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"Knife Skills" is a 40-minute documentary about what went into the creation of Edwins restaurant on Shaker Square. It has been named a finalist in the Academy Awards best documentary short subject category.(Knife Skills)

By Marc Bona, cleveland.com

mbona@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - "Knife Skills," the film detailing the sweat and emotion that went in to creating Edwins Leadership & Restaurant in Shaker Square, has been named an Academy Award finalist in the best documentary short subject category.

Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 40-minute doc is one of five finalists for an Oscar. The 90th Academy Awards are Sunday, March 4.

Edwins, founded by Brandon Chrostowski, gives former inmates a second chance in life. The movie details Chrostowski's efforts to get everything ready and everyone in place before the doors opened in 2013. The restaurant features fine dining with traditional French cuisine.

"Who knows what to say right now? It's incredible," Chrostowski said. "Everyone is just thrilled. What a win for the mission, what a win for this idea you can give someone a chance and they succeed."

Chrostowski said he'll think about organizing some sort of a watch party and consider a special menu.

"I don't have a TV," he said. "I don't know what's going on in the world."

Watch party or not, the nomination remains a testament to the "hard work and sacrifice" his employees have shown, Chrostowski said.

Like many of the movie's subjects, "Knife Skills" started with tough odds. The 2017 doc was part of a crowded initial field of almost 80 films vying for an Academy Award in the category.

But the 40-minute "Knife Skills" made the initial cut, when the group was narrowed to 10 in December. Filmmaker Thomas Lennon had screened the film at a festival in Michigan before airing it in October at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.

It's a smart look at the tireless efforts on both founder Chrostowski's part as well as the former inmates vying for work in the restaurant as cooks, hosts, servers and other positions. Lennon, who met Chrostowski over dinner with a mutual friend years ago, made a concerted effort to let the story unfold through the eyes of the people in it. The result is an informative, not overly produced film.

 

'Knife Skills' doc highlights beginnings of Edwins in Shaker Square

"Knife Skills" documents the beginnings of the Shaker Square restaurant Edwins in a 40-minute documentary.

There's no question Lennon will be heading to Hollywood for the ceremony.

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Edwins founder Brandon Chrostowski. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

Holistic Organic Programming: Edwins Restaurant -Shaker Square

Brandon Chrostowski owner Edwins Restaurant interview at Edwins

“We have to build a bridge between prison spending and commercial growth; between the degradation of troubled human beings and the liberation of the hospitality culture.”- Brandon Chrostowski, Founder, President, CEO, Edwins restaurant

 

Through holistic organic programming Edwins has gone from a restaurant changing the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals to changing communities.   Edwins has been awarded $200,000 for development efforts in Cleveland, Ohio’s Buckeye neighborhood.

"Ever since Brandon Chrostowski opened EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute on Shaker Square in 2013, he has had his eye on bigger things for both his graduates and the Buckeye neighborhood."

Fresh Water-covering what's next in Cleveland- cont.

Making the cut: EDWINS butcher shop almost ready to make its debut in Buckeye

 photo by Karin Connelly Rice

For Lennon, the Oscar short-list nod is a hat tip for the work that it took to capture the emotions, the anticipation and the frustrations leading up to the restaurant's opening. He spent 60 to 80 days in Northeast Ohio over a year during the filming. Home was a Motel 8.

"What I'm really pleased about is for the film," he said. "Now I know the film will find its audience. That's really the joy."

"Hell, yeah," he said.

"Here's the thing," he added. "Getting onto the shortlist is a win. Getting the nomination is another win. Winning (the Oscar) is just another win. This film has already won. That's what's so ingenious about the Academy Awards."

'Knife Skills' earns Academy Award nomination; film features Edwins restaurant

Nationally known chef and author Anthony Bourdain called "Knife Skills" a "compelling, funny, heartbreaking" movie. Here is the trailer:

Edwins 5K run for re-entry

In 2016 Edwin sponsored the 1st annual Run For Re-Entry.  It was replete with music food fun wine and running.   It is a wonderful event that brings life to Shaker Square a commercial hub ruled by restaurants, a movie theater coffee shop and a grocery store.  Shaker Square is the hub of three walking neighborhoods.  If it's to far to walk you can always hop the RTA train that reaches from far West Side through far East side suburbs. The Square is also home to farmers markets, concerts here and there, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and the Cleveland Garlic Festival.

Edwins Leadership Restaurant Institute

"As always, superb food, very good service, and a fantastic underlying mission — all to be applauded. We started with two appetizers: the interesting, different seafood sausage with in a creamy lobster sauce, and a fantastic foie gras that was near perfection. Two of us ordered the venison, perfectly cooked (medium rare), full of flavor and not at all gamey. The accompanying spaetzle was delicious, as was the cabbage. Our guest ordered rabbit, also a tasty entree. We were too stuffed for dessert, but decided to split an order of scrumptious beignets. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Our waiter was a bit soft spoken, but interacted well with professionalism and a bit of humor. We love this place!" Rick, OpenTable