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Film festival captures Chagrin Falls spotlight
(by Barbara Christian - October 07, 2010)
Film festival captures Chagrin Falls spotlight
By BARBARA CHRISTIAN
The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is scheduled to run from Oct. 12 to 16 in venues large and small throughout the Chagrin Falls area. It officially opens with a wine and cheese reception Oct. 13 and closes Oct. 16 with a red carpet festival awards ceremony.
Around those two events, beginning mornings and continuing through the evenings, will be the screenings of more than 90 films from 26 countries. Many of the filmmakers will be present to meet, greet and discuss their films with festival goers.
The films kick off Oct. 12, but the official festival opening comes Oct. 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a wine and cheese party at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre at 40 River St. in Chagrin Falls. The party is sponsored by Hamlet Village. Tickets are $25 each.
Featured guest that evening will be newspaper columnist Michael Heaton who will moderate a panel of festival filmmakers. The film, "Speaker's Corner, You Have the Right to Remain Vocal," will follow in the theater at 8 p.m.
The festival's sneak opening is 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles with the showing of "Salty Language, Peppered Morals." Comedian Michael Standley will introduce the film by performing a stand-up routine.
At 7 p.m. Oct. 14, Trifles Cafe in South Russell celebrates the festival with an international wine-tasting event with an appearance by performer and songwriter Ray Zygmuntowicz, also known as Ray Vegas, who is the subject of the documentary, "Ray Vegas." Call (440) 247-8595 to reserve tickets. His film will be shown from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Chagrin Falls Public Library at 100 E. Orange St.
That same evening across town, Gamekeepers Tavern pays tribute to films from around the world with a tasting event, featuring international beer and wine. Cost is $40 and reservations are necessary by calling (440) 247-7744.
At 10 a.m. Oct. 15, the Western Reserve Women's Republican Club will sponsor a brunch honoring women filmmakers at the Hillbrook Club in Russell Township.
"Ora E. Anderson: Soul of the Woods," directed by Jean Andrews, "You Should Run for Office," by Grace Drake, and "The Acorn Penny," by Tiffany Laufer, will be shown and filmmakers also will comment. U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Bainbridge, will be the host. Cost of the brunch is $25 each. Call (440) 247-6945 to reserve tickets.
The Radius Restaurant at South Franklin Circle in Bainbridge will be the setting at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 for a dinner and showing of Cleveland native and "Price is Right" television game show host Drew Carey's documentary "Reason Saves Cleveland." Director Paul Feine will attend.
Special events for the last day of the festival, Oct. 16, begin at 3:15 p.m., with the film, "Not As I Pictured," including a panel discussion and audience discussion led by filmmaker John Kaplan. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning still photographer.
The panel will include local cancer-care guests Kathy Maxwell, of the Gathering Place in Beachwood, Debbie Kendig, of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Sarah Tower, executive director of Stewart's Caring Place in Akron.
Festival director Mary Ann Quinn Ponce will introduce the film and discussion. The festival honors her late son David Ponce who died of leukemia while completing his documentary "The Lost Sparrows of Roodepoort." Mr. Ponce's film will be screened at 6 p.m., Oct. 14 in the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School.
The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival's grand finale begins at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 with a red carpet festival awards ceremony in the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School auditorium. It is open to the public.
A "creative black-tie optional" event will be held immediately following the ceremony at the Kraftmaid Experience store in Chagrin Falls. International cuisine will be prepared by Chagrin Valley restaurants, and served along with beer and wine. Mark Simone's Fevered Dreams Band will entertain. Tickets are $60 per person.
Festival memberships are available at levels from $25 to $500. Full festival passes are $50 each with day passes at $25 each. A ticket for a two- to three-hour block of time is $10 each.
More information on the festival, plus memberships, event tickets and passes can be purchased online or at the festival office at Chagrin Falls Township Hall, 84 N. Main St. in Chagrin Falls from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Mail orders can be place in care of: CDFF, P.O. Box 239, Chagrin Falls 44022.
For more information, call (440) 247-0137.
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