The Future of CRIFF: Get Involved and Make an Impact!

For 25 years, CRIFF has been a vital platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and celebrate the power of storytelling! As we gear up for this year’s event we’re also looking ahead to the next chapter—and we need your help to write it!

Big changes are on the horizon. 

Collins Road Theatres is for sale and may not be available after 2025. With a possible move in 2026 comes new challenges—but also exciting opportunities. 

We need to understand where CRIFF fits with this creative community. We’re looking for new leaders, volunteers, supporters, and funding to ensure the festival not only continues, but thrives and evolves. We’re calling on film lovers, community supporters, and anyone who sees the importance of the arts to step up and help ensure the future of CRIFF.

Whether you have experience in event planning, fundraising, marketing, non-profit management, or just a passion for film and a desire to enrich our creative community, there’s a place for you here. Above all else, we’re looking for people who are excited to take an active role in moving the festival forward and expanding the organization’s impact.

Beyond the festival itself, there’s so much potential to grow. The arts are a vital part of a healthy, thriving, prosperous society. Film is an incredible tool for storytelling, creative expression, and fostering empathy. Supporting filmmakers will help nurture a stronger artistic landscape for everyone. There are wonderful opportunities to expand our mission by empowering students, fostering emerging talent, supporting regional artists, amplifying diverse voices, and collaborating with other arts organizations. 

CRIFF has always been about connection—between filmmakers, audiences, and the community. Now, we need your help to ensure that connection continues. If you’ve ever loved a film that made you see the world differently, been inspired by a story, or wanted to be part of something bigger, now is the time to get involved.

Join us in shaping the next era of the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. Volunteer, donate, or help spread the word. Together, we can keep the spotlight on independent film and ensure that CRIFF continues to inspire, entertain, and bring people together for years to come.

Learn more on the Get Involved! page. Send us your questions, ideas and support! 

Who are some of CRIFF’s valued partners, in addition to the companies below?