A Second Wind at the Cle Int'l Film Fest

Didn't get there last weekend? OK, you get one blizzard excuse every ten years. Although their Saturday attendance was cut in half because of the winter storm, over 3000 stalwart Clevelanders still managed to follow the arrows and make their way to Tower City Cinemas. And now we're making up lost time: Mon 3/10 was the single largest Monday ever for the CIFF, according to development director Patrick Shepherd. You have a few more days to partake in the greatest film festival that the Midwest has to offer -- the Cleveland International Film Festival. Last week, stalwart CC columnist Claudia J. Taller offered you a glimpse into '''the importance of the stories brought to light at this 32nd annual festival. (We happen to think it's worth a second read). This week, we're here to clue you in on two really cool (and different) offerings as a part of the "Local Heroes" series at the Festival:

'Unspeakable' is a "dark thriller" set in Northeast Ohio that was conceived, written and directed by Cleveland native Marquette Williams. The filmmaker and his production company (Cinema 2:16) deliver the story of a masked man who takes a suburban family hostage, then frightening them into revealing their own mysterious pasts. Before you know it, Unspeakable twists and turns into disturbing territory -- the story matching the jittery, hi-def digital filmmaking in an organic and appropriate way. In contrast, Swing State feels like a folksy home movie. Directed by Shaker Heights native Jason Zone Fisher (son of Lee Fisher), the 90-minute flick emphasizes the political importance of Ohio's gubernatorial elections as predicting the outcome of the 2008 presidential decision. Filled with more politicos, candidates and campaign workers than your average spin zone," the film features former president Bill Clinton, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Swing State screens today, Wed 3/12 at noon and Thu 3/13 at 9:30AM. Unspeakable screens Fri 3/14 at 7:15PM and Sat 3/15 at 2:15PM. Our advice? Blow off work for a two-hour "meeting" and go see the former, then head back downtown for the latter this weekend. Whatever you do, don't miss these locally focused/produced gems. The 32nd CIFF runs through Sun 3/16. For a full schedule of films, directions, parking and screening info, visit the CIFF online at http://www.clevelandfilm.org.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
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