If you missed the Cleveland International Film Festival, no worries. You’ve got an opportunity to screen movies from the comfort of your own home.
The festival (CIFF) concluded its historic 50th anniversary, 10-day run April 18. This year’s Festival brought together filmmakers and audiences from around the world, featuring 338 films from 65 countries and welcoming hundreds of attendees to screenings and events at Playhouse Square, Cedar Lee Theatre, and the CSU School of Film & Media Arts.
CIFF50 continues beyond the in-person festival with the return of CIFF50 Streams: Best of the Fest, running through April 26 and offering audiences across Ohio the opportunity to watch a curated selection of the Festival’s top films from home.
The streaming lineup features a mix of audience favorites and jury award-winning titles, including The Big Cheese (Best Documentary Award), Happy Birthday (Best International Narrative Film), and Soul Patrol (Groundbreaker Award), along with additional award winners and curated shorts programs. Available exclusively within the state of Ohio, the program extends the reach of CIFF’s milestone year, ensuring audiences who missed the Festival — or want to revisit standout films — can continue to engage with its most celebrated stories.
Audience Favorites and Award Winners
A highlight of CIFF50 was the announcement of this year’s Audience Choice Awards, recognizing the films that resonated most with festival goers. Audience Choice Award Winners Include:
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Best Overall Short ($1,000 Prize): Rise
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Best LatinX Short ($1,000 Prize): The Spanish Lesson
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Best LGBTQ+Short ($1,000 Prize; Given in Celebration of the Life of Nikki Babbit): Big Bass
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Best Ohio Short ($1,000 Prize): First Time
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Best FilmSlam Student Short ($1,000 Prize): Rise
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The Ophelia Award ($1,000 Prize; In Celebration of the Life of Dakota Ophelia Berg): Lost & Found
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Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Documentary Feature Film ($10,000 Prize): Jane Elliott Against the World
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Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Narrative Feature Film ($10,000 Prize): A Simple Machine
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The Tom and Ginny Knoll Family Award ($10,000 Award; In Celebration of Acts of Kindness): The Old Man at the Bar
In addition to audience-selected honors, CIFF’s juried competitions recognized standout films and filmmakers across categories, awarding $72,000 in cash prizes and Academy Award®-qualifying honors in short film categories. Full award details are available on the CIFF website.
Breakout Films and Emerging Voices
Throughout the Festival, several films emerged as audience favorites and critical standouts, generating strong buzz and packed screenings. Among the most talked-about titles were:
Planning for CIFF51 is already underway, with more details to be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned for dates, location and more via CIFF’s newsletter – Sign up on the website.
