On Sunday, April 5, the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) announced the winners of its 49th edition, CIFF49, recognizing exceptional independent filmmaking across a diverse range of categories.

One of the largest and longest running festivals in the US, CIFF received more than 3,500 film submissions, of which 300 feature and short films were selected.

The selections represented the works of local and global filmmakers from 60 different countries, many of whom attended their screenings, participated in Q&As, and engaged with audience members over the span of 10 days, from March 27 to April 5, at Playhouse Square.

This is a list of the CIFF49 winners.

Feature Film Award Winners

Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film: sponsored by the Callahan Foundation: “Come See Me in the Good Light,” directed by Ryan White, $20,000 cash prize.

Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman: Shoshanna Stern for “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” $10,000 cash prize.

George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition, endowed by The George Gund Foundation: “WAVES,” directed by Jiří Mádl, $10,000 cash prize. Honorable mention: “I'm Not Everything I Want to Be,” directed by Klára Tasovská.

Portrait Documentary Competition: “A Mother Apart,” directed by Laurie Townsend, $10,000 cash prize. Honorable mention: “Come See Me in the Good Light,” directed by Ryan White.

New Direction Competition winner New Direction Competition: “Color Book,” directed by David Fortune, $10,000 cash prize. Honorable mention: “Familiar Touch,” directed by Sarah Friedland.

Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition, endowed by The George Gund Foundation: “I'm Your Venus,” directed by Kimberly Reed, $7,500 cash prize.

Global Health Competition, presented with support from Mark Smith and Janet Rosel Smith: “Baby Doe,” directed by Jessica Earnshaw, $7,500 cash prize.

American Independents Competition: “Griffin in Summer,” directed by Nicholas Colia, $7,500 cash prize.

Local Heroes Competition, presented with support from Lauren Rich Fine and Gries Financial Partners: “Lone Wolves,” directed by Ryan Cunningham, $7,500 cash prize.

Ad Hoc Docs Competition, presented with support from Tom and Anita Cook: “I Need You: 53 Years of the Band America,” directed by Dustin Elm and David Breschel, $7,500 cash prize.

International Narrative Competition, presented with support from Tom Piraino and Barbara McWilliams Family Foundation in memory of Tom Piraino: “Undercover,” directed by Arantxa Echevarría, $7,500 cash prize.

FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film, presented with support from Overdrive (Paul Elrabadi): “Following Harry,” directed by Susanne Rostock, $2,000 cash prize.

Short Film Award Winners

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film Overall, sponsored by Char and Chuck Fowler: “Belief,” directed by Christian Loubek, $1,000 cash prize. Runner up: “Night Session,” directed by Ballard C. Boyd. Honorable mention; “The Music Store,” directed by Joe Gillette.

*Best Animated Short Award: “Patterns,” directed by Alex Glawion, $1,000 cash prize. Runner up: “Snow Bear,” directed by Aaron Blaise. Honorable Mention: “Alone,” directed by Alex Weight.

*Best Documentary Short Award: “Hoops, Hopes and Dreams,” directed by Glenn Kaino, $1,000 cash prize. Runner up: “On Healing Land, Birds Perch,” directed by Naja Pham Lockwood. Honorable mention: “Old Lesbians,” directed by Meghan McDonough.

Ad Hoc Docs Competition wiiner *Best Live Action Short Award: “Kiki,” directed by Naomi Sheridan, $1,000 cash prize. Runner up: “Mother Tongue,” directed by Vea Mafile'o. Honorable Mention: “The Music Store,” directed by Joe Gillette.

Best Comedy Short Jury Award, endowed award honoring life and legacy of David K. Ream (Anne Ream): “Don't Bring Empanadas,” directed by Salvator Sutera, $1,000 cash prize. Runner up: “Dirty Towel,” directed by Callie Carpinteri. Honorable Mention: “Giving Mom the Talk,” directed by Vidya Iyer.

Programmer's Choice Award, given in celebration of the life of Toni Oliverio and sponsored by the Sloop Family (Paul Sloop): “The Music Store,” directed by Joe Gillette, $1,000 cash prize.

Best After Hours Short Audience Choice Award: “The Pearl Comb,” directed by Ali Cook, $1,000 cash prize.

Best Black Cinema Short Audience Choice Award: “Thomasville,” directed by Alex Woodruff, $1,000 cash prize.

Best Family Short Audience Choice Award: “Snow Bear,” directed by Aaron Blaise, $1,000 cash prize.

Best LGBTQ+ Short Award, given in celebration of the life of Nikki Babbit and sponsored by Jamie Babbit: “Old Lesbians,” directed by Meghan McDonough, $1,000 cash prize.

Best LatinX Short Audience Choice Award, sponsored by La Familia Watilo Blake (Chris & Laura): “Marcel's Piñata,” directed by Manuel Trotta, $1,000 cash prize.

Best Ohio Short Audience Choice Award: “I Forgot to Tell You About...The Story of the Cleveland Buckeyes,” directed by Evelyn Renee Gregory, $1,000 cash prize.

Best Student Short Audience Choice Award, sponsored by Overdrive (Paul Elrabadi): “ADO,” directed by Sam Henderson, $1,000 cash prize.

Best Women's Short Audience Choice Award: “On Healing Land, Birds Perch,” directed by Naja Pham Lockwood, $1,000 cash prize.

The Ophelia Award: In celebration of the life of Dakota Ophelia Berg and sponsored by Jim Brumbaugh and Carolyn Berg: “The Singers,” directed by Sam Davis, $1,000 cash prize.

The Tom and Ginny Knoll Family Award In celebration of Acts of Kindness and sponsored by Tom and Ginny Knoll and The Knoll Family Fund Promoting Civility and Acts of Kindness of Akron Community Foundation: “Technicians,” Kelly Luu & Kevin Luu, $1,500 cash award.

*These award winners will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards.

The Cleveland International Film Festival thanks its jurors and audience for their roles in allocating a total of $134,500 to the award-winning filmmakers. CIFF thanks everyone who participated in making this year’s Festival a triumphant success.

CIFF Streams begins today, Monday, April 6 and runs through Sunday, April 13.