Press Releases

“Eat Drink Watch Oscars” – an Academy Awards party benefiting the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque – coming on February 24

Media Contact: Liz Huff
Cleveland Institute of Art
216.421.7957
lhuff@cia.edu

CLEVELAND, Dec. 17 -- Greater Cleveland film lovers will gather at the at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque on Sunday, February 24^th to attend a very special film and benefit organized by Ciné Arts Cleveland!, a local internet group for film lovers. After the film, the group will head to Nighttown in Cleveland Heights for dinner, discussion, and Academy Awards viewing.

The Cinematheque, located inside the Cleveland Institute of Art at 11141 East Boulevard, will present the Cleveland premiere screening of the highly acclaimed Swiss film Sister (2012). Sister is Switzerland’s official submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for this year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Nominees will be announced by the Academy on Thursday, January 10^th.

“I’m pleased that Ciné Arts Cleveland! has reached out to us with this benefit. I think it will be fun. Why stay home and watch the Oscars alone when you can celebrate and commiserate with other like-minded film buffs at one of the region’s finest restaurants?” said John Ewing, Cinematheque Director.

Entitled “Eat Drink Watch Oscars” (a reference to Ang Lee’s Oscar-nominated 1994 film Eat Drink Man Woman), this unique benefit event will begin with WATCHing the film Sister at the Cinematheque at 4:30 p.m. The party will then move to Nighttown for the EAT and DRINK portions of the evening. Before, during, and after dinner, partygoers will WATCH the Red Carpet and OSCAR awards presentations on large-screen televisions beginning at 7pm.

Serious cinephiles will have a special quiet room (away from the restaurant hubbub) devoted to watching the telecast following dinner.

Tickets, which cost $100, ($50 of which is a tax-deductible donation to the Cinematheque) include both admission to the film at the Cinematheque and the subsequent celebration of film at Nighttown. A welcoming cocktail and hors d'oeuvres will be followed by a sit-down three-course meal and continued fellowship until the last award is handed out. The event is Black-tie Optional.

“Eat Drink Watch Oscars” patrons will also receive complementary 2013 memberships in both Ciné Arts Cleveland! ($5) and Music Cleveland! ($10).

Tickets may be purchased by credit card or check after making an advance reservation by calling Liz Huff at 216.421.7957. Tickets are also available on-line at http://eatdrinkwatchoscars.brownpapertickets.com/. Walk-ups (cash only) will be accepted on the day of the event if space is available.

The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque is “one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters,” according to The New York Times. Founded in 1986, the alternative film theater shows art, independent, and foreign films, as well as revived classics, in the Institute’s 616-seat Aitken Auditorium. Free parking for filmgoers is available in the adjacent CIA lot.

Ciné Arts’, Bill Johnson said, “We are pleased to partner with the Cinematheque and Nighttown to bring this unique and affordable event to the city. There is nothing like watching a great film in the company of good friends followed by discussion and a great meal in such a warm and comfortable environment. We certainly hope to make this an annual event to support one of our city’s true hidden treasures – the Cleveland Cinematheque.

“The timing is perfect for holiday giving. What better present than the gift of film and fellowship for movie lovers?

“We are also grateful for the generous support of Zoss The Swiss Baker for providing the gourmet petits foursas a fitting closing to our celebration and sweet salute to our patrons,” Johnson added.

Ciné Arts Cleveland!is a social networking group dedicated to the appreciation of foreign, art, classic and independent film. Ciné Arts schedules film and dinner/discussion events throughout northeast Ohio where members can screen and share thought about the latest and most provocative movies. Members are called Cinéphiles. Membership is open to all for a nominal annual fee. For details go to www.meetup.com/cine-arts-cleveland/.

The group is part of the worldwide Internet networking service, MeetUp.com. MeetUp is devoted to providing a social forum for people of mutual interests in a wide range of areas.

THE FILM:
SISTER
(L'ENFANT D'EN HAUT)
France/Switzerland, 2012, Ursula Meier
In French with English subtitles
97 minutes
Switzerland's official entry for this year's foreign language film Oscar is one of the most acclaimed movies of 2012, with an overall metacritic.com rating of 81 (out of 100). It's a haunting "up-mountain, down-mountain" drama about a 12-year-old boy who steals from wealthy guests at an Alpine ski resort in order to support his desperate, down-and-out older sister (Léa Seydoux of Midnight in Paris, Farewell, My Queen) who lives in a decrepit apartment in the valley below. With Gillian Anderson. Cleveland premiere. www.adoptfilms.com

The film will show at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, and is open to both partygoers and the general public. Regular Cinematheque admission prices will apply for those who want to see only the film: $9; Cinematheque members $7; age 25 & under $6.

The Cinematheque
at The Cleveland Institute of Art
11141 East Boulevard
Cleveland 44106
216.421.7450
http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque

Nighttown
12387 Cedar Road
Cleveland Heights 44106
216.795.0550
www.nighttowncleveland.com

Cleveland Institute of Art is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.