CIFF Reinvents Itself As Streaming Event

While we adore our local theaters, we have a dirty little secret. We LOVE watching a movie at home on the couch.

So we were pleasantly surprised to hear that the Cleveland International Film Festival is "reinventing" itself as a streaming festival. After being canceled due to coronavirus, or COVID-19, the festival, which is now going by CIFF44 Reinvented, will start film programming in April with a streaming program called CIFF Streams. This year's participating movies are yet to be announced, but plenty of CIFF alums are already available. 

In addition to virtual donation drives and merch opportunities, the organization is also releasing new podcast episodes under CIFF Speaks, where hosts Dee Perry and Aaron Spears talk about movies, do giveaways and interview guests. The latest episodes are up now at the festival's website.

Made by Fusion Filmworks and featuring the song "Miles To Go" by local musicians Jul Big Green and Astronymer, the abstract trailer features an explorative Clevelander floating above the city's skyline, under its sea-level and beyond.

Watch this year's trailer below, and follow Cleveland Magazine for more upcoming coverage of this year's film festival.