Record-Breaking Premiere of Lost and Found in Cleveland Brings Over 2,700 to Playhouse Square

CLEVLAND, OH — I’ve been lucky enough to cover hundreds of stories in Cleveland, but what I witnessed Sunday evening at the Cleveland International Film Festival was nothing short of historic. Over 2,700 people gathered at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre for the sold-out Midwest premiere of Lost & Found in Cleveland, an original dramedy shot entirely in our city and crafted with unmistakable local love. The film didn’t just set a record for the largest screening in CIFF’s 49-year history, it was a cinematic homecoming that Clevelanders showed up for in droves.

“Cleveland feels timeless,” Marisa Guterman told me after the screening. “It’s magical and effervescent and that was a characteristic we wanted worked into the film. It feels timeless, it feels good.” That timelessness was palpable from the first shot to the last, and nowhere more than in the KeyBank State Theatre, the largest performing arts theater in Ohio. A line stretched down Euclid Avenue as 200 standby hopefuls waited, and remarkably, every single one of them made it into the screening. “It was the largest lobby, largest audience, biggest night of the film fest, we are breaking all the records,” Marisa said.

In a post-pandemic world where it’s tough to get people anywhere, much less into theaters, this turnout was staggering. “I knew the film was going to resonate with the audience here,” Marisa said. “But until you’re there and seeing the lines for yourself, it’s hard to believe the numbers... it was really inspiring to us to see so many people show up, especially people across so many age ranges.”

The venue, with its 3,200-seat capacity, was more than just a place to watch a film. It was part of the story itself. Much of Lost & Found in Cleveland was filmed in the Playhouse Square district, with key scenes, including the fictional TV antiquities appraisal show “Lost & Found,” shot in the lobby just outside the theater doors. “Where else can you see a movie like this with so many people?” co-creator Keith Gerchak asked me. “You’re talking about a historic movie palace. If you go to the multiplex you’re looking at a capacity of maybe 250 seats but this was 10 times that size.”

The star power behind Lost & Found in Cleveland is undeniable, boasting a cast that many indie films could only dream of. Legendary names like Martin Sheen, Dennis Haysbert, June Squibb, and Stacy Keach lead the ensemble with emotional depth and gravitas. Liza Weil brings another incredible performance with depth and complexity, while Loretta Devine lights up the screen with her signature warmth and humor. Dot-Marie Jones delivers a hilarious standout performance, and Jon Lovitz adds his unmistakable comedic touch to the film as the ‘Mayor of Cleveland’. This powerhouse lineup is rounded out by a talented supporting cast that includes Santino Fontana, Benjamin Steinhauser, and Mark L. Walberg, each playing a vital role in weaving together the film’s interlocking stories.

Eleven-year-old Benjamin Steinhauser was all smiles at the premiere, taking photos with fans and chatting with guests who rolled in by the thousands to see him light up the big screen. His performance as Charlie was nothing short of stunning; a modern-day Ralphie from A Christmas Story, but even more memorable, with a level of emotional nuance rarely seen at his age. That film, too, was shot in Cleveland, but Benjamin brought something uniquely powerful to his role, guided and elevated by the ensemble of legendary actors surrounding him. Keith and Marisa shared that he and Dot-Marie Jones developed a close bond during filming, have stayed in touch, and already hope to collaborate again on future projects.

Cleveland legend and beloved news anchor Leon Bibb made a special appearance in the film, portraying himself as a news anchor reporting within the story’s world; a nod to his real-life role as one of the most recognizable and respected figures in local journalism. With a career spanning decades, Bibb has long been a trusted voice in Northeast Ohio households. At the premiere, he didn’t just appear on screen, he also took the stage to host the post-screening Q&A with Keith, Marisa, and Benjamin, bringing his signature warmth and familiarity to an already electric evening.

The film’s core isn’t just about characters; it's about Cleveland. The audience laughed, cried, and recognized every corner of the city on screen. From the West Side Market to the Hope Memorial Bridge, Malley’s Chocolates to Discount Drug Mart and Sherwin-Williams, this movie reflects our everyday lives. “It was important for us to change the narrative of the city of Cleveland, not just for the city but nationally as well,” Keith said. “It has a relatability and a message that translates beyond the borders of Cleveland itself.”

As I watched the film, many moments stuck with me, but one in particular deserves an honorable mention. It was a quiet moment with June Squibb applying lipstick in a mirror. No dialogue. Just pure emotion. Every delicate gesture and lingering glance in the mirror spoke volumes, capturing something so profoundly human and universally felt that the entire audience sat in hushed reverence, utterly transfixed.

I asked Keith and Marisa what they were feeling moments before the film was played. “We were having a panic attack,” Marisa admitted. “We were holding each other, and then we heard the first big laugh and then I stopped sweating like a teenager for a moment.” Keith added, “You don’t know until that first laugh and that first cry that it’s really hitting people.”

The magic of this film extended beyond the screen. Keith’s mother, who had never acted before, played a small role in the film. “She said it was marvelous,” Keith told me. “And honestly I don’t think I’d ever heard my mom say that word before and it felt great knowing that she was so proud.”

The film's origin story is just as remarkable. Keith and Marisa met in a casting waiting room. What began as a meet-cute turned into a decade-long creative partnership. Marisa pitched the concept of a movie about an antique appraisal show, and Keith, a proud Clevelander, replied, “You’ve got my attention.” The vision grew with support from local investors like the Fowler Family and even a women’s book club that raised money and came to the wrap party. Corporate backing from Sherwin-Williams, KeyBank and Discount Drug Mart cemented the film’s local roots.

Casting was a dream-turned-reality. Dennis Haysbert joined the project just 48 hours before filming started. He read the script on a plane and reportedly told Keith, “This is a role I’ve dreamed of doing.” June Squibb and Stacy Keach, who had previously acted together, reunited to play a couple once more. “Dot is one of the nicest people in the world,” Keith said of Dot-Marie Jones. “She is perfection in the role.” As for Loretta Devine, “Getting Loretta was a dream come true,” he added. “She just knew how to play it.”

Despite being set in Cleveland, the story has resonated beyond city lines. Its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in October 2024 also sold out; twice. “We sold out the world premiere at the Newport Beach film festival and then they requested a second screening which was also sold out,” Keith said. “It was the first film to sell out the festival and the first one to request a second screening.”

For Keith and Marisa, this wasn’t just a passion project. It was their heart. “We’ve been saying that audiences have been craving movies that are like this,” Keith told me. “Movies that are real, movies that are relatable, that are generational.” Marisa added, “We made this for the audience, we didn’t make this for Hollywood.”

“There is nothing that replaces the movie theater experience,” Marisa said. “I cannot tell you how many people came up to us and said how healing it was, coming back to a theater, being together when the lights are down low, in anticipation of something great.”

To those who say the moviegoing experience is dead, Keith offers this: “If you create something that people want to see, they will come out and see it and this is proof of that. People really enjoyed that communal feeling of laughing and crying at the same time, together. You need a theater to show the beauty, the grandeur and the epic nature of the city.”

Marisa’s parents flew in from Los Angeles to witness the moment. Actors from the film joined the audience. It was the kind of night that stays with you. A love letter to a city. A testament to resilience, dreams and community.

Clevelanders can stay tuned for a special announcement on April 9. We at Cleveland 13 News will bring you the news the moment we have it.

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