2026 CRIFF - Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers / Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival

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!

CRIFF is always growing…

This year, our record number of 121 submissions had a record total running time of over 53 hours. The record number 65 Official Selections (seeing a trend?) 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.

But, we still needed more time for more films…

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).

With these new screenings, what’s happening at CRIFF 2026?

Information about all the films, including synposes, Iowa Connections, runtimes, filmmakers, categories and more are available on the About the Films page. To plan your weekend, consult the Schedule page. Need tickets, or want to learn about the venues? Visit the Tickets & Venues page.

Download a PDF of the Official Program.

Forum: A.I. – Evolution & Ethics in Filmmaking
Saturday, 3:40 p.m.

Is AI-assisted filmmaking…still filmmaking?

AI is here, and it’s already changing every step from writing to delivery. Is AI expanding creativity, or replacing it? Does it lower barriers and empower new voices, or just flood the space with low-effort content?

Some people see opportunity. Some see existential threat. Whose roles are most at risk? Will AI replace jobs, or just shift skillsets? And, what does it mean for independent filmmakers vs. big studios?

From “talkies” to color to CGI, technological advances have evolved the filmmaking process time and time again. Is AI just another tool…or something fundamentally different? What do we stand to lose, and what might we gain; and how do we ensure our seat at the table in the coming years?

Student Forum: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Sunday, 2:05 p.m.

So you’re getting a degree…congratulations. Now what? Can you build a career in Iowa or do you need to move to literally anywhere else? Are you ok doing corporate work as a stepping stone…or is that too “sellout”? Do you need a “real” job, while chasing your dreams on the side? From staying local to seeking opportunities, from side gigs to full-time, we’ll dive into real-world choices facing emerging filmmakers. Hear honest perspectives on how to navigate the industry, make a living, and define success on your own terms.

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.