Films with Ohio and Ukrainian ties showing at Cleveland International Film Festival

The Cleveland Worldwide Movie Pageant kicks off Wednesday night time in Playhouse Sq. and continues in particular person till April 2, when the viewing strikes on-line for an additional week with CIFF Streams.

With greater than 100 feature-length movies and practically 200 shorts, the pageant provides loads of selection. Right here’s a sampling of movies with Ohio or Ukrainian connections, as CIFF partnered this yr with Ukraine’s Odessa Movie Pageant to supply a number of of the county’s movies.

Movies with Ohio hyperlinks

“We’re the Troopers”

Discover the historical past of Toledo’s career ladies’s soccer group with the documentary “We’re the Troopers,” premiering at CIFF. Former gamers and supporters share their experiences with the group, which began in 1971 and was put up on the market in 1980.

“It is a actually enjoyable and entertaining documentary with some critical notes to it,” stated Mallory Martin, inventive director for CIFF.

One of many critical notes is how little the gamers had been paid.

“It’s loopy,” Martin stated. “Years in the past, these ladies had been paid $25 per week.”

Screening March 25, 4:50 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre, and on-line with CIFF Streams

“Pre Fab!”

Parma native Todd Thompson directs this doc concerning the origins of the Beatles. “Pre Fab!” facilities on Colin Hanton, a drummer with the Quarry Males, John Lennon’s Nineteen Fifties skiffle group, which later developed into the Beatles.

Within the movie’s trailer, Hanton laughs whereas recalling his father saying to him “that might have been you.”

“Colin is a personality,” Martin stated. “Him and his spouse collectively are hilarious.”

A number of members of the manufacturing group are also from Ohio.

Screening March 26, 2:40 p.m. KeyBank State Theatre, and on-line with CIFF Streams

“Citizen Sleuth”

An novice, true-crime podcaster got down to examine the loss of life of a girl from Marietta, Ohio, and struck a chord with listeners of her Mile Marker 181 podcast. “Citizen Sleuth” follows Emily Nestor and her investigation in addition to the moral points that emerged making a true-crime podcast.

“It’s an incredible examination into an enormous a part of our tradition,” Martin stated.

The documentary can be produced by Northeast Ohio natives Chris Kasick and Tyler Davidson.

Screening March 26, 9:50 p.m., and March 26, 7:25 p.m., Mimi Ohio Theatre

“Meals and Nation”

This documentary examines the U.S. meals trade, hit notably arduous in the course of the pandemic, via discussions with eating places homeowners and farmers, together with Bob and Lee Jones of Huron.

“A whole lot of these kind of grassroots entities had been taken benefit of by bigger conglomerates,” Martin stated.

“Meals and Nation” premiered at Sundance.

Screening March 31, 2:30 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre, and on-line with CIFF Streams

Ukrainian cinema

“Mavka: The Forest Music”

The forest dwelling Mavka needs to guard her residence and in addition her love, nonetheless the 2 come into battle on this animated youngsters’s story. Introduced in English, Ukraine’s “Mavka: The Forest Music” is stuffed with journey.

“To have the ability to provide one thing that comes from the nation that’s lighthearted and uplifting is absolutely nice,” Martin stated.

Screening March 25, 12 p.m., Allen Theatre, and on-line with CIFF Streams.

“Pamfir”

Comply with a father’s suspenseful journey to offer for his household in Western Ukraine regardless of main challenges. “Pamfir” is a dramatic thriller in Ukrainian with English subtitles directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk.

“It is truly one in all my favourite movies in our pageant this yr,” Martin stated. “It is a debut filmmaker, who, particularly after you watch the movie, it is simply superb that that is his first movie that he is made.”

Screening March 25, 10 p.m., and March 28, 2:25 p.m., Higher Allen

“20 Days in Mariupol”

Related Press on-the-ground footage from the start days of the struggle paperwork the devastation in Ukraine. “20 Days in Mariupol” is a compilation of reporting from journalists decided to indicate the world what was taking place.

“It’s a movie that everyone must see proper now to remind us all, you realize, what is going on over there,” Martin stated.

Screening March 26, 7:35 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre

“A Rising Fury”

“A Rising Fury” reveals Ukrainian resistance to Russian forces over a number of years previous Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“This movie specifically actually taught me loads concerning the issues and the complexities of this struggle and the place issues first began,” Martin stated.

One of many administrators, Lesya Kalynska, can be coming to the pageant.

Screening March 24, 5 p.m., KeyBank State Theatre and on-line with CIFF Streams