Tickets to CIFF47's 121 feature films and 199 short films are now on sale!

CIFF47 Tickets Are Now on Sale

CIFF47 Announces its program lineup. 121 feature films and 199 shorts films from 67 countries.

CIFF47 ANNOUNCES PROGRAM LINEUP

Thirty-two feature films are included in three esteemed competitions, with $30,000 in cash prizes available.  In addition, dozens of short films will be included in CIFF’s three Oscar® qualifying categories, with $3,000 in cash prizes available.

Ciff47 has announced its juried competitions with a combined total of $33,000 in cash prizes. 

CIFF47 Juried Competitions and additional program details announced

CIFF47 Announces Juried Competitions and Additional Program Details

For Filmmakers

CIFF47 (2023) Call for Entries is now closed 

and notifications will be sent by February 24, 2023.

CIFF48 (2024) Call for Entries will open July 2023.

The 47th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) will take place as a hybrid event March 22 - April 1, 2023 in person at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland, OH and April 2-9, 2023 online as CIFF47 Streams.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THEATRICAL SCREENINGS AT CIFF47 WILL BE IN DCP (FEATURE AND SHORT FILMS).* Thus, all invited films will be required to send a DCP file for exhibition.

CIFF is excited to return to its new forever home, the beautiful and iconic Playhouse Square - also the largest performing arts district in the U.S., outside of New York City. CIFF will continue to follow guidance and protocols based on science and community circumstances, in relation to COVID-19. All Festival details (including dates, format, and venues) are subject to change.

CIFF47 will consist of hundreds of films, post-film conversations and Q&As with filmmakers, balloting, and over $130,000 in cash awards. CIFF Speaks (the organization’s podcast series) will be returning with episodes surrounding and during the Festival.

CIFF is committed to offering screening fees or travel assistance for all feature and short films accepted into the Festival. In a time of many changes, we are happy to report that CIFF continues to be one of the few Academy Award®-qualifying festivals in the world for all three categories of shorts films—live action, animated, and documentary. CIFF accepts films of any runtime, any genre, and from every country.

As always, CIFF will provide written feedback from our Screening Team—a diverse volunteer committee comprised of 150 film enthusiasts assembled from our audience base, ranging from industry professionals to local film students. CIFF is also happy to once again offer submission waivers to any CIFF alum whose current film meets the CIFF47 requirements.

No matter what the future holds, the Cleveland International Film Festival remains dedicated to supporting the work of filmmakers everywhere and uniting our community through the power of film.

For all questions related to submissions, please see our Terms and Conditions or email 

We thank you for sharing your films with us!

Submit your film to CIFF47 via FilmFreeway below.

Submit your film! CIFF, an Academy Award® qualifying festival for all three categories of shorts films, accepts films of all runtimes, genres, and countries.

Call for Entries - Now Open | CIFF 47

Call for Entries

CLEVELAND (Wednesday, February 15, 2023) – CIFF47 memberships are 

. This year’s Festival membership program offers four levels to choose from: Ticket Buyer ($85), Streams Passholder ($300), Festival Passholder ($500), and VIP Passholder ($1,800). All levels include a complimentary mailing of the CIFF47 Film Guide, sponsored by 

, a complimentary invitation to the CIFF47 Preview Party, advance ticket sales access, free admittance to the CIFF47 members-only screening, and discounts on tickets, merchandise, and special events. The top two levels of membership (Festival Passholder and VIP Passholder) include passholder access to all in-person CIFF47 screenings at Playhouse Square as well as the Passholder Lounge, with the top level of membership (VIP Passholder) also including passholder access to all CIFF47 Streams films.

For full membership details (including information about CIFF’s e-commerce, which is now powered by Eventive), please visit 

CIFF47 will take place March 22-April 1, 2023 at 

, followed by CIFF47 Streams, sponsored by 

, which will take place April 2-9, 2023 online. The Festival lineup will be announced on Friday, March 3, 2023. Tickets go on sale to CIFF members on Monday, March 6, 2023and to the public on Friday, March 10, 2023. For information on CIFF, please continue to visit 

The Cleveland International Film Festival is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from 

. Also, the Cleveland International Film Festival is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the 

 (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iacv2jGuEf_pBBXhzRV_getgTpglDSlc?usp=share_link

Debby Samples, Marketing & Media Director, 

CIFF47 unveils membership program, offering filmgoers four levels to choose from.

CIFF47 Membership Program Unveiled

CIFF47 announces Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night films, as well as DReam Maker and Groundbreaker Award recipients. 

CIFF47 Announces Special Events and Programs

Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) announces CIFF47 Theme: Look Closer and launches new website. 

Filmmakers

Call for Entries

Ready to submit?