Cleveland International Film Festival

Cleveland International Film Festival April 9-April 18, 2026 at Playhouse Square
(1799)

The Cleveland International Film Festival promotes artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the life of the community. In other words, we present the newest and best films from around the world, and we do everything in our power to make sure that our audience learns something along the way - about other cultures, about the topic at hand, about the experience from the filmmakers themselves.

08/14/2026

Back in June, we celebrated 25 years of WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER with a special screening at Camp Cheerful, followed by a Q&A with the film’s writer/director David Wain, moderated by Doug Duke.

Now, the cult classic is heading back to the big screen! 🎬 WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER returns to select theaters nationwide starting TODAY, August 14. You can also catch it from home, streaming on Netflix and other platforms.

Relive some of the fun from our June celebration, then revisit Camp Firewood on the big screen—or from your couch. 🏕️🔥

Two nights. Two locations. One lineup and YOU help choose a film for CIFF51!Join us for our August Shorts Club event, CI...
08/11/2026

Two nights. Two locations. One lineup and YOU help choose a film for CIFF51!

Join us for our August Shorts Club event, CIFF50 Best of the Rest, featuring six short films that just missed the cut for CIFF50. Our Short Films Programming Team has selected six standouts they couldn’t wait to share, and now it’s your turn to weigh in.

After the screening, you’ll vote for your favorite film and help select the very first short to join the CIFF51 lineup!

📍 Night 1: Cedar Lee Theatre
📅 August 20 | 7:00–9:00 PM

📍 Night 2: CSU Screening Room
📅 August 21 | 7:00–9:00 PM

🎟️ $20 per screening

Both nights feature the same lineup of six short films, so choose the location and date that work best for you. Get tickets on our website! https://www.clevelandfilm.org/programs/events/

"Our Deep Focus masterclass series continues! Next up: Indie Filmmaking from Inception to DistributionYou finished your ...
07/31/2026

"Our Deep Focus masterclass series continues!

Next up: Indie Filmmaking from Inception to Distribution

You finished your feature. Now what? Learn how to get your film in front of distributors and streamers — taught by actor/writer/director Addison Henderson, whose credits include collaborating with Chadwick Boseman on Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, and directing the award-winning documentary The Forgotten City.

📅 August 27
📍 Virtual
🎟️ Register on the CIFF website

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/programs/events/indie-filmmaking-from-inception-to-distribution/

"

Today's the day! 🎥Join us THIS AFTERNOON for Deep Focus: Bite-Sized Storytelling: Writing the Microdrama with author/sho...
07/23/2026

Today's the day! 🎥

Join us THIS AFTERNOON for Deep Focus: Bite-Sized Storytelling: Writing the Microdrama with author/showrunner Claire Epstein.

📅 Today, July 23
📍 Virtual
💵 $25

Learn how to write short-form vertical series and the business models driving the microdrama boom.
Still time to grab a spot — link in bio! See you there 👋

Save your spot-https://www.clevelandfilm.org/programs/events/26455/

Next week! ⏰Deep Focus: Bite-Sized Storytelling: Writing the Microdrama is happening July 23. Don't miss your chance to ...
07/17/2026

Next week! ⏰
Deep Focus: Bite-Sized Storytelling: Writing the Microdrama is happening July 23. Don't miss your chance to learn vertical storytelling and microdrama business models from author/showrunner Claire Epstein.

📅 July 23
📍 Virtual
💵 $25

Whether you're a screenwriter, filmmaker, or just curious about the format taking over your feed, this session is for you.
Grab your ticket before spots fill up!

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/programs/events/26455/

Some of the best CIFF50 moments happened after the credits rolled, filmmakers spilling secrets, audiences asking the que...
07/13/2026

Some of the best CIFF50 moments happened after the credits rolled, filmmakers spilling secrets, audiences asking the questions we were all thinking, and honest panels.

Deep Focus is back for round two!CIFF's Deep Focus: Where Craft Meets Industry is a masterclass series for film arts cre...
07/09/2026

Deep Focus is back for round two!

CIFF's Deep Focus: Where Craft Meets Industry is a masterclass series for film arts creatives of all levels, bringing industry experts straight to you for virtual sessions blending skill-building with storytelling.

Our next session: Bite-Sized Storytelling: Writing the Microdrama

Vertical storytelling is taking over as more viewers turn to their phones over the big screen. Learn how to write these short-form series and the business models behind them, taught by author/showrunner Claire Epstein.

📅 July 23
📍 Virtual — join from anywhere
💵 $25
Save your spot
https://www.clevelandfilm.org/programs/events/26455/

🎬 The credits are rolling on — and what a ride it's been.⁠⁠From Opening Night to the final stream, you showed up, pack...
04/28/2026

🎬 The credits are rolling on — and what a ride it's been.⁠
⁠
From Opening Night to the final stream, you showed up, packed the houses, stood up for the films you loved, and made our 50th anniversary everything we hoped it would be and more. This festival only exists because of you. 🙌⁠
⁠
A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors, members, staff, and volunteers — none of this happens without you.⁠
⁠
But don't go too far. 👀 The cameras may have stopped rolling, but we're just getting started. Great stories don't stop between festivals, and neither do we. Stay with us — you won't want to miss what's coming.⁠
⁠
📋 One last thing — tell us how we did! Take the CIFF50 Audience Survey and help shape the future of the festival.
Survey link: https://form.typeform.com/to/LJuhM6Gt

Address

Cleveland, OH
44113

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 10pm
Tuesday 9am - 10pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 10pm
Friday 9am - 12am
Saturday 11am - 12am
Sunday 12pm - 10am

Telephone

+12166233456

Website

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