Hi everyone

The Film Festival has just gotten started and here is the third of our official events. There are also a number of unofficial events you might want to consider. Let me or Michael know if you would like to post any other movies you plan on attending.

Finally, if you see a really good movie, at the CIFF, let us know so we can be on the lookout for it IF it happens to come to the Cedar Lee or Cinemateque. More than half of the movies we will never see in Cleveland again.

Give a strong welcome to three new members: Paul, Elisabeth and Shannon. We hope to see you at an event real soon.


Announcing a new meeting for Cleveland Independent Movie Goers!

What: Armin / Ben X: Cleveland International Film Festival / Muse

When: Saturday, March 15, 4:15 PM

Movie (promo code "Bike"): USD10.00 per person

Where: Click the link below to find out! Armin / Ben X: Cleveland Internati?

Meeting Description: The 32nd annual Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) will be taking place March 6-16. It is an incredible treat that we have a festival noted by Time magazine as one of the top ten in the world. http://clevelandfilm.org/

This Meetup is the 3rd of 3 events sponsored by CIMG. You can go to one or both of the movies. Michael, even a more avid attendee than I, will be posting other movies that he is going to see and might be of interest to our group.

*** We strongly suggest you buy your tickets ahead of time. You will be glad you did. ***

4:15 MOVIE: Film may go on standby, but if it does, you will probably still get in (but why deal with the hassle). Be at the entrance line with your tickets for Armin by 4:00.

Afterwards, look for the group by the center of the Fountains on the side nearest to Tower Cinemas.

6:00 EATS AND DISCUSSION: From the Fountains, it is a three minute indoor walk to Muse. Ask to be seated with the Movie Group if you don't see us when you walk in. Try sitting next to someone you don't know well. Cash is highly recommended. We went there last year and really enjoyed it.

*** If you plan on joining us ahead of time, please tell us on your RSVP. We will reserve a spot for you at the group table. *** Even if you are not seeing the same movies, feel free to join us for dinner.

7:30 Movie: Film will very likely go on standby by the middle of the festival, but you might still get in if you wait. Be at the entrance line with your tickets for Ben X by 7:15.

Afterwards, look for the group by the center of the Fountains on the side nearest to Tower Cinemas. Perhaps we will go to another discussion or get together.

DESCRIPTION OF ARMIN: CROATIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, GERMANY

Directed by Ognjen Svilicic

A Bosnian teenager and his father are waiting for a bus in their small, war-pocked village; they?re bound for the big city of Zagreb, Croatia. Armin is an expressionless youth who quietly tolerates the outbursts of his irascible father, Ibro, at all the little misfortunes of their journey. This infuriates Ibro, for his boy Armin has an appointment to audition for a German-made movie about the war in the Balkans. Though they?re sick of hearing and thinking about the war, the hard-up pair are hoping desperately that Armin gets a part in the film. But he and his father discover that together, they have something more important than the movie. http://clevelandfilm.org/ciff_films_find-details.php?fid=2411

DESCRIPTION OF BEN X: BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS

Directed by Nic Balthazar

Ben is a hero in his own mind. There he is not the student who is bullied mercilessly at his vocational school. Ben is autistic. He moves awkwardly and barely speaks, but his senses of sight and hearing are painfully acute. Relief from the misery of school comes when he escapes into his virtual world of Archlord, an online game bearing more than a passing resemblance to World of Warcraft. There, he finds a kindred spirit? a girl known as Scarlite? who encourages him and heals his agonized soul. The more his tormentors abuse him in real life, the more Archlord steels himself for the final battle. Much of the film takes place inside Ben?s head, as director Nic Balthazar takes us via flashbacks to Ben?s youth, then returns to the painful present. This movie was a favorite of Bill Guenzler, the program director. http://clevelandfilm.org/ciff_films_find-details.php?fid=2415

GETTING THERE: Parking is Free (with validation!), but it gets very crowded so allow plenty of time, especially on weekends. Consider taking RTA.

BUYING TICKETS: For most films, I recommend you buy tickets online ahead of time or at the festival. Some of the films sell out. Others go on standby, which means you will be admitted if there are seats available, but it requires more waiting. As a last resort, you could see another movie and meet us afterwards. http://clevelandfilm.org/ciff_tickets.php

OTHER MOVIES AT THE CIFF: I would encourage you to post other CIFF movies you may be attending so that others may be able to join you.

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NOTE TO FIRST TIME GOERS: This group has been successful partly because members have a genuine interest in meeting fellow independent movie goers. We don't always know where to look for you, especially first timers, which is why I offer multiple meeting points:

* Entrance door to the movie in the theater hallway 5-10 minutes ahead of time
* A reserved table at a restaurant (usually) under the name "Movie Group"

We often don't sit together in the movie theater but if you see a bunch of people talking about good movies they have seen, it is probably us. Please join in. We are always happy to get new people involved.

Learn more here:
http://movies.meetup.com/320/calendar/7483824/