We won big in Cleveland!
We had a wonderful time at the Cleveland International Film Festival this past weekend! One we will never forget. And we were overjoyed that Judy and Dennis Shepard could join us in Cleveland for our screenings and thoughtful Q&A discussions.
A whopping 97,804 people attended this year's festival to watch 186 feature films and 168 short subjects. In this attendance record-breaking year, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine came away with winning the festival's top prizes--the Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Award AND the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film!
(Photo courtesy of Laura Watilo Blake)
Here we are, moments after our film was announced, walking up on the stage Closing Night of the festival to accept the first of the 2 awards. This is a moment we will always remember and cherish. What a tremendous honor! We're still blown away!
There were so many people!!! (Photo courtesy of Debby Samples)
We are thrilled and so very, very grateful to have been recognized by such a passionate, committed audience. You can read more about our time at the festival here: http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_international_film_f_67.html
You can also check out this great review of the film in Cleveland's Plain Dealer. We got an "A"! http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_international_film_f_65.html#incart_river
The people of Cleveland showed us such warmth and appreciation. The entire CIFF team was so unbelievably kind, supportive, and just all-around amazing. Cleveland Rocks!
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