Sixty-one films – all with an Iowa connection – from around the world, including two produced in the Quad Cities, will hit screens at the 2026 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF), from April 9-12.
CRIFF returns to Cedar Rapids on Thursday night, April 9, with screenings at the Olympic South Side Theater and Ideal Theater in the historic NewBo District.
The screening will include these two QC area films:
- “FREADOM on Trial: Rights and Responsibilities in Island Trees Board of Education v. Pico,” a student documentary by Adrian Gillette of Bettendorf Middle School.
- “Moshe’s Song” (Prelude) by Charles Matthew Chezum, an Augustana College student from New Windsor, Illinois.
In addition to the traditional Friday-Sunday screenings at Collins Road Theatres in Marion, CRIFF returns to Cedar Rapids on Thursday night, April 9, with screenings at the Olympic South Side Theater and Ideal Theater in the historic NewBo District.
“We were thrilled to receive a record 121 entries, totalling over 53 hours of films,” says Festival Director Eric Dean Freese. “It made the judges’ task that much more difficult, and they directed us to show more hours than in the past. We turned that challenge into an opportunity to expand our schedule, add venues, and create new ways for audiences to experience CRIFF.”
He added: “We especially love that the Ideal (Theater) was originally built in 1914 as a silent movie theater. We’re excited to introduce CRIFF to the vibrant, creative NewBo District, and have some wonderful things in the works for those screenings.”
For tickets, schedules, film information, and festival details visit here.
Here’s a look at the other Official Films selected and their makers whose work will be screened at CRIFF:
- “ACORN, IOWA;” student narrative short-form; Madison Taylor Wolfe, Loyola University New Orleans, Metairie, Louisiana.
- “Alien: Lost Transmission Fan Film;” professional narrative short; Connor Andrew Botts, Ben Mayer and Kevin Shepard, Altoona, Iowa.
- “Buried Treasure,” student narrative short-form; Jacob C. McCauley, Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska.
- “The Butterfly Effect;” hobbyist documentary; Deb Wallwork and Janet Bayliss of Minneapolis.
- “Cake in an Elevator;” hobbyist narrative short; Haydon Paul Bailey, Kalona, Iowa.
- “ A Civil Civil Servant;” professional narrative short; Jonah Manibusan, Elliott Bales and Emilee Hayward of Arlington, Virginia.
- “The Collins Story – The Internet Connection; professional documentary; Annette Juergens Busbee, Cedar Rapids.
- “CON;” hobbyist narrative short; Brandon Lynch and Ben Neessen, Des Moines.
- “Cornered;” professional freestyle; Kristopher J. Gathercoal, Grand Junction.
- “D.P.O.S.;” student narrative short-form; Edison Geiler and Marley Hewitt, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
- “Detour;” professional narrative short; Demian Alan Mancino and Beth Ann Hinde, Cedar Rapids.
- “Do Androids Dream?” – professional freestyle; Scott Marczewski, West Des Moines.
- “Do You Understand Me?” – student documentary; Paige Guthrie, University of Northern Iowa.
- “The Dream Catcher;” professional narrative short; Ethan Marth, Estherville.
- “Dress Like A Lady;” student narrative short-form; Daniela Bernal and Patrick Louscher of Loras College, Dubuque.
- “Dryland;” professional narrative short; Marissa Vonn, Bruce James Bales, Kalena Clarkson and Aaron Bandy, Des Moines.
- “Ellie and Xavier;” hobbyist feature; Benjamin Schmidt and Matty Weiland, Dubuque.
- “The Ex–Boxer;” student narrative short-form; Joshua William Fiser, University of Northern Iowa, Waterloo.
- “Fly Over;” professional narrative short; Max Ward, London, England.
- “FREADOM on Trial: Rights and Responsibilities in Island Trees Board of Education v. Pico;” student documentary; Adrian Gillette, Bettendorf Middle School.
- “From Iowa and Back – The Vietnam Era;” professional documentary; Jeremy Glazier, Gerard Estella, Megan Turner and Brucemore’s Artisan Studio, Cedar Rapids.
- “Garden of Des Moines: ONE YEAR LATER;” hobbyist documentary; Teri Underhill, Des Moines.
- “Healing Through Hope;” student documentary; Anna Tallman, Hunter Jones, Emily Delamora, Loras College.
- “Hells Hollow;” professional narrative short; Connor Botts and Jake Daniels, Altoona.
- “Hey, Lucy?” – hobbyist narrative short; Serena Fath; Des Moines.
- “Hit It Off;” hobbyist narrative short; Chris Veninga and Mithi Sivaprakash, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
- “How I Became a Goose;” student narrative short-form; Sam Madson, Hawkeye Community College, Cedar Falls.
- “Iron Dad;” student documentary; Sam Madson, Hawkeye Community College, Cedar Falls.
- “Jury of Her Peers;” professional narrative feature; William Rock and Amy Nigg, Des Moines.
- “Life After Life;” student narrative long-form; Josian Turner, Noah Elgatian, JP Smith and Brenda Severson; Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo.
- “Littles;” hobbyist narrative short; Tiffany Ketcham, Newton.
- “Meat Printer;” professional narrative short; Jake Daniels, Mediaverse Studios, Marengo.
- “Midnight Metro: A Fashion Story;” student documentary; Madeline Carlton, Des Moines Area Community College, Polk City.
- “Moshe’s Song (Prelude);” student narrative short-form; Charles Matthew Chezum, Augustana College, New Windsor.
- “The Mouse;” student freestyle; Lucas John Gregory, University of Iowa, Cedar Rapids.
- “My Adoring Husband;” hobbyist narrative short; Tyson Stock, Minneapolis.
- “NO CANS;” student documentary; Abbie McLaren, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
- “The Oldest;” professional narrative short; Cathlin McCullough, Austin, Texas.
- “On Our Way;” hobbyist narrative feature; Dillon Jacobson, CLD Films.
- “OUTRO;” hobbyist narrative short; Wes Worthing, Grimes.
- “Paw Paw & Dayja;” professional narrative feature; Gregory Alan WIlliams, Stockbridge, Georgia.
- “Projection;” hobbyist narrative short; Bauston Van Sickle and Jobe Fee, VanSickle Studios, Newton.
- “PSYCLE;” student freestyle; Than San, Loras College.
- “Quantum Flux;” professional narrative feature; Joshua Bishop Hall, Eagle Mountain, Utah.
- “Relax;” hobbyist narrative short, Alannah Swenka, Coralville.
- “Ride On: The Story of Gwen Maiers;” student documentary; Ryan Haywood and Lucas Schoaf, Loras College.
- “Saving Silhouettes;” professional freestyle; Kristopher J. Gathercoal, Grand Junction.
- “Si Raya at Ang Himpapawid (Raya Among The Clouds);” hobbyist narrative short; Iane Nicole Artillaga and Victoria Nicole Japlit, Sioux City, Philippines.
- “Secret Ingredient;” hobbyist short; Lewayne L. White, Grimes.
- “Seeds of Sovereignty;” professional documentary; Stuart J. Tanner, Fairfield, Iowa and Mexico.
- “Self–Portrait (Mirroring);” student freestyle; Negar Soufi, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
- “Silent Riff;” student narrative short-form; Ryan Haywood, Loras College.
- “Song & Dance;” professional documentary; Kristofer J. Keltgen, Madison Lake, Minnesota.
- “Still Life;” professional narrative short; Hannah Rosalie Wright, Des Moines.
- “Tenderloin;” student narrative short-form; Andrew Sloth, University of Georgia, Atlanta.
- “Track Guy Movie;” professional documentary; Andrew Snyder, Iowa City.
- “The Turkey Kings;” professional documentary, Adam Rich, Los Angeles, California.
- “The Valley of the Devil;” professional narrative short; Chase Stine, Des Moines.
- “Waverly 217;” student freestyle; Grace Potratz, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
- “Whale Math;” professional narrative short; D. Andrew Hartfield.
- “Your Lips Never Left Mine;” professional narrative feature; Felicia Ricci, Ridgefield, Connecticut.
All Official Selections have an Iowa Connection, which could include: A crew or cast member who lived, worked, or went to school in Iowa; a film that was produced, at least in part, in Iowa; or a story featuring an Iowa subject or Iowan (present or former, real or fictional). Each film will screen twice over the weekend, and compete for Gold and Silver Eddy, Audience Choice, and Iowa Connection awards, at the Eddy Awards Ceremony following Saturday night’s screenings.
Student filmmakers will be celebrated at Student Cinema on Sunday, April 12. Their films will compete for the $1,000 Collins Road Theatres Scholarship and the Student Audience Choice Eddy, voted on by all attendees and awarded following Sunday’s screenings.
