April 01, 2014

38th CIFF Presented by Dollar Bank Celebrates Record-Breaking Year

The 38th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), presented by Dollar Bank, hosted record-breaking crowds during the 12-day event held in Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland and at nine other neighborhood locations. The CIFF welcomed 97,804 attendees (a 4.9% increase from 2013) to its 475+ screenings and, in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, raised $117,326 in Challenge Match donations.

The Festival showcased 186 feature films and 168 short subjects from 68 countries. FilmSlam (the CIFF’s high school and middle school mini-Festival) was attended by 5,873 engaged and enthusiastic students. Volunteers are key to the success of the CIFF and this year was no exception with almost 800 volunteers who contributed over 10,000 hours of their invaluable time. And without the support of our 210 sponsors and funders, 160 non-profit community partners, and 75 media and neighborhood outreach partners, the 38th CIFF would not have been possible.

An historic highlight of the Festival occurred on Monday, March 24th – Cleveland Foundation Day at the Cleveland international Film Festival. The Festival was named the March gift to the community in celebration of the Cleveland Foundation’s centennial celebration. The Festival welcomed 7,885 attendees (an 82% increase over Monday’s attendance in 2013).

The CIFF hosted 200+ filmmakers from around the world who shared their films and offered both local and global perspectives on a vast array of topics. The winners of the competitions and awards were announced at the Closing Night ceremony on Sunday, March 30, 2014.

Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Film
Sponsored by the Callahan Foundation
MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE, Directed by Michele Josue
$5,000 cash prize

George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern Competition
Presented with generous support from the George Gund Foundation
LIFE FEELS GOOD, Directed by Maciej Pieprzyca (Poland)
$10,000 cash prize

Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition
Sponsored by Nesnadny + Schwartz
THE SARNOS: A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES, Directed by Wiktor Ericsson
$7,500 cash prize

Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition
Presented with generous support from the George Gund Foundation
MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE, Directed by Michele Josue
$5,000 cash prize

American Independents Competition
Presented with the generous support of Alan and Marta Glazen
A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING, Directed by Rob Meyer
$5,000 cash prize

Local Heroes Competition
Presented with the generous support of Mike and Nicki Cancelliere
THE SAX MAN, Directed by Joe Siebert
$5,000 cash prize

Global Health Competition
THE STARFISH THROWERS, Directed by Jesse Roesler
$5,000 cash prize

Music Movies Competition
THE WINDING STREAM, Directed by Beth Harrington
Presented with the generous support of Jules and Fran Belkin
$5,000 cash prize

ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman
Presented with the generous support of Deborah Bachman Ratner
Claudia Pinto Emperador (for THE LONGEST DISTANCE)
$7,500 cash prize

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Subject
Sponsored by Howard Hanna
FOOL’S DAY, Directed by Cody Blue Snider
$1,000 Cash Prize

Best Animated Short Award*
Sponsored by Reminger Co., L.P.A
THE NUMBERLYS, Directed by Brandon Oldenburg & William Joyce
$1,000 cash prize

Best Live Action Short Award*
Sponsored by Anne Bloomberg and Alan Gordon Lipson & Judy Harris
FOR THE BIRDS, Directed by Tara Atashgah
$1,000 cash prize

*These award winners will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards^®.

For a full list of short subject film award winners, please click HERE.