Annual Chagrin Documentary Film Festival

Join Us For The 15th Annual Chagrin Documentary Film Festival October 1st-6th, 2024

The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is dedicated to educating audiences and empowering talented filmmakers to tell their stories.  The Festival is a five-day celebration of the art of documentary film, at venues in and around the century village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. This inspiring event draws audiences from all over Northeast Ohio, the US, and the world to experience documentary films and the compelling art and culture they highlight.

Schedule of Events:

10:00 AM: Festival Awards Ceremony - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Enjoy a light breakfast with filmmakers and film lovers prior to the 15th annual awards ceremony. Meet with filmmakers and film enthusiasts at the 2024 Festival Awards. $10,000 in prize money will be presented to winners.

Celebrity Hosts: Rick Jackson with Loree Vick joining virtually

10:30 AM: The Fiery Fox - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater

Filmed over a three year period, become immersed in a young Fiery Fox's journey in breathtaking wilderness. Orphaned and vulnerable, the fox must navigate its first winter alone, encountering diverse animals who become both friends and foes. A mesmerizing story revealed through the fox's eyes, viewers will witness the raw beauty and harsh realities of nature. This film invites reflection on the delicate balance of life in the wild and the enduring spirit of creatures who persevere against all odds. This is a journey you won't soon forget.

Buy Tickets

12:00pm: Filmmaker Panel - Chagrin Township Hall
12:00pm: Torn - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Experience the Israel-Gaza conflict like never before - on New York City streets. Watch as a controversial poster campaign ignites fierce debates and confrontations, mirroring the complexities of war thousands of miles away. This raw, balanced documentary offers rare insights into both sides of the struggle. From hostage families to Gaza civilians, witness the human stories behind the headlines. Featuring the Bandaid artist from a previous CDFF selection, this film connects local art to global politics in surprising ways.

Buy Tickets

12:00pm: The Grandview Pizza Oven - Triangle Park

Pizza and movies with CDFF and Chagrin Valley Jaycees! Taste local slices at this family bash. Free film, pizza available for purchase. Come hungry!

12:30pm: Ripples of Plastic - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater

This compelling documentary unveils the hidden crisis threatening North America's Great Lakes. The invasion of microplastics into Earth's largest freshwater system endangers delicate ecosystems. Activists race against time to solve this critical issue. From groundbreaking research to community action, the film showcases efforts to preserve these majestic waters and reveals the shocking reality of plastic pollution. Viewers will gain a new perspective on water conservation and environmental stewardship. This powerful journey challenges us to rethink our relationship with plastics and water.

Buy Tickets

1:00pm: Finding Happy - Federated Church

After losing her relationship, income, home, and her dog, a heartbroken woman saves an injured day-old sparrow not realizing how he would change her life. FINDING HAPPY takes us on a journey across oceans to explore the healing power of connection told through other unlikely human-animal bonds. This film is centered around one tiny sparrow, named Happy, and how his rescue story became a beacon of hope worldwide. This inspiring and heartfelt film is sure to leave you with a smile and a renewed connection to the world around us.

Buy Tickets

1:30pm: Ohio Stories - Triangle Park

The Grandview Pizza Oven

The most deliciously absurd neighborhood feud you've ever seen, this documentary that proves truth is stranger than fiction! Watch a simple backyard hobby spiral into a national spectacle.

1:45pm: Ultimate Citizens - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Everyone remembers a favorite teacher or coach when growing up. Meet an Iranian immigrant who makes a profound impact in America through coaching a diverse frisbee team of young immigrants and refugees. Experience the impact of one man's guidance and the determination of his young athletes as they forge their paths in an unfamiliar country. Through the lens of a simple frisbee, viewers appreciate how sports can bridge cultural divides and foster a sense of home for those seeking new beginnings.

Buy Tickets

2:00pm: Art Shorts - Valley Art Center

Canyon Chorus

Come for the singing, stay for the moving stories, and the breathtaking backdrop of Desolation Canyon! Outdoorsman and LGBTQ+ advocate Mikah Meyer reflects on his life's journey with his beloved mentor Larry Edwards, highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces for the queer community to enjoy the great outdoors.

Buy Tickets

2:30pm: Student Shorts I - CDFF on the Triangle

A Girl Takes a Walk in the Forest

A mother-daughter filmmaking duo with magic up their sleeves! As a seasoned filmmaker, this mother walks her talented elementary-age daughter through the filmmaking process, and together they create something truly special.

Buy Tickets

3:00pm: Diary of an Elephant Orphan - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater

Meet Khanyisa, a baby elephant orphaned by poaching in Africa. Dedicated caregivers in a local elephant refuge work to nurse Khanyisa, a sweet albino calf, back to health with a chance for a new life. In the process, profound bonds are forged as intimate moments take us through the orphan's preparation to join a herd of elephants raised at the sanctuary. With stunning cinematography, the transformative power of love and care for these majestic creatures shines through.

Buy Tickets

3:00pm: Inheritance - Federated Church

The unfiltered truth about the opioid epidemic is filmed over 11 years in a southern Ohio community. The story follows the life of one boy and five generations of his extended family. The story focuses on 12-year-old Curtis. Like many others, he lives in a community affected by substance use, joblessness, poverty, and a deteriorating sense of belonging. Young Curtis speaks of hope and optimism, as his difficult story is played out.

Buy Tickets

3:00pm: Ultimate Frisbee Demonstration - Riverside Park

Following the film Ultimate Citizens, a demonstration of the sport of ultimate frisbee will take place in Riverside Park.

3:15pm: Thunder Rolls! The World of Blind Baseball - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

"Take me out to the ball game" takes on new meaning in this baseball game for the visually impaired. Beep Baseball transforms America's favorite pastime into a sport for those with visual impairments. Innovative technology turns the impossible into a fun and competitive sport, as these athletes chase their championship dreams. Get ready to cheer from your seats as you witness jaw-dropping plays and heartwarming moments. Follow the Midwest's "Indy Thunder" players as they swing for the fences.

4:00pm: Student Shorts II - CDFF on the Triangle

Buy Tickets

5:00pm: Honoring Filmmakers VIP Event - Chagrin Township Hall

Join us for an exclusive Filmmaker VIP Bash! This is your chance to mingle with talented filmmakers and fellow film enthusiasts. Includes wine and appetizers, hosted by Carnegie Investment Counsel. $35 individual ticket, included with membership Igniter and above.

5:00pm: Ignited States - Federated Church

Jud Nichols has dedicated his life to fighting injustice and its lasting effects. After the murder of George Floyd, this zealous public defender becomes a relentless video journalist almost overnight, capturing the unrest that erupted in the aftermath. As an insider in both legal and activist worlds, Nichols offers unexpected insights as he strives to make sense of a pivotal moment in history.

Buy Tickets

5:15pm: Once Upon a Time in Sports - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater

Sports legends Bob Golic, Austin Carr and Greg Pruitt take a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of CLE sports. Enjoy these engaging and influential figures as they unveil the stories that until now have remained hidden behind closed doors. Enjoy this unfiltered portrait of these great athletes, using archival footage, reenactments, and personal memorabilia to capture the essence of a bygone era. If you are a sport's fan this film is for you.

Buy Tickets

5:30pm: Art for Everybody - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

If you think you know artist Thomas Kinkade, the prolific "Artist of Light," think again. Behind the beauty of his paintings lay a turbulent reality. This gripping biopic unravels the divide between Kinkade's celebrated artistry and the personal struggles that defined his life. His family recounts Kinkade's descent from a troubled past and reveals a life overshadowed by fame and the pursuit of perfection. The surprise ending of this story is not to be missed. (Audience is invited to bring their favorite Kinkade treasure to display).

6:15pm: People You Need To Meet - CDFF on the Triangle

Dale

Shattering barriers and bowing strings, Dale Hikawa's journey as the Los Angeles Philharmonic's first Asian American woman musician resonates beyond the concert hall. This film delves into the soul-stirring odyssey of an artist who dared to rewrite the score of her destiny.

Buy Tickets

6:45pm: Face Down - The Disappearance of Thomas Niedermayer - Federated Church

In 1973, Thomas Niedermayer, became a pawn in the violent chess game of "The Troubles." Kidnapped by the IRA, his fate took a tragic turn when he brutally murdered. Now, five decades later, Niedermayer's grandchildren uncover the harrowing truth of their grandfather's untimely death. Unraveled is the complex web of personal tragedy and political turmoil that defined Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

Buy Tickets

7:00pm: Mainstream Sellout Live From Cleveland: The Pink Era - Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater

This concert film takes fans on a journey with Machine Gun Kelly during his unforgettable 2022 homecoming performance at Cleveland's FirstEnergy Stadium along with exclusive behind-the-scenes moments from his sold-out world tour.

Buy Tickets

7:45pm: Blink - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

From Oscar winner Daniel Roher and Edmund Stenson, BLINK follows the Pelletier family on a world tour after learning three of their children will soon lose their vision.

The Pelletier's reaction to this heartbreaking news is an unforgettable testament to a parent's love. Without hesitation, they quit their jobs, pull their kids out of school and take them on a bucket list trip around the world, allowing them to imprint images of the wonder and beauty of our planet before they lose their sight. In the process the family becomes more deeply connected and ready to face the reality of their future.

Buy Tickets