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.

We don't have a ton of rules. There is no date-of-completion requirement. If you want to enter film school work from 20 years ago, we're not going to stop you. Films entered in earlier Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festivals are not eligible.

IOWA CONNECTION
The big rule that's unique to our event, is that the entry must 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). If you don't think your film qualifies, ask around...you just might have an Iowan on set!

PROAM VS. PROFESSIONAL
We define ProAm filmmakers as those who earn less than 50% of their income from filmmaking and/or media production activities. This includes film, commercial production, event videography, TV news and other occupations that would indicate a filmmaker's experience and/or training in production, and/or provide access to professional equipment, talent, facilities, etc. Films submitted by ProAm filmmakers, but with professional key crew members (director, DP, editor, producer) must be entered as Professional. The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival reserves the right to reassign entries to more appropriate categories, if deemed necessary. Filmmakers will be notified in the event of a change.

Selected entries may have clips and/or stills used for promotional purposes.

NECESSARY LEGALESE
Copyright law requires the entrant have written permission from the owner of any material protected by copyright which is used within this entry. Copyrighted material may include, but is not limited to, film/video clips, logos, photos, artwork, music and dialogue that has been previously published.
The Entrant acknowledges as follows:
The Entrant has read, understood, and complied with all eligibility requirements of the Festival.
The Entrant agrees to allow The Festival to use its Entry and any accompanying materials for The Festival’s promotional campaign. The Entrant has secured all necessary rights and permissions for the Entry to be exhibited at The Festival, and for any images provided to The Festival for publicity purposes. The Entrant will indemnify and hold harmless The Festival, Collins Road Theatres, and their agents and assigns from any claims or losses that result from Entrant’s failure to obtain necessary right or permissions, including attorney’s fees incurred by the indemnified parties. The Entrant with, at its own expense, defend and indemnify each of the foregoing entities or persons from and against all actions; proceedings, claims, demands, damages, costs, and expenses (whether by settlement or award of damages made against the indemnified parties by a final judicial judgment or otherwise) by or due to any third party with respect to the infringement or alleged infringement of any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary right which may be involved in the creation, use, exhibition or publicity of the Entrant’s Entry. The Entrant holds The Festival, Collins Road Theatres, and their agents harmless from any damage to or loss of the Entry en route or otherwise during the course of The Festival’s possession of The Entry. For full effect, record a voice actor reading the above paragraph, and see how far you can speed it up before it's unintelligible.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • D. Andrew Hartfield

    We were honored to be an official selection of CRIFF and thrilled to be awarded the Silver Eddy for ProAm Short for our film "Tillie." Attending the festival was a delight. This festival is so smoothly run, with tremendous communication, and outstanding hospitality. They do a great job creating an environment for filmmakers to network, create friendships, and find inspiration to keep making films. Thank you to all who made our weekend so special.

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Andrew, we appreciate your kind words. Thank you for sharing "Tillie" with us and our audience! We hope to see more of your work in the future.

  • Beth Hinde

    We were so pleased to win the audience choice award for 'The Kids' Table'! The CRIFF is such a fun festival. It was well put together and I loved seeing all the great films nominated this year!!! ❤️

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Beth! We're glad you had a good time, and congrats on the Audience Choice win!

  • Ty Clancey

    Excellent viewing experience at Collins Road Theaters, our film looked and sounded amazing and the place was packed. Very helpful and friendly staff and festival crew, with fantastic communication throughout. Great way to showcase Iowa filmmakers!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Ty, thanks for sharing "Drawn" with us! It was great to have you back again. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see more work in the future!

  • CRIFF is a top tier festival for filmmakers! The team that programs and runs the festival is beyond kind. They are so welcoming and communicative. The audiences are ENGAGED, EXCITED, and GENUINE. We could not ask for a better place to premiere our feature film, Knee High. Filmmakers are so well taken care of here. The VIP lounge is truly amazing and the after parties were so much fun. Hope to return with more films in the future!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Marissa, we appreciate the positive feedback... it help us know how the CRIFF experience is being received. Thank you again for sharing "Knee High" with us and our audiences. We look forward to seeing your future work!

  • Sabryna Papagni

    CRIFF was so well run at at a great, welcoming theater! Loved it!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Big thanks to you and Demian, Sabryna! It was great to meet you, and we truly appreciate sharing "The Family You Choose" with CRIFF and our audiences! We hope to see you again soon!