April 9-12, 2026
Collins Road Theatres • Olympic South Side Theater • Ideal Theater
The Iowa Connection
CRIFF celebrates the fact that people with ties to Iowa are in the production industry EVERYWHERE. We search for films from anywhere and by anyone, who just happen to have an Iowa connection.
That could be 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).
We’ve had films submitted from all across the US, and around the world! We tell skeptical filmmakers that if you don’t think your film qualifies, ask around…you just might have an Iowan on set!
The 2026 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival announces 61 Official Selections!
The following films stood out among 121 incredible submissions, earning a place among the 61 Official Selections chosen by our judges after much discussion and debate. It’s a testament to the creativity, dedication, and the passion these filmmakers have poured into their craft!
ACORN, IOWA – Student Narrative Short-Form – Madison Taylor Wolfe – Loyola University New Orleans – Metairie, LA
Alien: Lost Transmission Fan Film – Professional Narrative Short – Connor Andrew Botts, Ben Mayer, Kevin Shepard – Altoona
Buried Treasure – Student Narrative Short-Form – Jacob C McCauley – Wayne State College – Wayne, NE
The Butterfly Effect – Hobbyist Documentary – Deb Wallwork, Janet Bayliss – Minneapolis, MN
Cake in an Elevator – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Haydon Paul Bailey – Kalona
A Civil Civil Servant – Professional Narrative Short – Jonah Manibusan, Elliott Bales, Emilee Hayward – Arlington, VA
The Collins Story – The Internet Connection – Professional Documentary – Annette Juergens Busbee – Cedar Rapids
CON – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Brandon Lynch, Ben Neessen – Des Moines
Cornered – Professional Freestyle – Kristopher J. Gathercoal – Grand Junction
D.P.O.S. – Student Narrative Short-Form – Edison Geiler, Marley Hewitt – University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Detour – Professional Narrative Short – Demian Alan Mancino, 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, Patrick Louscher – Loras College – Dubuque
Dryland – Professional Narrative Short – Marissa Vonn, Bruce James Bales, Kalena Clarkson, Aaron Bandy – Des Moines
Ellie and Xavier – Hobbyist Feature – Benjamin Schmidt, 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 – Bettendorf
From Iowa and Back – The Vietnam Era – Professional Documentary – Jeremy Glazier, Gerard Estella, Megan Turner, 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 – Dubuque
Hells Hollow – Professional Narrative Short – Connor Botts, Jake Daniels – Altoona
Hey, Lucy? – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Serena Fath – Des Moines
Hit It Off – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Chris Veninga, Mithi Sivaprakash – Eden Prairie, MN
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, Amy Nigg – Des Moines
Life After Life – Student Narrative Long-Form – Josian Turner, Noah Elgatian, JP Smith, 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, IL
The Mouse – Student Freestyle – Lucas John Gregory – University of Iowa – Cedar Rapids
My Adoring Husband – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Tyson Stock – Minneapolis, MN
NO CANS – Student Documentary – Abbie McLaren, University of Iowa – Iowa City
The Oldest – Professional Narrative Short – Cathlin McCullough – Austin, TX
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, GA
Projection – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Bauston Van Sickle, Jobe Fee, VanSickle Studios – Newton
PSYCLE – Student Freestyle – Than San – Loras College – Dubuque
Quantum Flux – Professional Narrative Feature – Joshua Bishop Hall – Eagle Mountain, UT
Relax – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Alannah Swenka – Coralville
Ride On: The Story of Gwen Maiers – Student Documentary – Ryan Haywood, Lucas Schoaf – Loras College – Dubuque
Saving Silhouettes – Professional Freestyle – Kristopher J. Gathercoal – Grand Junction
Si Raya at Ang Himpapawid (Raya Among The Clouds) – Hobbyist Narrative Short – Iane Nicole Artillaga, Victoria Nicole Japlit – Sioux City, Philippines
Secret Ingredient – Hobbyist Short – Lewayne L White – Grimes
Seeds of Sovereignty – Professional Documentary – Stuart J Tanner – Fairfield, IA, Mexico
Self–Portrait (Mirroring) – Student Freestyle – Negar Soufi – University of Iowa – Iowa City
Silent Riff – Student Narrative Short-Form – Ryan Haywood – Loras College – Dubuque
Song & Dance – Professional Documentary – Kristofer J Keltgen – Madison Lake, MN
Still Life – Professional Narrative Short – Hannah Rosalie Wright – Des Moines
Tenderloin – Student Narrative Short-Form – Andrew Sloth – University of Georgia – Atlanta, GA
Track Guy Movie – Professional Documentary – Andrew Snyder – Iowa City,IA
The Turkey Kings – Professional Documentary – Adam Rich – Los Angeles,CA
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 – Matthew Kozlark – Ridgefield, CT
Always growing…
This year, our record number of submissions had a record total running time of over 53 hours. The Official Selections total over 27 hours. Increasing numbers often creates opportunities to expand the screening schedule. We start earlier on Friday, and created Student Cinema Sunday to showcase of every selected student film.
This year, we’re excited to announce our biggest expansion in years!
In addition to the traditional Friday-Sunday screenings at Collins Road Theatres, join us Thursday night, April 9 for screenings in Cedar Rapids’ historic NewBo District! We’ll be showing films at the Olympic South Side Theater and Ideal Theater. Fun fact: The Ideal was built in 1914 as a silent movie theatre (we guarantee it has modern sound now).
In addition to being screened twice for our enthusiastic audience, Official Selections are honored with a commemorative shirt with their name on the back, your entry featured on promotional statewide media, additional complimentary passes, and advancement into the Saturday night Eddy Awards competition. Gold and Silver Eddy Awards are presented in Professional, Hobbyist, and Student categories for Features, Shorts, Documentaries, and “Freestyle” (experimental, music video, video art, etc.) films. We also award the Audience Choice Eddy and Student Audience Choice Eddy, voted on by audience members. The Iowa Connection Eddy is awarded to the film that best represents Iowa’s filmmaking community. It’s a film that tells the world WHO is making films in Iowa, WHY they’re doing it in this state, and WHAT Iowa stories are being told. Finally, the Collins Road Theatres Scholarship is awarded to a student filmmaker to further the recipient’s filmmaking education.
Celebrating Student Filmmakers
They’re the future of the art and industry. Student filmmakers are integral to the festival’s success, so we value giving them red-carpet treatment.
Our host venue generously continues its COLLINS ROAD THEATRES $1000 SCHOLARSHIP, awarded to a student filmmaker in order to further the recipient’s filmmaking education and career.
We are also proud to present Student Cinema Sunday, a special screening of just student films. Student tickets for this special session are at a greatly reduced rate. At the close of this event, we’ll present the Student Audience Choice Eddy Award!
The Festival is open to the general public, and the Saturday night Eddy Awards Ceremony is free with any other Festival ticket purchase. For pricing and purchase, visit our Tickets Page.
We can’t wait to see you at CRIFF 2026!
The Eddy Awards
The Eddy Awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison who, among many other pursuits, was a pioneer in motion picture technology. The term eddy is also defined as “a current moving contrary to the direction of the main current,” which is a suitable description for independent filmmakers, who often go against the current trends in mainstream cinema.
Thank you for Your Generous Support!
CRIFF host since 2004, $1000 Student Scholarship Sponsor
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