CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The digital age has enabled the distribution of streaming international and independent film content to tablets, smartphones, and other devices. Industry trends indicate that more people than ever before enjoy the convenience of watching films at home, especially because of the enormous access provided by services such as Netflix. It is critical that the CIFF make the Festival as engaging as possible.
Festivals maintain a competitive advantage because of their engagement with filmmakers, actors, and actresses connected to films. The CIFF experience is enriched by the presence of more than 300 filmmakers and other special guests each year. The opportunity to interact with these guests adds to the vibrancy of the CIFF for our audience. And the opportunity to share their work with our audience and our community (through partnerships and outreach) supports and fortifies the filmmakers so they can continue to pursue their art.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
FilmSlam
FilmSlam is the Festival's longest running educational program, which takes place on the seven weekday mornings during the CIFF. FilmSlam annually impacts the lives of young people (including over 11,000 middle, junior high, and high school students from 127 schools throughout 14 Northeast Ohio counties in 2019) by giving them the opportunity to see remarkable films by some of the world's most innovative filmmakers.
A volunteer committee of students and teachers helps select the FilmSlam program, which consists of documentaries, feature films, and short films. This selection process engages students in a meaningful and relevant project, allowing them to collaborate with their peers and apply their knowledge of what constitutes as appropriate films for FilmSlam attendees. And all films are linked to curriculum strands. Study guides (including an introduction to media literacy) are provided to teachers, and filmmakers speak after the screenings.
Community Engagement Program
The CIFF’s Community Engagement Program builds and strengthens partnerships with other nonprofits and embeds our organization into the fabric of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Northeast Ohio. The partnering entities agree to publicize Festival films in exchange for visibility at the Festival and a platform to talk about their missions and promote their causes.
FilmSlam Streams
FilmSlam Streams is the new online educational program for students in grades 5-12. Foreign language short films (in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish) make up most of the programming, thus, giving students deliberate learning experiences in hearing how a foreign language is spoken. Select documentaries are also made available. All films are linked to curriculum strands, and live as well as pre-recorded Q&A sessions are conducted via Zoom with filmmakers.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, online learning has become a necessity for teachers who are being asked to provide more opportunities for experiential learning. FilmSlam Streams aims to fulfill this unique request by using film to help prepare students to foster critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other relevant skills and habits of mind.
DReam Catcher
DReam Catcher is the Cleveland International Film Festival’s program and award, established in 2019 to honor the life and memory of David K. Ream (1949–2017), a beloved CIFF trustee. The DReam Catcher program recognizes a pioneering LGBTQ+ filmmaker and highlights a variety of films made by LGBTQ+ directors and featuring LGBTQ+ themes.
The DReam Catcher Award recipient will meet with organizations in Ohio whose missions support the LGBTQ+ community and receive a $5,000 cash award to support future work.
Groundbreaker
Groundbreaker is a program about the importance of racial equity showcasing feature films and short films to specifically elevate and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) filmmakers and recognizing a BIPOC filmmaker and their work.
Where we work
Awards
25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2023
MovieMaker
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of paid seats filled for screenings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In-person and virtual attendance for first ever hybrid festival.
Average dollar price of tickets to screenings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total number of screenings held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
For 2020 this was the total number of streams
Number of competition winners declared
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total number of works exhibited
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
total number of films (features + shorts)
Number of free participants on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
FilmSlam Streams
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of FilmSlam/FilmSlam Streams students
Number of paid participants on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
FilmSlam
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Average price of field trip tickets
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
FilmSlam
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total number of fields trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
FilmSlam Streams
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of schools that attended FilmSlam.
Average dollar price of entry to competitions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Call For Entry Fees
Number of competition entrants
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total submissions
Total number of competitions held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In pursuing its mission, the Cleveland International Film Festival will:
• Set high standards for diverse quality film education and exhibition, placing artistic and cultural merit above commercial appeal.
• Connect and work collaboratively with an array of community partners to raise awareness of how film arts deepens understanding of the world and catalyzes positive change.
• Provide the best and most accessible audience experience possible.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion while fostering understanding and appreciation of myriad cultures and values.
• Cultivate and maintain an innovative and forward-thinking organization.
• Embed our work into the fabric of the community.
• Promote a work environment among board, staff, and volunteers based on integrity, professionalism, teamwork, trust, and respect.
• Ensure the organization’s financial stability and increase its financial self-sufficiency.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The CIFF Strategic Planning process is an area of particular pride for the organization as we embrace where we are now, while keeping an eye on where we are going. Along with consultant Amy Morgenstern, the Board of Directors and staff review, revise, and approve our Goal Framework (strategic plan) and Scorecard (of metrics and milestones) on an ongoing basis.
The goals and objectives for our organization are addressed each year in our Goal Framework, which is our dynamic strategic plan. This living and breathing document contains our Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles, Equity Statement, and Goals and Objectives for these ten Plan Sections in FY22:
1. Film Festival and Additional Programs: To deliver and enhance all aspects of the world-class international film festival and additional programs we produce in Cleveland.
2. DEI & Social Justice: Incorporate social justice and inclusion in all core components of our organizational culture and all programming and operations, with special focus on racial equity, gender equity, and disenfranchised communities.
3. Audience Development: Attract, retain, and support current, new and diverse CIFF audiences.
4. Fund Development: Build a stable, more sustainable, and diverse base of revenue sources.
5. Financial Management: Continue to provide prudent professional management and Board oversight of CIFF’s financial resources.
6. Governance: Continue to attract and retain an involved Board that is diverse, accountable, supportive, and active in the community.
7. Professional Leadership: Support a highly skilled, diverse, and resourceful professional leadership team and a safe, respectful environment.
8. Technological Infrastructure: Obtain and deploy intuitive and accessible technology to conduct CIFF’s operations and present high quality experiences.
9. Our New Home at Playhouse Square: Pursue a smooth transition to Playhouse Square in 2022.
10. Plan Assessment: Continuously monitor and adjust CIFF’s plan and operations.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Board and staff take great pride in the fact that the CIFF is a people's festival, as the organization has remarkably strong community engagement. Programming is guided by the interests of the patrons. Two volunteer-driven Selection Committees help choose films for inclusion in the CIFF. The majority of our awards are determined by audience vote. And our robust website and social media channels offer quick and easy opportunities for our stakeholders to share their opinions, experiences, and enthusiasm.
For example, all patrons, volunteers, and sponsors are invited to share content on Facebook (http://bit.ly/CIFFFacebook), Twitter (http://twitter.com/ciff), YouTube (http://bit.ly/CIFFYouTube), and Instagram (http://instagram.com/clefilmfest).
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The CIFF remains one of the most significant cultural arts events in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Our attendance has topped 100,000 over the last five years. And while the cultural arts world converges to adopt and strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (racial and gender), the CIFF has long answered this call with its history of programming that highlights all races and ethnicities. The CIFF also continues to break the glass ceiling of gender parity.
In 2022 we also looked inward to ways to enhance our organizational DEI efforts. This included working to identify and cultivate more diverse vendor relationships. CIFF also used greater intentionality to invite diverse voices and perspectives to CIFF through programmers and Board members - resulting in the most diverse group in our history.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INC
Board of directorsas of 08/09/2023
Chris Blake
Jules Belkin
Tom Cook
Harbor Insurance
Tom Davis
Hyland
Timothy J. Downing
Ulmer & Berne LLP
Lauren Rich Fine
Gries Financial LLC
Char Fowler
Debra S. Gold
Jinny Johnson
Gregg Levine
Ratliff & Taylor
Joyce Martin-Fyfe
Todd Mesek
Cleveland Museum of Art
Mark Smith
Covalent Advisors
Roy Turnell
Thompson Hine LLP
Jerry Frantz
JumpStart, Inc.
Joe Marinucci
Pamela LeRose
Huntington National Bank
Tim Piazza
Amazon Web Services
Nikki Jaworski
AT&T
Erica Merritt
Equius Group, LLC
Eric Patrick
Greenwich Biosciences
Moema Furtado
Joe Foley
Cannasure
Christine Hickey
Cuyahoga Community College
Tom Wilson
Lisa Durst
Eaton
Coleen Fisher
Dollar Bank
Dion Hudnall
Say Yes Cleveland
Lynn Milliner
MetroHealth
Zach Milvo
Thompson Hine LLC
Nadine Nana
JumpStart, Inc.
Julie Raskind
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/20/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.