AUGUST 22-24, 2003

We return with a three-day lineup of shorts and documentaries, and also present our first narrative feature. These films have traveled to you from around the globe. ALL are Cleveland premieres, and a handful are WORLD premieres.

This year marked our first open call for entries. While still searching for films at other festivals, a majority of the work we are presenting came from the 300 entries we received. We packed 116 of the films into three days of programming for you to enjoy. In the open call we sent a request for work made by young filmmakers, and the response was amazing. We have put together an entire program of work made by young filmmakers — some only 11 years old! — who are at the edge of the next wave of cinema. To complement that, we have another group of films by established filmmakers that are family-friendly, further proving that "underground" does not necessarily equal "subversion."

In addition, we present three documentaries: D.I.Y. OR DIE, about the motives and methods of underground icons and overlooked unknowns working in various media including print, film, graphic art, performance art and music; NORTHWEST, about two groups of skateboarders in Oregon/Washington that are building huge concrete skate parks in small towns around the Northwest, beginning at the legendary BURNSIDE in Portland; and HOT AND BOTHERED, which takes a rare and empowering look into the pornography industry and feminist community to see how they intertwine within the politics and poetics of female sexuality. 20K veterans should not fret, however — we have not forgotten to include compelling work that may titilate as well as entertain, and possibly shock.

Similarly, the festival will present a true rarity - an underground feature-length film, HOOD RATS, by Ecuadorian Angeleno Edgar Arellano, shot with nine cuts on 10 rolls of film in three days. (DeJure calls it "raw and exciting.") Though operating without even a meager budget, Arellano managed to put together a gritty, realist version of typically stylized urban exploitation fare, and with a largely Latino cast and crew to boot.

Did we mention the performances and parties?

FRIDAY, after the screening of D.I.Y. OR DIE, join us for a D.I.Y. afterparty with film, paintings, photography and live music at a location TBA at the screening only!

SATURDAY, after the late show, THE CINNAMON ROLL GANG (Marcel DeJure's puppet troupe) returns with a new work written for 20K LUTIFF 2K3 — "OLD SKOOL MEETS NU WURLD DISORDER." This performance will be followed in the Beachland Tavern by SEAN CARNEY performing "THE WOLFMAN," Robert Ashley's underground and experimental music piece for solo vocalist and prerecorded tape incorporating elements of performance art and Antonin Artaud's "Theater of the Absurd" antics. LIVES OF THE SAINTS, Cleveland's own funk rock apocalypse, will wrap up the evening with some Rock N Roll revelry.

Jump to our schedule page for specifics on all films and events.

THANK YOU (in no particular order):
Cindy Barber, Mark Leddy, The Beachland Ballroom Staff, The Filmmakers, The Cinnamon Roll Gang Players, Robert R. Stachnik and staff of the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade, John Ewing, James Levin, Carl Skorepa, Thomas Mullready and Cool Cleveland, Melissa Smith and Don't Blame Cleveland, Stephe DK, Matt Damn K., Urban Dialect and its dedicated staff, Jake Kelly, Danny Noonan, John G., Marty and Michael at 1300 Gallery, Ken Blaze, aMy Wilson, Brian Straw, Brian Strazak, Dave P., Matt Charboneau, Brian Noga, Sean Carney, Matthew Wascovich, Aaron Erb, Ellen, Chris and Thea, Lawrence Daniel Caswell, Roger Denholm, Dave Geddes, Tina Caruso, Andrew Kaletta, Michael Salinger, Michael Herbst, Kate Amer, The Carrie K's (Komandt and Kucharyson), Mary Lineberger, Kent Smith, Lives Of The Saints, Plus Ultra, Fuzzhead, B-WARE Video, WCPN 90.3, WCSB 89.3, WRUW 91.1, WKHR 91.5, The Modern Arts Coalition, Westside Skates, Factory 13, Scott Powell at Chenga, Skatopia, My Mind's Eye, The Renaissance Parlour, OIFF, CIFF, CUFF, NYUFF, Anne Kelley at The Center For Young Cinema in Austin, Paolo and Ken at The Echo Park Film Center in L.A., Plexifilm, Talkies Film and Coffee Bar, ALL who put up flyers or spread the word.
Anyone we have been so short-sighted not to thank.

And our Patrons, it's all for you, all of you!!

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