The Cleveland International Film Festival was held at Tower City Cinemas from 1992-2019. CIFF50 will take place April 9-18, 2026 at Playhouse Square, Cedar Lee Theatre and the CSU School of Film and Media Arts. (File photo: Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Cleveland International Film Festival nears its 50th anniversary, its history is getting a permanent home. The festival has officially established archives at Case Western Reserve University, preserving five decades of memories for future generations.

The collection, now part of the Special Collections division at Case Western Reserve’s Kelvin Smith Library, includes film guides and programs from every CIFF edition since its launch in 1977, along with photographs, press clippings and memorabilia that trace the festival’s growth. CIFF founder Jon Forman also contributed items from its early years.