Iowa Independent Film Festival :: Festival Passes and Tickets

A selfless nurse sacrifices his job and his sanity to care for his adored wife.

Director: Molly Zavitz

This tribute to a former vice-president and secretary of agriculture illustrates a unique view of how the "Washington political machine" mistrusts the honesty, intellect and vision of an outsider. (57 min) *winner 'Best Documentary' award

Director: Joan D. Murray

For over a century fans have followed college football in the Midwest. However, until now the origins of one college team has been a mystery. This untold story of the first decade of college football in Nebraska and the Midwest from 1890 to 1900 come to life with engaging images. (65 min)

Director: Jim Fields

A glimpse into the projection booth of the Fort Union drive-In in Las Vegas , New Mexico. The last of its kind, still screening from its original carbon-arc projector, installed in the 1940’s. (6 min)

Director: Brennan Foster

An outsiders look at the U.S. presidential nominating process in an attempt to figure out how it works; and why on earth Iowa has such a big say in deciding who becomes the next leader of the free world. (55 min)

Director: Rebecca Glenn

A true story and inspiring glimpse of U.S. Senator John McCain’s internment in a prison camp during the Vietnam War. (4 min)

Director: Matthew Kohnen , spiritclips.com

George Washington was the third generation of his family born in America. Most of us don’t think of the founding fathers as immigrants. The story of the Washingtons exemplifies the American immigrant experience over the last 300 years. (54 min)

Director: Ken Winber

The small Iowa town of Pella, attempts to break the record for most people dancing in wooden shoes (35 min)

Director:Jacob Rosdail

Joshua is a seven year old Liberian war orphan,who unconsciously attempts to comfort and heal the pain of his own past by trying to comfort the one thing more vulnerable than he. (16 min)

Director:Todd Looby

A heart-warming story of an elderly women whose ability to care for her mentally challenged adult son is called into question by her odd behavior. (85 min) *Our 'Best Performance' award goes to Jim Brockhohn for his portrayal of Oliver.

Director: Scott Thompson, Our Town Films

Four New Jersey mothers widowed on 9/11 have to fight Washington every step of the way for the creation of the Independent 9/11 Commission. Rare overlooked news clips, buried accounts and government press conferences reveal a pattern of deception. A forceful argument for why the 9/11 tragedies still need investigation. (85 min)

Director: Ray Nowosielski

A historical re-enactment of the early development of Perry Iowa and the legendary Hotel Patee, one of Iowa's great weekend getaway destinations. (27 min)

Director: Woody Smith

After loosing their home in an unfortunate chain of events. A family finds the helps of Habitat for Humanity, restoring their dream of obtaining “a place to call home”. (10 min)

Director: Tiffany Schmidt & Karen Kobliska

1900: Hoping to escape the Balkan wars and a life of poverty. They came to America with big dreams. Eventually making their way to Mason City, Iowa with hopes of finding work, they settled into a three block area known as Powder Street. A real melting pot that would occasionally boil over. ( 52 min)

Director: Gary Ewing

Step back to 1980 during the farm debt crisis, when a third generation farmer struggles to save his family farm from pending foreclosure.

Director: Stacia Allen

A panorama of history in the Midwest through the saga of the one room school. Both a view of the controversy on the closings and a dispelling of myths is done with humor and nostalgia from reflections of teachers and students. (72 min)

Director: Kelly Rundle

Set in the heartland of America is an ironic tale about memories, death, life, prejudice and second chances. (15 min)

Director: Francesca Soans

Garage warrior Michael Reynolds (founder of Earthship) and his team travel to Haiti to teach the locals and empower them to build Earthship homes for themselves, literally out of the rubble and ruin around them. (12 min) *winner ‘Best Short Documentary’ award

Director: Paul America
short Q&A sessions after each screening

(animation) Two frogs fall into a deep dark pit... and eventually surprise everyone. What we can do... with a little encouragement. (3 min)

Director: Sam Youseflan and Ramiro Cazaux, spiritclips.com

Defined as the animating force of nature, this film’s focus is on the healing power of plants that are naturally here around us all. With stunning footage and thought-provoking interviews, “Numen” presents a vision of safe, effective and sustainable medicine. (95 min)

Directors:Terrence Youk & Ann Armbrecht

Barbara and Doris grow tired of their regular, weekly poker game. In the next hand they decide to “up the anty.” (5 min)

Director: Karis Yanlke

Out of the ashes of a rural boys abduction comes a gripping story of redemption when the boy is rescued and the abductor is held prisoner by an ex-cop with his own scars. (99 min.) *note: for mature audiences

Director: Tom Geraty

Stuck in purgatory, A literary pirate recounts the last year of this life and his relationship with taxidermy thief April Mae. He finds he may have lost more than just his life. Will he have a chance to get it all back? (24 min)

Director: Ryan Quinn

The Brits and Aussies who built the ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ are transported back to Japan only to be mistakenly torpedoed by an American submarine. A dramatic rescue ensues with Iowan Bob Bennett diving into the burning ocean to pull out a few of the haggard POWs.

Director: John Schindler

A glimpse into the projection booth of the Fort Union drive-In in Las Vegas , New Mexico. The last of its kind, still screening from its original carbon-arc projector, installed in the 1940’s. (6 min)

Director: Brennan Foster

Stuck in the monotony of daily life in Illinois are six different people who intersect as they deal with their secret pasts, current problems and life choices. (84 min)

Director: Scott Cerny

A comedic look at the horrors of dating and bathing with....“younger” men. (11 min) *adult language

Director: Christine Elise McCarthy

An insightful tale of online dating gone wrong....or has it? (15 min) *winner ‘Best Short Subject’ award

Director: Sherilyn Segal

Discover the beauty of the unique Karena family’s life in New Zealand, their connection to nature and their 50 horses. Their survival skills and uncompromising character are tested against heart-breaking obstacles, turning those hardships into a meaningful life and never losing site of the magic of every day. (82 min)

Director: Thomas Burstyn

Experience a new pilot project as it is being developed for a potential T.V. series. (90 min)

Director: Tommy Lightfoot Garrett

12 year old Raymond’s lonely life, is made even lonelier by constant bullying from other boys at school. Then one day they go too far. (30 min.) this film is geared to pre-teens
* NOTE: Violent content ,not suitable for children under age 10

Director: Thomas Brown, National center for youth issues

Inspired by a true story this engaging account reveals the emotionally painful world of an overweight teen’s experiences in the face of a thin-obsessed society. (78 min) *Included in the Youth Film Fest.

Director: Jason Winn, Tin Roof Films

The life of a minute. one young man's life boiled down to one minute (1 min)

Director: Craig Johnso

April’s Heart tears the masks off of our youth, to really see inside them.... An intimate look at the challenges, hopes and dreams of American teenagers. (38 min) *winner ‘Best Student Film’ ( And highest overall film rating score of the whole festival.)

written and directed by young people from Sanford High School in Sanford, Maine.
(part of the youth film fest- Free to youth age 10 and up)

The dramatic story of the American Civil War told through actual letters, that had been recently discovered, written between an Iowa soldier and his wife: Captain Jacob Ritner & Emeline. (83 min)

Director: Charles Larimer
Listen to an Interview on Iowa Public Radio

Garage warrior Michael Reynolds (founder of Earthship) and his team travel to Haiti to teach the locals and empower them to build Earthship homes for themselves, literally out of the rubble and ruin around them. (12 min) *winner ‘Best Short Documentary’ award

Director: Paul America
short Q&A sessions after each screening

After loosing their home in an unfortunate chain of events. A family finds the helps of Habitat for Humanity, restoring their dream of obtaining “a place to call home”. (10 min)

Director: Tiffany Schmidt & Karen Kobliska

Step back to 1980 during the farm debt crisis, when a third generation farmer struggles to save his family farm from pending foreclosure.

Director: Stacia Allen

A panorama of history in the Midwest through the saga of the one room school. Both a view of the controversy on the closings and a dispelling of myths is done with humor and nostalgia from reflections of teachers and students. (72 min)

Director: Kelly Rundle

This tribute to a former vice-president and secretary of agriculture illustrates a unique view of how the "Washington political machine" mistrusts the honesty, intellect and vision of an outsider. (57 min) *winner 'Best Documentary' award

Director: Joan D. Murray

A true story and inspiring glimpse of U.S. Senator John McCain’s internment in a prison camp during the Vietnam War. (4 min)

Director: Matthew Kohnen , spiritclips.com

George Washington was the third generation of his family born in America. Most of us don’t think of the founding fathers as immigrants. The story of the Washingtons exemplifies the American immigrant experience over the last 300 years. (54 min)

Director: Ken Winber

Brent finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now his winning basketball season is on the brink, his friend’s life hangs in balance and he is forced into trying to solve the very crime he was involved in committing. (114 min) *winner ‘Best Feature Movie’ award.

Director: John Grooters

A man seeks help from a medium, but finds more in his visit than he expected.

Director: Tanner Brandt

Get drawn into a small Iowa town as both local teams wind their way to state tournament basketball titles. Contains adventures, challenges and twists that make success nearly impossible. Based on a true story. (80 min)

Director: Jamey Durham