Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards ( CAFA) offers a high quality line-up of carefully selected fiction and documentary feature films, short films and media art. The festival’s focus is on recent work by talented new filmmakers. CAFA is a leading cultural platform accessible to all, that champions compelling cinema and audiovisual art. Through screenings, talks, exhibitions, and various networking opportunities, CAFA enables discovery, dialogue, learning and people coming together. We look where others don’t look, and through CAFA’s distinct programming, we open a space for ideas that captivate, engage and entertain, pushing creative boundaries that have the power to transform. CAFA supports independent storytellers and advances the impact of their work in the world.

Best Indie Short
Best Feature
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Student Short
Best Student Feature
Best Animation
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Romantic Comedy
Best Dark Comedy
Best Thriller
Best Action
Best Horror
Best Sci-Fi

Best Western
Best Women
Best LGBTQ
Best Screendance
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Best Microfilm
Best Music Video
Best Mobile Short
Best Producer
Best Director (Female)
Best Director (Male)
Best First Time Director
Best Student Director
Best Actress
Best Actor

Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Script
Best Production Design
Best Trailer/Teaser

Regulations :

– In order to submit a film, you must own the rights or have permission from the owner.
– Any Foreign film that is not in English must have English subtitles.
– All fees are non-refundable.
– Not all the submissions are selected for the official competition. Our Judges are free to make their own choices and no answers will be given about not selected films.
–The festival can consider any film to be disqualified if the festival considers the content inappropriate. If you have any question regarding this decision you might contact us at our email address.
– Filmmakers can submit the film in multiple categories in order to become a multi-award film. Still, the decision about the selection is strictly determined by our judges’ team and no selection is guaranteed.
– Submitting your movie, you authorize the festival to use, distribute and share the film poster, trailer, synopsis and movie stills in our social media.
– Films can be available online and still be entered in the competition for our festival.
– Multiple submissions and multiple category submissions are accepted.
– Films must have been completed within the past 5 years.
– Shorts must be less than 50 minutes.
-We do not require premiere status.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Excellent festival! Fully recommended! All the best!

    April 2026
  • Beka Jean

    It was a pleasure being part of Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards and getting to Semi-Finalist! Those involved with JUST ANOTHER DAY thank you and we love your logo btw!

    April 2026
  • Excited on so many levels but since this is where I was born and raised, just an extra point of pride for me!!

    April 2026
  • Joshua Meszaros

    We’re incredibly proud to have been selected as Semi-Finalist for “DISORDER” at Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards. Knowing the sheer volume of high-quality submissions makes this recognition even more meaningful. Thank you so much for honoring our work!

    April 2026
  • Lynwood Shiva Sawyer

    Dear Cleveland Arthoue Film Awards ,
    This is so cool!
    The darkly sardonic short, The Country Gentlewoman, is our debut effort. We wanted to express how dead chuffed [delighted, pleased] to receive the recognition from such a prestigious Festival.
    Wishing you much success in this year’s and all you Future festivals.
    Hope, Ellie and Lauren

    April 2026