The City of Cleveland recently hosted the anticipated Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF). This festival celebrates the city's diversity and features some of the world's most innovative filmmakers in short films narrated in different languages. Playhouse Square's Theater District hosts the film festival. A portion of that festival is called the FilmSlam Festival. The FilmSlam Festival, a significant part of the Cleveland International Film Festival, typically spans two days. This unique event is dedicated to showcasing the works of up-and-coming directors in various genres like drama, comedy, documentaries, short films, and some
experimental works. The festival has a rich history of presenting moving narratives that often showcase issues about culture, society, and the human experience from viewpoints from all over the world. Many of the films are presented in foreign languages such as Spanish, French,
German, and Chinese, just to name a few. Around 60 Norton High School students in grades 9-12 attended the FilmSlam on April 9, viewing films with Spanish dialogue and subtitles in English. Students watched five short films: Nyanga, Primero Sueno, In Wonderland, Walk with Me, and Love in the Time of Migration. The films portrayed several issues, such as slavery, undocumented farm workers, the death of family members, and migration between the US and Mexico. Spanish teachers Senora Horst and Senora Pilasky gave their Spanish class students the opportunity. Students could vote for the Best Feature Film and Best Short Film. Winners will be announced after the CIFF on April 13. If you are interested in attending the festival before it ends, or you are planning ahead for next year, visit their website at https://www.clevelandfilm.org/. A special thank you to the Norton High Spanish Department for their commitment to providing enriching cultural opportunities for their students, such as the chance to attend the FilmSlam Festival.