CHAGRIN FALLS — The 16th annual Chagrin Documentary Film Festival will screen 74 engaging works over five days Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 7-12 at many walkable venues throughout the village. More than 50 filmmakers from across the country and the world will attend to participate in question-and-answer sessions and audience discussions. The festival will award $10,000 in prizes to winning directors.
The festival opens with a VIP reception 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Chagrin Intermediate School Theater and a premiere showing of the film John Candy: I Like Me from Amazon MGM Studios. The film delves into the life of Canadian actor and comedian John Candy. The festival concludes Sunday, Oct. 12 at Federated Church with a screening of Amal, directed by Eros Zhao and features a special performance by Yaron Kohlberg. The film tells the story of virtuoso pianists of Duo Amal, Yaron Kohlberg and Bishara Haroni, who each come from different worlds with Israeli and Palestinian backgrounds.
In between the opening and closing ceremonies is a cornucopia of fascinating films grouped into categories such as environmental, international, emerging filmmakers, student films, US documentaries, short films, local short films and spotlight documentaries. Topics range from the Heart of Rock And Roll: A Cleveland Rocks Story and Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals to The Golden Spurtle, Among Thieves and The Pantone Guy. Spend some time checking out the options of screen times and venues. Locations include CDFF on the Triangle, the historic Township Hall, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, South Franklin Circle, St. Joan of Arc and an outdoor screen in Triangle Park along with several other venues.
Last year, the festival reached an estimated 28,000 film fans across 28 states, with attendees representing 140 Ohio zip codes. The annual economic impact exceeds $1 million for the local community.
Individual tickets are $15 while VIP reception tickets are $125 and require advance reservations. Festival memberships are also available. Contact chagrinfilmfest.org or call 440-247-1591. A complete program guide and online schedule with detailed film and event information is available at chagrinfilmfest.org.
Guided night hike: Take a magical walk through a park without the use of lights 8-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at Big Creek Park from the Deep Woods Parking Lot. Your senses will be enhanced during the calm of an early fall night making wildlife easier to discover. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required.
All about spiders: Just don’t say ‘eek,’ Geauga Park District invites you to get to know your eight-legged neighbors better before passing judgement on them. From 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 attend an indoor presentation about these critters at Big Creek Park. It explores basic identification tips to help answer questions and concerns about them. Then at 3:30 p.m. go on an hour-long spider walk in the forest on and off the trail to look for these amazing arachnids. Dress for the weather. A separate registration is required for each program. A virtual program 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 lets you learn about some of the 680 species of spiders that call Ohio home focusing on the more common ones and the important roles they have in their environment. Registration is required to receive the link a few days before the program. Contact geaugaparkdistrict.org or call 440-286-9516.
Stormwater Awareness Week: Clean water starts at home and in your backyard according to Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District as it marks Stormwater Awareness week Oct. 1-7. The organization sites an estimate of 70 percent of pollution in our rivers, streams and lakes comes from stormwater runoff from yards, driveways and streets along with failing septic systems, construction sediment and roadside trash. Learn how to protect our water by mulching leaves for healthier soil, picking up neighborhood litter, building a rain garden, maintaining your septic system, eliminating lawn fertilization and starting a compost pile. Contact ohiostormwaterweek.org.
Hop a bus and a train: The Geauga YMCA invites you to board a fall trip by bus 7:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 to catch the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad for a 1.5-hour trip from the Rockside station in Independence to the Akron station. Next you will be transported to enjoy lunch at Hartville Kitchen and The Shops at Hartville and Hartville Marketplace. Then, it’s on to Maize Valley Winery for tasting and more shopping before travelling back to the Geauga YMCA at about 5:30 p.m. Your trip begins and ends at 12460 Bass Lake Rd. in Chardon. The cost is $119 for members and $129 for non-members. Register now through Oct. 9. Contact Diane Gorom at 440-285-7534, ext.. 3025 or email dgorom@clevelandymca.org.
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