Submit your Film

About Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards

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

– 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.

Best reviews from clients

Beka Jean
Beka JeanReview
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!
kellasandra ferrara
kellasandra ferraraReview
Excited on so many levels but since this is where I was born and raised, just an extra point of pride for me!!
Ben Eden
Ben EdenReview
Thank you so much for the Best Original Screenplay award! From all of us who worked on The Shrowdinger!
TIMELE ART
TIMELE ARTReview
Thank you very much "Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards" for the selection as semi-finalist of the short film "Carillon" . We are grateful! Best regards, Timèle Art (Taormina, Italy)
Listening Raven
Listening RavenReview
Thank you Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards for honoring a Native American project, REZ! And please bring back the name "INDIANS" to your Cleveland baseball team. Not all Native Persons are offended by that name with can be one of honor and pride!

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