The Cleveland International Film Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year – and Cleveland State University students, faculty and staff are invited to get in on the cinematic fun.

CIFF40 will take place Wednesday, March 30, through Sunday, April 10, at Tower City Cinemas and select neighborhood screening locations. The festival will showcase 193 feature films and 213 short films representing 72 countries. Program guides are available across the CSU campus.

Tickets are $14 per film for CIFF members ($25 student memberships are available) and $16 for the general public. CSU students, faculty and staff can use the code CSU to receive a $2 discount per ticket. Tickets are available online (www.clevelandfilm.org), by phone (1.877.304.FILM) or in person at the Film Festival Box Office in the lobby of Tower City Cinemas.

Here are more ways to get in on the festivities:

VOUCHERS

Festival vouchers are available at the CSU Student Center Information Desk for CSU students, faculty and staff (two per person) with a valid Viking Card, starting Tuesday, March 22. The voucher must be exchanged in person at Tower City Cinemas for a free ticket to a specific screening. You are encouraged to exchange your voucher as early as possible to avoid stand-by or sellouts.

APRIL 4: CSU DAY AT THE CIFF

Monday, April 4, is CSU Day at the CIFF. CSU students, faculty and staff who present a valid Viking Card at the Film Festival Box Office (open 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) can see one film per round at no charge – up to six films over the course of the entire day (subject to ticket availability). 

APRIL 9: FILMMAKER PANELS AT CSU

In conjunction with the festival, the CSU School of Communication once again will host a free series of interactive panel discussions featuring visiting filmmakers whose works are being shown in the festival. This year’s event, set for Saturday, April 9, will feature the following panels: 

• Pre-production and Funding Essentials (10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ) 
• Independent Film Production (11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.) 
• The Documentary – Present and Future (1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.) 
• Post-production – Editing and More (3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

These panel discussions, which are open to the public, will be held in the MU107 Auditorium in the CSU Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. Please visit clevelandfilm.org/festival/special-programs/filmmaker-panels for more information. 

MORE FREE SCREENINGS FOR STUDENTS

From Thursday, March 31, through Sunday, April 10, the festival also will offer free morning, matinee and late-night screenings to CSU students who present their valid Viking Card. Free films will be screened weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., as well as after 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets will be available one hour before screening start time and distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Students should go to the Duke Desk (Will Call) outside the entrance to Tower City Cinemas with their Viking Card to obtain a ticket (one per student, per film).