There’s more to CIFF than our annual festival. We fill the calendar with screenings, filmmaker discussions, and special programming. So be sure to check back frequently and reserve your spot for the events you don’t want to miss.
February 13, 2026
6:00 pm
Get Shorty
Join us for our most popular fundraiser of the year! You’re in charge, along with other film-loving-friends. Together, you’ll screen a top-secret selection of new short films, individually cast your votes for which ones should play at CIFF50, and collectively support independent filmmaking!
February 26, 2026
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Cleveland International Film Festival Young Professionals (CIFFYP) Kickoff
We’re excited to introduce the Cleveland International Film Festival Young Professionals (CIFFYP) group as we continue our road to the 50th festival. Join us February 26 for our kickoff event - CIFF Trivia Night - at Lakewood Truck Park!
Past Events
January 17, 2026
5:00 pm
Advanced Screening: The Inquisitor
CIFF is proud to honor the legacy of service of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with this special screening depicting another incredible public servant: Barbara Jordan. In 1972, Barbara Jordan became the first Southern Black woman to join Congress. THE INQUISITOR, which debuted at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles Representative Jordan’s meteoric rise offering a blueprint for uniting a divided America through a turbulent political era.
December 11, 2025
7:00 pm
Shorts Club: Holiday Edition
The final installment of the 2025 Shorts Club season, bringing you holiday cheer along with love, laughter, and mystery!
Sold Out
October 30, 2025
7:00 pm
Spooky Shorts
Save the date for an entertaining night of Spooky Shorts — a hand-picked lineup of eerie, fun, and spine-tingling short films that will get you in the Halloween spirit.
Sold Out
October 25, 2025
10:00 am
Movies & Mimosas (a CIFF x KweliTV collab)
Sip, sparkle, and celebrate global Black stories!
August 29, 2025 – August 31, 2025
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
20 Years Later: Honoring New Orleans Through the Power of Story
On this 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we pay tribute to the strength, culture, and brilliance in the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region—the best way we know how: by sharing stories that inspire.
August 31, 2025
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cars In Cleveland
Activation for Launch of CIFF50 “Road to 50” Campaign
