SPONSORED BY DAY 1 WEDNESDAY MARCH 27, 2019 New at CIFF Family Bonds Listen Up! Heartwarming Family Film Kicks Off 2019 Festival CIFF Speaks is “the official bond that is formed between those who podcast series are just at the start of their lives, and of CIFF43” those who are on the other end of the with host line, our parents.” Dee Perry They found a “common and clear and producer understanding of what really matters in Aaron Spears. life” at these two very opposite ends of a Join them Photo: Nathan Migal Dee Perry at CIFF42. lifespan. daily for The film is based on the novel by José interviews and behind-the-scenes scoops. Luis Sampedro, La sonrisa etrusca, and It is brand new this year and will be your centers on Scottish curmudgeon Rory source for intriguing, interesting, and MacNeil who leaves his home to travel up-to-date information on CIFF43. to San Francisco for medical treatment. Tune in via iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever Israeli filmmakers Mihal Brezis, left, and Oded Binnun previously He moves in with his estranged son and you subscribe to podcasts. Already there had great success with the short film “Aya.” It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2015. This is their his family, and begins to form a strong are several pre-Festival episodes first feature film. bond with his newborn grandson. available for your listening pleasure. rama, comedy, tears, laughter, and a Binnun and Brezis credit their “incredible Catch an interview with Jonathan Forman, darling newborn baby. It doesn’t get cast,” of which Brian Cox, as Rory, has gotten founder of CIFF, and Patrick Shepherd, D much better than this for Opening wonderful reviews. Audiences may recognize CIFF associate director. Night at the 2019 Cleveland International Cox, one of Scotland’s notable actors in film Film Festival. and Shakespearean theater, from such films as An Appetite for Film “The Etruscan Smile” has stars many will “Braveheart,” Woody Allen’s “Match Point,” CIFF43 program guides were available recognize, is produced by an award-winning and as Hannibal Lecter in “Manhunter.” on March 4 and patrons were hungry international filmmaker, and has stunning The directors knew immediately that Cox to devour the information within. While scenery. would be perfect for the role. They first saw enjoying a free scoop of deliciousness The film premiered in Berlin and screened him in “The Good Heart” by the Icelandic at Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream’s globally at festivals in Montreal, Boston, and director Dagur Kari. In that film Cox, flagship shop in Ohio City, guests Stony Brook, New York, to the delight of according to Binnun and Brezis, “portrays the thumbed through the guide looking to audiences. most extreme, wild, dark-humored, and yet see what films best whet their appetites. “The film connects to something very heartwarming, character. Very few actors can —Anne M. DiTeodoro simple in our humanity: what makes a life a be as tough and rugged on the outside while good life, and it is always encouraging to see being so vulnerable and lovable.” the impact smaller films can have when given While the two worked on the final draft of the chance,” note the directors Oded Binnun the screenplay, they had Cox in mind for the and Mihal Brezis. lead role. “There was a big sigh of relief when When the directing duo were approached he actually got the script and said he wants to by producer Arthur Cohn about the project, do it,” say the filmmakers. “We really didn’t the two personally connected to the story. have any plan B for that role.” “We were ourselves at a stage in life quite But they credit all the actors for their similar to that of the first-time parents in the contribution to the final product, “It is their film—our son was not much older than the soul and performance above all else that Photo: Anne M. DiTeodoro baby in the story,” say the filmmakers. “We carries the story and gives the film its heart,” From left, Mary Masterson, Kate O’Donnell, and Tom O’Donnell were discovering for the first time the great they say. —Anne M. DiTeodoro (with hat) can’t wait to see all their old friends that they only see once a year at CIFF. Festival Updates Long Live Rock [Promoters]! Late Additions: ock stars truly live enviable lives. They have passionate fans, carry on Thursday April 4th outrageous lifestyles, and tour the world Mike Wallace Is Here 7:10 pm R sharing their music. Good Girl Gone Bad 8:30 pm Let’s give some credit to the concert Friday April 5th promoters, though. Philip Dolin and Molly Cut Off 3:30 pm Bernstein do. The directors spent time Good Girl Gone Bad 5:30 pm interviewing and researching those who booked Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am 8:25 pm those tours and promoted the shows in the early Saturday April 6th days of rock and roll. Take a look behind the Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am 9:00 am scenes with them as they give due credit to rock BUILD Series Photo: Jammi York, Good Girl Gone Bad 4:50 pm promoters in their film, “The Show’s the Thing: Philip Dolin, left, and Molly Bernstein are happy to be back in Cleveland with their latest film. “Attending film festivals is great,” Mike Wallace Is Here 5:10 pm The Legendary Promoters of Rock.” says Dolin. “Especially CIFF where the hospitality shown the Before You Know It 6:20 pm filmmakers is remarkable. … The theaters are packed and the Directors Dolin, who grew up in Shaker audiences are great and clearly having fun at the festival.” Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil Heights, Ohio, and Bernstein heard about the and Vile 9:25 pm Cut Off 9:45 pm idea for their film from Winston Simon, the Photography of Rosamond Purcell” that the manager of magician Ricky Jay, the subject of filmmakers first met the Belkins. While in Sunday April 7th their first film, “Deceptive Practice: The Cleveland, the two “actually did our interviews with Cut Off 4:20 pm Mysteries and Mentors Of Ricky Jay.” Jules, Fran, and Mike during that very same visit. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile 6:55 pm “Winston knew of all the promoters and “The Belkins have a great story to tell,” he Before You Know It 7:00 pm revered them as the unheralded great showman continues. “I think [audiences] will be surprised of the era,” recalls Dolin. “And he made a point to learn the background to all those amazing Check for the latest festival updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ciff or that it was impossible to have a career in rock concerts of the ’70s and ’80s.” Facebook at www.facebook.com/ without working with these guys.” They also went to the Rock & Roll Hall of ClevelandInternationalFilmFestival. Or visit www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/ The two filmmakers thought information on Fame to conduct additional interviews with updates. these promoters was “an unknown chapter in Rock Hall executives Greg Harris and Todd the history of rock music worthy of sharing,” Mesek. That’s where the filmmakers learned the they say. history behind the Moondog Coronation Ball— Then at one point it clicked. Dolin grew up generally known as the world’s first rock concert listening to WMMS radio where he heard held in Cleveland in 1952. “‘Belkin Productions presents…’ mentioned In addition to those hometown heroes, the Challenge Match every 20 minutes,” he says. His hometown was film also shares interviews and footage of Frank The Challenge Match is the CIFF’s annual home to the legendary promoters Jules, Mike, Barsalona, who was instrumental in creating the fundraising campaign, and the only time of the year that we ask for your support (we and Fran Belkin. very concept of a rock tour, Carlos Santana, and do not send out solicitation letters at any “I understood how important these Jon Bon Jovi. time). The challenge to you—our promoters were to the cultural life of their “Without my prompting,” Dolin shares, audience—is to raise $150,000, which will be matched by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. respective cities,” he says. “Jon Bon Jovi talked about coming to Cleveland It was during their visit to CIFF40 in 2016 for a lunchtime concert on WMMS and then A $10 DONATION QUALIFIES YOU FOR with their film, “An Art That Nature Makes: The opening for Michael Stanley that night.” Bon ONE OF THESE FABULOUS PRIZES!! Jovi continued to explain how he and his band THE HUNGER GAMES – (MOSTLY) EAST: Indulge in a meal out each month with went through the process of “working with the lunch or dinner at 12 area restaurants promoters to slowly build an audience in each (including fire food and drink, EDWINS, territory. Tommy’s, and more). “That was fun to have in the film,” says Dolin. THE HUNGER GAMES – (MOSTLY) WEST: —Anne M. DiTeodoro Indulge in a meal out each month with lunch or dinner at 12 area restaurants (including Pier W, Soho Chicken + Whiskey, THE SHOW’S THE THING: Melt Bar & Grilled, and more). THE LEGENDARY Stop by the Challenge Match table in SHOWING PROMOTERS OF ROCK the Tower City Cinemas lobby to donate. SOON is playing tomorrow at 6:45 p.m. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! and Saturday, 3/30 at 9:15 p.m. Photo: Anne M. DiTeodoro THE ONLINE WELCOME: Welcome to CIFF43! We’re glad you’re here! Welcome old Official Airline of the 43rd CIFF friends and new to another year of great drama, comedy, and Read exclusive content not available in the thought-provoking films.