Ciff Speaks

CIFF48 will mark the end of an era, with Executive Director Marcie Goodman and Associate Director Patrick Shepherd both stepping down after more than two decades of Festival leadership. Our friend Mike Miller of Music Box Supper Club invited the celebrated duo to reminisce about some of their favorite CIFF stories over the years. Our sincere thanks to Mike Miller and Music Box Supper Club's Cleveland Stories Dinner Parties series. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today we talk with Paul Sloop, better known as "The Shorts Guy." As CIFF's Short Films Lead Programmer, Paul and his team watch thousands of films a year in order to bring the best of the best in independent short films to CIFF. Listen in as he gives us behind-the-scenes information on how the team puts together more than 20 short film programs each year for our Academy-qualifying Festival. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Canadian filmmaker Kim Albright joins us today to talk about her absurdist sci-fi comedy, WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN. Based on a play by the same name, Kim talks through the inspiration behind - and message of - this modern, dystopian-esque exploration of loneliness in the digital era. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

We're in conversation today with Stephanie Kaznocha, writer and director of the hilarious short film Confessions. We listen in as Stephanie talks about her prior connection to CIFF, and how audiences are reacting to this award-winning short film.  CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today we speak with Fawzia Mirza, the director of THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS. We ask Fawzia about her journey from practicing lawyer to celebrated director, and when her love of the arts began. Fawzia also dives into some of the nuances incorporated throughout the film to help tell the story of the complex dynamic of the mother-daughter relationship. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Powerhouse writer, director, producer, and non-profit founder Tamika Lamison joins us today to discuss her short film Superman Doesn't Steal. Tamika discusses how the film came to be, and how it grew from the intersection of two of her passions: filmmaking and service. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Academy Award Winner Steve Bognar joins us in conversation today as we take a walk down memory lane. CIFF audiences first met Steve in 1996 with his film PERSONAL BELONGINGS, and met his partner - the legendary Julia Reichert, who sadly passed away in December 2023 - in 2006 with their wildly loved documentary A LION IN THE HOUSE. Over the years, the duo brought their compelling films to CIFF screens, including AMERICAN FACTORY, for which they won an Oscar. Listen in as we discuss our very special program, CELEBRATING JULIA REICHERT: HER LIFE AND LEGACY, as well as the return of 9TO5: STORY OF A MOVEMENT as part of the Festival's newest program, CIFF Retro. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

On today's episode we speak with director Corey Sherman about his feature film debut BIG BOYS. Corey talks about taking a more compassionately comedic approach when telling the story of queer self-awakening, and the sweet awkwardness of experiencing your first crush. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today our co-hosts Dee Perry and Aaron Spears are joined by Joanna Rudnick, director of STORY & PICTURES BY. Joanna discusses the role picture books play beyond childhood nostalgia, and the importance of them in the reading journey. Listen in as we take a stroll down memory lane through the magic of picture books. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

In this episode we are joined by director Emily Sheskin to discuss her modern day boxing story, JESSZILLA. Emily revisits the process of documenting Jesselyn Silva's journey from a 9-year-old boxing prodigy to her three-peat as a national champion, and the hit no one saw coming. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Season Six of CIFF Speaks kicks off with a rockstar of a conversation as co-hosts Dee Perry and Aaron Spears talk with Jeff Dupre, director of THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE BLACK KEYS. A documentary about one of Ohio's most beloved success stories, you guessed it - The Black Keys - Jeff discusses how he went about telling the story of Akron natives Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney's rise to fame from basement jam sessions to sold out arenas.  CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Join us in celebrating Black History Month with Lights, Camera, Unity: Celebrating Black Stories, presented in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. The two-hour shorts program available for streaming Feb 1-4 - is a compilation of powerful short films that recognize the significance and distinction of Black experiences in America. Our guests today are the Executive Director of GCUFF Donna Dabbs, and Associate Director of CIFF Patrick Shephard. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

In partnership with 26.2 TO LIFE, CIFF is thrilled to announce the film’s Virtual Premiere streaming today through Tuesday, October 2nd. To celebrate, we have a bonus episode with the film’s director Christine Yoo and featured subject Markelle “The Gazelle” Taylor. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

CIFF47 alum – and the recipient of its ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing By a Woman – 26.2 TO LIFE is back on the big screen in Cleveland as part of the 2023 Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, taking place September 14th-22nd. Director Christine Yoo and featured subject Markelle "the Gazelle" Taylor join hosts Dee Perry and Aaron Spears to discuss the experience of training for and documenting one of the most unique marathons in the country, the San Quentin State Prison 1,000 Miles Club. Here is the San Quentin Mixtape that Christine mentions. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

On today's episode Dee and Aaron speak with a return guest, CIFF's own Shorts Programming Manager, Paul Sloop! Paul talks about the journey of programming CIFF47's 199 short films, traveling to festivals post-pandemic, and how film fans can get the most out of CIFF47 Streams, taking place April 2nd - 9th. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today we are joined by Saim Sadiq, director of Pakistan’s official Oscar® selection and winner of the Cannes 2022 Queer Palm, JOYLAND. Layered with forbidden love, despair, and a painfully dysfunctional family dynamic, this drama brings to light the crushing weight of gender norms when living underneath an oppressively patriarchal structure. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture.   Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today’s episode of CIFF Speaks sits down with Camille Hardman, one of the directors of CIFF47 film STILL WORKING 9 TO 5. We get a behind-the-scenes look at the seminal film’s production, its adaptations, and how it popularized feminism in the workplace. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture.   Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

On this episode we are joined by directors of the CIFF47 film MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES, Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro. The directors tell the story of influential jazz drummer Max Roach, whose timeless music and cultural activism spanned across seven decades, and changed the landscape of America. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture.   Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

Today we are joined by director Sophie Kargman, who takes us behind the scenes of her thrilling, unpredictable, and darkly humorous CIFF47 film SUSIE SEARCHES. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture.   Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate

On today’s episode we speak with Bryan Darling and Jesse Finley Reed, directors of the CIFF47 film ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY. Listen in as they talk about the impact the late-20th-century mail-order catalog, International Male, had on reshaping the popular image of the queer male American life. CIFF Speaks® is sponsored by Wayside Furniture. Facebook / Twitter / IG / YouTube / Donate