Experiences: The Cleveland International Film Festival 2025 – Day Zero + Day One

Day Zero was staff initiation, March 26, 2025. We will refer to this as CIFF going forward.

CIFF, for me, is bigger than Keystone. Why? Because it is a very mainstream situation, and I am known, and I am Kandi the entire time. I always prefer being the only “one”, in a mainstream situation, in front of the maximum amount of people.

I expect to be there, and I expect to be dressed, for ten of twelve days. I expect to meet amazing people from our city and from all over the world (because that has already happened the last few years). I expect people to be over-the-top kind to me. I will be noticed. I will draw attention, both for who I am and also because on occasion, I will attempt to draw it.

This particular day, I crawled into the woman I am. I was home alone most of the day. I had to get a haircut, so I went in girl mode with my own out-of-control hair. I then got it cut and walked out looking like a hybrid of who I am. I could not have cared less. I then went home, took care if this and that and stepped it up and I am so pleased with how I looked!

I relished in all things female. I did a quick makeup job to get the haircut. I then stepped it back up later in the day. I will not lie, my favorite thing in life outside of family and friends, is having cleavage. It pleases me to no end as you can see above. That wine glass remains my kryptonite.

I headed downtown and hit a favorite Happy Hour, running a few errands along the way.

Orientation was fun, you can see the crew here. I am a friend or friendly with every single human being you see here. There are so many stories to be told, but I won’t bore you here.

Afterward, I went to the quarterly mixer for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. It was packed. I saw a few friends, walked around a few times. Someone came up to me (wish I knew who it was) and said he loved my pictures (I am guessing the boudoir shots on my Facebook page). I smiled broadly, thanked him and told him to put me in a movie. Great day!

Day One, March 27, 2025, was Opening Night. I did not work, but we got a free pass to watch a delightful rom com called “Or Worse”. The wonderful actress, Amy Landecker, wrote, directed and starred in the film. She was there and did a Q&A afterward. There was a reception where I renewed some more friendships. The evening was so much fun and as usual, I am remembered. I lost count of people coming up to say hello. I thought my outfit was pretty good. Love that cute jacket!

This is the beyond amazing Amy Landecker and Missi Pyle, the stars of this tremendous movie.

Google them, support them.

Okay, time for me to get serious. This is my friend (yes, he is indeed my friend), Bill. Bill is literally 100 years old, almost 101. Bill still drives, on the highway. Bill gives of himself. He is a Red Coat (volunteer) at Playhouse Square, having been one for almost as long as I have been roaming this planet. He is a World War II veteran. He also volunteers for The Cleveland Public Theater; I see him at Pandemonium every year. Sure, he tells me the same stories over and over again, but he works his smart phone better than I do, he has pictures from when a bus ride cost a nickel. His stories about his beloved wife, who herself made it into her 90’s, would bring you to tears. I introduced Woody (he runs CIFF, and you will be introduced to him in a subsequent post) to Bill. Woody does not live in Cleveland. Bill tells him about his wife, who lived to 92 and Woody asked what the secret to their longevity was. Hand to Bible, without a pause Bill says, “We had a lot of sex.”. You cannot make this stuff up!

Bill is a treasure, and he is my friend. When he sees me, he knows me, and he does not judge me. If you have a Bill in your life, you are indeed blessed. Thank you, Bill, for your service and thank you for your grace and humanity.

As I told someone with whom I chatted, I am a fabric of a literal world class art museum and a known and valued part of one of the top film festivals in the country. That and $5 won’t cover a Happy Meal, but it is a tremendous point of pride!