CIFF50 Awards and Competitions
CIFF50 recognizes standout films through juried awards and audience-voted favorites. Between features and shorts, CIFF50 awards $72,000 in cash prizes, plus Academy Award®-qualifying awards in all three short-film categories (live action, animated, documentary).
Jury Awards
American Independents Competition - Best U.S. Narrative Film
Juried award for the best American independent feature film
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Mouse
Best Animated Short Jury Award
Sponsored by Ciuni & Panichi, Inc.
Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Susurros
Best Comedy Short Jury Award
Endowed award honoring the life and legacy of David K. Ream (Anne Ream)
Juried award for the best comedy short
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: She Raised Me
Best Documentary Short Jury Award
Sponsored by Tom and Anita Cook
Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Voice Shift
Best Live-Action Short Jury Award
Sponsored by Kevin and Leslie Blum
Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Diego
DReam Maker Award
Endowed award honoring the life and legacy of David K. Ream (Anne Ream)
Juried award for the best LGBTQ+ film by an LGBTQ+ director
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Barbara Forever
George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition
Sponsored by The George Gund Foundation
Juried award for the best film from or about Central and Eastern Europe
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Catane
Grand Jury Award: Documentary (Best Documentary)
Juried award for the best feature documentary of the Festival
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: The Big Cheese
Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition
Sponsored by The George Gund Foundation
Juried award for the film that best demonstrates a story of a person or organization standing up to make an impact or create a positive change
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Steal This Story, Please!
Groundbreaker Award
Sponsored by Lauren Rich Fine & Beatrice Advisors
Juried award for the best film tackling topics of diversity and/or social justice by a diverse filmmaker
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Soul Patrol
CIFF50 Winner: Kikuyu Land
International Narrative Competition
Sponsored by Thomas Piraino and Barbara McWilliams Family Foundation
Juried award for the best international narrative feature film
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: Happy Birthday
Local Heroes Competition
Sponsored by La Familia Watilo Blake
Juried prize for the best Ohio-connected film: made in, about, or by Ohio
Prize: $5,000
CIFF50 Winner: In The Ever
Programmer's Choice Award: Given in Celebration of the Life of Toni Oliverio
Sponsored by Paul Sloop and Family
Programmer's Choice Award for Best Short Film in honor of former short film programming team member Toni Oliverio
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Magan’s Fare
Shorts in Focus Award: Nathaniel Matanik
Annual award to acknowledge filmmaker Nathanael Matanick for his work in the short film arena, specifically tackling stories of children at risk in the foster care system and beyond.
About Our Jury
Meet the members of our five juries for the 50th Cleveland International Film Festival. Each of our four feature film juries will select two awards each while our short film jurors will select four award winners including three that include Oscar qualifying status. The winners of our short film awards for Best Animation, Best Documentary, and Best Live-Action will all become eligible to submit for Oscar consideration for the 2027 Academy Awards.
Audience Awards
Audience Choice Award for Best Overall Short
Audience ballots select the best overall short film at the Festival
WINNER: Rise by Jessica J. Rowlands
Prize: $1,000
Best LatinX Short Audience Choice Award
Sponsored by La Familia Watilo Blake
Audience ballots choose the best LatinX-themed short film at the Festival
WINNER: The Spanish Lesson by Simone Stadler
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: The Spanish Lesson
Best LGBTQ+ Short Award: Given in Celebration of the Life of Nikki Babbit
Sponsored by Jamie Babbit
Audience ballots determine the best LGBTQ+ themed short film
WINNER: Big Bass by Drew Dickler
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Big Bass
Best Ohio Short Audience Choice Award
Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University
Audience ballots pick the best Ohio short film at the Festival
WINNER: First Time by Dustin Lee
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: First Time
FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Short
SPONSORED BY KANOPY
FilmSlam ballots determine top short film presented as part of the FilmSlam program.
WINNER: Rise by Jessica J. Rowlands
Prize: $1,000
The Ophelia Award: In Celebration of the Life of Dakota Ophelia Berg
Sponsored by Jim Brumbaugh and Carolyn Berg
Audience ballots determine the best short film that reflects themes of hope, given in honor of the life of Dakota Ophelia Berg
WINNER: Lost & Found by Wiktoria Kwoka
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: Lost & Found (2025)
Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Documentary Feature Film
Sponsored by Mark K and Janet Rosel Smith
Audience ballots choose the top documentary feature of the Festival
WINNER: Jane Elliott Against the World by Judd Ehrlich
Prize: $10,000
Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Narrative Feature Film
Audience ballots choose the top narrative feature of the Festival
WINNER: A Simple Machine by Mark Hoffman
Prize: $10,000
The Tom and Ginny Knoll Family Award: In Celebration of Acts of Kindness
Sponsored by Tom and Ginny Knoll and The Knoll Family Fund Promoting Civility and Acts of Kindness of Akron Community Foundation
Audience choice award given to the top-rated film that features a story that promotes civility or the value of kindness.
WINNER: The Old Man at the Bar by Alexander Jeffrey
Prize: $1,000
CIFF50 Winner: The Old Man at the Bar
