November 23, 2025
Fifty years ago, Cleveland was a city of character, grit, and heart — a place of steel mills and corner diners, rock and roll, and restless dreams. The skyline was smaller, a little grittier, the nights a little longer, but the spirit was resolute. And yet, even then, there was something cinematic about this city on the lake.
In 1977, amid this surging industrial backdrop, the Cleveland International Film Festival was born — an audacious idea that independent film could help a city rediscover itself. For generations of Clevelanders, CIFF became more than a Festival; it became a lens through which we saw our world differently and saw ourselves reflected with empathy, humor, and hope.
Today, Cleveland’s story looks different — more colorful, more connected, and more ambitious than ever. The cranes in the sky mirror the creativity rising across the lakefront. Our neighborhoods hum with music, murals, and makers. As we approach our 50th Festival in 2026, we’re not just reflecting on where we’ve been — we’re reimagining what’s next.
CIFF has broadened our vision of what an international film festival can mean for a city as dynamic, determined, and diverse as Cleveland. Our next era is about embracing that evolution: returning to our roots while innovating the Festival experience. For CIFF50, the Festival honors our past with a return to its birthplace at the Cedar Lee Theater, embraces our present with screenings at Playhouse Square, and steps toward the future of storytelling with programming and screenings in partnership with the CSU School of Film and Media Arts.
We are committed to anchoring ourselves in Cleveland’s unique story while widening our aperture as an organization to welcome visionary content creators and digital storytellers to help us build new, multimedia experiences. And we start with the team responsible for shaping the very program that anchors the annual Festival.
Returning to long-standing practice, the ClFF50 programming team is now entirely composed of Clevelanders. Led by long-time local CIFF shorts programmer and new Director of Programming, Paul Sloop, this dedicated team of 11 is bringing new vision and creativity to programming both our short and feature film selections.
We also look forward to rolling out new and improved components to the Festival that respond to the feedback you’ve provided on how we can make the Festival a better, more engaging experience for all — starting with access. This year, CIFF commits to returning to duplicate screenings of the entire program, so you’ll have more than one chance to see that can’t-miss film on your list. We’re excited to share more details with you over the coming weeks and months, highlighting the creativity of Clevelanders as we celebrate 50 years of exciting, global independent film.
This reinvention is not just for us — it’s for you. For 50 years, this spirited city has had a front-row seat to our story. You’ve laughed with us, cried with us, and believed in us. Now, we’re building a Festival that honors your commitment and rewards your curiosity — with a vibrant, interactive experience that connects lifelong patrons with the next generation of independent film lovers.
This spring, we are rolling out the red carpet for CIFF50 – honoring our past, embracing our present, and framing a future where both Cleveland and independent film shine brighter together. Join us for this next chapter of CIFF’s story – where Cleveland takes center stage! We’re saving you a seat.
Hermione Malone & Paul Sloop Executive Director & Director of Programming
