“Superman”  isn’t the only film with Cleveland in the spotlight this year.

“Lost & Found in Cleveland"—with a much smaller budget, but just as much heart—is a love letter its titular home.

Cleveland itself is the star of this charming flick, which is premiering November 7 in 500 theaters nationwide. Getting the party started, Wednesday, November 5, will be Taste of Lost & Found in Cleveland Day at the West Side Market, which is featured in the movie. There will be discounts and samples offered by various vendors, with a pop up of film memorabilia and merch. 

The story follows five Clevelanders whose lives intertwine when a popular antiques appraisal TV show rolls into town. Inspired by “Antiques Roadshow,” the film captures the city’s neighborhoods, iconic landmarks and holiday spirit. In a nod to the movie's concept, Cinemark Valley View will be hosting a "pop up appraisal and a movie" experience on opening day.

“Metropolis is Cleveland in 'Superman,' but Cleveland is Cleveland in ‘Lost & Found’,” says Marisa Guterman, the film’s co-creator, an L.A. native who moved to The Land after falling in love with it during filming in 2023,  

Says co-creator Keith Gerchak (pictured center, top photo), a Cleveland native now based in L.A.: “It’s a loving portrayal of the city—its neighborhoods, its people and its history.”

The film follows everyday Clevelanders capturing small but meaningful moments.  “These aren’t underdog stories,” Guterman explains. “They’re about pride, legacy, and the life of the city itself.”

Audiences have embraced that vision.

The movie made history at the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), drawing nearly 2,500 moviegoers to its Midwest premiere, the largest single-screening audience in festival history. 

“Watching the audience at the Cleveland International Film Festival, seeing people connect with the authenticity and emotion, was life changing. Cleveland is about hope, legacy, and dreams—the American Dream—and that’s what this movie captures," says Gerchak, who began his career as a child actor with the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival.

The quirky dramedy stars Martin Sheen alongside Dennis Haysbert and June Squibb, who launched her career at Cleveland Play House. The cast also includes Stacy Keach, Santino Fontana, Dot-Marie Jones, Liza Weil, Jon Lovitz and Benjamin Steinhauser.

The core of the story is 9-year-old Charlie (Steinhauser), who lives under the Hope Memorial Bridge and embarks on a whimsical journey inspired by “The Wizard of Oz” (which also had a Cleveland connection, "Wicked Witch of the West" Margaret Hamilton).

Shot on location across town—from Playhouse Square and Public Square to Malley’s Chocolates, the West Side Market and Discount Drug Mart—the film tells a story of discovery while celebrating the city itself.

The production received a $664,495 Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, as well as support from several local businesses.

“We couldn't have made this movie without the people of Cleveland, the businesses in Cleveland,” says Guterman. “This is an entrepreneurial endeavor. Keith and I did most of our fundraising within the city—high net worth individuals contributed, a book club came together, and companies like Sherwin-Williams, Discount Drug Mart, KeyBank and OverDrive supported us. We genuinely couldn't have made the film without their help, along with the smaller vendors who brought the production to life.”

It’s that deep local collaboration that gives “Lost & Found in Cleveland” its unmistakable sense of place. More than just a movie, it’s a cinematic homecoming for a city that has always been ready for its close-up.

Top photo: Keith Gerchak, center, with Liza Weil and Ryan Forte, Camera/Steadicam Operator for "Lost & Found in Cleveland." Photo courtesy of Forte Films.