In Tom Van Avermaet's short film "Hearts of Stone," a lonely street artist falls in love with a stone statue. It's one of nearly 350 films screening at the 15th annual Short. Sweet. Film. Fest. March 2-8 at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. Short. Sweet. Film. Fest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Short. Sweet. Film. Fest. keeps on growing. What began in 2012 as a modest gathering in the basement of Market Garden Brewery has evolved into Northeast Ohio’s largest shorts-only film festival.

Now in its 15th year, the event will feature nearly 350 films when it takes over Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square March 2-8. And in September, the festival returns to New York City for the second straight year. Founder Mike Suglio never imagined it would get this big.

“The festival was created to allow local and up-and-coming independent filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen for family and friends,” he said. “Nowadays, we watch so much at home on our own and on small devices like our phones. So this is really beautiful and wonderful.”

This year’s lineup includes narrative and documentary shorts from local, national and international filmmakers, as well as students. Films ranging from five to 40 minutes are grouped into themed programs of eight to 10 selections. Programs focus on horror, comedy, drama, Asian cinema, music videos, LGBTQ films and more.

Suglio, an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University’s School of Film & Media Arts, is particularly proud of the new Women in Focus category. The three-program series, scheduled for Saturday, March 7, highlights films directed and produced by women, as well as stories that tackle issues such as domestic abuse, stalking and systemic disregard for victims.

While the event was founded as a festival by filmmakers, for filmmakers, Suglio said anyone with an interest in film is welcome.

“I like to think we’re an industry-based festival,” he said. “But what I’ve learned over the years is that people who might be interested but don’t see themselves as filmmakers ultimately go on to make films after attending the festival.”

Suglio said the opportunity to meet and network with fellow artists often inspires aspiring filmmakers to take the leap themselves.

“They realize it’s not an impossible dream,” he said, adding that he has noticed an uptick in people traveling to Cleveland for the event. “A lot of them are coming not only to experience the festival, but to experience Cleveland. I think that’s pretty darn cool.”

On Suglio’s must-watch list is “Skate Rat Since ’88,” a documentary about Cleveland skateboarder Kristian Svitak and the city’s often-overlooked skating scene, showing at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, March 8.

Another standout is “Hearts of Stone,” screening at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7. The romantic fantasy follows a street performer who poses as a living statue and falls in love with an actual statue. Suglio said the film did well at the New York festival last year and called it “really beautiful.”

He’s also excited about the environmental shorts program on Wednesday, March 4. It opens with “Ohio Wild at Heart,” a documentary celebrating the state’s parks and natural beauty.

“It made me want to travel around Ohio,” Suglio said.

Opening night on Monday, March 2, will feature locally made student films accompanied by an art show. An acting competition returns Sunday, March 8, with performers delivering 60- to 90-second monologues. The festival concludes that evening with its “Best of the Fest” program.

For those unsure how to navigate the event, Suglio recommends an unlimited festival pass ($99) or a Saturday or Sunday day pass ($35), which lets festivalgoers move between screenings and explore different programs. Tickets to individual programs cost $15. For more information, visit shortsweetfilmfest.com.