The first Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) was organized by Jonathan Forman and presented April 13 - June 2, 1977. Eight films from seven countries were shown at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights over an eight-week period. Presented as a subscription series, the first CIFF received substantial media attention, and attendance indicated that Clevelanders wanted a broader schedule.

By its third year, the CIFF had grown to include feature films from around the world, children's films, retrospectives, and short subjects. A Board of Trustees - consisting of community leaders, film scholars, and film enthusiasts - was assembled to oversee the mission, funding, and growth of the CIFF.

By its fifth year, the CIFF had developed a network of screening locations, establishing itself within the Greater Cleveland arts community as an eagerly awaited annual event. Fund raising was enhanced through the generosity of The George Gund Foundation and The Cleveland Foundation, and educational efforts were strengthened as a result.

In 1986 the CIFF moved its Opening Night to the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square, adding to the excitement and appeal of the event. Guest filmmakers regularly attended the Film Festival to introduce their films and answer audience questions. And a fall program of international films became an annual part of the organization's presentations for a number of years.

In January 1991, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to move the Film Festival from the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights to Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland, making the event more accessible to film lovers from throughout the region. During its first year downtown, the Festival's attendance (14,000) fell slightly. But by 1995 attendance had grown to 23,000. And in 1998 the Festival experienced its greatest one-year increase in attendance: a jump of 16% resulted in 32,000 admissions. At the 30th CIFF in March 2006, there were more than 52,000 admissions.

At its meeting in January 1991, the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland International Film Festival also voted to change the name of the organization to the Cleveland Film Society (CFS). The purpose of the change was to reflect the evolution of the organization's mission.

Today the Cleveland International Film Festival is the flagship event of the organization, though certainly not its sole function. Year-round programs and services include Film Feasts (mini-fundraising events), film appreciation classes, and membership activities.

Types of Programs Offered
In addition to being the flagship event of the Cleveland Film Society, the Cleveland International Film Festival is the premier film event between New York and Chicago.

Today's CIFF includes a full survey of contemporary international filmmaking with over 120 features from approximately 50 countries and 90 short subjects that are shown in collected programs. Along with the main program of international films, there are special sections that add interest and diversity to the overall Festival. These include American independent, documentary, Eastern European, family, gay and lesbian, and Pan-African films.

Many filmmakers and other special guests attend the CIFF where they participate in FilmForums, which are panel discussions that give audience members a chance to talk about the films they've seen at the Film Festival.

Additionally, through a community outreach program called Cultural Journeys, members of culturally diverse groups and communities learn from one another using the universal language of film. FilmForums (moderated panel discussions), which follow film screenings, serve as an impetus for educating people on timely, complex, and controversial issues.

FilmSlam is the CIFF's student film festival for high school students. It is held on weekday mornings during the CIFF. At the 30th CIFF in March 2006, over 5,500 students from 60 Northeast Ohio schools participated in FilmSlam. In addition to viewing films, they met with visiting filmmakers.