The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque

This review isn’t the easiest to write – but I’m going to just try to be honest about both the positive and negatives of the CIA Cinematheque.
Let’s start with positives:
No one… let me repeat that: NO ONE has the programming, films or film festivals that this venue boasts. In fact, I find myself wishing there were more open-​minded venues like this around the Cleveland area, but that’s just not the case. This is a cinema that showcases all forms of art – whether widely accepted in society or not, and I appreciate the heck out of that fact. I’ve attended screenings ranging from animated horror short-​film festivals to traveling amateur porn fests. Yep! (Insert gasp here) Even those. Also, it’s cheap, a unique and interesting date night activity and you can usually find free parking.
But there are some negatives:
As much as I appreciate the obscure programming, it does not excuse shoddy equipment for screening films. My last experience there I was actually embarrassed for the Cinematheque – and a little pissed for the filmmakers. When you put so much effort into making art, it has to be pretty annoying to have audio/​visual freezes throughout, like it’s being streamed off the internet. I realize this is a college campus and money might be tight, but that kind of problem ruins a film-​viewing experience.
On the other hand, we were informed during my last visit that the Cinematheque is getting a new home this summer – and I’m hoping that also means upgraded equipment. And heck, a theater with awesome acoustics wouldn’t hurt either. The current space isn’t bad for sound, but who would say «no» to an improvement? The ware-​n-​tear is also pretty apparent if you look up at the ceilings, so I think this will be a great change.
Also – please note that you have to really try to find out what’s playing, as the media in CLE hardly ever covers the Cinematheque’s screenings. But it’s well worth the effort!

Love this place. New indie films + classics. Free convenient parking. Cash or check only.
Moving to a new theatre, so it will be even more awesome.

Have been here three times in past month and have really grown to like coming here.
The staff is good, John, the gentleman who runs it isn’t afraid to speak his mind (when I was there he was making fun of a certain local newspaper’s movie critiques). He’s definitely got some opinions and that’s good.
The films are always different, sometimes they were at the Cedar Lee or Capitol but for a short run.
Consider this place a year-​long Cleveland International Film Festival. You usually can’t go wrong.

The Cinematheque is a fun pick if you want to see unique and more obscure films in Cleveland! They offer an ever-​changing schedule of arthouse, foreign, and independent films each night. Most of these films are ones that I had never heard of and wouldn’t normally watch, which I really appreciate because it helps broaden my horizons and open my eyes to films outside of the big Hollywood hits. For example, I’ve seen French, Spanish, and Czech films which were all interesting!
Definitely a good place for a unique night out in Cleveland!

The Cinematheque is worth braving a snow storm for! Hubby and I went last night and, once again, found ourselves hugged by the experience. So nice having an art house within reach, and walking away enlightened and satisfied every time. The films they show make for interesting conversation on the drive back home.
Remind me to become a member.

Spectacular independent films and seasonal programming. They also have one of the only entirely analog film programs in all of Ohio, which makes it a destination in and of itself. They also feature seasonal programming, ie, Christmas films, summer hits, etc. and for a very reasonable price. If you’re 25 or under, enjoy 5 $ admission.

With the bitter weather outside, there leaves little left for me to do except go to the movies. This is completely fine by me since it’s one of my favorite activities. I love going to the theater and the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque is quickly becoming one of my favorites. For the months of January and February they are having a tribute to Audrey Hepburn so for the last few Sundays I’ve bundled up and just escaped into different eras. The theater is vast with plenty of room to sit either by yourself or with friends and not disturb anyone.
The screen is big and the quality is always good. Even when the older movies skip a little it adds to the charm of the movie.
The movies run about 9 – 10 dollars but the quality of the movies being shown go above and beyond what you normally find in the theaters nowadays. My only complaint is that the seats arent’ exactly comfortable. After a while it can start to be a little uncomfortable.
Also, before each showing there’s a small introduction and previews about what is going to be shown in the near future.
I love this place and plan on carrying my new tradition into the warmer months.

great place for films old and new.
please support them!

Fantastic … Best place to see indie films in Cleveland …
They offer a membership, which is well worth it (about $ 30) and pays for itself in short order, if you are a regular film goer …

Very cool place to see some fantastic films. No blockbusters, just quality indie films. Sure, sometimes you’ll get the pretentious foreign flick that people pretend to like because they’re in art school, but generally you can disregard their opinions when you see the 3 gauge earings and blue hair. :-)
Seriously though, great place and I wish we had something on par in the Cbus.

This is definitely one of Cleveland’s assets – we are lucky to have a place like this! I went here for the first time in high school, when a film with Michael Stipe in it was shown.
You won’t find your Adam Sandler comedies or Vin Diesel action flicks here – you can go find those at your generic multiplex just fine already! What you will find, though, are some outstanding independent and foreign films that aren’t shown anywhere but art house cinemas and small independent cinemas that realize that the box office proceeds doesn’t necessarily determine the quality of a movie. I have seen documentaries about the prevalence of corn in America’s diet and animated foreign films, among others. Over the years, there have probably been at least 50 films that I have wanted to see here but did not get to see… too bad, because most of ‘em never made it to the local video store!
The cost of a ticket is a *bit* more than your multiplex ticket, but I figure that the extra $ 0.50 or so goes towards keeping this place open, and since there is absolutely nowhere else in Cleveland at which one can see films like this, it’s worth it.
Additionally, people at this place realize that it’s not appropriate to talk\text message during a movie either! Most of the people here are wonderful fellow patrons with which to view a film.
Also, the people who work there aren’t all up in your grill about bringing in outside food\beverages. I like that. =)
I do wish, though, that the seats had a *bit* more leg room. I’m about 6 feet tall, and unless I sit on the aisle, I wind up being a bit cramped. Oh well – just gotta get there early!

An excellent artsy-​fartsy theatre, although you cannot take care of all of your film-​going needs here.
Essentially an auditorium at the Cleveland School of Art that regularly screens foreign, indie, or cult films. The seats are fairly uncomfortable and the crowd can be a little weird but this is the only place you will ever be able to see a lot of what they show.
They usually organize their schedule around a central theme or two, and will occasionally have guest speakers present the films. It can get a little douchey (even for a film student) but its still worth it.