The History of CIFF
The festival started in 1977 at the Cedar Lee Theatre. At the beginning, it was very small, showing only eight movies from seven countries over two months.
It was an experiment to see if people in Cleveland wanted to watch international films. It was a huge success—the theater was full, and the festival has grown much larger ever since.
Where is the Festival Today?
For many years, the festival was held at Tower City Cinemas. Today, its main home is at the historic Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.
This year, the festival is doing something special:
- It is returning to the Cedar Lee Theatre (where it first started).
- It will also have screenings at the CSU School of Film and Media Arts.
Why It Matters
Every year, CIFF shows hundreds of movies and short films from many different countries. The festival does two important things:
- Supports Filmmakers: It gives a platform to new and bold creators.
- Educates the Audience: It introduces people in Cleveland to unique stories that they won’t find at a regular movie theater.
for more details : https://www.clevelandfilm.org/
