Free screening and documentary filmmaking workshop highlights the work of local filmmakers and offers behind-the-camera education

CLEVELAND, OH — The Greater Cleveland Film Commission (GCFC) will host its 5th Annual Film Forward Documentary Spotlight on February 6–7, 2026, featuring the locally produced documentary DRY BONES. The two-day, free public program includes a screening and filmmaker talkback at the historic Karamu House, followed by a documentary filmmaking workshop at the Kent State University - Independence Campus the next day.

The Film Forward Documentary Spotlight is a signature GCFC community outreach program, elevating documentaries with Northeast Ohio ties and socially relevant subject matter while fostering reflection, dialogue, and professional development within the region’s growing film community.

The program has grown steadily in attendance and visibility since its inception in 2021, and has previously featured the films “Fast Dreams,” “Reverse RideAlong,” “The Shadow Between Us,” and “MIXED”. 

The Film Forward Documentary Spotlight is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

DRY BONES Screening • Friday, February 6th

The program begins on Friday, February 6th, with a free reception and screening of DRY BONES at Karamu House, followed by a talkback with the filmmaker, Dr. Tara Conley, Assistant Professor in the School of Media & Journalism at Kent State University. 

The Friday evening reception, screening, and filmmaker talkback, moderated by Lowell Perry Jr, GCFC’s Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Corporate & Community Engagement, is designed to inspire reflection and conversation. Audience members are invited to share reactions, personal connections, and insights into the film’s creation and impact.

Doors open at 5 pm, and the screening starts at 6:30 pm. Registration is required online at ClevelandFilm.com.

DRY BONES Synopsis:

“In 2021, filmmaker Tara L. Conley traveled back to her hometown in Elyria, Ohio to document the story of Ike Maxwell, a local high school football hero of the 1970s. 

Set against the backdrop of a city long plagued by racial tension and economic decline, DRY BONES follows Ike's triumphs and struggles as his life unravels after the tragic death of his younger brother, Daryl Lee Maxwell, who was shot and killed by a white police officer during the summer of 1975. Daryl Lee’s death sparked a three-day uprising in a city known for its placid and tepid response to social change.

At its heart, DRY BONES explores the resilience of Black communities in Rust Belt Ohio and highlights the spiritual and communal significance of American football in a small town. Sherman Jones, a community organizer featured in the film asks, “How do you breathe life into dry bones?”—referencing the biblical story of Ezekiel’s dry bones.

In capturing Ike’s story, once framed by The New York Times as “the hard fall of a favorite son” (2012), DRY BONES presents a more personal and community-rooted narrative about loss and Black life in northeast Ohio.

The film also features a treasure trove of music from Boddie Recording Company, a formally Black-owned record label in Cleveland, Ohio during the 1970s. Audiences will also hear original music scored by filmmaker Tara L. Conley, along with a performance of George Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

DRY BONES is a must-see for audiences looking for an intimate portrayal and an ode to Black life in places that have been lost in the American imagination.”

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. 

DOCUMENTARY FILM WORKSHOP • Saturday, February 7th

On Saturday, February 7th, GCFC will host a free documentary filmmaking workshop at the Kent State University - Independence Campus College of Podiatric Medicine, moderated by GCFC Production Coordinator and documentarian Mike Wendt. 

The workshop offers aspiring and current documentarians an opportunity to go behind the camera and explore how DRY BONES came together, from creative development and production processes to equipment, ethical storytelling, and best practices unique to documentaries.

This workshop is FREE. Registration is required and available at ClevelandFilm.com. 

The 2026 Film Forward Documentary Spotlight is presented by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, David & Kristen St. Pierre, and the DiSanto Family Foundation. This program is also made possible with support from Community Sponsors including Karamu House and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, KeyBank, The Reinberger Foundation, Community Foundation of Lorain County, and EATON.

For more information, visit ClevelandFilm.com.  Limited sponsorship opportunities are available.  Reach out to Lowell Perry - lperryjr@clevelandfilm.com.