Presented as part of the Des Moines Arts Festival, the Interrobang Film Festival is a three-day event taking place during the Des Moines Arts Festival. The audience - whether cinema enthusiasts or curious newcomers - can experience curated screenings from films around the globe.

Unsolicited waiver fees will not be given.
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Winner of the Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association
Winner of the Encore Award from Bravo Greater Des Moines
Proud Inductee to the National Association of Independent Artists Hall of Fame
Named Best Cultural Attraction by Des Moines Business Record

As of 2019, we are officially IMDB eligible. Our awards are verified and populated on the IMDB website.

Awards:
Best of Show
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Feature Narrative
Best Short Narrative
Best of Iowa
Best Student Film
IFF Producer's Choice

Interrobang Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening for both a live audience as well as streamed for an online audience and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Interrobang Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

By being accepted into our festival, you are also eligible to be considered for the Executive Directors’ Curated Picks program which is being administered through the State of Iowa. If you are accepted into this program, your film will be included in a highlights reel celebrating some of the best films from Iowa's current film festival season. This curated programming will then be shown in various locations around the state in order to promote our film festivals as a whole and to celebrate the level of programming shown in communities from filmmakers around the world. It's important to note that your film will not be broadcast or shown on-line. If for any reason you would like to opt out of being eligible for this program, please contact the director of this festival. Otherwise, the state's film office will be in contact with you should your work be chosen. If you have any further questions or concerns about this program, please contact EJ Philby at ej.philbyburton@iowa.gov.

Interrobang does not pay screening fees of any type.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • MAR VIVO FILMS

    Amazing festival of the arts, really nice communication, we were glad to have our film screened in your cinema, many thanks from Hong Kong!

    July 2023
  • Hernán Ballard

    Unlike the Wisconsin Film Festival or SXSW, which in my experience welcome filmmakers with a red carpet, special parties, accommodations and genuine interest, filmmakers at Interrobang are an afterthought. Unlike other festivals where you can show up and give a Q&A, Interrobang requires you to sign up for your Q&A, which doesn't even take place after your film is screened. How is anybody going to remember anything about a 6-minute short film in a stacked program the next day? This format baffles me. When I missed the deadline to sign up for my Q&A slot, I asked if there was any reason I should attend the festival, having to drive 2,000 miles to get to it. Daphne Dickens, the program manager, simply said "there are"... then proceeded to send me the schedule for filmmakers who had signed up for the Q&A. Wow! What great hospitality! If I ever submit to Interrobang again, it's only because it's incredibly cheap, but it's not worth the disappointment.

    July 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Hernan - interesting feedback....all the talkbacks were scheduled following their films scheduled times. We'd agree - having a talkback the next day of a film scheduled the day before doesn't make sense so we're not sure where the disconnect was. We like to be accessible for all filmmakers - whether a student short submission like yourself or a seasoned documentarian. Best of luck!

  • Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your festival! It is very important to me!

    July 2023
  • Yen-Kuang Chen

    Highly recommend this film festival

    July 2022
  • Kevin Isaacson

    Great communication and loved the festival setup. Good panel with area filmmakers.

    July 2022