Last week, the Cedar Lee Theatre (2163 Lee Rd., 216.321.5411)
started its month-long “Hi-Def Hitch” series, during which it’s
showing eight classics by Alfred Hitchcock in digitally remastered High
Definition. It’s already screened Rear Window; Torn
Curtain has one more screening at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8. The
series continues this week with screenings of Frenzy (April 11
and 15) and Psycho (April 11 and 14). The lineup for the rest of
the month includes The Trouble with Harry (April 18 and 22),
Vertigo (April 18 and 21), Topaz (April 25 and 29) and
The Birds (April 25 and 28). Admission is only $5, and Saturday
double-feature matinee tickets are $8. A series pass for all the films
is $35. Go to clevelandcinemas.com for show- times
and more information.

AMC Ridge Park Square (4788 Ridge Rd., 216.749.4344) will
host special screenings of the upcoming Hannah Montana: The
Movie on Saturday, April 18, for families with autistic
children. It’s part of the AMC Sensory Friendly Films program
(at these special screenings, the lights are all slightly turned up and
the sound is slightly turned down). The theater will also suspend AMC’s
“Silence is Golden” policy so that guests can “get up and dance, walk,
shout or sing.” The idea is to create a safe environment for families
that might feel uncomfortable bringing their autistic children to a
regular screening. Come to think of it, even moviegoers without autism
might find the suspension of the “Silence is Golden” policy
advantageous. AMC is also developing a workforce program to hire
autistic teens to work at its theaters.

Recession? What recession? This year’s just-concluded 33rd
Cleveland International Film Festival broke all kinds of
attendance records, despite the slumping economy. If you stopped by
Tower City Cinemas to check out any of the 143 feature films that
showed over the 10-day period, you know the place was packed.
Organizers also topped the $33,000 fundraising goal they set at the
festival’s start. Go to clevelandfilm.org to read about the
Audience Choice Award winner Cherry Blossoms and see a
list of other winners.

jniesel@clevescene.com

This article appears in Apr 8-14, 2009.

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.