I love independent film - the Capitol is one of my favorite CLE haunts. However, the CIFF is so inordinately and inaccessibly EXPENSIVE I could only justify seeing 1 or 2 films last year. In fact, THIS year, I'm headed down to Athens, OH for a mini-vacation in a few weeks for the ATHENS International Film Fest and supporting the Athena instead. It's way cheaper, more fun, and not nearly so pretentious.