Cleveland Film Festival for Dummies
Wednesday March 5, 2008
From guest blogger, Anne Price
Upon telling people I'm covering the film festival for About.com Cleveland, the usual responses are: "I've always wanted to go there; what's it like? Where's it at? How do I get tickets?"
So, once more, it's time to explain the basics of attending the Cleveland Film Festival for the newbie.
Driving and Parking
RTA transportation is available. For details, contact 216-621-9500 or visit www.rideRTA.com. If you'd rather drive yourself, it's easy to get to Tower City from all suburbs; detailed driving directions can be found on the Film Festival Web site.
Are we there yet? Yes, we are. Now let's park the car and venture inside and upstairs to the Tower City Cinemas. All self-parking in the Tower City lot off Huron Road is free to festival patrons when available. Once you buy your film ticket, just get it stamped by one of the volunteers at the Festival Store kiosk. Present the stamped ticket to the parking booth attendant and no money is needed. The same applies to parking off Canal at the Tower City Amphitheater at Riverview.
Tickets and Showtimes
Be sure to arrive early, 30-45 minutes in advance of the film's showing. This helps avoid crowd lines and provides better chance to get a ticket. Many films sell-out early, particularly those showcased in the Local Heroes category and films with special events like forums or meet and greets. It's good to call 866-865-FILM in advance of departure to be sure a show's not already sold-out.
Even if the show has sold out, a patron can purchase "stand-by" tickets up to an hour before a scheduled viewing. Ten minutes before showtime, simply return to the stand-by booth, usually located right across from the Tower City Theater glass entrance doors. Seats will be filled in numerical order until all are filled. If you can't manage to get in to the film on stand-by, your ticket will be redeemed for either a voucher or, in the case of a ticket purchased with cash, the cash value.
Patrons can avoid both lines and uncertainty by purchasing tickets in advance and reviewing the free schedule and synopsis booklets provided in the lobby. In the center of the action, the information hub volunteers are on hand to explain procedures, help you schedule viewings and answer any questions that might arise. They usually also have great freebies like bumper stickers, temporary tattoos, detailed synopses of films and the film lover's Bible: the annual CIFF guides.
Voting and Awards
You'll notice many helpful people outside the theater as you make your way to and from your seat. They're sometimes handing out forms and, other times, collecting them. This is where your voice can be heard and counted, voting for films at CIFF. Upon exiting the theater, you can rate a film by tearing away at the corner of the ballot that corresponds to your opinion of the movie: excellent, good, fair or poor. Best of all, you won't have to sit through debates or stump-speeches to make your vote count here.
At the end of the festival, votes will be tallied and one film will be awarded "The Plain Dealer Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award" for Best Film. Mueller was a film critic for the paper for several years in the 80s and helped raise public awareness and interest in CIFF. Votes will also count towards the CSU Audience Choice Award for Best Short Subject, American Independents Award and Greg Gund Standing Up Film Competition Award. This year there's also the Central and Eastern European Film Competition that rewards one filmmaker a $10,000 cash prize and the Nasnadny and Schwartz Documentary Film Competition.
Getting there and navigating your way around CIFF are easy after that first experience; it just takes a bit of practice and preparation. So, go ahead: check out a few of the over 130 amazing feature length films and see the best of today's films from all across the world. That way, next year, you won't have to ask what it's all about. You'll know, you'll be walking around like a seasoned pro, and I'll see you there!
Tickets are $11 in advance and $12 at the box office. For more tickets and more information, see the CIFF Web site.
Upon telling people I'm covering the film festival for About.com Cleveland, the usual responses are: "I've always wanted to go there; what's it like? Where's it at? How do I get tickets?"
So, once more, it's time to explain the basics of attending the Cleveland Film Festival for the newbie.
Driving and Parking
RTA transportation is available. For details, contact 216-621-9500 or visit www.rideRTA.com. If you'd rather drive yourself, it's easy to get to Tower City from all suburbs; detailed driving directions can be found on the Film Festival Web site.
Are we there yet? Yes, we are. Now let's park the car and venture inside and upstairs to the Tower City Cinemas. All self-parking in the Tower City lot off Huron Road is free to festival patrons when available. Once you buy your film ticket, just get it stamped by one of the volunteers at the Festival Store kiosk. Present the stamped ticket to the parking booth attendant and no money is needed. The same applies to parking off Canal at the Tower City Amphitheater at Riverview.
Tickets and Showtimes
Be sure to arrive early, 30-45 minutes in advance of the film's showing. This helps avoid crowd lines and provides better chance to get a ticket. Many films sell-out early, particularly those showcased in the Local Heroes category and films with special events like forums or meet and greets. It's good to call 866-865-FILM in advance of departure to be sure a show's not already sold-out.
Even if the show has sold out, a patron can purchase "stand-by" tickets up to an hour before a scheduled viewing. Ten minutes before showtime, simply return to the stand-by booth, usually located right across from the Tower City Theater glass entrance doors. Seats will be filled in numerical order until all are filled. If you can't manage to get in to the film on stand-by, your ticket will be redeemed for either a voucher or, in the case of a ticket purchased with cash, the cash value.
Patrons can avoid both lines and uncertainty by purchasing tickets in advance and reviewing the free schedule and synopsis booklets provided in the lobby. In the center of the action, the information hub volunteers are on hand to explain procedures, help you schedule viewings and answer any questions that might arise. They usually also have great freebies like bumper stickers, temporary tattoos, detailed synopses of films and the film lover's Bible: the annual CIFF guides.
Voting and Awards
You'll notice many helpful people outside the theater as you make your way to and from your seat. They're sometimes handing out forms and, other times, collecting them. This is where your voice can be heard and counted, voting for films at CIFF. Upon exiting the theater, you can rate a film by tearing away at the corner of the ballot that corresponds to your opinion of the movie: excellent, good, fair or poor. Best of all, you won't have to sit through debates or stump-speeches to make your vote count here.
At the end of the festival, votes will be tallied and one film will be awarded "The Plain Dealer Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award" for Best Film. Mueller was a film critic for the paper for several years in the 80s and helped raise public awareness and interest in CIFF. Votes will also count towards the CSU Audience Choice Award for Best Short Subject, American Independents Award and Greg Gund Standing Up Film Competition Award. This year there's also the Central and Eastern European Film Competition that rewards one filmmaker a $10,000 cash prize and the Nasnadny and Schwartz Documentary Film Competition.
Getting there and navigating your way around CIFF are easy after that first experience; it just takes a bit of practice and preparation. So, go ahead: check out a few of the over 130 amazing feature length films and see the best of today's films from all across the world. That way, next year, you won't have to ask what it's all about. You'll know, you'll be walking around like a seasoned pro, and I'll see you there!
Tickets are $11 in advance and $12 at the box office. For more tickets and more information, see the CIFF Web site.
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