CLEVELAND — Hillsdale graduate Neil “Shankar” Sudhakaran is part of a two-man filmmaking team that will have their latest project screen next month in Cleveland.
“This film started as a promotion for Blake’s Artshow at Summit Art Space last September and now has taken us to film festivals all over the country,” Sudhakaran said. “We’re beyond thrilled to have our local premiere at The Cleveland International Film Festival.
“It’s absurd to be selected into CIFF, we’re still dumbfounded.”
Sudhakaran and Blake Newhem Valenzuela both have endured chronic illness for decades.
Sudhakaran has battled chronic kidney and liver disease, including two kidney transplants and a liver transplant since birth. Valenzuela was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma (Brain Tumor), lovingly named Ollie.
These chronic illnesses became a staple of understanding between the pair, eventually blossoming into a friendship.
Their film, Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage, will screen as part of the Local Heroes Block 2, Wednesday, April 2 at 7:45 p.m. at The State Theatre. It is part of the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Their film, Dain Bramage: Voyages into Visual Collage, explores Valenzuela’s journey from English Professor teaching Chaucer in the original Middle English to not being able to say the word cloud.
It then progresses through a newfound art form of collage, Valenzuela was able to regain his ability and find hope for the future.
More information can be found at Clevelandfilm.org