Monthly Archives: June 2022

Cooper Raiff and Evan Assante in “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

Cooper Raiff’s Second Feature Film to Screen in Cincinnati on July 9 

CINCINNATI, OH –June 22, 2022 – The premier diversity festival in the United States led by the disability community, The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, will screen the romantic comedy ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ from Apple Original Films at the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s SITE 1212 on Saturday, July 9 at 5pm.  ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ is about a 22-year-old named Andrew who is fresh out of college and without a clear life path and stuck at home with his family in New Jersey.  He lands a job doing motivational dancing at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates.  When Andrew befriends a local mom and daughter duo, he discovers the future he wants – even if it might not be his own.  The film is directed and written by Cooper Raiff and stars Cooper Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante.

The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, July 7-10, 2022, will screen fifty films at venues in the diverse Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati including The Art Academy of Cincinnati’s SITE 1212, The Woodward Theater, Harriet Beecher Stowe House and The Freedom Center throughout the four-day event.  “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with Apple TV+ on Cha Cha Real Smooth; it’s such an endearing and authentic film that resonates with our Festival values,” said tt stern-enzi, Artistic Director, The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival.  “With Cha Cha Real Smooth and some of our other feature films, Cincinnati will be hosting a number of rising stars, including Vanessa Burghardt”, he continued.

On Thursday, July 7, the narrative feature Poppy from writer-director Linda Niccol will open The OTR Film Festival, presented by LADD, at 8pm at SITE 1212. Poppy is a young woman with Down Syndrome eager to take control of her life and pursue her dream of becoming a mechanic; look forward to love, laughs and drama.

This year’s curated film slate also includes Marvelous and The Black Hole from director Kate Tsang, capturing the coming-of-age story of a delinquent teen who teams up with a surly children’s magician to navigate a difficult stage of her life.   In addition, the Festival will present Chase Joynt’s documentary Framing Agnes which, based on a discovery of case files from a 1950s gender clinic, features a cast of transgender actors and turns the talk show format inside-out to confront the legacy of a young transgender woman forced to choose between honesty and access.

For the complete film schedule, including a detailed list of films, venues and times, visit https://otrfilmfest.org/2022-schedule/. Tickets to The Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, can be purchased online as virtual or in-person passes and single tickets at https://otrfilmfest.org/tickets/.

About Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, presented by LADD, is the premier diversity film festival in the United States led by the disability community.  The festival’s founding sponsor is the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B along with leadership support from Procter and Gamble. Set to return July 7-10, 2022, the festival will showcase stories that celebrate the human spirit by providing a platform for audiences to see through another’s eyes. The festival is a catalyst for creating community and connections by telling stories that don’t get told.  LADD brings the annual festival to Cincinnati to continue reframing how we see disability in the entertainment industry’s ongoing discussion of diversity. Learn more at otrfilmfest.org.

About LADD
Guided by the belief that every person has ability and value, LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Founded in 1975, the Cincinnati non-profit now supports over 650 adults experiencing disabilities through housing, employment and meaningful community engagement programs. Learn more at laddinc.org.

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