By Bob Abelman
In December 2019, the Cleveland International Film Festival’s board of trustees unanimously voted to move the annual event 14 blocks east on Euclid Avenue from downtown’s Cleveland Cinemas multiplex at Tower City Cinemas – where it had a 30-year run – to the Playhouse Square district.
“It will be thrilling for us to create a different audience experience, from intimate to grand, as we honor Playhouse Square’s past,” CIFF Executive Director Marcie Goodman said in a news release.
The past being referenced is the theater’s history as cinematic showcases when they opened over 100 years ago.
“The time is right for us to make the move,” Goodman said.
But because of COVID-19, the move was delayed and CIFF44 pivoted to a stream-only format, which featured 324 films that represented 44 countries and generated 42,107 streams. In 2021, CIFF45 was similarly stream only. It featured 299 films that represented 63 countries and resulted in 51,216 streams.
Given the current state of the pandemic, the upcoming CIFF46 will be a hybrid event presenting in-person and online offerings which, according to Goodman, “affords our audience a multitude of viewing options and opportunities.”
For the 11-day, in-person portion of CIFF46, 146 feature films and 182 short films, representing 73 countries, will be screened across the 150-seat Westfield Studio Theatre, 500-seat Allen Theatre, the 750-seat Upper Allen, 1,000-seat Mimi Ohio Theatre, 2,800-seat Connor Palace, and 3,200-seat KeyBank State Theatre. At the conclusion of the in-person festival, CIFF46 Streams will take place and showcase much of the CIFF46 lineup.
This year’s opening night event at the Connor Palace theater will feature the film, “Peace by Chocolate,” a true story about a charming young Syrian refugee who struggles to settle into his new Canadian small-town life after the bombing of his father’s chocolate factory. Based on a book by John Tattrie, the film received its world premiere at last year’s Tribeca Festival in New York City. Director Jonathan Keijser is scheduled to attend. Tickets for the 7 p.m. screening are $80 for CIFF members and $100 nonmembers and include a post-film dessert reception with a cash bar.
The closing night event at the Connor Palace theater will feature “Linoleum,” which is directed and written by Columbus-born Colin West. The science fiction comedy-drama, starring Jim Gaffigan, tells the story of the host of a failing children’s science show who tries to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket ship in his garage. West is scheduled to be in attendance. Tickets are $14 for CIFF members and $16 for nonmembers.
To see the complete schedule, visit clevelandfilm.org.
Canvas is a media sponsor of CIFF46.
If you go
WHAT: 46th Cleveland International Film Festival
WHERE: Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
WHEN: In-person from March 30-April 9 and through the CIFF streaming platform from April 10-April 17.
TICKETS & INFO: General public tickets $14 for members and $16 for nonmembers) and streaming tickets $8 for members and $10 for nonmembers go on sale March 18. Visit clevelandfilm.org, call 877-304-3456, or visit the film festival box office in the outer lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre.
Bob Abelman is a freelance writer.
