Alongside the NCAA Women’s Final Four fervor and total solar eclipse buzz that swept through Cleveland this past weekend, another favorite institution took center stage under the lights of the Playhouse Square chandelier: The 48th annual Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF)

The 11-day festival lifted the curtain to a packed house last Thursday, April 4  at the Connor Palace Theatre for the CIFF opening night party—centering on this year’s eclipse theme, “In the Glow.”

Thelma filmmakers sit down for a Q&A after the screening on opening night at CIFF 48The night’s festivities began with the unveiling of the annual CIFF trailer, a screening of action/comedy “Thelma,” starring 94-year-old Oscar nominee June Squibb. Squibb has Cleveland ties herself—she launched her career at the Cleveland Playhouse. The screening was  followed by a Q&A session with writer and director Josh Margolin and producer Zoë Worth.

“June sadly couldn't be here, but she says hello,” said Josh Margolin as he greeted the excited crowd. “She has a lot of love for this place.”

If you weren't able to attend the opening weekend screenings and events, fear not—there’s still time to catch a film or two, or 100. CIFF’s in-person showings will run until this Saturday, April 13.

Its streaming series, CIFF48 Streams, begins Sunday, April 14, and will allow in-home streaming of nearly half this year’s 363 films.

“[This year], we are celebrating local musicians, award-winning Ohio documentary filmmakers, Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers, and Peabody-winning ventriloquists through films,” shared Chris Blake, CIFF board president during opening night. “I could glow on and on about this year's program,” he joked.

In 1977, CIFF made history as the first-ever film festival in Cleveland, presenting eight films over nine weeks at the Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights.

CIFF 48Since then, the festival has grown immensely and attracts filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world. Last year, 33,834 attendees visited Playhouse Square for its in-person events.

Today, CIFF is an Academy qualifying festival and will showcase 263 screenings of feature-length and short films from 60 countries, representing multiple genres, through its 11-day run.

Between the variety of offerings and the sheer number of showings, even casual moviegoers can find something to enjoy, from free tickets to select showings for college students, family days, Q&As with filmmakers, or even Playhouse Square’s historic ambiance and hot pretzels.

Here’s our picks for the week ahead:

it's basic“It’s Basic” and “It's Basic: Conversation with Mayor Bibb and Community Partners”

The documentary “It's Basic” takes a deep dive into the idea and effects of Universal Basic Incomes (UBIs) as a remedy for economic uncertainty. It features initiatives such as St. Paul, Minnesota's program that offered $500 monthly to families in need during COVID-19.

Despite political hurdles, the film illustrates how these programs can profoundly improve lives, prompting discussions about their adoption and impact in cities like Cleveland.

After the screening, filmmaker Marc Levin and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb will be joined by community leaders for a conversation on Cleveland’s basic income initiatives and their potential to address economic disparities.

"It’s Basic," followed by It's Basic: Conversation with Mayor Bibb, Legal Aid, and Community Partners, will begin tonight, Tuesday, April 9, at 7:40 p.m. at the Mimi Ohio Theater. The documentary will also stream on CIFF48 Streams beginning April 14.

“9to5: The Story of a Movement”

As part of CIFF Retro, a new program this year dedicated to celebrating retrospective films, the 2020 “9to5: The Story of a Movement,” released during the COVID-19 pandemic, will finally see its big screen debut at CIFF on Wednesday, April 10.

The documentary highlights the struggles and triumphs of working women who fought against discrimination, advocated for improved working conditions, and demanded respect in the workplace in the 1960s.

The film showcases how the movement extended beyond its era—inspiring societal change and cultural shifts relevant today.

Tickets for CIFF Retro screenings are available at a discounted price of $5 for non-members and $4 for CIFF48 Members.

"9to5: The Story of a Movement" will show on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:10 p.m. in the KeyBank State Theatre.

DEVO“DEVO”

CIFF will conclude its in-person screenings this Saturday evening, April 13 with a showing of “DEVO,” a documentary that traces the iconic band's journey from their origins at Kent State University to their rise to stardom, exploring the creation of hits like “Whip It” and the band’s profound influence on American music and culture.

A closing night awards ceremony will immediately follow the film, which all DEVO attendees are welcome to attend.

“DEVO,” CIFF48's closing night film, will be shown at Connor Palace Theatre on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for non-members and $16 for CIFF members.

For a full schedule of films and events, tickets, and more information about the Cleveland International Film Festival, visit CIFF's official website.