Inside the Cleveland Film Everyone Will Be Talking About This Holiday, and the Museum Exhibit That Proves It
- Gremi
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Western Reserve Historical Society launched a major two-year exhibition at the Cleveland History Center titled 'Hollywood on the Cuyahoga: Northeast Ohio and the Movies', placing the city’s cinematic heritage and current film boom into the spotlight. The exhibition opened with a fundraiser on September 25 and will run through October 2026, showcasing over 125 years of moviemaking history in Northeast Ohio. It features an evolving mix of costumes, props, production design materials, historic cameras, and film vehicles, with rotating contributions from recent and upcoming local productions.
Among the centerpiece narratives is Lost & Found in Cleveland, a Cleveland-made ensemble dramedy co-directed and co-written by Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak. The movie is integrated into the museum’s storyline as an example of modern local filmmaking and may see some of its production artifacts rotated into the exhibition throughout its run. Early visitors have been drawn to items like a screen-used Freddy Krueger figure and vintage film equipment. The exhibit also includes support from the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, with large-scale set pieces and vehicles included in the floorplan.
The creators of Lost & Found in Cleveland describe the film as a heartfelt tribute to the city’s people, culture, and landscape. The movie, shot across Cuyahoga County in early 2023, follows five Clevelanders over the course of one day as a hit antiques-appraisal TV show, also titled Lost & Found, rolls into town. The story explores themes of memory, self-worth, and community through interconnected character arcs and iconic Cleveland locations such as Playhouse Square, the West Side Market, Slavic Village, Public Square, and the Hope Memorial Bridge.
The idea for the movie began over a decade ago, when Guterman and Gerchak met at a casting call. According to an interview Cleveland 13 had with the creators late last year, Gerchak said was immediately hooked on Guterman’s pitch of a film grounded in an appraisal show’s emotional storytelling and rooted in the spirit of Cleveland. He later told the outlet, “You’ve got my attention.” From that moment, the duo began the long process of financing, writing, casting, and eventually producing the film independently. “We produced it with breadcrumbs and just following the next piece forward,” Guterman said.
Community support became essential to the film’s creation. Guterman and Gerchak raised financing through a combination of private investors, Cleveland-based businesses, and small grassroots groups; at one point, even a local book club pooled their resources to support the production. The team also received location assistance from the Western Reserve Historical Society itself, helping to secure key settings when earlier locations fell through.
The cast includes Martin Sheen, Dennis Haysbert, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Loretta Devine, Liza Weil, Jon Lovitz, Jeff Hiller, Dot-Marie Jones, Mark L. Walberg and more. Since its debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival in October 2024, the movie has experienced a streak of sold-out screenings. It was the first film in the festival’s history to require a second showing due to high demand. When it screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival this spring, it shattered attendance records, drawing more than 2,700 people to Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre, marking the largest single screening in CIFF’s history and the biggest crowd at the venue since 1973.
In a dramatic preview of what's to come, Cleveland rolled out Lost & Found in Cleveland in a major promotional moment at Progressive Field on September 11, 2025. Dot‑Marie Jones, a cast member, threw the ceremonial first pitch while the movie’s trailer screened on the Jumbotron before the game. Tony Award winner Santino Fontana also performed “God Bless America” during the event, and organizers staged a “Deal or No Deal” giveaway for fans. Co‑director Keith Gerchak took to Facebook that night, writing, “Not gonna lie, that Lost & Found in Cleveland trailer looks pretty epic on the Cleveland Guardians Jumbotron. So does that throw from star Dot‑Marie Jones on the mound!”
The filmmakers have emphasized that the story is not a satire or mockumentary but a character-driven piece with emotional sincerity. One scene, depicting a woman applying lipstick in silence, was described by Gerchak as “Academy Award–worthy,” illustrating the kind of intimate moments the team wanted to elevate. Cleveland’s presence in the film is both visual and emotional, serving as a backdrop and a character in its own right.
As the city celebrates its deepening role in the national film scene, the Cleveland History Center exhibit affirms that Lost & Found in Cleveland is not just a tribute to the region, it is now part of the fabric of its creative legacy.
The film is scheduled for nationwide theatrical release on November 7, 2025, through Attend, a new distribution platform from The Fithian Group, marking another milestone in its journey from local idea to national spotlight.
Previous coverage of 'Lost & Found in Cleveland' can be found at Cleveland 13 News online and across social networks @Cleveland13News.
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