“You can't handle the truth....You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about …. you want me on that wall.” - Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, in “A Few Good Men”
This week we are excited to debut our new film festival, All Rise: A Festival of Film and Law, co-sponsored by CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and the CSU School of Film & Media Arts.
Watch this short video: Trailer: All Rise Film Festival
Admission is FREE. Open to the Public. 4 Hours CLE Pending.
Special thanks to Lee and Ageleke Zapis, without whose generous support the festival would not be possible. Lee is the son of Xenophon “Xen” Zapis ‘54, and brother of Donna Zapis Thomas ’87, both members of our Hall of Fame. My thanks also to Cigdem Slankard, Director of the CSU School of Film & Media Arts, for our great partnership.
The festival takes place Thursday, Oct. 27 - Saturday, Oct. 29 at the CSU Film School Screening Room (6th floor, Idea Center, Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Ave.), Westfield Theater (main level, Idea Center), and our Moot Court Room at the Law School (1801 Euclid Ave). See All Rise: Schedule of Films, Events, and Panel Discussions
From “A Few Good Men,” to “Erin Brockovich” to “To Kill a Mockingbird” to “My Cousin Vinny,” we have a fascination with films that reflect society’s complicated relationship with law, lawyers, and justice. Focusing on the intersection of film and law, our film festival presents a diverse selection of films, ranging from documentary to narrative. Through panel discussions that follow each film, the festival is a catalyst for compelling conversations around cinema and law.
Thursday, October 27, 7:30 pm, Westfield Theater
The festival kicks off on Thursday evening, with a keynote by Angela Russo-Otstot, President of Creative at AGBO, the entertainment production company she leads with her brothers, Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo. Angela, Joe, Anthony, and Gabriella Russo Rosalina’98 are the children of Patricia Russo and Judge Basil Russo’72, a member of our Hall of Fame.
Friday, October 28
- 10:30am - “Finding Kendrick Johnson,” CSU Film School - a heartbreaking documentary about the brutal murder of a high school student and the cover up that followed. Professor Bob Triozzi will moderate the panel discussion that includesAqueelah Jordan’09, Chief Prosecutor, City of Cleveland.
- 2pm - “A Few Good Men,” CSU C|M|LAW Moot Court Room – the classic military courtroom drama starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore. Professor Pam Daiker-Middaugh will moderate the panel discussion that includes Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly ‘92, a member of our Hall of Fame, and Carmen Mann ’22, Air Force 2nd Lieutenant.
- 6pm - “The First Step,” Westfield Studio Theater –this documentary follows activist Van Jones as he pushes for landmark criminal justice reform. The panel discussion will be moderated by Associate Dean/Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich.
Saturday, October 29
- 2pm - “The Pez Outlaw,” CSU Film School – this documentary is about the greatest caper you’ve never heard of. An American sets out to smuggle Eastern Europe’s rarest Pez Dispensers into the United States. The panel discussion that follows includes Brendan Gallagher, Executive Vice President/General Counsel, Gravitas Ventures ’06.
- 6pm - “Dark Waters,” Westfield Theater - Based on a true story, Mark Ruffalo stars in this gripping drama as Robert Bilott, a partner with the Taft law firm in Cincinnati, about his decades-long legal battle with DuPont. I will moderate the panel discussion with Robert Bilott himself! He is also the author of Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont.
My thanks also to Taft; McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman; Gravitas Ventures; CSU C|M|LAW Environmental Law Society; and CSU C|M|LAW National Lawyers Guild for their support of the Film Festival.
See more details here and register here. Please join us!
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay Committed to Living Justice.
Have a great day. Have a great week.
The views and opinions expressed in my Monday Morning Message are solely my own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the law school or the university.
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My best,
Lee
Lee Fisher
Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law | Cleveland State University
Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.