Bechdel Film Fest
The submissions in this spring Akron festival follow the “Bechdel Test,” a representation measure pioneered by writer-cartoonist Alison Bechdel that asks whether a work features at least two women talking to each other about something other than men. bechdelfilmfest.com
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
A five-day affair in downtown Chagrin Falls, this documentary-only festival hosts between 50 and 100 international films every autumn, along with educational screenings throughout the year, and is staffed mostly by volunteers. chagrinfilmfest.org
Cleveland International Film Festival
Basically a weeklong Cleveland holiday every spring, this fest transforms downtown into a playground for international cinephiles, with hundreds of new screenings, educational programs, diverse competitions — and the occasional celebrity sighting. clevelandfilm.org
Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival
Devoted to amplifying the work of minority filmmakers and confronting stereotypes about urban America, this late summer fest’s rich film and symposium schedule is paired with an annual youth program, which takes aspiring filmmakers age 12-18 from script to screen. gcuff.org
