Film Heaven On Earth By Art Byrd

One of the great things about going to a film festival is that you get to see films you normally would never see in your neighborhood theater or even on DVD. Some of the films are shown only at film festivals, and then they are gone forever.

In the past few months, my film going experience has been going to the theater to see one or two films back to back. Usually afterwards, I am tired. So going to a film festival is like running a marathon for me. A festival can go for a week or two in; films start playing early in the morning and continue until late night.

One such event is the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF). The CIFF featured over 290 films, including shorts from around the world.

One Saturday at the festival, I watched films from early afternoon to late evening. It was exhausting, but it was pure film heaven on earth (my training came in the form of some creative sitting -- I won’t go any further!). I came back the next day to run or sit through some amazing films.

Here is a quick rundown on the short films I saw and enjoyed: “Beast,” which was about a boy taken to the limit by an abusive father; “Boond” is a story about a boy and his mother who are protecting their water well in a town that has no water; and “The Stars Don’t Twinkle in Outer Space” tells the story of a young girl’s space experience, which has a very surprising and punch to the gut ending.

I believe that short films shown one right after another are more emotional that a feature film because each has a different level emotions with its theme. Those themes can take you on an emotional roller-coaster. I held on to my seat.

As for the features, my favorite film so far is a heartwarming story, “Dear Lemon Lima.” Thirteen- year-old Vanessa, played by newcomer Savannah Wiltfong, works at an ice cream stand and writes about love in a diary. She is trying to win back Phillip, her ex-boyfriend. She becomes a student at the same academy as Phillip.

Vanessa finds out she doesn’t fit in. Along the way, she meets others who don’t fit in, and they form a bond. Even though the film turns into same old formula of “the misfits” against “the have it alls,” “Dear Lemon Lima” tugs at all heart strings.

An honorable mention goes to a film called “Love Hurts.” The film has some familiar faces such, as Carrie Ann Moss (“The Matrix” films), Jenna Elfman (“Dharma & Greg”), and Camryn Manheim, (“The Practice”). There is a chance this film may make it to theaters, but for sure it’ll be out on DVD. It’s a must see.

At a film festival, there are some great films that may or may never come to a theater near you.

edited by Michele Ristich Gatts