Ohio Goes to the Movies™ (OGTTM) – A statewide celebration of movies showcasing Ohioans: actors, directors, writers, composers, locations, and topics, shown in cities and towns across the state. A Signature Event of America 250-Ohio’s celebration, OGTTM will start mid-February and run through May 2026–about 100 days of Ohio movie magic! OGTTM will showcase Ohio’s starring contributions to America’s film industry and movie making.
Ohio has played a significant role in films from the beginning of movies to the present. In 1891 Thomas Edison of Milan, Ohio invented the Kinetoscope which was the forerunner to the motion picture projector.
In the earliest days of film, Ohioan Lillian Gish became known as the “First Lady of America Cinema” and had a career that spanned 75 years. Clark Gable of Cadiz, Ohio was the “King of Hollywood” had roles in more than 60 films during his 37-year career. In 1955 Dorothy Dandridge of Cleveland was the first African American star to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award but it wouldn’t be until 47 years later that Halle Berry, also of Cleveland, would actually take home that statue in 2002 for her role in Monster Ball.
Shaker Heights native Paul Newman was a multi-award-winning actor and director and the man with the most famous blue eyes in movie history with a career that spanned more than 50 years. And who doesn’t love Cincinnati’s sunny, funny, Doris Day?
In more recent times we can find the spotlight shining on such notable actors as Sarah Jessica Parker, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Martin Sheen, Beverly D’Angelo and Luke Grimes among many others that we’ll celebrate as Ohio Goes to the Movies.
Not only have Ohioans been in front of the camera but they have had lead roles behind-the-camera. Vincente Minnelli went to high school in both Delaware and Columbus and even appeared in a school production of H.M.S. Pinafore and starred in The Fortune Hunter at the Delaware Opera House before going on to direct some of the greatest musical films ever made. Born in Cincinnati, Steven Spielberg is among the greatest directors of all time. Julia Reichert of Yellow Springs won the Oscar for her documentary American Factory. Henry Mancini of Maple Heights, Ohio is often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, winning four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards. Animators such as Mark Alan Henn of Dayton, Ohio is one of the most famous American Disney animators and was awarded the prestigious Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement in animation. Cleveland’s Russo Brothers—Joe and Anthony—are famous for their amazing Marvel Cinematic Universe creations. Superman himself hails from Cleveland, the invention of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
The list goes on and on with incredible talent from Ohio (or with Ohio roots).
Did you know that the legendary Warner Brothers came from Youngstown, Ohio and even Hollywood came about because of an Ohio woman named Daieda Hartell Wilcox Beveridge of Hicksville, Ohio who with her husband purchased 120 acres of land, which they named, and founded as Hollywood, northwest of Los Angeles, California, in 1888 – thus coining the term for a whole American industry!
Ohio Goes to the Movies will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Host communities and their theaters will have the opportunity to be creative and celebrate their own movie making heritage. Local events may include pre-film get-togethers, movie-themed food and drink at local restaurants and opportunities for audience members to ask questions and share opinions. The possibilities are endless!
Ohio Goes to the Movie events will highlight local content that will surprise and delight audiences to discover all the rich movie history connected to Ohio and their local community.
Ohio Goes to the Movies is looking for venues of all sizes in communities across Ohio to host events in 2026. If we haven’t already reached out to you, please email Molly Kreuzman at [email protected] to learn more.
2026 is still months away. Between now and then Ohioans and others are encouraged to attend one of our state’s many vital and amazing film festivals. Some highlight Ohio made films but all are welcoming and give movie goers transformative experiences.
If you are a new festival or we haven’t reach out to you yet, please contact
Molly Kreuzman
[email protected]
