In addition to the main Festival program, there are special film sections that add interest and diversity to the overall Festival and help attendees navigate the offerings. These special categories include:

10% Cinema:
These gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender films range in subject, style, and tone, but they have one thing in common: they’ve been audience favorites for years! Thanks to Skylight Financial Group for their sponsorship.

American Independents:
With big dreams and small budgets, these films represent the finest in contemporary American cinema. This year’s competition in celebration of independent films made in the United States will yield a $5,000 cash prize winner determined by audience vote. Sidebar sponsored by: ALAN GLAZEN.

Central and Eastern European Film Competition:
Over two decades ago, the Cleveland International Film Festival launched a special focus on films from Central and Eastern Europe, the native lands of many Clevelanders. When we began our series, the world was a very different place: the Berlin Wall was still standing, the U.S.S.R. was still one country, and the Cold War was chilling out. Throughout these past two decades, the films from Central and Eastern Europe have changed dramatically due to filmmakers exerting their rights to make films without government involvement and censorship. We now see films from a plethora of genres, including colorful comedies, slice of-life sketches, and unusual love stories. The results provide us with a rare and unique look inside the lives of the ordinary as well as the extraordinary.

One thing that has remained the same for the past 22 years is our commitment to bringing some of the most soughtafter films from this area of the world to Cleveland. This year the CIFF is proud to present its 10th Central and Eastern European Film Competition. This competition not only gives recognition to the films coming to us from Central and Eastern Europe, but it also awards one filmmaker a $10,000 cash prize that will be announced at the Closing Night Reception. Sidebar sponsored by: GEORGE GUND III and IARA LEE.

Cinema en Español:
This eclectic array of Spanish-language films explores a multitude of subjects ranging from the culturally specific to the universal. Thanks to Cleveland State University for their sponsorship.

CLOSING NIGHT:
Thanks to University Hospitals for their sponsorship.

Director's Spotlight:
Thanks to Lauren Rich Fine & Gary Giller for their sponsorship.

Family Films:
You can take a family trip around the world without leaving the city. Be sure to bring the kids (we recommend ages ten and older) to these family-friendly films! Thanks to Pinxav for their sponsorship.

Focus On Filmmakers:
Thanks to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences® for their sponsorship.

Global Lens 2012:
The Global Film Initiative was created to promote cross-cultural understanding through the medium of cinema. This year we are proud to screen every film in the GFI's Global Lens Program for 2012. Thanks to Global Lens for their sponsorship.

It's Easy Being Green:
These films bring awareness and support to the environmentally-friendly movement to save our planet. Thanks to Great Lakes Brewing Company for their sponsorship.

Jewish and Israeli Visions:
These films from - or about - Israel and the Jewish diaspora enlighten with their unique cultural perspective.

Local Heroes:
Our annual recognition of films made about Cleveland, in Cleveland, or by Ohioans, continues this year now with a $5,000 cash prize to the winner of an audience vote. Thanks to Cleveland State University for their sponsorship.

Music! Movies!:
Back by popular demand, this year's focus on musicals and other films about music and musicians will be music to your ears (and eyes). Thanks to Jules and Fran Belkin for their sponsorship.

Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Film Competition:
Thanks to Nesnadny + Schwartz for their sponsorship.

OPENING NIGHT:
Thanks to Dollar Bank for their sponsorship.

Pacific Pearls:
Journey to the Far East. In these films from Asia and the Pacific Islands, we pay tribute to some of the most innovative films of today. Thanks to Cleveland State University for their sponsorship.

Pan-African Images:
These remarkable films hail from both Africa and the United States and feature stories made by and about Africans and African-Americans. Thanks to Cleveland State University for their sponsorship.

Standing Up Competition:
Our Standing Up program includes "films with a conscience." These films especially celebrate social justice and activism. Thanks to Chuck & Char Fowler for their sponsorship.

United Airlines World Tour:
Thanks to United Airlines for their sponsorship.

Women Of The World:
Our annual focus on films made by (mostly) women and (occasionally) men that are about empowered women. Thanks to Cobalt Group for their sponsorship.