Canton Palace Theatre and CantonFilm.com Announce 2016 Canton Film Fest Canton, Ohio (March 29, 2016)-Cantonfilm.com, in association with the Canton Palace Theatre, will host the 2016 Canton Film Festival in downtown Canton on April 21, 22 and 23, 2016. During this three-day film forward event, the public will get the chance to screen the short films of independent directors from Canton, North East Ohio and all across the country. Tickets are just $5 per day. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cantonpalacetheatre.org<http://www.cantonpalacetheatre.org> or by calling the Palace Box Office at 330.454.8172 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. The official 2016 Canton Film Festival schedule is as follows: Thursday, April 21, 2016 6:00pm Doors Open 6:30pm Sci-Fi / Horror Category Submissions 7:30pm Beast of White Hall Post Movie Q& A with director Seth Breedlove Friday, April 22, 2016 6:00pm Doors Open 6:30pm Music Video Category Submissions 7:30pm Force Perspective: The Story of artist Derick Hess Post movie Q&A with director Nick Cavalier Saturday, April 23, 2016 2:00pm Doors Open 2:30pm Comedy, Action, Short Fiction Drama and Documentary Category Submissions 6:00pm Presentation by Robert Kurtzman discussing his lengthy career in film 7:30pm Sweet Mickey for President Post Movie Q & A with Ben Patterson Category Submission Winner Announcement following Q & A 2016 Categories include: Sports Documentary, Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Comedy, Action, Music Video and Short Fiction/Drama. Directors who wish to enter their work should visit https://filmfreeway.com/festival/CantonFilmFestival2016. This Film Forward event is a chance for up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their work. After the entries of each category are screened, there will be an awards ceremony honoring the top-rated films in that respective category, as determined by a panel of judges. Winners will receive prizes for their submissions. Besides the films entered into the festival, 2016 Canton Film Fest also features several special guests. Thursday, April 21 we will feature the film Beast of White Hall followed by a Q&A with director Seth Breedlove. Beast of White Hall takes place in August, 1976: Three teens driving on an isolated stretch of road somewhere in the Adirondacks of Upstate New York have a brush with a bizarre creature. Standing over 7 feet tall and covered in hair, they referred to it as a beast. Hours later, Abair Road was crawling with local and state police. Many of them recounted seeing the creature, as well. As the weeks and months passed more individuals came forward with their own sightings. The Abair Incident became the impetus for a rash of sightings around the town of Whitehall that continue to this day. Today, Whitehall is frequently referred to as the Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast. Seth Breedlove, Minerva resident, is the director behind, Minerva Monster. Friday, April 22, we will feature the film Force Perspective: The Story of artist Derick Hess and a Q&A with Director Nick Cavalier. Forced Perspective is an intimate portrait of iconic Cleveland artist Derek Hess by filmmaker Nick Cavalier. From Derek's early Euclid Tavern concert posters to his expressive fine art pieces, the film is a journey through Derek's struggle with alcoholism and bipolar disorder and how these demons effect his artwork along the way. Presenting a window into Derek's personal life, Illuminating his process and philosophy. "Forced Perspective" showcases the evolution of a celebrated artist, his effect on music and culture while highlighting the link between creativity and mental illness Saturday, April 23, we will host Robert Kurtzman, born on November 25, 1964 in Crestline, Ohio, is known for his work on From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Army of Darkness (1992) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). He'll discuss his lengthy career in film and special effects make up. Also on Saturday evening, we will feature the film Sweet Mickey for President followed by a Q&A with director Ben Patterson. Sweet Mickey for President is a film about Music and politics colliding when international music star, Pras Michel of the Fugees, returns to his homeland of Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2010 to mobilize a presidential campaign for Haiti's most controversial musician: Michel Martelly aka Sweet Micky. The politically inexperienced pair set out against a corrupted government, civil unrest, and a fixed election. When Pras's former bandmate, superstar Wyclef Jean, also enters the presidential race, their chances seem further doomed. But with the help of a few friends, including Ben Stiller and former president Bill Clinton, they never give up on their honest dream of changing the course of Haiti's future. About Cantonfilm.com Cantonfilm.com is dedicated to cultivating the talent within North East Ohio's filmmaking and creative community. Through sponsoring events such as the Canton Film Fest 2011, as well as through education, Cantonfilm.com strives to put North East Ohio on the independent filmmaking map. About the Canton Palace Theatre Completed in 1926, the Canton Palace Theatre is a downtown architectural jewel registered on the National Historic Registry. A prized community venue for classic, contemporary and art films, The Palace annually hosts more than 300 special events, concerts, recitals and Broadway-style productions. For more information, please visit http://www.cantonpalacetheatre.org. The Palace is located at 605 Market Avenue North in Canton, Ohio. Business and box office hours are Monday through Friday 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Business offices can be reached at (330) 454-8172 and a 24-Hour Recorded Event Information line is (330) 454-8171. ### Laura Strader | Membership and Marketing Coordinator Canton Palace Theatre Association | 605 Market Avenue, N | Canton, Ohio 44702 (330) 454-8172 x302 (office) | www.cantonpalacetheatre.org<http://www.cantonpalacetheatre.org>