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

WINNER: Mouse, directed by Kenny Riches

Prize: $5,000

Best Animated Short Jury Award

Sponsored by Ciuni & Panichi, Inc.

Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration

WNNER: Susurros, directed by Alexandra Pewinski, Marie Lombard, Florian Reignier, Emma Pluchard, Lisa Francillon, and Alice Parmentier

Prize: $1,000

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

WINNER: She Raised Me, directed by Ben Lewis

Prize: $1,000

Best Documentary Short Jury Award

Sponsored by Tom and Anita Cook

Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration

WINNER: Voice Shift, directed by Roberto Duque

Prize: $1,000

Best Live-Action Short Jury Award

Sponsored by Kevin and Leslie Blum

Juried winner can submit for 2027 Academy Awards consideration

WINNER: Diego, directed by Melissa Silveira

Prize: $1,000

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

WINNER: Barbara Forever, directed by Brydie O’Connor

Prize: $5,000

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

WINNER: Catane, directed by Iona Mischie

Prize: $5,000

Grand Jury Award: Documentary (Best Documentary)

Juried award for the best feature documentary of the Festival

WINNER:  The Big Cheese, directed by Sara Joe Wolansky

Prize: $5,000

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

WINNER: Steal This Story, Please!, directed by Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

Prize: $5,000

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

WINNER: Soul Patrol, directed by J.M. Harper

Prize: $5,000

International Narrative Competition

Sponsored by Thomas Piraino and Barbara McWilliams Family Foundation

Juried award for the best international narrative feature film

WINNER: Happy Birthday, directed by Sarah Goher

Prize: $5,000

Local Heroes Competition

Sponsored by La Familia Watilo Blake

Juried prize for the best Ohio-connected film: made in, about, or by Ohio

 WINNER: In the Ever, directed by C.M. Sutton and Yaya

Prize: $5,000

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

WINNER: Magan’s Fare, directed by Chris Knoblock and Dana White

Prize: $1,000

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.
Meet the Jury

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

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

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

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

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