About CINEMA
CINEMA Cleveland was founded by Eric Swinderman and Mark Pengryn in 2006. While working on a film together they learned just how hard it was to obtain the necessary funds to complete the project. After many brainstorming sessions and conversations with other local filmmakers, C.I.N.E.M.A. (The Cleveland Independent Network of Entertainers, Moviemakers & Artists) was born with a mission to enable local fimmakers to produce films and thrive financially right here at home.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, CINEMA is dedicated to the many talented artists in the Cleveland community. Throughout the year CINEMA hosts various events and gatherings, designed to promote a sense of community within the Cleveland arts scene. Some of these events include low cost filmmaking and acting workshops, networking mixers and The Cleveland Truly Independent Film Festival.
CINEMA has joined forces with the several organizations to support its mission. Organizations such as The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland State University, The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Cleveland Cinemas and others help to make filmmaking in Cleveland a reality.
CINEMA Executive Staff
Eric Swinderman - Executive Director
Eric Swinderman founded CINEMA in 2006. He is a graduate of Cleveland State University and an award winning writer/director whose works include Clean, The Donut Hole, Edgewater Park, Finding Utopia and The Anniversary.
He has studied at the famous Second City School for improvisation and has also worked in Cleveland as a sketch comedy writer and stand-up comedian. Currently he is a Film History and Appreciation instructor at The Cleveland Institute of Art.
It is Eric's vision to bring the works of the talented artists of Cleveland into the limelight by providing them with the proper tools and resources.
Mark Pengryn - Executive Director
Mark, who co-founded CINEMA, graduated from Cleveland State University with a BA in Communication, focusing on film and media studies. He also earned his Masters Degree in Communication Theory and Methodology from CSU.
With more than five years experience in the movie theater industry, Mark transitioned into making his own films, producing the independent film Clean and the award-winning short The Anniversary.
He has several film and multimedia projects in pre-production.
An avid fan and scholar of Asian film and Anime, Mark is teaching Intro to Asian Cinema and other film theory courses at the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Joe Carlone - Director, Special Events
Joe graduated from William Paterson University, where he was active in the theater before earning his BA in Communications.Joe then lived in Italy for two years as a study abroad student and working as a DJ at Vatican Radio. Most recently he worked at PR Newswire, as a training manager.
CINEMA Board of Trustees
- Dr. Kimberly Neuendorf
- Dan Henry
- Amy Swinderman
- Christina Capadona-Schmitz
- Michael Oatman
