37th cleveland international film festival :: April 3 - april 14, 2013
Film Festival Blog
March 27th, 2010 @ 12:30pm

It's already time to talk about two o'clock!

Now that the noon round is in and I've had a moment to catch my breath, I'm going to talk about the 2pm round because things are now going into overdrive. The crowds are thronging in -- hey, is that you in there? -- and almost everything is either on Stand-By or playing in two theaters to keep it off Stand-By.

Remember, Stand-By doesn't mean "Sold Out." We actually do a really good job of getting people in, so don't let the term intimidate you. Just plan ahead -- if your film is on Stand-By, you want to get here at least an hour before its showing to get the best spot (and lowest ticket number) possible in our Stand-By line. Plan for a little extra travel time, too, just in case, because Tower City had to close one of its ramps into the parking area and a lot of people don't seem to have spotted the detour signs or realized that they can still get in through the other entrance. There's also parking being offered by the North Car Park at 549 Superior Avenue, if that's easier. So keep that in mind as you come down here.

We've got seven awesome choices for you, if you haven't already picked out your film.

The round starts off at 1:40, with Two Horses of Genghis Khan, which will sweep you into the arid deserts and forbiddingly beautiful landscapes of Mongolia as songstress Urna tries to piece together her heritage, decades after much of it was destroyed in China's Cultural Revolution. This is the film's final showing at the Festival, so if this appeals to you (and I know I'm fascinated!) then you should come in now to see it. It's also the only film that wasn't on Stand-By as of the morning meeting, so it's a great opportunity if you hadn't decided on a film yet.

Okay, just assume that I'm ending each of the next paragraphs with "This film is on Stand-By." ;)

If you're looking for something to take your child to, we have a perfect choice for you: Family Shorts Program #2 at 1:45. This is a great mixed-bag of kid-friendly and family-friendly films (check out Yvette Edery's description of the films in today's Buzz, on our YouTube channel!)

At 1:50, learn about The Lottery, and how for many underprivileged children, access to a quality education is becoming a game of chance. This important film is accompanied by a Film Forum, its topic: "Why does a child’s educational experience depend on the luck of the draw?" And that's a darn good question! We also have a great flyer about the issues raised in the film, put together by our awesome Lights, Camera, Action Steps crew. You definitely don't want to miss this.

Love the Kinks? Hey! I meant the band, wipe that smirk off your face! Anyway, join us at 2:00 for Do It Again, a documentary about a man's quest to get the Kinks to reunite for one more concert... with mixed results. I've heard that a lot of Kinks fans have been coming from around the country for this film -- at least one is coming from Washington DC, and others may be traveling even longer distances -- so maybe that tells you something about the devotion of this extraordinary band's fan-base. (Welcome to Cleveland, we're delighted to have you here!) Director Robert Patton-Spruill will be available to answer audience questions after the screening.

Take a look at the downside of humanitarian aid -- that sounds so odd to say, but there really can be one -- with Good Fortune, a documentary that takes you into Kenya where improvements to one set of farms might destroy the livelihoods of others, and planned housing upgrades might actually leave slum-dwellers completely homeless. Director Landon Van Soest will be available to answer audience questions after the screening, too.

Take a trip to Eastern Europe at 2:10 with Honeymoons, the first-ever Serbian-Albanian co-production that explores the current state of affairs in the Balkans. As two newlywed couples who have never met prepare to travel to Western Europe for their honeymoons, they end up embroiled in unexpected intrigue and improbably connected in the minds of suspicious officials. Come see what happens!

Our final film in the round is Bananas! No, that's not an editorial comment, that's the actual title. It sounds like it should be a screwball comedy, doesn't it? Actually, it's a documentary on a Los Angeles lawyer who is attempting to get Dole to take responsibility for a disastrous ecological situation in Nicaragua. I'd read about the chemical troubles in the town of Chinandega a while ago, myself, and you may have, too. Come find out what's going on with that horrible situation, and learn more about what you can do with this very useful flyer from our wonderful Lights, Camera, Action Steps crew. The film starts at 2:15.

Now, is that an awesome collection of films this round or what?

I've been told that everything in the 4pm round is on Stand-By, so remember our Stand-By 101 guidelines as you're preparing to come down and join us!

Posted by Lara Klaber

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