Cleveland International Film Festival: Launch Pad of Hollywood Success

Cleveland International Film Festival attendees enjoy the work of filmmakers and actors who could be appearing at Sundance, Cannes and even the Oscars someday. Some have already achieved such glory.

History shows that the annual Cleveland festival, which took place this year from March 18 to March 28, is a launching pad for its films' stars and directors.

"Lightbulb"

The opening night feature at the 2009 festival is the story of an inventor named Matt who is trying to strike it rich with his ideas. Mike Cram produced and wrote this story, based on his life.

Jeremy Renner, who co-starred as Matt's compulsive gambling buddy, Sam, was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of William James in the 2010 Best Picture Oscar winner, "The Hurt Locker."

Dallas Roberts, who plays Matt, appeared in "Walk the Line" and was a regular on Showtime's "The L Word."

"Cherry Blossoms"

In the 2009 Cleveland Audience Award winner, director Doris Dorrie presents the tale of a couple that makes a trip from Germany to Japan to visit their son. Only one of them survives the journey. The other spouse completes the trip and adopts the departed's passion for Butoh dancing.

Dorrie is currently entertaining German audiences with her follow-up film, the lighter "Die Friseuse," which follows a sunny hairdresser who starts her own shop when nobody will hire her due to her weight.

"Prince of Broadway"

Sean Baker won the 2009 American Independent Spirit award at the Cleveland festival with his tale of mismatched business partners.

Lucky, from Ghana, corrals customers for Levon, a Lebanese-Armenian seller of discount designer clothes. After they make money each day, they rely on each other's friendship to clean up their messy personal lives.

Baker has moved on to direct an episode of MTV's "Warren the Ape," a scripted comedy about a puppet who is trying to get his own reality show. Baker is also developing a new film called "Left-Handed Girl."

"Swedish Auto"

The Cleveland opening night feature from 2007 stars Lukas Haas as a loner mechanic named Carter who spends his nights watching the evening revelers and his crush, a woman who plays the violin.

Finally, Carter is forced to take some action in his life when a waitress takes an interest in him. The waitress is played by January Jones, who went on to national acclaim for her role as Betty Draper in the TV drama "Mad Men."

"Alexander the Last"

This 2009 portrait of a young couple explores the area of commitment and temptation. Alex is a married actress who struggles to turn off the sizzling chemistry she has with her handsome, single co-star.

"Alexander" was produced by Noah Baumbach, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for writing "The Squid and the Whale."

"Moon"

Duncan Jones scored a BAFTA (British Oscar) Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer. Released in 2009, "Moon" is the story of Sam Bell (played by Sam Rockwell), an astronaut who blacks out near the end of his three-year mission on the moon. The film showed at the 2009 Cleveland festival.

Oscar winner Kevin Spacey provides the voice of Sam's computer assistant, GERTY.

Jones, the son of David Bowie, is very familiar with Ohio, having graduated from the College of Wooster after studying philosophy.

"Flannel Pajamas"

Jeff Lipsky directed this 2007 Cleveland submission about a couple set up on a blind date by their dermatologist.

"Flannel Pajamas" follows the love story of needy Nicole and manipulative Stuart from their first date to a crucial stage of their marriage.

Lipsky went on to direct "Once More, with Feeling!" (2009) with Drea de Matteo ("Desperate Housewives") and Linda Fiorentino ("The Last Seduction").

His next film will be "Twelve Thirty," a family drama starring Mamie Gummer, the daughter of Meryl Streep.