The Cleveland International Film Festival has revealed this year’s hefty lineup of 300 films.
For its 49th year, CIFF will take place at Playhouse Square from March 27 through April 5. The program will have representations from 60 countries, offering diversity in cultural perspectives, storytelling styles and visual formats. The festival received more than 3,500 submissions for its 2025 event.
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"CIFF49 is here, and the Festival is ready to welcome film lovers back to Playhouse Square," says Hermione Malone, CIFF executive director, in a news release. "With hundreds of films from around the world, there's something for everyone. If you haven't been to CIFF before, make this the year you experience a terrific Cleveland tradition."
Some films that will be spotlighted at this iconic Cleveland event are:
For Worse — Actress Amy Landecker from Transparent and A Serious Man will make her feature debut as a screenwriter and director of this comedy about a newly divorced and sober mom who crashes a wedding with her Gen-Z date. The film will premiere on opening night on March 27 at Connor Palace.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore — Oscar-winning and Emmy-nominated Deaf actress Marlee Matlin tells the story of her journey to becoming a ventured philanthropist and household name. The film will premiere on April 1 at KeyBank State Theatre.
Love, Brooklyn — Moonlight’s Andre Holland, Nicole Beharie from Miss Juneteenth and DeWanda Wise from Netflix’s remake of Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It is a dramedy that follows a trio of Black friends-slash-lovers trying to cope in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. The film will premiere on April 5 at KeyBank State Theatre.
To help navigate this year’s diverse program, CIFF49 curated “Sidebars,” a collection of films grouped by specific subjects or themes. This year’s Sidebars include After Hours, Arab Cinema, Black Cinema, Comedies, Family Films, Film is Art, Indigenous Cinema, Jewish Cinema, Latinx & Hispanic Cinema, Music Movies, Parability Cinema, Queer Cinema, Teen-Friendly Cinema, and Women of the World.
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Tickets, $18, are available at CIFF’s website and also over the phone and in-person, starting on March 7 for members and March 14 for the general public. Package and pass deals are also available. Find more details at clevelandfilm.org.
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