In 2012, local film aficionado Michael Suglio successfully launched his Short. Sweet. Film Fest at Ohio City's Market Garden Brewery. The festival grew bigger, so Suglio moved it to the Alex Theater at the Metropolitan at the 9, where it’s set to return the first weekend of March.
From March 4 through March 6, the fifth annual festival will showcase some 90 films. In addition, musical acts will perform after the films on Friday and Saturday nights and on Sunday afternoon.
The festival opens with a Local Filmmaker’s Night that takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 4. The doors open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and films run from noon to 9 p.m. Live music and a filmmaker's networking/social event follows, and there will be a hour intermission at 3 p.m. which includes a workshop by Cleveland Camera Rental.
Doors open again at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, and films run from noon to 7 p.m. A live band will perform during a short intermission at 3 p.m., and several international films will screen. A Japanese film festival, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, partnered with Suglio and helped deliver six films from Japan. Several submissions came from Iran as well, and Suglio will show two of them. The evening will conclude with showings of the 2016 Short. Sweet. Film Fest award winners.
Several filmmakers will travel from all over the country to do Q & A sessions for Saturday and Sunday.
“The Short. Sweet. Film Fest strives to showcase the best local, national, and international films from up-and-coming filmmakers,” says Suglio. “What better way to watch independent cinema than in the stunning and brand-new Alex Theatre and enjoying a cool beer or cocktail with some gourmet food? I had a great local turnout this year, and that’s why I have a Friday night of just local films. Now, going into year five, the directors know I’ve been around and must be doing something right. This year's festival is similar to last year's, but the big change is an emphasis on the local films, and I’ve made sure to make time for social and networking amongst filmmakers and the film community.”
All patrons can come-and-go throughout the festival as long as they keep their wristbands on.
The full film schedule can be found here.
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