The Cleveland International Film Festival Moves to the Playhouse Square
Each year, Cleveland residents are offered a series of highly acclaimed international films across an eight-week special presentation of the Cleveland International Film Festival. The origin of the films spans multiple countries and movie genres.
Let’s look at the history of the Cleveland International Film Festival, the awards, and recent schedules ahead of the upcoming festival to be held for the first time at the spacious Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.
The Cleveland International Film Festival History
The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) is held annually. It has been held at various venues during its history. The CIFF is the biggest and most diverse annual film festival held in Ohio.
The first Cleveland International Film Festival was held in 1977. During the premier event, eight films were shown at various times during an eight-week period. The first CIFF location was at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights.
Each year the more visitors attended, and the number of films gradually grew. The Cedar Lee Theatre was the site of the first 14 Cleveland International Film Festivals. Since the first festival in 1977, the size and scope of the films have grown.
In 1991, the board moved the CIFF to the Tower City Cinemas to accommodate a growing annual attendance. Over the years, additional venues have been added. There have been showings of designated movies at the Capital Theatre on Cleveland’s west side.
There have also been special presentations at the Shaker Cinemas at Shaker Square, plus the CIFF resumed using the Cedar Lee for various movies. By 2013, the Cleveland International Film Festival had even outgrown Cleveland in popularity.
The festival held special screenings of films in Akron and Oberlin, Ohio. Special shows were held at the Akron Art Museum and the Akron-Summit County Public Library. A schedule of shows was also shown at the popular Apollo Theatre in Oberlin.
The inclusion of new venues offered the CIFF a wider audience and increased the estimated attendance to over 100,000. The Cleveland International Film Festival finalized its most successful season after 30 years at the Tower City Cinemas.
Even with expansion into nearby communities, there was still a need for larger venues. The next Cleveland International Film Festival will be held at the second largest performing arts district in the United States.
Despite the unfortunate cancellation of the CIFF’s 44th season, aspirations ahead of the 45th festival at the Playhouse Square are encouraging. There has been a recent shift in the board’s aspirations for films.
Recent films at the CIFF have targeted topics with an intense focus on social issues, such as feminism and global environmentalism. There have been a number of recent titles addressing Jewish and Israeli issues.
A number of recent films have brought to light the cinematic excellence exhibited from writers and directors of European films. Each year the CIFF board strives to present an array of family-friendly films.
The 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival had 213 feature films, plus 237 short films. The 450 film itinerary came from 71 different countries. An estimated 105,000 people attended the last CIFF.
By expanding to the new venue, there could be upwards of 500 films at the next festival. The 2021 Cleveland International Film Festival will be the 45th Anniversary of the popular event. This will be the first full festival using a new digital streaming format and the first held at the Playhouse Square.
Principles and Mission
The Cleveland International Film Festival brings an enlightened approach to enhancing the human experience through film. They strive to educate and entertain the greater Cleveland community through the film arts.
To maintain the integrity and high standards of each festival, they continue to evaluate the opportunities presented to Cleveland residents each year. The selected films endeavor to meet these goals by putting the artistic and cultural aspects of film over the commercial value.
Members of the Cleveland International Film Festival selection committee work in collaboration with the community to schedule quality films that enhance the audience experience. Each year the festival targets some of the highest-rated international first-release films.
There is a constant vigilance to secure films that promote diversity and social equity. There is an all-inclusive focus that tries to foster anti-racism through the appreciation of different cultural and ethnic beliefs.
The Cleveland International Film Festival works to cultivate innovation in the community. It is a modern-thinking focuses organization that strives to unify the international film industry with the needs of the Cleveland community.
The board works to entrust these decisions to a diverse staff and a network of volunteers. The organization promotes a working relationship between board members and the community to build integrity and respect through teamwork.
The yearly goal of the board is to maintain the Cleveland International Film Festival as a financially self-sufficient community-based organization. During the multi-week annual festival, a series of awards are presented each year.
Awards of the Cleveland International Film Festival
Each year the Cleveland International Film Festival distributes multiple awards across various film genres. The awards strive to honor both the films and the distinguished filmmakers. There is a popular category for the Best Documentary.
In recent years, the list of awards has been expanded. With the inclusion of multiple films from Central and Eastern European, the CIFF board has added these two best film award categories. In memorial to Greg Gund, who died in a 2005 plane crash, the CIFF added the first Greg Gund Standing up Film Competition to the 2006 festival.
The award is sponsored by the George Gund Foundation. The George Gund Foundation has been an integral part of Cleveland fine arts since 1952. The selection of the winner is based on a film’s concentration towards issues addressing social justice and activism.
One of the most prestigious awards presented annually at the Cleveland International Film Festival is the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film. It is an international film recognition coveted by filmmakers.
The Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film is the highest honor at the annual Cleveland International Film Festival. The audience choice winner has been named for the late Roxanne Miller since 1988, a beloved film critic for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Numerous recipients of the CIFF’s highest honor have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards. The list of well-known films to win the Roxanne T. Mueller award at the Cleveland International Film Festival include, The Sum of Us (1995), Spellbound (2003), and most recently, Princess of the Row (2019).
The Cleveland International Film Festival is not only a favorite of Cleveland residents, but draws thousands of movie lovers from the region. It has grown consistently since the first festival in 1977. More than 100,000 attend showings that are now presented in multiple locations.
Each year the CIFF board aspires to present an eight-week schedule of motion pictures from around the world, each with an inherent ability to enhance through an exciting cultural experience. There is eager anticipation ahead of the next scheduled festival.
The largest film festival in Ohio will now hold the predominate number of its showings at the second biggest performing arts venue in the country. The Cleveland International Film Festival and the Playhouse Square will raise the festival to a new level of excellence.