Honoring a Lesser-Known Music Titan
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THE CIFF DAY 6 / MONDAY / 3.23.2015 Sponsored by Honoring a Lesser-Known Music Titan t was a haunting, quiet song that was upstaged by power ballads and the sheer glitter of the Oscars, but anyone who Iwatched the 70th Academy Awards may still be able to hear a quiet croon in their heads: “Do you miss me, miss misery, like you say you do?” It was, technically, Elliott Smith’s most widely-seen performance, of which he only said, “I wouldn’t want to live in that world, but it was fun to walk around on the moon for a day.” ABOVE: A writer, director, Seventeen years later, and more than a cinematographer and editor, in addition to a producer, Jeremiah decade after Smith’s death in an incident that Gurzi’s work ranges from indie shorts still perplexes and divides his fans, producer and to major TV shows. “Heaven Adores You” was a particular labor of love cinematographer Jeremiah Gurzi has released from the moment he and director Nickolas Rossi first discussed it. a tribute film, “Heaven Adores You,” which RIGHT: Musician Elliott Smith was explores the full depths of the talent that the nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 1997 for “Miss world lost. Misery,” which appeared in the film, For Gurzi, the journey of bringing “Good Will Hunting.” Smith’s music to the screen began in the “I was flabbergasted at the amount of summer of 2009. unreleased Elliott Smith music safely preserved “I had coffee with [director] Nickolas in the official archives,” he says. Testimonials, Rossi in Los Angeles,” says Gurzi. “He had meanwhile, “highlighted the therapeutic power Elaine Manusakis Photos: TOP: CIFF staff members Dan Kilbane and Noelle Celeste meet mentioned a recent groundswell of enthusiasm of Elliott’s music. Cathartic feelings consistently with volunteers at the Capitol Theatre before audiences arrive. MIDDLE: The Capitol Theatre fills up for a screening of “Move for a short memorial video he had made and overwhelmingly characterized personal On!” “Kilbanetown Comeback” also screened at the Capitol commemorating Elliott Smith on YouTube.” experiences when referencing Elliott.” Theatre. Filmmakers from both films attended the screenings. BOTTOM: “Out in the Night” director blair dorosh-walther talks When they met again a few months later, The music’s transformative power struck with sponsor Sister Sinema’s Deirdre McPherson before they they discussed the video again and decided home for him while he, Rossi, and Moyer introduce the film at Shaker Square Cinemas. that they wanted to make a feature film were at the Jackpot! Recording Studio in honoring Smith’s work. Portland. Engineer and archivist Larry Crane ALSO AT BEACHLAND BALLROOM Soon their team swelled, with Kevin Moyer was playing some of Smith’s unreleased and and Marc Smolowitz joining the production unfinished tracks for the trio, “and it literally “Take Me to the River,” crew along with four executive producers and sounded like Elliott was in the other room a documentary about American soul music three associate producers. Gurzi shies away laying down a live recording. This was such and the impact of Stax from referring to the work as a documen- a powerful and moving moment.” Records on the Civil Rights tary, however, instead calling it “a long-form That moment is what he hopes to share movement, is playing today at 8:00 p.m. at Beachland project honoring a lesser-known music titan.” with Elliott Smith’s fans, old and new alike. Ballroom. Director Martin Their intent is not to rehash the more sordid — Lara Klaber Shore discusses his musical Director Martin Shore history and his inspiration details of Smith’s life and death but to focus began his career as a to make this film. Check out on the music, the sometimes tormented, but touring musician with The Daily online to read the SHOWING HEAVEN ADORES YOU such artists as Clarence always creative, mind behind it, and its impact TODAY is playing today at 5:45 p.m. Clemons, Albert Collins, full story. on the world. at Beachland Ballroom and Bo Diddley. Festival Updates Nowhere to Go After School hat happens when Added Screenings: teenagers find Friday March 27th themselves with no Comedy Shorts Program 8:50 pm placeW to live? Filmmakers Saturday March 28th Anne de Mare and Kirsten Man from Reno 9:05 am Kelly answer this question Sunday March 29th by following three homeless Run Boy Run 9:00 am Chicago teens in “The All-Stars 6:50 pm Homestretch.” Audience Choice Shorts Program 7:20 pm “Five years ago, we were fortunate to meet young people Late Additions: who trusted us to tell their Friday March 27th story,” says de Mare. Being Evel 9:50 pm As the filmmakers researched Photo: Ron Wynne Ron Photo: Sunday March 29th the topic, they found that there Anne de Mare (left) founded Spargel Productions, a film and documentary production Being Evel 11:50 am are tens of thousands of kids company based in New York City, along with Kirsten Kelly. The two filmmakers also created the 2008 award-winning documentary “Asparagus! Stalking the American Life.” Kasey Check for the latest festival updates registered in the Chicago public (right), one of the film’s subjects, spent over a year staying with various friends and family on Twitter or Facebook. Or visit school system classified as members, as well as sleeping on the street. The film follows her story as she enters a new www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/updates transitional home. homeless with nowhere to go after school. And the problem is The documentary debuted at the Hot Docs growing, not only in Chicago, but across the U.S. Canadian Film Festival and has also made the “This film will make you laugh, it will make rounds in public screenings across the country. you cry, and it will make you think,” says Kasey, The film is sparking “meaningful, forward- Challenge Match one of the subjects of the film. “It will warm moving dialogue” about the homeless youth your hearts.” crisis amongpolicymakers in Washington, D.C. The Challenge Match is the CIFF’s annual fundraising campaign, and the only time of The film was featured in a February 2015 The filmmakers encourage others who see the the year that we ask for your support (we do article in The Atlantic. “Where ‘The Homestretch’ film to also get involved. The film’s website lists not send out solicitation letters at any time). most succeeds as a film lies squarely in its a number of ways to “take action.” Among other The challenge to you – our audience – is to raise $125,000, which will be matched by authentic, no-frills portrayal of what it means to things, they suggest donating emergency supplies Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. be young and homeless in America,” writes to homeless students and youth and urging your We are $40,993 closer to Terrance Ross. “It doesn’t overload the screen U.S. Senators and Representatives to reauthorize reaching our goal of $125,000 with tear-jerking montages of young the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHYA) by There are prizes at every donation level panhandlers tethered to street corners, begging passing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and starting at $1, ranging from CIFF39 cup in tow. Instead, it reveals that, in the U.S., Trafficking Prevention Act (S. 262). buttons, to a limited-edition CIFF portable youth homelessness is as subtle as it is insidious— —Anne M. DiTeodoro charger, to a chance to win all-access passes to CIFF40 in March 2016! and that disagreements over what ‘homelessness’ A $10 DONATION QUALIFIES YOU FOR looks and feels like, and over the role schools SHOWING THE HOMESTRETCH ONE OF THESE FABULOUS PRIZES!! should play in conquering it, have perhaps been TODAY is playing today at 4:10 p.m. A SHOW FOR ALL SEASONS: Experience the greatest obstacle to finding a solution.” an unforgettable night this Summer with dinner at Spice Kitchen & Bar, and VIP Anniversary of Cleveland Foundation Day seats to a concert at Jacobs Pavilion. Last year the 38th Cleveland International Film Festival was honored to share in the A PERFECT GETAWAY: Enjoy a weekend 100th anniversary of The Cleveland Foundation with a full day of free films. In celebration “stay-cation” with an overnight stay at the of the one-year anniversary of our Cleveland Foundation Community Day, CIFF is offering Cleveland Airport Marriott, complete with a FREE SCREENING of “The Homestretch” today at 4:10 p.m. dinner at the award-winning AMP 150, breakfast, and a basket of treats. BEDTIME STORIES: This package includes a Tempur+Sealy Hybrid Copper Plush THE HOME FOR INSPIRATION Queen Mattress set, something new to THE sleep in from Legacy Village, wine, and ONLINE some binge-worthy TV shows on DVD. Is it bedtime, yet? Visit The Daily online edition at www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/the-daily. TODAY’S ONLINE VERSION INCLUDES: • Take Me to the River (Playing today at 8:00 p.m. at Beachland Ballroom) Martin Shore discusses how his musical life Official Airline of the 39th CIFF led him to direct this film. • FilmForums: This CIFF program uses film to The Cleveland International Film Festival receives public Wynne Ron Photo: provoke conversations about important support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & “Traficant: The Congressman of Crimetown” director Eric Murphy greets Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s artistic and Congressman Tim Ryan after a screening of his film. James Traficant, the contemporary issues. cultural heritage. film’s subject, was succeeded by Tim Ryan..