The 48th Cleveland International Film Festival kicks off as the city heats up with sports and solar eclipse fever this week. More than 100 feature-length films and more than 200 shorts screen in Playhouse Square Wednesday night through April 13. After that, the festival moves online again for another eight days of streaming.
Here鈥檚 a sampling of what鈥檚 showing, with insights from Mallory Martin, the festival鈥檚 artistic director.
鈥淎ll You Hear is Noise鈥�
From boxing to basketball to track and field stories, the festival has a wide range of sports films scheduled. 鈥淎ll You Hear Is Noise鈥� is one of those, with LeBron James as an executive producer. The film follows three athletes competing at the Special Olympics World Games.
鈥淚t has all the elements of a good sports documentary,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淏ut also, it really focuses on these three individuals and also them coming back home to deal with a world that doesn't prioritize their needs.鈥�
The three athletes will be at the festival along with director Ned Castle.
Showing in Connor Palace Thursday at 7:25 p.m. and Friday at 12:10 p.m. The film is also available online with CIFF48 Streams.
鈥淭his is a Film About the Black Keys鈥�
Trace the roots of Akron rock duo Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney with the plainly titled 鈥淭his Is a Film About the Black Keys.鈥�
The documentary includes plenty of footage of Akron, including some of the area鈥檚 old concert venues, Martin said.
The doc screens as the Black Keys latest album, "Ohio Players," drops Friday.
Showing in the KeyBank State Theatre Friday at 7:35 p.m.
鈥凄补苍诲别濒颈辞苍鈥�
鈥凄补苍诲别濒颈辞苍鈥� is directed by Nicole Riegel, an Ohio native and returning filmmaker to CIFF. Her debut film, 鈥淗oller,鈥� was about a teen torn between her hometown and pursuing her own dreams.
In 鈥淒andelion,鈥� a struggling singer-songwriter from Cincinnati pursues her music dreams and ends up in South Dakota.
鈥淭his is another film that I think really has Nicole's sort of signature mark on it in terms of a quiet kind of indie drama that really, you know, sticks with you after watching it,鈥� Martin said.
Showing in Connor Palace April 13 at 11:50 a.m.
鈥淎merican Delivery鈥�
鈥淎merican Delivery鈥� spotlights nurses in Cleveland and Dayton fighting for maternal health, particularly for women of color. The film gets its world premiere at the festival.
Representatives from Cleveland鈥檚 MetroHealth System and the nonprofit First Year Cleveland share their perspectives in a panel discussion after the Sunday screening, Martin said.
Showing in the Mimi Ohio Theatre Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:45 a.m. The film is also available online with CIFF48 Streams.
鈥淧orcelain War鈥�
Three artists have been making porcelain figurines in Kharkiv amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, 鈥淧orcelain War鈥� focuses on people pressing forward in Ukraine.
鈥淚t's a tough watch in some ways to see how devastated their country has become,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淏ut also, it's a really, you know, humanistic look at people not giving up, and especially when it comes to art helping them get through it.鈥�
Showing in the Allen Theatre April 12 at 11:55 a.m.
鈥沦耻驳补谤肠补苍别鈥�
鈥沦耻驳补谤肠补苍别鈥� examines the abuse of Indigenous children at a boarding school in Canada and the long-term effects on the victims and their families.
鈥淭his is a tough, but really beautiful film,鈥� Martin said, adding that its director also won an award at Sundance.
Showing in the Upper Allen Theatre Saturday at 11:50 a.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
鈥淕丑辞蝉迟濒颈驳丑迟鈥�
After a family tragedy, a construction worker ends up processing his emotions in a community production of 鈥淩omeo and Juliet.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 hilarious, it鈥檚 sad, it鈥檚 everything that鈥檚 kind of wrapped up within one movie that anybody that watches will never be able to forget,鈥� Martin said.
Showing in the KeyBank State Theatre April 11 at 11:55 a.m. and April 12 at 7:15 p.m.
鈥淧uffin Rock and the New Friends鈥�
A family-friendly option at the festival is 鈥淧uffin Rock and the New Friends,鈥� a feature-length film from the Irish animated series, which streams on Netflix.
An hour before the screening, there will be crafts and space for kids to run around in the Upper Allen lobby, Martin said.
Showing in the Allen Theatre April 13 at 2:35 p.m. The film is also available online with CIFF48 Streams.
