For a true cineaste, the six-month wait for the 2011 Cleveland International Film Festival (March 24 through April 3, 2011) seems long indeed. These devotees, however, will have a chance to satisfy their cravings for film, food and a good fete while supporting the festival through Film Feasts.
"This will be our eighth season [for Film Feasts]," says Debby Samples, CIFF marketing and membership director. "We are thrilled with how the series has evolved to encompass such a wide variety of topics." Because the hosts of various Film Feasts underwrite the cost of the events, all proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit the CIFF. The events are intended to be intimate and usually sell out very quickly. "My advice would be that if you see [a Film Feast] you like, make your reservations as quickly as possible," says Samples. "We're not kidding when we say these sell out quickly!"
The Film Feasts series is not only about fundraising for the CIFF, but also about audience cultivation. "A few years ago, we surveyed our audience at the CIFF, and found the number one way people attended the CIFF is by being brought by a friend," says Samples. "We find the same thing applies with attending Film Feasts, and it's a great way for people to get a feel for the energy at the CIFF on a smaller scale."
The first Film Feast, "Married to the Mob", is scheduled for Monday, October 18 at the East Side home of Dennis and Kathy Barrie, developers of the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. With moderator Jules Belkin, the Barries will discuss the untold stories behind the making of the one-of-a-kind museum, which opens in spring 2011 in downtown Las Vegas. On Friday, October 29, Cricket Karson hosts "Arsenic and Old Lace," a Halloween weekend kick-off featuring a fortune teller, an indoor scavenger hunt and a makeup artists on hand to help guests get a spooky look.
While the Film Feasts always do their part to generate excitement for the CIFF, the series has become a highly anticipated event in its own right. "Our goal for these events is for everyone to have as good a time as we do," says Samples. "We hope that we see lots of new faces this year!"
Details on all of the Film Feasts are available online. To reserve tickets, purchase them online, call 216-623-FILM or fax a completed reservation form to 216-623-0103. You can also mail your reservation form to the Cleveland International Film Festival, 2510 Market Avenue, Cleveland, 44113. Details and directions to the event venue will be sent to you approximately one week prior to the event.
