Now in its seventh year, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival has just announced that it will screen 76 films from 24 countries during the annual event that takes place from October 5 to 9 at venues in and around Chagrin Falls.

Festival organizers have grouped the movies in several different categories, including one devoted to emerging filmmakers. 

“[The emerging filmmaker] category reflects our commitment to giving a voice to the first time filmmaker,” says Festival Director Mary Ann Ponce, who founded the festival in 2010 to honor her son, David. “It has been our founding mission to empower talented filmmakers. We are proud to share their stories with our enthusiastic and engaged audience.”


Other categories include Environmental Films, Feature Documentaries, Human Spirit, the International Documentary, Social Awareness Documentaries, Local Interest, Student Films, Special Presentations and Short Documentaries.

Fevered Dreams Productions, a non- profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to “empowering filmmakers to tell their stories,” organizes the festival and will give out cash awards totaling $15,000 to the winning directors.

Tickets go on sale September 1 at chagrinfilmfest.org. 

This article appears in Aug 17-23, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.