CLEVELAND — The Cleveland International Film Festival is moving to a new location at the city's iconic Playhouse Square next year.
This year's event, which runs from March 25 to April 5, will be the last year the festival is held at Tower City Cinemas, marking the end to its 30-year run at the venue, according to a news release from the CIFF. The festival got its start at the Cedar Lee Theatre, where it spent 14 years at before moving to Tower City Cinemas.
“By moving to Playhouse Square, the CIFF gets to remain in our beloved downtown Cleveland and under one phenomenal roof,” said Executive Director of CIFF Marcie Goodman. “We will have the privilege to be part of a thriving arts district where the sum of our Film Festival and Playhouse Square parts, along with the other resident companies, will be profoundly strong. The time is right for us to make the move in 2021 and to position ourselves within an incredible entertainment complex with multiple-sized venues and enormous capacity. It will be thrilling for us to create a different audience experience, from intimate to grand, as we honor Playhouse Square’s past, which was built on cinema. We cannot wait for our future to begin!”
The event has grown more popular with each passing year, and according to the CIFF, attendance has reached more than 100,000 during its annual 12-day run featuring more than 600 film screenings.
“The Cleveland International Film Festival has been a pivotal part of the city’s cultural fabric for an incredible 44 years, and it has been our honor at Bedrock to host the event during part of its 30-year tenure at The Avenue Shops at Tower City Center,” said Ken Till, Bedrock Vice President, Development. “We wish the Festival and its leaders the very best in their new location."
By moving to Playhouse Square, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the largest performing arts center outside of New York City and watch films at Cleveland's Allen Theatre, KeyBank State Theatre, Mimi Ohio Theatre and Connor Palace in addition to other nearby locations, the news release stated.
More information about the festival can be found, here.
