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September 1, 2026
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2026
CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque continues its commitment to bringing unique cinematic programming and experiences to Cleveland as it announces highlights from its upcoming September–October programming calendar.
This is the first schedule assembled by new Cinematheque Director David Huffman, who assumed his role in June.
"It was a genuine thrill curating my first program at the Cinematheque," Huffman says. "With a mix of premiere screenings, returning classics, incredible guests and live music playing with several films, this is a lineup that I hope Clevelanders will be excited to see."
For all Cinematheque screenings, visit cinematheque.cia.edu.
Guests, filmmaker Q&As, live musical accompaniments
FILMMAKER Q&As
- Slowburn Shoot: An Indie Wrestling Story (September 3 at 6:45pm) featuring in-person Q&A with director Adam Wilde, and subjects from the film Josh Prohibition, John Thorne and Matt Cross. This Cleveland-produced documentary is about the fans, organizers and wrestlers of Absolute Intense Wrestling.
- Checkpoint Zoo (September 13 at 4:20pm) featuring virtual Q&A with director Joshua Zeman. This is a compelling documentary about the brave people risking their lives to save the animals trapped in a local Ukrainian zoo when the war broke out.
- Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders (October 10 at 7:10pm) featuring virtual Q&A with director Jeffrey Schwarz. This is a new documentary that explores the true crime that inspired the 1980 film Cruising.
- Micronations (October 24 at 7pm) featuring in-person Q&A with director Joe Kowalski. An entertaining look at the unique world of people who have declared themselves rulers of their own nations.
LIVE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENTS
- East and West (September 15 at 7:30pm) with live original score by master silent film pianist Donald Sosin and violinist Alicia Svigals, the world’s foremost exponent of the klezmer. Presented in partnership with the Cleveland Silent Film Festival. This is a newly restored silent comedy starring Molly Pichon.
- He Who Gets Slapped (September 27 at 2:30pm) with live piano score by Philip Carli. This silent classic starring Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney is about a circus clown’s unrequited love.
- Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Live Score with Agento’s Tenebre (October 30 at 8pm). Presented in partnership with Grog Shop, this screening of Dario Argento’s Tenebrefeatures the composer and his band performing the score live with the film. Tickets for this screening are exclusively through the Grog Shop.
SPECIAL GUESTS
- The Divorcee (October 4 at 3pm) with introduction by Darin Barnes, leading authority on Norma Shearer. This is a rare 35mm screening of Shearer’s Oscar-winning film from 1930.
- The Women (October 18 at 2pm) with introduction and post-film conversation with actress and author Illeana Douglas. Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell lead an all-female cast in this classic comedy from 1939. Illeana Douglas, author of the new book Jungle Red: The Making of MGM’s The Women will join us for a conversation following the film and book signing.
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (October 31 at 3pm) with a special introduction by film critic Dierdre Crimmins. Two of Japan’s most iconic kaiju’s face off in this 1964 monster movie classic.
Special Film Series
SUNDAYS WITH SHEARER
Norma Shearer was an Oscar-winning actress and MGM’s go-to leading lady in the 1920s and 1930s. Sadly, she is barely remembered today. Revisit her career as the Cinematheque spends four Sunday afternoons watching He Who Gets Slapped (September 27 at 2:30pm) with live piano score by Philip Carli; The Divorcee (October 4 at 3pm) with introduction by leading Norma Shearer expert Darin Barnes; A Free Soul (October 11 at 3pm); and The Women (October 18 at 2pm) with an introduction and discussion following the film with author Illeana Douglas.
CULT MUSICALS
The Cinematheque invites patrons to broaden their movie and musical horizons with Brian DePalma’s Phantom of the Paradise (September 3 at 9pm); Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical (September 17 at 9:05pm); Voyage of the Rock Aliens (October 1 at 8:50pm); Privilege (October 17 at 6:15pm, October 18 at 7:30pm); and The American Astronaut(October 22 at 8:50pm, October 25 at 5:10pm).
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
Many people may only think of Satan as playing a role in horror films, but join us as we look at a variety of films that Speak of the Devil. Sometimes sinister, sometimes silly, the Devil is a common cinematic presence found in everything from documentaries to Ingmar Bergman classics. Featured films are Legend (September 26 at 10pm); The Last Sacrifice (October 2 at 6:45pm) with a special introduction by Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick director Steven Intermill; Satan’s Slave (October 8 at 8:50pm); Angel Heart (October 9 at 9:10pm, October 10 at 9:15pm); Portal to Hell (October 24 at 9:15pm); Tales from the Hood (October 25 at 8pm); Jigoku(October 31 at 7pm, November 1 at 5pm); and The Devil’s Eye (November 1 at 3pm).
FILMS THAT INSPIRED KITAO SAKURAI
Clevelander Kitao Sakurai is making waves in Hollywood with his upcoming film Street Fighter. The Cinematheque presents two films selected by Sakurai that inspired his filmmaking: Ghost in the Shell (September 18 at 9pm, September 20 at 3pm) and Drunken Master II (October 23 at 9pm).
Contacts
Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.
Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque
Founded in 1986, the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque is one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters, according to The New York Times. The program shows classic, foreign and independent films 50 weekends of the year. Its state-of-the-art Peter B. Lewis Theater features a 36-foot-wide screen, 4k digital and dual 35mm film projection, and Dolby Digital 7.1 sound.
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