The energy at Playhouse Square this past weekend was as bright as the chandelier overhead, as the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) kicked off its 49th season last Thursday evening, March 27—the beginning of 300 films from 60 countries in 10 days. CIFF runs through Saturday, April 5, with CIFF Streams running from 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 6, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 13.

The festival kicked off with a screening of Amy Landecker’s “For Worse,” which also included a Q&A with Landecker and co-star Missi Pyle, followed by a DJ-led afterparty in the Allen Theatre lobby.

Filmmaker and actress Amy Landecker introduces "For Worse"“This is crazy, guys,” Landecker told the crowd. “I made this little movie with some friends, and now we're in this stunning theater... I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude to the festival for inviting us.”

Short words to launch the 10-day event came from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, CIFF executive director Hermione Malone, board president Joe Marinucci, and presenting sponsor Dollar Bank’s senior vice president Bill Elliott.

“Let's use the arts to reflect on our shared humanity, and let's use the arts to embrace community,” Bibb noted.

A guest at CIFF49 opening night grabs some popcornMore than 1,100 people attended opening night, and the momentum carried through the weekend. On Sunday, the screening of “Lost and Found in Cleveland” broke the CIFF single-screening attendance record at Playhouse Square with 2,247 people in the audience.

“The weekend has been electric,” says CIFF marketing director Dahlia Fisher. “Thousands of people, from across the city, the state, the country, even the world, are converging in Cleveland for this festival.”

CIFF began in 1977 with eight films over eight weeks at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights. Today, it’s one of Playhouse Square’s Resident Companies, an Academy qualifying festival, and a major draw to Cleveland for more than 70,000 attendees each year. Last year, nearly 36,000 people came to screenings downtown, with another 34,000 watching films online during CIFF Streams.

“I love coming to this festival every year,” shares longtime festivalgoer and Cleveland resident Kelly McMann. “The movies are always good, and they make you think.”

Tickets for individual screenings, ticket packs, and CIFF memberships are available, along with the full lineup of films and event details, on the CIFF website.

In addition to the regular film screenings, there are plenty of activities, workshops, and special events, as the festival continues through the week.

CIFF49 highlights
Today, Tuesday, April 1, CIFF49 will present its Centerpiece Film, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” at 7:30 p.m. in the KeyBank State Theatre. Director Shoshannah Stern, along with Matlin and her longtime interpreter Jack Jason, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A. Tickets are $18 ($16 for CIFF members).

Marlee Matlin in "Not Alone Anymore"The documentary traces Matlin’s rise from her Oscar-winning debut at age 21 in “Children of a Lesser God” to her ongoing work as an actress, advocate, and philanthropist. It’s presented in both English and ASL with open captions.

“We are looking forward to meeting Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and her team for the Centerpiece Film about her life,” says CIFF’s Fisher.

Community engagement
CIFF49 includes multiple community engagement events throughout the week, including panel discussions, industry workshops, and conversations to connect festivalgoers with filmmakers and filmmaking experts.

Highlights include:

• On Wednesday, April 2, a panel discussion from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Westfield Studio Theater, “Seeing Differently,” will explore accessibility and representation in film, featuring filmmakers and guide dog users from the short films “At See” and “Babka.”
• Emerging filmmakers can attend “Tell Me A Story,” a free pitch workshop with 1895 Films’ Tom Jennings on Thursday, April 3, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Westfield Studio Theatre.
• On Friday, April 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., The City Club of Cleveland will host a Friday Forum led by The Buckeye Flame editor Ken Schneck about astronaut Sally Ride’s legacy and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in STEM ahead of CIFF’s screening of “SALLY.” Ticket prices vary.

Marketplace @CIFF
Marketplace @CIFF, a new feature of CIFF49, began last weekend and returns Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, inside the lobby of the Mimi Ohio Theatre. The free pop-up shopping gallery runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

Fisher notes that handmade clothes, jewelry, print art, and more from local artisans are available for sale.

This weekend’s vendor lineup includes Stephanie Crossen of The Lovely Forest, Anne Harrill of Océanne, Sydney Kay, Nanette Reilly of Nanette Reilly Ceramic Arts, Marcus Schafer of Sworks Works, Chuck Strasshofer of Chuck Stuff, Justin Michael Will, and Erica Young of On the Lookout Jewelry. Vendors were curated by Cleveland-based consultancy shark&minnow. Thanks to support from Huntington Bank, artists participate at no cost.

CIFF49 merchandise is also available in a separate mini-store inside Playhouse Square.

Family Day
CIFF’s first-ever Family Day takes place Saturday, April 5, in the Upper Allen. Fisher says she is excited about the addition.

Programs and popcorn at CIFF49“Our first Family Day, sponsored by Wayside Furniture, will feature reduced-price tickets, family-friendly feature and short films, plus crafts and activities,” she explains. “Screenings are sensory-friendly.”

Family Day films include “Fox and Hare Save the Forest” at 9:55 a.m., “Family Day Shorts” at 12 p.m., and “Into the Wonderwoods” at 2:30 p.m.

From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., families can join in hands-on activities with CIFF community partners Beech Brook, Connecting for Kids, Joel’s Place for Children, and Lake Erie Ink.

Closing Night
From the dramatic opening, all the way to the closing night on Saturday, April 5, the excitement and quality films and programs are nonstop.

CIFF49 wraps up with the screening of “Love, Brooklyn,” at 7:30 p.m. in the KeyBank State Theatre. “Of course the closing night film ‘Love, Brooklyn’ is so wonderful as well,” shares Fisher. “The filmmakers will also be here for that screening.”

The night will include a Q&A with the filmmakers, followed immediately by the annual Closing Night Awards Ceremony. Tickets are $18 ($16 for CIFF members) and include entry to the awards ceremony.

FreshWater Cleveland is a proud sponsor of CIFF49The ceremony honors filmmakers across 15 categories, with more than $130,000 in cash prizes awarded. Nine awards are determined by audience vote, including the Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award, with the winning director receiving $20,000.

The Local Heroes Competition, in which winners are also chosen by the audience, celebrates films made about Ohio, in Ohio, or by Ohioans. Seven films are nominated this year, and the winner will receive a $7,500 cash prize.

Ballots for the audience votes are distributed at all CIFF screenings throughout the festival, and votes can be submitted through CIFF Eventive accounts or at voting kiosks in the theater lobby.

The Shorts Jury Awards Program on Sunday, April 6 in the KeyBank State Theatre will announce the winners of Best Animated, Best Comedy, Best Documentary, and Best Live Action categories, chosen by three jurors.

The Programmers’ Choice Award is determined by the CIFF Short Films Programming Team. The winners will be announced during the live shorts program and each winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.