The Short. Sweet. Film Fest is making a big deal about its 13th year when it returns to Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 3 with hundreds short films from 23 countries.

“It's pretty sweet that we are showing nearly 300 shorts across four screens,” says festival executive director Michael Suglio. “We have a wide range of genres, and several filmmakers are attending, so we have something for everyone.”

The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 with five films in the Student Filmmaker’s Program, the Documentary and Fan Fiction Program, the Comedy & Drama Program, and an International Films Program.

Thursday, Feb. 29, film students take over the theaters, with 46 films showing over the course of four programs from 7 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

Friday, March 1 kicks off at 7 p.m. with Local Filmmaker’s Night—featuring 10 films made by our very own Northeast Ohio filmmakers.

2024 Short. Sweet. Film FestSuglio says one particular film to catch on Local Night is Mayfield Heights native and director Anne Hu’s “Lunchbox.” When a Taiwanese American woman prepares lunches from her childhood, she struggles to forgive herself for pushing away her immigrant mother.

“Lunchbox” was filmed in Northeast Ohio and has been accepted into 25 film festivals and won five awards, including Best Ohio Short at the 2023 Cleveland International Film Festival.

Additionally, screen time is reserved on Friday for Comedy & Drama, Horror, and Short. Sweet.+ (LGBT+).

Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 feature a bit of every genre, including Environmental Films, Comedy & Drama, Action/Thriller, Documentary, and International Film.

For the International Film category, Suglio recommends checking out “Lose me not,” directed by Desmond Hudson and Nina Zogg, on Saturday, March 2 at 11:45 a.m.

Joey, a 19-year-old teenager, struggles with deep depression ever since the death of his mother. He wanders earth lost and without purpose. He's lost all grasp of reality and fights with the thought of just letting go. Joey stands at the edge of a steep cliff and shares his perspective of the world. How everything is so bad and how it's easier for him to just give up and take a step forward. Ultimately, he comes to a crucial realization, leading him away from his downfall.

“This international film is really good,” he says, “and the filmmakers are traveling in from Switzerland to be there.”

Additionally, there are free seminars on Saturday and Sunday, including The State of Sound & Music Seminar, the History of Cleveland in the Movies! Seminar, and a Filmmaker Mixer.

Short. Sweet. Film Fest wraps up Sunday afternoon with the Short. Sweet Film Competition, followed by the Best of the Fest at 4:15 p.m. with a presentation of the award-winning films and a Q&A with the judges.

Check the complete schedule to find out when everything is playing.

Throughout the festival there will be an art show, displaying the works of all types of local artists. All of the works will be for sale.

Tickets are $15 per program, $35 for the entire day Saturday and Sunday, or $99 for an All-Festival Pass.

“I would suggest people buy the day passes for Saturday or Sunday,” says Suglio, “so they can pick different programs that they are interested in.”