Last Dance
Molly Kreutzman, Ohio Goes to the Movies program director, shows off the OGTTM trailer featuring movies made in Ohio, by Ohioans, at the Sundance Film Festival complete with a Candy Bar of sweet treats, to Ohio native Rob Lowe during the Sundance Film Festival at The Hollywood Reporter studios in Park City.
As the curtain comes down on the final Sundance Film Festival to be held in Park City, Utah, the curtain rises on the year-long celebration of Ohio-centric movies, starting this month. Ohio Goes to the Movies (OGTTM) is a statewide celebration of films showcasing Ohioans: actors, directors, writers, composers, locations, and topics, that will be shown in cities and towns across the state as part of the larger 250th birthday party for America.
Ohio Goes to the Movies
Events and screenings are scheduled throughout the state during the next nine months.
To find out more visit www.ohiogoestothemovies.org.
Ohio Goes to the Movies shared studio space with The Hollywood Reporter during the first week of Sundance to promote the initiative and chat with actors and creators with Ohio roots. The Hollywood Reporter also held a panel discussion at Sundance on Ohio’s movie industry. It all leads up to Ohio Goes to the Movies’ kickoff on Wednesday, Feb. 11 in Milan, Ohio, the birthplace of Thomas Edison, a pioneer in motion picture technology. The commemoration runs through October 2026 – about 250 days of Ohio movie magic – showcasing Ohio’s contributions to America’s film industry and moviemaking.
The following day, Feb. 12, will be a big day of OGTTM events around the state. Among the films showing that day are two blockbusters with strong Ohio connections. “The Shawshank Redemption” will screen at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus. It was filmed in Ohio and features actor Clancy Brown from Urbana. Phoenix Theatres Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted will screen “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” 70mm. Directed and co-written by Steven Spielberg (Cincinnati), the film stars Teri Garr (Lakewood) and Roberts Blossom (Cleveland).
Communities will celebrate their Ohio connections during several other Feb 12 screenings:
The Lyric Theater in Wooster will screen “Raising Arizona”, and after the film they will host a Q&A with Christopher Buchanan and J. Todd Anderson. Buchanan is a filmmaker and one of The Lyric Theater's founders. He lived in Wooster for many years and worked on “Raising Arizona.” Anderson, a storyboard artist for “Raising Arizona,” also lives in Ohio and has worked on every Coen Brothers film.
The Bryan Theatre will screen “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio,” selected because Defiance is only a short 20-minute drive from Bryan, making it especially relevant to the community. The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Defiance author Terry Ryan and stars Woody Harelson (Lebanon). “We are also partnering with the Williams County Public Library History Annex, which will provide a presentation on the history of movie theaters in Williams County for the screening. A group of students from Fairview High School is currently working on a short documentary that will be shown during the event. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided for community attendees,” said Vanessa Garcia, manager, Bryan Theatre.
The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County Adena Branch will host its first of nine OGTTM events on Presidents Day with the screening of “Guarding Tess”, a film about a former first lady and her Secret Service handler, with Ohio actors Austin Pendleton (Warren) and David Graf (Lancaster). The various library events will be held at their seven branches and two off-site locations, including Historic Fort Steuben.
– Betsy Ross