Award-winning filmmaker premieres movie shot in Cleveland barbershop at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square | ARTS & CULTURE, CLEVELAND, COMMUNITIES

Thursday, April 16, 2026

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON

thelandcle.org

Cornell Calhoun III in Fade 2 Black. [Image courtesy of Cornell Calhoun III]

Seasoned screenwriter and filmmaker Cornell Calhoun III’s new short film “Fade 2 Black” has already won more than 30 awards from Los Angeles, California, to Hamburg, Germany. And it hasn’t even premiered yet.

In fact, during the past decade, his 16 films have garnered more than 350 awards for screenwriting or the movie itself. They’ve earned praise from film festivals throughout the U.S. and around the world.

But submitting entries to film festivals for more than 500 films wasn’t cheap.

“I’ve probably spent $16,000 or $17,000 since I first started sending my films out,” Calhoun estimated. “I know people say that’s crazy, but I’ve always felt if you’re not going to invest in yourself, who will invest in you?”