CLEVELAND (March 12, 2018) - The CLE will roll out the red carpet for the 42nd Annual Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) from April 4 - 15. In addition to having 215 feature films and 253 short films from 72 countries to choose from during CIFF, residents can learn more about Cleveland's role in feature films by bringing big screen moments to life at notable filming locations around town. For locals who strive to impress when entertaining visiting family and friends, Destination Cleveland recommends combining exploration of favorite places featured on the silver screen with stops that may be off the beaten path.
Scene One: Fine Food in Film
EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
Clevelanders can sink their teeth into exceptional cuisine at an area restaurant that is featured in an Academy Award-nominated documentary. "Knife Skills" tells the story of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute and the challenges of opening a restaurant staffed primarily by formerly incarcerated adults who are mostly new to the hospitality industry and classic French cuisine. Located in the Shaker Square neighborhood, residents can enjoy fine dining at EDWINS with dishes like escargots, foie gras, crème brûlée and frog legs.
- 13101 Shaker Square, Cleveland
- Monday - Wednesday, 4 - 10 p.m.; Thursday - Saturday, 4 - 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, closed
West Side Market
In the 2015 film "Jenny's Wedding," the main character (played by Katherine Heigl) and her dad have lunch at the West Side Market. The Ohio City market is home to more than one hundred vendors, including Avant Gardens Farm & Mushroomery, Ora Bell's Southern Cuisine and English Treats - some of the newest purveyors at this Cleveland institution. Residents can grab a bite between films, choosing from different regional cuisines at stands like Kim Se Cambodian Cuisine, Judy's Middle Eastern Food and Pierogi Palace.
- 1979 W. 25th St., Cleveland
- Monday and Wednesday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.;
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, closed
Scene Two: Sports-Town Cameos
Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians
A few major motion pictures feature Cleveland sports teams (or their home fields). The 2014 film "Draft Day," which starred Kevin Costner, focused on the Cleveland Browns and included shots of FirstEnergy Stadium. In the 1980s, the baseball classic "Major League," starring Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger, used establishing shots of Cleveland Municipal Stadium for the film. Clevelanders can rally together at Progressive Field and catch the Cleveland Indians at one of their first home games of the season before or after their film festival experience.
- Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland
- For more information on Cleveland Indians games, visit www.indians.com
Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum
Last summer, the filming of "The Fate of the Furious" brought some of the coolest and fastest cars to Downtown Cleveland. If residents are auto aficionados, they can check out the more than 140 antique automobiles (which may have been the fastest in their day) at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum at the Cleveland History Center. Locals can "put the pedal to the medal" through transportation history and learn about Cleveland's role in the automobile industry.
- 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland
- Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.; Monday, closed
Scene Three: Neighborhoods on the Big Screen
Coventry Village
Coventry Village in Cleveland Heights boasts a wealth of local shops, restaurants and venues to explore. What many residents may not know is that it also was a filming location for the 2012 family flick "Fun Size," and it was the stomping grounds of Harvey Pekar, the American comic book writer and protagonist of the film "American Splendor." Residents can enjoy a meal at Tommy's restaurant, a place frequented by Pekar, rock out at a Grog Shop concert, grab a glass of wine at La Cave du Vin or finish the day with fresh frozen yogurt from Piccadilly.
Tremont neighborhood
While the historical Tremont neighborhood is often recognized as a foodie paradise, it first was a backdrop for some well-known movies. "The Deer Hunter," the 1978 classic starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep, utilized different spots throughout the neighborhood, including St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral. In addition to touring the location in the movie where Angela married Steven, residents can also snap some photos outside of Lemko Hall where the movie couple's reception took place. Of course, Clevelanders can also visit the famous house where parts of "A Christmas Story" were filmed. The house is open year-round, and locals can see the iconic leg lamp or hide under the sink like Randy. Super fans of the film can even spend a night or two in the legendary house.
University Circle neighborhood
Superheroes met super art when the atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art posed as the S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters in "Captain America: Winter Soldier." Locals can peruse the museum's always-free permanent collection or even catch special exhibits like "Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe." University Circle is also home to Severance Hall, which stood as the palace of the president of Kazakhstan in the 1997 film "Air Force One." Home to the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, locals can stop by Severance Hall and see performances of "Brahms Violin Concerto," "Beethoven's Fifth" and "Beethoven's Heroic Symphony" after wrapping their day of film viewing at CIFF.
- Cleveland Museum of Art: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Monday, closed
- Severance Hall: 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
- "Brahms Violin Concerto:" Thursday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 7, 8 p.m.
- "Beethoven's Fifth:" Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
- "Beethoven's Heroic Symphony:" Friday, April 13, 11 a.m.
Waterloo Arts District
Welcome to Collinwood, Clevelanders! In the Waterloo Arts District, locals can awaken their inner artist and explore the movie setting of the 2002 film "Welcome to Collinwood," which featured actors William H. Macy, Isaiah Washington and George Clooney. The neighborhood, which is known for its art-filled streets and eclectic atmosphere, offers locals the opportunity to grab a drink and catch a show at the Beachland Ballroom, sort through vinyl records and cassette tapes at Blue Arrow Records or nosh on pizza baked in a wood-fired brick oven at Citizen Pie.
Scene Four: A Metropolitan Motion Picture
Public Square & Tower City
Avengers fans assemble! Producers of the film "The Avengers" chose Public Square to pose as the German city of Stuttgart, and residents can easily explore the area where scenes from the film were shot. An added bonus - it's only a hop, skip and a jump from CIFF at the Tower City Cinemas. Locals can tour the historic Soldiers and Sailors Monument or grab a cup of coffee or bite to eat at Rebol. Public Square is also home to the old Higbee building where fans of "A Christmas Story" can see the spot where Ralphie first set his eyes on the Red Ryder BB Gun. Even though Higbee's has since closed, the historic building is now home to JACK Cleveland Casino, which still maintains the building's original architecture. The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, which is attached to Tower City Center, will also offer a special CIFF-themed stay package so Clevelanders can stay right next to the action.
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument: 3 Public Square, Cleveland
- Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, closed
- JACK Cleveland Casino: 100 Public Square, Cleveland
- The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland: 1515 W. 3rd St., Cleveland
Scene Five: Cleveland's Cinematic Gems
The Land's Unique Movie Theatres
If Clevelanders are looking for more cinematic splendor after CIFF wraps, they can head over to some of the area's unique movie venues. In addition to showing indie films, the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights brings "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to life, and locals can even participate in the production. The decades old and beautifully restored Capitol Theatre, located in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, shows some of the big screen blockbusters while offering locals special deals throughout the week. If Clevelanders are looking for an alternative film experience, they can head over to the Cleveland Institute of Art's Cinematheque. Located in the University Circle neighborhood, the Cinematheque shows classic, foreign and independent films every Thursday through Sunday.
- Cedar Lee Theatre
- 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights
- Capitol Theatre
- 1390 W 65th St., Cleveland
- Cinematheque
- 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
For more cinema-inspired activities or to learn more about Destination Cleveland, new attractions and activities, please visit thisiscleveland.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Pinterest.
DON'T FORGET: Destination Cleveland's Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact our team through email at cleconcierge@destinationcle.org, live chat at thisiscleveland.com or stop in the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44114) Mon. - Sat., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. to plan your adventure.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland's convention and visitors bureau. This private, non-profit organization's mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 18 million visitors annually. For more information, visit thisiscleveland.com.