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GCUFF 🎬 #BLACKFILMSMATTER

@gcuffcleveland

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Celebrating Film, Life, and Culture since 2012
2026 #GCUFF September 17-25
Keep film alive and support us ✊🏿
“Beautifully Together”

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

15 YEARS OF #GCUFF IN A WEEKEND! 👏🏿 What did you think? 👀

The beautiful, the bold, the busy, and the Black! Thank you for an incredible and supportive community. Filmmakers became family and family last forever at our film festival.

IF YOU SEE YOURSELF, LET US KNOW! 🙏🏿

To our community partners, thank you yet again @titosvodka @rpm_international_inc @keybank @dollar.bank @code_m_magazine @clevelandpubliclibrary @ohioartscouncil @mhjfoundation @woodfordreserve @lachaecosmetics and to the others not listed, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Looking forward to next year! #GCUFF2026 #clevelandfilm #blackfilmfestival taken in Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival by @gcuffcleveland

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22 days ago

We are saddened by this tragic news! #HakeemSharif was an alumni of the film festival and we loved him for many reasons.

In this lifetime, he definitely made his impact as an actor but beyond that, he became a staple everywhere he went in everyone’s lives.

To our good brother and from everyone at The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, rest in peace Hakeem. We love you!

❤️ by @gcuffcleveland

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4 days ago

Three weeks later… but better late than never! 😂

Still reflecting on what a special experience the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival was. To see The Space Between on the big screen, in the city where it all began, surrounded by people who continue to believe in this story, and those who were experiencing it for the very first time and connected with it, meant more to me than I can put into words.

As a filmmaker, you spend so much time creating something, hoping that one day it finds its way to the people it’s meant for. Moments like these remind me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place.

To everyone who came out, showed love, shared a kind word, or simply took the time to experience our film, thank you. Your support never goes unnoticed.

And a special thank you to GCUFF for creating a space where stories like ours can be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Cleveland, thank you for showing up for The Space Between. Until next time. 🎬✌🏾

#TheSpaceBetweenFilm #GCUFF #ClevelandFilmmaker #IndependentFilm #BlackCinema by @gcuffcleveland

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🚨🎬 WHO SAID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE CLEVELAND TO MAKE HISTORY?! 🌟🔥 THE LAND IS FULL OF STARS! 🚀

🎥 15 YEARS OF BLACK EXCELLENCE, CINEMA & CREATIVITY! 🏆✨

🎬 THE MIDWEST TAKEOFF × GCUFF — OFFICIAL RECAP! 🚀

CLEVELAND, STAND UP! 🗣️🔥

What an incredible honor celebrating the 15TH ANNIVERSARY of the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF)! 🎉

For 15 years, GCUFF has elevated voices, created opportunities, and reminded the world that GREATNESS LIVES IN CLEVELAND! 🌎💎

🎤 The Midwest Takeoff had the privilege of interviewing amazing actors, filmmakers, producers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries who are shaping the future of entertainment!

💎 Every interview told a story.
🎬 Every filmmaker carried a vision.
🚀 Every conversation reminded us WHY WE DO THIS!

CLEVELAND DOESN’T JUST PRODUCE TALENT — WE PRODUCE LEGACY! 🏆🔥

To every dreamer: STOP WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED! Create opportunities, remain consistent, believe in yourself, and NEVER stop chasing your vision! 💯

🌟 SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO OUR ALL-STAR TEAM!

🎥 @logankyngston — Capturing the magic behind the lens!

🎤 @216hundo — My incredible co-star bringing the energy!

🚀 @troopnation — Your founder and host, continuing our mission to elevate rising stars!

❤️ HUGE THANK YOU to GCUFF, its leadership, volunteers, and everyone investing in Cleveland’s creative community! We’re honored to be part of this historic celebration! 🙏🏾

CLEVELAND, YOUR LIGHT IS TOO BRIGHT TO BE IGNORED! 🌟🏙️

👀🔥 And the stories we captured? YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THEM!

👇🏾 TAG A CLEVELAND CREATIVE WHO DESERVES THE SPOTLIGHT! 🎬

❤️ LIKE | 💬 COMMENT | 🔁 SHARE

🚀 THE MIDWEST TAKEOFF
⭐ WHERE STARS COME TO SHINE! ⭐

#GCUFF #GreaterClevelandUrbanFilmFestival #TheMidwestTakeoff #TroopNation #ClevelandFilm by @gcuffcleveland

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8 days ago

Can’t get enough of the @sankofapluscleveland Black Art Expo at #GCUFF2026 festival. Some of our favorite moments wrapped in love and conversation.

What did you enjoy about the expo? Let us know in the comments.

#artexpo #gcuff #blackart #filmfestival by @gcuffcleveland

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8 days ago

She got us with the “food stamp card” and “Set It Off” in the hot seat! 😭

Good times at #2026GCUFF this past September. What we think? by @gcuffcleveland

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9 days ago

MIC DROP 🎤 FROM THE GREAT CLEVELAND NATIVE @yanna_on_set 🔥

Always lead with respect. We need those people.

#2026GCUFF #filmfestival #leannabringht #cleveland by @gcuffcleveland

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11 days ago

🎬🎥🎞️💃🎩

11 days before the benefit…

Bought your tickets yet? Tickets will not be sold at the door

To purchase, visit our website at www.buildingheights216.org or the link in our bio taken in Tudor Arms Events by @gcuffcleveland

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13 days ago

The great @demayne shares his love for #GCUFF2026 and his experience.

May not be from here but he carries the same love like a native, and for that… We’re thankful. 🙏🏿 by @gcuffcleveland

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15 days ago

🚨 ACTRESSES, LISTEN TO THIS BEFORE YOU TURN 35… 👀🎬

Anne-Marie Johnson just opened up about one of Hollywood’s uncomfortable truths on The Midwest Takeoff:

“Once you hit 35 as a woman, the opportunity for work plummets…”
She explained that as women get older, auditions and opportunities can become harder to find — especially when casting professionals can easily see an actor’s age online.

And this isn’t just a conversation actresses are having behind closed doors. SAG-AFTRA has publicly fought concerns over age information appearing on entertainment databases and its potential role in age discrimination.

But here’s where this conversation gets IMPORTANT for young actresses:
🎬 DON’T BUILD YOUR ENTIRE CAREER AROUND BEING YOUNG.

Build around being GOOD.
Learn your craft.
Study film.
Train your voice and body.
Master self-tapes.
Build relationships.
Create your own work.

Learn how to write, produce and develop characters.
Build an audience that knows YOUR name.
Because if the industry changes what it considers “marketable,” your talent, experience, relationships and body of work become even more important.

And remember: USC Annenberg research has documented the underrepresentation of women 40+ in film — meaning this conversation is bigger than one actress or one audition.

🔥 So here's the controversial question:
Should Hollywood be casting based on an actor’s age — or the age they can convincingly PLAY?

Anne-Marie has lived through multiple generations of Hollywood. Now she's giving the next generation the warning AND the game.

🙏🏾 Thank you to GCUFF — Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival for giving The Midwest Takeoff the opportunity to sit down with Anne-Marie Johnson.

👇🏾 YOUNG ACTRESSES: What are you doing TODAY to make sure your career has longevity?
🚀 The Midwest Takeoff — Where Stars Come to Shine.
#TheMidwestTakeoff #AnneMarieJohnson #GCUFF #Hollywood #Actress #Acting #ActorsLife #WomenInHollywood #BlackHollywood #FilmIndustry #EntertainmentIndustry #Ageism #Casting #YoungActress #ActingCareer #Cleveland #TroopNation #WomenInFilm #ActressLife #HollywoodIndustry #CareerChallenges #GenderEquality #EntertainmentNews #ReelsViral by @gcuffcleveland

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15 days ago

Young, gifts and Black! @sossboyjust shares more about his film #EspressoShot that premiered at #GCUFF2026 and what it’s like being a director & writer…

This is the kind of art we need to get behind! Congratulations young king.

#justincolbert #gcuff #filmfestival by @gcuffcleveland

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17 days ago

@sweetestdaythemovie is officially an award-winning film! 👻🏆

“Sweetest Day” has officially received the Audience Choice Award at the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival—and we couldn’t be more grateful.

To everyone who came out to watch the film, laughed with us, screamed with us, recognized a familiar Cleveland or Warren location, and ultimately voted for Sweetest Day as your favorite: thank you. Knowing that our film connected with an audience enough to earn your vote is something we’ll carry with us for a very long time. We’re especially grateful to the friends, family, fellow filmmakers, and film-lovers who showed up and shared this experience with us.

And to the entire @gcuffcleveland team—thank you for welcoming us so warmly and making our festival experience so special. From the moment we arrived, we felt supported, celebrated, and genuinely cared for. We had an incredible week surrounded by talented filmmakers, wonderful audiences, and a festival team that knows how to make people feel at home. ❣️

Our first festival. Our first awards recognition. And an Audience Choice win in the place where “Sweetest Day” began.

We couldn’t have asked for a sweeter way to start this journey. 🖤🎬🏆

Thank you, GCUFF and Cleveland! taken in Shaker Heights, Ohio by @gcuffcleveland

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