The Buzz is your source for the latest festival highlights and best bets for films each day. You can also catch “The Buzz” video program with Meaghan Earley on Facebook or YouTube. For more information visit www.clevelandfilm.org/social.

WHAT’S BUZZING AT THE 38TH CIFF Friday, March 21, 2014; Day 3:

Join us at 9:20 a.m. when a police detective is on a quest to find “The Human Factor” before his brutal job unravels his life.

Today at noon, “Popcorn For Lunch” features Shorts Program 3, including Oscar nominee “Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall,” as well as five other shorts.

At 2:50 p.m., follow a couple in Turkey as they retrace their son’s last steps in “82 Days in April.”

Romantic rivals must find a way to work to-gether to save themselves and the girl they both love from the many predators on their way to the United States in “La Jaula de Oro” at 3:50 p.m.

At 6:10 p.m., join us for “The Case Against 8,” a glimpse into the lives of the ordinary citizens whose quest for equal standing under the law led to a seismic shift in national policy on same-sex marriage.

In the mood for something off-beat? A man’s neglected right hand decides to go off on its own adventures, searching for love and self-actualization in “Handy,” at 8:45 p.m.

If a gangster film is your style, see “New World,” at 10:00 p.m. where the sudden death of a powerful crime boss sets off a chain of deadly events that may cost an undercover cop his soul or even his life.

Oslo’s dark side is revealed in “Crack, Back, and Sack,” at 11:00 p.m. There Christian makes the mistake of his life when he asks his college roommates to help him score with the ladies.Find out the latest information about these films and other festival events by picking up The Daily, reading the festival website and, of course, seeing as many films as you can.

The BUZZ

The CIFF DAY 3 / FRIDAY / 3.21.2014

DAY3OF THEFILM FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BYRide the Rapid!Last train of the day . . .ALL TRAIN LINES: 1:35 AM

THE CASE AGAINST 8 is playing today at 6:10 p.m.

PELADA is playing today at 4:15 p.m.

SHOWINGTODAY

Someone to Watch Award-winner Ryan White debuts “The Case Against 8” at the 38th Cleveland International Film Festival. His first film, “Pelada,” played at SXSW in 2010. His Co-Director Ben Cotner on “The Case Against 8” also provided some insight. Both White and Cotner are recognized as part of CIFF’s Focus on Filmmakers series this year.

CIFF: You have earned the Someone to Watch Award for this year’s festival. What does this recognition mean to you?RW: I feel incredibly honored. “The Case Against 8” is my third film so it is still pretty early in my career. My second film, “Good ol’ Freda,” won the audience award at last year’s CIFF, and I’m excited to be showing my first film, “Pelada,” at this year’s festival, especially in a year of a World Cup.

CIFF: How did you decide to pursue a career as a documentary filmmaker? RW: I grew up as a film nerd. I watched movies as much as possible, and I was one of those kids who asked to stay up late to watch the Oscars. I had a passion for photography, but I discovered documentary filmmaking in my first year of college and haven’t strayed since.

CIFF: “The Case Against 8” and “Pelada” depict very different topics — same-sex marriage and pick-up soccer games. What about these stories inspired you to bring them to life via film? RW: I’m a curious person. Some people might call it nosy. I enjoy stories about people who don’t seek the limelight. “The Case Against 8” features two regular, day-to-day couples who never intended to be the face of such a huge social issue. BC: It is a character film, not an advocacy film, and is edited in a way for audiences to be drawn into the journey instead of focusing on whether same-sex marriage is right or wrong.

RW: “Pelada” is about two soccer players who travel the world playing pick-up soccer with locals who aren’t making millions or endorsements, but instead playing for their own personal reasons. I am not a soccer player, but I fell in love with it over the four years it took to make the film and came to realize soccer is a universal language. I’m drawn to the characters that have smaller, quieter stories.

CIFF: What films or filmmakers have influenced the work you create? RW: I enjoy watching as many other documentaries as I can. I love coming to regional film festivals to see the work of local filmmakers who may not get a chance to attend the bigger film events. Everything I watch shapes the way I create my films.

CIFF: What advice do you have for up-and-coming filmmakers today? RW: Roll the dice. Take the risk. Find a story that gets you excited. You can make films relatively cheap and pretty much on your own if you have a camera, a story and the curiosity. —Interview by Amy Kersey

A Camera, a Story and a Curiosity: An Interview with Ryan White and Ben Cotner

After meeting at Sundance Film Festival 5 years ago, Ryan White, left, and Ben Cotner teamed up a few months later to interview the plaintiffs and historically rivaling lawyers battling Proposition 8.

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Challenge MatchThe Challenge Match is the CIFF’s annual fundraising campaign, and the only time of the year that we ask for your support (we do not send out solicitation letters at any time). The challenge to you – our audience – is to raise $100,000, which will be matched by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

We are $16,700 closer to reaching our goal of $100,000

A $10 DONATION QUALIFIES YOU FOR ONE OF THESE FABULOUS PRIZES!!

AIRPORT ’77: Enjoy a weekend “Stay-cation” with an overnight stay at the Cleveland Airport Marriott, complete with dinner at the award-winning AMP 150, breakfast and a basket of treats.

INDULGENCE: Indulge with a haircut and manicure at Eddy’s on Coventry, lunch and shopping at Legacy Village, a makeover from Nordstrom, a massage from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and 3 bottles of Hollywood & Vine wine.

PICTURE PERFECT: Combine your love of art and your love of Cleveland and enjoy a collection of three images from local photographer Nanekia Morgan of Nijome Arts plus a membership for The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Stop by the Challenge Match table in the Tower City Cinemas lobby to donate.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Official Airline of the 38th CIFFThe Cleveland International Film Festival receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Festival UpdatesAdded Screenings:Monday March 24thOhio Shorts Program 1 9:10 amComedy Shorts Program 9:35 amOhio Shorts Program 2 11:00 am

Late Additions:Saturday March 29thLast Days in Vietnam 12:45 pm

To Be Takei 3:00 pm

Sunday March 30thLast Days in Vietnam 3:45 pm

To Be Takei 5:00 pm

Check for the latest festival updates on Twitter or Facebook. Or visit www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/updates

“C an you make a romantic comedy about the least romantic thing in the world?” Director and producer Jason

James asked himself this question many times when developing the idea for his feature film “That Burning Feeling.” The film follows the foibles of Adam, a charming young professional whose favorite pastime is seducing women. However, he quickly finds that too much of a good thing only makes him itch and burn.

“It plays with the ideas of finding one’s authentic self and authentic relationships,” James says. “The disease is the jumping off point of this discovery.” He adds, “If you can get past the ick factor.”

“I have a love-hate relationships with romantic comedies,” James continues, “Because they are some of the best films and a lot of the worst films ever made.”

“That Burning Feeling” is not your typical romantic comedy. It may be a film that fits into the romantic-comedy genre, but the “painful subject matter,” says James, “addresses the consequences of our actions, even if it is fun.”

When he was pitching the idea, James began asking himself what this film was really about. He asked himself a lot of questions.

“Can I make this happen?” he wondered. “People have so many choices of what to go see. I wanted to present something bold and challenging.”

Even with a killer comedic cast, the premise is not all fun and games. It focuses on the “morning after” situation, where we are witnesses of the dark side to Adam’s exploits. It pays homage to a classical approach to the romantic-comedy genre, “Like Billy Wilder’s ‘The Apartment,’” James suggests. “Films that have dramatic premises wrapped in a comedic shroud.”

In his film, James addresses the darker side to sex that isn’t quite as charming as many other films in the genre.

“It promotes a healthy sexual lifestyle, whatever your direction is,” says James. “I think it expresses modern relationships in a fun and funny, heartfelt way.”

There’s one universal truth about relationships: we all have them. One moment of meaningless activity for Adam turns into what is a, literally, painful journey of accountability and self- discovery. —Molly Drake

The Morning After

Jason James adds a painful twist to the traditional rom-com, following a womanizing man who gets the itch to find something more.

The Daily hasn’t shrunk; it’s online. Read exclusive content that’s not available in the print edition by visiting The Daily online edition at www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/the-daily.

TODAY’S ONLINE VERSION INCLUDES:

• Focus on Filmmakers: The first two award recipients, Malcolm Ingram (“Continental”) and Liz Marshall (“The Ghosts in Our Machine”), were honored on Thursday.

• Artist Award: Award-winning local artist Barney Taxel who teaches photography at CWRU Art Studios was selected to design this year’s awards for filmmakers.

THEONLINE

THAT BURNING FEELING is playing today at 2:00 p.m.

SHOWINGTODAY

TOP: A Film Forum about the rising cost of higher education follows “Ivory Tower.” Panelists include Andrew Rossi, David Boone, Bob Durham, Christine Fowler-Mack and Ross Peacock. BOTTOM LEFT: Focus on Filmmakers award-winner Liz Marshall talks to Mallory Martin. BOTTOM RIGHT: CIFF Program guides are the go-to source for festival information.

THE HOME FOR STORIES

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