Our festival started in 2001, as a venue for filmmakers with connections to Iowa to screen their work for peers and general audiences. A big part of CRIFF is recognizing that people with ties to Iowa are in the production industry EVERYWHERE. We're looking for films from anywhere and by anyone, just with an Iowa connection of some sort (details in the Rules section). We've had films submitted from all across the US, and even from other countries! If you don't think your film qualifies, ask around...you just might have an Iowan on set!
The organization's mission is to encourage independent filmmakers with Iowa ties to continue improving their craft, provide a venue to specifically showcase their films, present a unique cultural event to the community, grow the Iowa filmmaking industry, and offer opportunities for networking between Iowa-connected filmmakers everywhere.
Official Selections are honored with TWO SCREENINGS during the Festival, one commemorative T-SHIRT, the entry title featured on promotional statewide media, and advancement into the EDDY AWARDS competition.
Additionally, every entrant, whether selected or not, is welcome to one COMPLIMENTARY FULL-EVENT TICKET, and has the opportunity to schedule a personal CONVERSATION WITH THE JUDGES, on Sunday April 16. This rare opportunity for one-on-one feedback has long been a hallmark of the Festival, and is regarded by many filmmakers as the most valuable perk of entry.
New elements were added in 2023, including a Filmmaker VIP Lounge, all-new Eddy Award Trophies, guest spots on the Screen Speak Podcast, DCP projection technology, and others. The screening schedule was expanded with an earlier start on Friday, and the addition of Student Cinema Sunday, where all selected student films were shown, at a discounted student ticket rate.
The Festival is open to the general public and is held at The Collins Road Theatre located at 1462 Twixt Town Road, Marion, Iowa.
THE EDDY AWARDS are named after Thomas Alva Edison who, among his 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.
GOLD and SILVER EDDY Awards are presented in Professional, Pro-Am and Student categories for Features, Shorts, Documentaries, and "Freestyle" (experimental, music video, video art, etc.) films. We also award the AUDIENCE CHOICE and STUDENT CINEMA AUDIENCE CHOICE EDDYs, voted on by audience members.
Additionally, the COLLINS ROAD THEATRES SCHOLARSHIP ($1000) is awarded each year to a student filmmaker in order to further the recipient's filmmaking education and career.
Finally, the IOWA CONNECTION EDDY is awarded to the film that best represents Iowa's filmmaking community. The winner is a film that tells the world WHO is making films in Iowa, WHY they're doing it in Iowa, and WHAT stories come from Iowa.