It was only a “miss” if you’re a glass-half-empty kind of person. But for Kristen Schlotman, executive director at local nonprofit Film Cincinnati, landing on the list of three finalist cities to host the Sundance Film Festival going forward was just the beginning—a win that put the region’s film scene on the map in a highly competitive, global industry.
“Contrary to the notion of ‘losing’ Sundance, Cincinnati never lost anything,” she says of the announcement that the festival would relocate to Boulder, Colorado. “You had to have it to lose it. Rather we gained an abundance of recognition and awareness and became an integral part of a crucial, ongoing conversation. Film Cincinnati is more energized than ever to elevate the region’s vibrant fi lm ecosystem and seek innovative ways to diversify and expand its impact on the creative economy.”
Film Cincinnati started in 1987, and Schlotman has been on a mission to not just put Cincinnati on the map in the film industry but to create an environment here that makes the region a premier destination. “It’s been immensely rewarding to be a catalyst for positive disruption and to champion the growth of our creative community,” she says.
All eyes are now on Film Cincinnati’s next steps. “It’s shaping up to be an incredible year, with a growing number of productions already lined up,” says Schlotman. “We’re seeing a notable uptick in projects getting greenlit, and we’ve never been busier. The appetite to create something larger and more impactful—for both the community and the industry—is palpable.”
Schlotman recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where The Mastermind, filmed entirely in Cincinnati last year, had its world premiere. Her organization will host Cineposium Cincinnati in September, produced by the Association of Film Commissioners International to tackle topics such as creating a financially sustainable film festival and the future of independent filmmaking. George Clooney will be the event’s headline speaker.
“What’s especially exciting about the conference is it’s the first time in North America in eight years and, for the first time, it will be open to non-members,” says Schlotman. “We fought incredibly hard to make this open admission a reality because we wanted to ensure access for both our established film community and those interested in exploring these conversations and opportunities. It’s part of our mission to broaden impact and continue to attract and retain talent in our thriving creative community.”
Schlotman hopes to see local filmmakers and workers at the conference, which she says will be “four thrilling days” in which studio executives, film distributors, agents, and others gather and collaborate in Cincinnati for panels, workshops, keynotes, and an “incredible sense of community and fun.” Register here.
