Daily Inspiration: Meet Michael Suglio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Suglio.

Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The idea of the Short. Sweet. Film Fest. started in the Fall of 2011. The creators Michael Suglio and Alex Pavloff were at a concert where the whole audience was also musicians. Suglio and Pavloff then formed an idea of having a film festival geared towards local, student, and up-coming filmmakers who would be the primary attendees.

The Short. Sweet. Film Fest. started at Market Garden Brewery for the first three years and outgrew the space. The festival is now held at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. The Short. Sweet. Film Fest. earlier this year show almost 350 different short films and utilized 4 auditoriums seating over 100 people.

The festival has now expanded outside of Cleveland, Ohio to New York City and Los Angeles. Short. Sweet. Film Fest. NYC just completed its second year and will return for a third year at Spicy Moon on Bowery. The Los Angeles festival will debut in October of 2027.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Each year the festival receives more film submissions and showcases more films. The biggest challenge for the festival has been outgrowing the space. Every year the festival keeps getting bigger with more films and attendees. Thankfully, Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square is a multiplex and has several auditoriums.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Michael Suglio is also a filmmaker and film professor. He has been making films for over 20 years and just completed is second feature documentary, Lagerland, which world premiered to a sold out audience at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. Additionally, Suglio is a part-time instructor at Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, and his alma mater, Case Western Reserve University.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Kindness goes a long way. I have found that meeting people, listening to what they have to share, and being kind really helps in the film industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shortsweetfilmfest.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/short.sweet.film.fest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShortSweetFilmFest
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@short.sweet.