14 SPONSORS The 31st <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Film</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>
FILL YOUR SHOPPING CART > www.clevelandfilm.org < BUY YOUR TICKETS > Call 866.865.FILM SPECIAL PROGRAMS 15 MEET THE FILMMAKERS At The Hard Rock Café in Tower City Center Sunday, March 18th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. <strong>Film</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> guest filmmakers will join patrons for an informal reception. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. DIRECTOR’S SPOTLIGHT 2007 DIRECTOR Since the release of his first film in 1984, renowned Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer has challenged thematic, artistic, and social conventions. Always pushing the boundaries of genre and style, his widely diverse narratives—ranging in subject from ostracized youngsters to sequestered adults to enigmatic Aborigines—have focused on social outsiders and outcasts. In many of these films, he has made his adoptive homeland the stage, shooting on location in the outback, the swampland, the cities, and the suburbs of Australia. Born in 1951, Rolf de Heer moved with his family from Holland to Australia at the age of eight. After working for several years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he decided to pursue his own creative career. In 1977 he began studying producing and directing at the Australian <strong>Film</strong>, Television, and Radio School in Sydney. SOMEONE TO WATCH 2007 FILMMAKER Rolf de Heer His prolific career as director, producer, writer, and composer has earned him countless awards and international acclaim as one of Australia’s foremost filmmakers. He is currently working on his twelfth feature film, the equally unique “Dr. Plonk,” a black-and-white silent comedy recalling the work of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. He owns the production company Vertigo Productions. Ever since the first <strong>Cleveland</strong> screening of “Bad Boy Bubby” (17th CIFF), Rolf de Heer has had a cult following from our audience. Throughout the past 13 years, which have included the screenings of “The Quiet Room” (21st CIFF), “Dance Me To My Song” (23rd CIFF), and the 25th Anniversary screening of “Bad Boy Bubby,” the mystique of Rolf de Heer has been pondered. Now, after years of asking, schedule juggling, and hoping, we are finally able to meet the man who has made <strong>Cleveland</strong> audiences continue to want more and present him with our Director’s Spotlight award. Since 2003, the CIFF has selected filmmakers whose careers are on the rise, and whose work deserves extra attention. This year we are focusing on one outstanding Canadian filmmaker, Matt Bissonnette. Born in Montreal, Matt studied English and <strong>Film</strong> at Concordia University before receiving a law degree from Queen’s University. After two weeks, he quit law and co-wrote and co-directed “Looking for Leonard” with his childhood friend Steven Clark. “Who Loves The Sun” is his first solo feature film. We are proud to honor his work this year by screening both films. We are proud to honor the life and work of Rolf de Heer. FILMOGRAPHY: Tail of a Tiger* (director, writer, 1984) Encounter at Raven’s Gate (director, producer, writer, 1988) Dingo* (director, producer, 1991) Bad Boy Bubby* (director, producer, writer, 1993) The Quiet Room (director, producer, writer, 1996) Epsilon (director, producer, writer, 1997) Dance Me To My Song (director, producer, writer, 1998) The Old Man Who Read Love Stories* (director, writer, 2001) The Tracker* (director, producer, writer, composer, 2002) Alexandra’s Project* (director, producer, writer, 2003) Ten Canoes* (director, producer, writer, 2006) *screening in 31st CIFF