, coming just short of winning, but he didn’t let that stop him. WILLIAMS & MANSELL: RED 5 tells the story of how he made it to the World Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, using not only his driving skills, but his engineering background and the help of the Williams Engineering F1 team.
Runtime: 87 minutes
Director: James Wiseman
October 6, 2023
11:00 AM : The Last Thing Lost & Carpenter - Methodist Church
The Last Thing Lost
Sarith Ou narrowly escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia during the 1970s. Despite staying connected to his Cambodian culture, Sarith felt the need to return to his homeland decades later to explore all that he lost.
Joined by his friend, Vietnam veteran and psychologist Roger Garms, Sarith returns to Cambodia, bringing hope to the community as an educational leader. Founding the Cambodian School Association, he strives to improve the community for the next generation of children.
Runtime: 42 minutes
Director: Jake Siam
Carpenter
Watch the process of Hussein Mahmood, a carpenter who uses his skills to make wooden legs for amputees.
Runtime: 14 minutes
Director: Xelîl Sehragerd
11:15 AM : With Peter Bradley - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
With Peter Bradley
Renowned abstract painter Peter Bradley made it big in the 1960s New York art scene at a time when few Black artists gained recognition. But by the end of the 1970s, he was all but forgotten. WITH PETER BRADLEY gives us the candid story, directly from the 79-year-old artist as he demonstrates how he creates the “color field” paintings that made him famous and why modern jazz music is an integral part of his process.
Runtime: 86 minutes
Director: Alex Rappoport
12:00 PM : A Clean Slate 2nd Chances - City Club Panel - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
How do we give ex-prisoners a 2nd chance to be successful members of society? Rick Jackson and the City Club present a panel discussion with Brandon Chrostowski and members of Edwins Institute and Malika Kidd of "Chopping for Change".
A Clean Slate
Clean Slate Milwaukee helps former convicts expunge their criminal records for a chance to start again.
Runtime: 14 minutes
Director: Tran Hoang Calvin
12:00 PM : Our Shared Planet - Riverside Park
The Bear Coast
Join Bear Coast locals to learn about the environmental issues impacting their land and the large community of brown bears living there. THE BEAR COAST highlights multiple viewpoints with one common goal: keep the bears safe.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Andrew Ackerman
Between Earth and Sky
Renowned ecologist Nalini Nadkarni has spent her career studying the effects of ecological disturbances on rainforest canopies. After a life-threatening fall, Nalini must resolve the effects of this disturbance on herself.
Runtime: 25 minutes
Director: Andrew Nadkarni
The Last of the Nightingales Bernie Krause, the legendary pioneer of Acoustic Ecology, takes us on an immersive journey to understand the road map that natural soundscapes offer for overcoming the climate crisis.
Runtime: 32 minutes
Director: Masha Karpoukhina
12:30 PM : King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones - Methodist Church
King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
Family man, folk hero, or the architect of the 1930s Chicago numbers racket? Who was Edward Jones? Filmmaker Harriet Marin Jones digs deep to learn the truth in KING OF KINGS: CHASING EDWARD JONES. She finds there is truth in all of the above. Jones was a sought-after figure that, even as a black man, he was invited to places where his race was not welcome. He rubbed shoulders with celebrities, politicians, and shared the city’s underworld with Al Capone.
Runtime: 98 minutes
Director: Harriet Marin Jones
1:15 PM : Under the Sea - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
A 20-Nautical Mile Journey Back to Safety
On April 19, 2022, a sperm whale ran aground in Xiangshan, Ningbo. With the active efforts of many, the whole community came together to send the whale back to his home.
Runtime: 19 minutes
Director: Claire Cai
Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks
Come visit Malpelo, a secluded island in the Pacific Ocean that is home to hundreds of sharks. But like many wild places, this one is in grave danger. Illegal fishing and shark-finning might soon deplete this natural wonder.
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Kevin Mannens
Mermaid
Sisilie is about to become the new captain of the fishing boat she has inherited from her father. As she navigates her relationship with her dad, will Sislie find her own feet as a fisherwoman?
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Eilif Bremer Landsend
School of Fish
Salmon are vital to the history and lives of the Indigenous people in Bristol Bay, Alaska. As corporations move into the area, their livelihoods are at stake. Can they defend the most prolific salmon run left on earth?
Runtime: 19 minutes
Director: Colin Arisman, Oliver Sutro
2:00 PM : Fillmaker Panel Discussion - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Meet the filmmakers as they share their story about creating their documentaries. Stay tuned for the line-up filmmakers.
3:00 PM : Abled - Methodist Church
Blake Leeper has always dreamed of running in the Olympics. He has the training, ambition, and even the qualifying times, but there is one thing preventing him— Blake is disabled. The International Track Federation believes Blake has an unfair advantage due to his prosthetic legs and has declared he must prove them wrong. Join Blake as he endures test after test to prove that he, and other disabled athletes, should be allowed to compete with able-bodied athletes.
Runtime: 89 minutes
Director: Einar Thorsteinsson
3:15 PM : When My Sleeping Dragon Woke - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Veteran actress Sharon Washington grew up living inside a library. We join Sharon on her journey as she writes about her enchanted childhood and the wonder of the library. Like all fairytales, the sleeping dragon awakes causing chaos and fear. Sharon realizes she must reckon with her past and slay the family dragon she silenced years ago.
In loving memory of Shelly Artz
Runtime: 80 minutes
Director: Chuck Schultz, Judah-Lev Dickstein
4:00 PM : Student Shorts - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
Mark Racop took his interest in Batman from being a simple fan to becoming a master mechanic, crafting custom batmobiles for sale. Mark then ends up in a criminal court case fighting for what is right.
Runtime: 12 minutes
Director: Aidan Merck
Do You See Me?
Blind musical prodigy Kyle Woodruff defies prejudice and expectations to become a skilled educator and the first blind male member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Director: Camille Gottscheck
Finding Peace: The Story of Cliff Kent
Cliff Kent, a commercial fisherman in Santa Barbara, recounts the story of his near-death experience on a trip with his friends Michael Caligiuri and Joseph Breck— a trip they will never forget.
Runtime: 16 minutes
Director: Drew Rasmus
World Between Our Ears
Columbus-based musician and comic book writer Miles Curtiss navigates his return to live music after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Rory Klein, Miles Curtiss
5:15 PM : Odyssey - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Prepare to be awed as six California kids test their brains, backs, and talents against counterparts worldwide in Odyssey of the Mind, a complex problem-solving competition requiring mechanical, creative, and intellectual skills. With little money and zero adult participation, the teens build a robot to address bullying, exclusion, and teen suicide. But how does their solution measure up against the world?
Runtime: 102 minutes
Director: Garrett Stiger
5:15 PM : Momentum: From Pandemic to Cleveland's New Way of Learning/Focus on the Future of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Hear from the former Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Grodon, the driving force in shepherding the district through the pandemic and the resulting vision for a seccessful future. What challenges and opportunities does the district face in the coming years?
Panel Moderator: Mark Naymik, Managing Editor, Signal Cleveland
Runtime: 40 minutes
5:30 PM : The Chagrin Valley Chamber Hosts the Filmmakers Happy Hour - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Members, Sponsors, and Chamber members only, are invited to meet the inspiring filmmakers behind the stories! Grab a cold glass of craft beer or a glass of wine before heading off to your next film!
5:30 PM : Anna and the Egyptian Doctor - Methodist Church
This is the incredible story of Arab Egyptian Doctor Mohamed Helmy, who risked everything to save a young girl during the Nazi regime in Germany. He pretended to support the Nazis and gained their trust as a physician. When a Jewish girl, Anna, received a deportation notice, he took her on as his assistant. As conditions in Germany worsened, Dr. Helmy hid her in the outskirts of Berlin, putting his life in danger to protect hers. Years later, Anna's daughter and Dr. Helmy's nephew meet to receive the “Righteous Among the Nations” award from Yad Vashem.
Runtime: 76 minutes
Director: Taliya Finkel
6:30 PM : Patrick and the Whale - South Franklin Circle
Patrick Dykstra has dedicated his life to following and diving with whales. In 2019, Patrick developed a life-changing relationship with a female sperm whale he named "Dolores." This is the story of Patrick's return to Dolores. Through stunning underwater footage, you will be transported into the depths of the ocean to explore the fascinating nature of the sperm whale. This engaging film shines a light on its intelligence, complexity, and powerful relationship with humankind.
Runtime: 72 minutes
Director: Mark Fletcher
7:00 PM : People You Need to Meet - Riverside Park
Strong Grandma
Catherine Kuehn, a 95-year-old world-record winning power lifter prepares for her last competition and reflects on the love, and the loss, that brought her to this moment.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Cecilia Brown, Winslow Crane-Murdoch
Uncle Bully's Surf Skool
After the pandemic tanked tourism in Hawaii, Bull “Bully” Kotter’s surfing school had to find a new way to operate. Now, Uncle Bully teaches children how to surf and other life lessons they aren't getting elsewhere.
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Leah Warshawski
7:15 PM : "56/Z" Celebrating All Things Hungarian - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
The annual gathering of the regional Hungarian community is not be missed. Celebrate the culture with Hungarian music and a reception to follow. $15 individual ticket included in membership Family Explorer and up.
56/Z
What does Hungary’s generation Z think about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956? What does one of Hungary’s most important historical events of the 20th century and the first major uprising against the Soviet Union mean to those young adults who are so far removed from it? The students in the film struggle to express their own take on this pivotal historical event. This is less about 1956 and more about how a new generation approaches history.
Runtime: 80 minutes
7:30 PM : The Space Race - Methodist Church
THE SPACE RACE uncovers the little-known stories of the first black pilots, engineers, and scientists to become astronauts in the United States. Simultaneously championed and exploited as political pawns, some made it to space, while others were erased from history. For the first time, THE SPACE RACE puts their lived experiences back into the space exploration narrative and uncovers what it means for the future generation of black astronauts.
Runtime: 91 minutes
Director: Lisa Cortés, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza
7:45 PM : Citizen Sleuth - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
True crime podcaster Emily Nestor became an amateur detective when a fatal accident and police cover-up raised suspicions that this was actually a murder. Emily ruthlessly tracks every lead and ultimately identifies two suspects, baring it all on a podcast called Mile Marker 181. Ride along with Emily, the CITIZEN SLEUTH, as she recreates the crime, talks to experts, and risks becoming a victim of her own best intentions.
Runtime: 85 minutes
Director: Chris Kasick
October 7, 2023
10:30 AM : Letters from the Blue - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
We meet three inmates on Death Row in the U.S. and their long term pen pals in the UK who have forged remarkable and intimate relationships outside of prison through the everyday gift of a letter. The bond of friendship is formed over the years and the inmates help their pen pals with their everyday struggles, despite their looming executions. LETTERS FROM THE BLUE introduces us to these very unlikely pen pals and reminds us of the unbreakable nature of the human spirit and the unexpected bonds that form.
10:30 AM : Festival Awards Ceremony - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Sponsored by Carnegie Investment Counsel
Enjoy a light breakfast, sponsored by NEO Counseling, LLC, with filmmakers and film lovers prior to the 14th annual awards ceremony.
Meet with filmmakers and film enthusiasts at the 2023 Festival Awards. $10,000 in prize money will be presented to winners.
Celebrity Hosts: Loree Vick and Rick Jackson
Free and open to the public
11:00 AM : Linda’s Last Trip - Methodist Church
After being diagnosed with an incurable cancer, Linda is in shock, grappling with her condition and her own mortality. She is recommended for a revolutionary treatment with Psilocybin “magic” mushrooms. The resulting trip and the events leading up to it change the course of the end of her life. LINDA’S LAST TRIP is an emotionally intimate story of healing with grace, facing death with dignity, and the family ties that sustain us forever.
Runtime: 45 minutes
Director: Adam Goldhammer
11:00 AM : Ohio Stories - Riverside Park
In Community Partnership with Cleveland Film Commission
Many Hearts - One Community
Organizations come together to create a beautification project in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood of Cleveland, consisting of murals around the area as a way to bring the community together.
Runtime: 6 minutes
Director: Dave Tarbert
Armor at the Arnold
A fascinating look at the growing sport of Armored Combat through the eyes of participants in the Medieval Fighting Invitational at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.
Runtime: 4 minutes
Director: Steve K. Oldfield
Go-kart Therapy
How do you cope with stress? These fun-loving guys use go-karts! After transforming an old go-kart into a Cleveland Browns-themed vehicle, they now use it as a form of therapy to help with the struggles of being a Cleveland sports fan.
In loving memory of John Kusik
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Ron Hill
Junk Genius
Damon Drummond takes the ”junk” from scrap yards and transforms them into art.
Runtime: 15 minutes
Director: Kelley Wolf Griffith
Ward 5 United
Lacking enough 12-year-old boys to form a football team in one Cleveland neighborhood, coaches decide to merge teams from two rival neighborhoods. Their goal is to construct a winning squad and build bonds that reach beyond the field.
Runtime: 24 minutes
Director: Mark Naymik
12:00 PM : Filmmaker Panel Discussion - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Meet the filmmakers as they share their story about creating their documentaries. Stay tuned for the line-up filmmakers.
12:30 PM : The Mission - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
As a young boy, John Chau dreamed of the life of an explorer. As a young adult and devout Christian, Chau took this dream further, becoming consumed by a controversial goal: to be the first Christian missionary to convert the most isolated tribe of people in the world, the Sentinelese. Driven by his faith, Chau went forward and paid the ultimate price. THE MISSION pieces together this multifaceted story using interviews and excerpts from Chau’s diary, leading to the journey that would ultimately take his life.
Runtime: 103 minutes
Director: Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine
12:30 PM : Small Town Strong & Panel Discussion - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Army Veteran Dale King leads the people of Portsmouth, Ohio on the journey to fight the opioid crisis plaguing the town. Through the lens of recovery, we see the townspeople’s innovative take on drug rehabilitation: fitness. When Dale returned from service in the Army, he knew he had to help his town and the people in it. Through strength and determination, Dale and others fight the fentanyl epidemic, one workout at a time. Fueled by the gym, we follow the town's comeback through one woman's recovery.
Runtime: 84 minutes
Director: Chase Millsap, Spencer Millsap
12:30 PM : A Death in the City: In the Wake of Segregation - Methodist Church
The 1960’s were a turbulent and transformative time for the city of Cleveland. This film puts us in the shoes of Clevelanders experiencing the disruption that the move to desegregate created. A DEATH IN THE CITY follows the death of minister and civil rights leader Rev. Bruce William Klunder and the chaos during the 1963-1964 protests against school segregation. We see first hand the impact on the children and families caught in the crossfire.
Runtime: 68 minutes
Director: Marquette Williams
1:30 PM : 216: Legends of the Land/How Cleveland Has Shaped the Face of Hip Hop - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
We know that Cleveland Rocks, but did you also know that Cleveland has strong hip hop roots? We talk with Director Stacey Malone and several hip hop arts about Cleveland’s impact on some of the biggest artists known today. Free and open to the public.
216: Legends of the Land
Cleveland’s place in the history of Hip Hop is bigger than one would think. Dive deep into the history and pioneers of Cleveland's Hip Hop scene.
Runtime: 28 minutes
Director: Stacey Malone
2:00 PM : Furry Heroes Shorts Block & Meet Service and Rehab Animals - Riverside Park
After the Shorts Block, Furry Heroes- Come and meet some special four-legged heroes as we introduce service animals from all over the region and learn about the truly amazing things they do. Well-behaved furry friends are invited too!
By My Side
BY MY SIDE tells a story of veterans and their families rescued by their service dogs from the pitfalls of PTSD to a promising sense of hope and restoration.
In loving memory of Manny Barenholtz
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Vicki Topaz, Wynn Padula
You Can't Shrink Love
Artist Lucy Francis creates miniature dogs to provide comfort for families and keep their memories alive in a new and creative way.
In loving memory of Becky Bartter
Runtime: 5 minutes
Director: Veena Rao
Healing Paws
Cleveland’s University Hospital is part of a unique facility dog program that encourages dogs to intuitively help patients, rather than follow commands, resulting in patients making healing connections.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Henry Ortlip
2:00 PM : Inspiration of Art - Valley Art Center
A Chocolate Lens
Steven Cummings uses his skills as a photographer to tell stories. Learn about his journey in a disappearing Black Washington, D.C. using photography to show his love for black culture across the country.
Runtime: 21 minutes
Director: Gabriel Veras
Handwritten
In this beautifully animated documentary, Jaime Sunwoo looks at how handwriting plays into her self-perception, from her past, her present, and into her future.
Runtime: 9 minutes
Director: Jaime Sunwoo
The Orchestra Chuck Built
When Chuck Dickerson learned that only 1.8% of the professional orchestra workforce in the US is Black, he set out to make a change.
Runtime: 20 minutes
Director: Christopher Stoudt
The Vanishing Strings of the Andes
Visit Ecuador in this moving documentary that chronicles the decline of guitar tourism and the guitar-making craft.
Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: Sam Watkins
2:30 PM : Our Shared Planet - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
The Bear Coast
Join Bear Coast locals to learn about the environmental issues impacting their land and the large community of brown bears living there. THE BEAR COAST highlights multiple viewpoints with one common goal: keep the bears safe.
Runtime: 17 minutes
Director: Andrew Ackerman
Between Earth & Sky
Renowned ecologist Nalini Nadkarni has spent her career studying the effects of ecological disturbances on rainforest canopies. After a life-threatening fall, Nalini must resolve the effects of this disturbance on herself.
Runtime: 25 minutes
Director: Andrew Nadkarni
The Last of the Nightingales
Bernie Krause, the legendary pioneer of Acoustic Ecology, takes us on an immersive journey to understand the road map that natural soundscapes offer for overcoming the climate crisis.
Runtime: 32 minutes
Director: Masha Karpoukhina
2:30 PM : Meet Service and Rehab Animals - Riverside Park
After the Shorts Block, Furry Heroes- Come and meet some special four-legged heroes as we introduce service animals from all over the region and learn about the truly amazing things they do. Well-behaved furry friends are invited too!
3:00 PM : Join or Die - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Civic engagement has been the cornerstone of what we consider “community” in the U.S. and the future of America may well depend on it. Does the decades-long decline in community connection hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis? Civic leaders and scholars as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country explore three urgent questions: what makes democracy work, why is American democracy in crisis, and most importantly, what can we do about it?
Runtime: 103 minutes
Director: Rebecca Davis
3:00 PM : Podcasting - Production, True Crime, and Ethics - Chagrin Falls Township Hall
Featuring Emily Nestor & Evergreen Podcasts - A candid discussion about the ins and outs of podcasting, and what happens when you have the story all wrong. A screening of the true crime documentary Citizen Sleuth at 4:40 PM will follow at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Free will donation.
3:00 PM : Dancing in A-Yard & A Clean Slate - Methodist Church
Dancing in A-Yard
DANCING IN A-YARD follows a modern dance choreographer as he teaches inmates the art of interpretive dance. We go through the creative process as they prepare for their performance, learning from the inmates about their crimes, sentences and the “shade” they got when they joined the dance class. For these inmates, dancing has become more than just a form of exercise: an outlet for growth and an opportunity for change.
Runtime: 72 minutes
Director: Manuela Dalle
A Clean Slate
Clean Slate Milwaukee helps former convicts expunge their criminal records for a chance to start again.
Runtime: 14 minutes
Director: Tran Hoang Calvin
4:40 PM : Citizen Sleuth - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
True crime podcaster Emily Nestor became an amateur detective when a fatal accident and police cover-up raised suspicions that this was actually a murder.
Emily ruthlessly tracks every lead and ultimately identifies two suspects, baring it all on a podcast called Mile Marker 181. Ride along with Emily, the CITIZEN SLEUTH, as she recreates the crime, talks to experts, and risks becoming a victim of her own best intentions.
Runtime: 85 minutes
Director: Chris Kasick
5:15 PM : Taken: An American Hostage Story - Methodist Church
Taken: An American Hostage Story
Mark McAlister and John Hamen III had just landed in Yemen. They'd both been hired to renovate a hotel for the U.S. State Department in the Middle East. Amid a brutal civil war, they soon became bargaining chips. This is a story of what happens when one's worst nightmare becomes national news – after the spotlight fades, but the suffering doesn't. This is a story about the hidden cost of war.
Runtime: 45 minutes
Director: Meg Vogel
5:30 PM : Oppenheimer After Trinity - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
How would it feel to have just created a weapon which resulted in massive death and destruction? Explore the mindset of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer on a journey to discover what took place before, during, and after the testing of the world's first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. Events quickly unfolded that caused a course of action that is still debated today. Using the written and spoken words of Dr. Oppenheimer, we understand the weight of the world that was on his shoulders at that moment in time.
Runtime: 57 minutes
Director: Trent J. DiGiulio, Larry L. Sheffield
6:45 PM : Bobi Wine: The People's President - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Uganda has one the youngest populations in the world and one of its most flagrantly anti-democratic governments. These are ingredients for revolution, and Bobi Wine and his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi are stirring the pot. When the charismatic Bobi, a musician and member of parliament, announces his campaign for president, Uganda’s youth are ecstatic, filling parks and streets for every speech, and singing Bobi’s anthems of peace and freedom. But then comes the crackdown, orchestrated by Yoweri Museveni, a brutal dictator who has ruled Uganda for 36 years. Bobi and his crew survive arrests, beatings, torture, riots and raids.
Runtime: 121 minutes
Director: Christopher Sharp, Moses Bwayo
7:00 PM : Undertaker for Life! - Methodist Church
This charming yet unexpected film shows us the lighter side of death and those who work with it. Although undertakers work with the dead, they often oversee the living. Helping families grieve is a big part of their work. In UNDERTAKER FOR LIFE!, we learn that their love of life and the living, their dark humor and comforting wisdom are the best remedies against existential despair. Director Georges Hannan tackles a taboo subject and lifts the veil from an under-appreciated world.
Runtime: 52 minutes
Director: Georges Hannan
7:30 PM : Common Ground - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
COMMON GROUND examines one thing we all have in common – the very soil beneath our feet. Featuring appearances and narration by Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Rosario Dawson, and Ian Somerhalder, this is the fascinating and inspirational story of the pioneers of the “Regenerative Movement”, a practice that regenerates the soil and produces a tremendous quantity of nutritionally dense foods, all while working to balance the climate.
Runtime: 105 minutes
Director: Joshua Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell
October 8, 2023
11:00 AM : Until the Last Drop - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Until the Last Drop
This compelling film sends a strong message about one of the greatest threats to human civilization: the growing freshwater crisis. UNTIL THE LAST DROP takes us on a journey through various countries, showing the global cost and consequences of the destruction of nature on our rivers. In the face of the growing crisis, people are coming together to fight until the last drop for the protection of rivers around the world.
Runtime: 69 minutes
Director: Ewa Ewart
11:15 AM : The Wagner Group. Putin's Mercenaries - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
We’ve heard about them in the news, now this film takes us behind the scenes. During the war in Ukraine, the Wagner Group, a private military company in Russia, rose in popularity and power. THE WAGNER GROUP. PUTIN’S MERCENARIES speaks with former members of the group who fled west as they disagreed with the group’s methods of operation. With never before seen footage of the Wagner Group during the Ukrainian war, this film gives viewers an inside look at the group’s role in corruption and destruction.
Runtime: 43 minutes
Director: Ewa Galica
12:00 PM : Film Fest Award Winner - South Franklin Circle
Find our who wins the David Ponce Best of the Fest Award on Saturday, October 7th! The 14th annual CDFF Award Show is free and open to the public at 10:00 am at the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre.
12:45 PM : This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep NCJW/Cleveland Focus on Domestic Violence - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Film: This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep
NCJW has had a long-standing mission to support and empower those affected by domestic violence. A panel of regional experts will discuss the wide ranging effects of domestic violence and the support systems available to its victims.
This Is Where I Learned Not To Sleep
Nashville police officer Mark Wynn grew up in a home where domestic violence was a way of life. Mark is working to reform decades of domestic violence mishandling.
Runtime: 38 minutes
Director: Anne de Mare, Kirsten Kelly
12:45 PM : Monument - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Filmmaker Michael Turner brings us on a deeply personal journey as he documents his first visit to a memorial for family members lost at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. The memorial was created by his own grandmother, a Hungarian Jew, for her beloved parents and sister, bringing a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking generational impact of the Holocaust . MONUMENT is a powerful and poetic story of relatives meeting through time and space to carry the memory of the Hungarian Jews forward.
Runtime: 75 minutes
Director: Michael Turner
1:00 PM : International Stories - Riverside Park
The Syrian Cosmonaut
This is the story of Muhammed Faris, the first Syrian to go to outer space. He is forced to flee his country, as his ideas for a free Syria make him a target.
Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: Charles Emir Richards
Diables
With gorgeous and fiery cinematography, the Diables or ‘devils’ participate in a ritual of fire to express the independence and culture of Catalonia.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Tom Sweetland
Finding Ubuntu
Maick Mutej is a survivor of displacement due to internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After losing his family, he became a leader for thousands of other refugees.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Director: Annette King, Ishmael Azeli
Kumari: A Father's Dream
In the community of Kumari, Nepal, Jagat Lama followed his father’s dying wish to build a medical clinic in the area. Less than 2 years later, a massive earthquake hits Nepal wreaking havoc on the small town. Now, Jagat and his guides must also help the city rebuild.
In loving memory of George Ricketts
Runtime: 30 minutes
Director: Sean O'Connor
The World Cup Whistleblower
Anish, a huge football fan, was excited to work on the construction team for the stadiums for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His excitement quickly faded when he faced dangerous working conditions and very little pay.
Runtime: 10 minutes
Director: Fred Grace
3:00 PM : The Last Bumblebee - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
The Last Bumblebee
For millions of years, bumblebees have populated the earth, tirelessly pollinating our crops and contributing to the biodiversity of our ecosystems. But with environmental and other threats, the survival of these beloved pollinators has been put in jeopardy. "Franklin's Bumblebee," a once-common species, is now critically endangered, with the last sighting dating back to 2006. Through stunning cinematography and insightful interviews, we explore the vital role of bees in our ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these important pollinators.
Director: Janice Overbeck, Jack Winch
3:15 PM : Down River Jordan & Culture Fix CLE: Healing Our Community Through the Arts - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Films: Down River Jordan, Culture Fix CLE:Healing Our Community Through the Arts
Down River Jordan
Once a sacred life-giving site, the Jordan River today carries a different story – one of human conflict and the ravages of pollution. As Israel’s primary water source, the Jordan River's flow has diminished by nearly 95% over the last 60 years. DOWN RIVER JORDAN follows the journey of five river guides embarking on an adventure to kayak the length of the roaring Jordan River. What they witness is the heart-breaking impact that environmental neglect has had on this beloved river, as well as the fierce hope of those who are battling to save it.
Runtime: 60 minutes
Director: Addie Navarro
Culture Fix CLE: Healing Our Community Through the Arts
Meet anonymous street artist Dede Bandaid, an Israeli artist who was invited to Cleveland to create an art installation and collaborate with local artists.
Runtime: 12 minutes
Director: Susan Wasserman
5:30 PM : The Orchestra Chuck Built Festival Closing - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Celebrate with CDFF as the in-person festival draws to a close and we get ready to enjoy CDFF on Demand. Performance by the Ohio Contemporary Youth Orchestra.
Film: The Orchestra Chuck Built
Individual ticket: $15 included in membership Family Explorer and above.
The Orchestra Chuck Built
When Chuck Dickerson learned that only 1.8% of the professional orchestra workforce in the US is Black, he set out to make a change.
Runtime: 20 minutes
Director: Christopher Stoudt
October 9, 2023 - October 16, 2023
Welcome to the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 2023 Virtual Festival!
Explore our on-demand catalog here, and head over to the Live Streams tab to see what's coming up.
US Documentary
- At Your Cervix
- Citizen Sleuth
- Common Ground
- Linda’s Last Trip
- Oppenheimer After Trinity
- When Wire Was King: The Transformation of - Telecommunications
- Williams & Mansell: Red 5
International
- 56/Z
- Down River Jordan
- Monument
- The Radical
- The Wagner Group. Putin's Mercenaries
Ohio Stories
- 216: Legends of the Land
- Armor at the Arnold
- A Death in the City: In the Wake of Segregation
- Eighteen Tuesdays
- Go-kart Therapy
- Healing Paws
- Junk Genius
- Many Hearts - One Community
- The Park 2023
- Small Town Strong
- Taken: An American Hostage Story
- Ward 5 United
Environmental
- Common Ground
- Earthbound: Nzambi Matee
- Patrick and the Whale
Emerging Filmmaker
- City Kids
- Join or Die
- The Last Thing Lost
- Odyssey
Human Spirit
- ABLED
- Anna and the Egyptian Doctor
- Dancing in A-Yard
- Empty Handed
- King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
- Letters from the Blue
- Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc's Adventure in - Plastic
- The Other Fellow
- Undertaker for Life!
- When My Sleeping Dragon Woke
- With Peter Bradley
Shorts
- A 20-Nautical Mile Journey Back to Safety
- 216: Legends of the Land
- Armor at the Arnold
- The Bear Coast
- Between Earth & Sky
- Brutal Utopias
- By My Side
- Carpenter
- A Chocolate Lens
- A Clean Slate
- Culture Fix CLE: Healing Our Community Through the Arts
- Diables
- Do You See Me?
- Eighteen Tuesdays
- Finding Peace: The Story of Cliff Kent
- Finding Ubuntu
- Go-kart Therapy
- Going Home
- Handwritten
- Healing Paws
- Junk Genius
- Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
- Kumari: A Father's Dream
- The Last of the Nightingales
- Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks
- Many Hearts - One Community
- Mermaid
- My Name Is Annabel
- The Orchestra Chuck Built
- The Park 2023
- School of Fish
- Strong Grandma
- The Syrian Cosmonaut
- This is San Esteban
- This Is Where I Learned Not To Sleep
- Uncle Bully's Surf Skool
- The Vanishing Strings of the Andes
- Ward 5 United
- Witch Hunt
- World Between Our Ears
- The World Cup Whistleblower
- You Can't Shrink Love
- Zambezia: A Well for Change
Features
- 56/
- ABLED
- Anna and the Egyptian Doctor
- At Your Cervix
- Citizen Sleuth
- City Kids
- Dancing in A-Yard
- A Death in the City: In the Wake of Segregation
- Down River Jordan
- Earthbound: Nzambi Matee
- Empty Handed
- Join or Die
- King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
- The Last Thing Lost
- Letters from the Blue
- Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc's Adventure in - Plastic
- Linda’s Last Trip
- The Mission
- Monument
- Odyssey
- Oppenheimer After Trinity
- The Other Fellow
- Patrick and the Whale
- The Radical
- Small Town Strong
- Taken: An American Hostage Story
- Undertaker for Life!
- The Wagner Group. Putin's Mercenaries
- When My Sleeping Dragon Woke
- When Wire Was King: The Transformation of - Telecommunications
- Williams & Mansell: Red 5
- With Peter Bradley
Student Shorts
- Do You See Me?
- Finding Peace: The Story of Cliff Kent
- Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
- World Between Our Ears
Under the Sea
- A 20-Nautical Mile Journey Back to Safety
- Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks
- Mermaid
- School of Fish
Inspiration of Art
- A Chocolate Lens
- Handwritten
- The Orchestra Chuck Built
- The Vanishing Strings of the Andes
Our Shared Planet
- The Bear Coast
- Between Earth & Sky
- The Last of the Nightingales
People You Need To Meet
- Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case
- My Name Is Annabel
- Strong Grandma
- Uncle Bully's Surf Skool
International Stories
- Diables
- Finding Ubuntu
- Kumari: A Father's Dream
- The Syrian Cosmonaut
- The World Cup Whistleblower
Furry Heroes
- By My Side
- Healing Paws
- You Can't Shrink Love
Everyone's A Critic
- Carpenter
- The Orchestra Chuck Built
- Zambezia: A Well for Change
Historical Journeys
- Carpenter
- The Syrian Cosmonaut
- Witch Hunt
Date : October 4, 2023 - October 16, 2023
Location : Various Location in Chagrin Falls, OH
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