If you love good music and networking, make sure to consider MIFF, as we definitely know how to celebrate your filmmaking accomplishments. We feature unique after party/award events that include LIVE music from entrant sound tracks and/or music video entries.

Also, we will be mixing up our venues for the 2022 event. This means we are truly stepping it up a notch! We have the experience and expertise to produce a filmmaker/musician friendly event.

And, we are adding a LIMO BUS on Saturday to shuttle back and forth between venues and provide a mobile networking experience.

MIFF is intended to be a showcase of Short Films and is designed to encourage and acknowledge the creative efforts involved with respect to this genre. We are a relatively smaller festival (growing each year), so we are able to accept a large portion of entries that get submitted, while keeping our costs down through sponsorships, community support, and efficient budgeting.

New this year, we are including a "BEST MUSIC VIDEO" showcase that will be a part of the entertainment for the Awards Ceremony. We hope to pick our after-party music entrainment from the entrants. MIFF is very musically orientated film festival, as we feel that sound plays a vital role in storytelling and emotional communication. Music and the artists that make it, will be a large part of the 2022 MIFF experience.

A unique feature of our festival is the "Micro-Short" Category. Telling a story in under 4 minutes is no easy task, but sometimes more is indeed less.

The infamous "M&M AWARD" (Murder, Mayhem, and More) category is always a hit on Friday nights. This film block will NOT be family friendly due to some adult content... but that isn't always a bad thing.

The after-parties and awards occur in downtown Muscatine at the Missippi Brew, where we provide great opportunities to network and enjoy live music performances from entrants. The awards venue is the perfect setting for the climax of this event. We stock up the VIP room and provide entertainment to make sure your participation in MIFF was well worth the trip.

MIFF is very supportive of local/regional artists, as evidenced by the BEST IOWA MADE AWARD. It is hoped that providing an awards venue will inspire their creativity and innovative artistic media. This event is also an effort to provide Midwest residents and visiting artists with an engaging weekend of entertainment.

If you can't make it to the festival, you will be happy to know that we award a BEST OF SHOW laurel/designation that aspires not to discriminate between films with or without filmmakers in attendance. We don't mail you a trophy, but you do get a prestigious accolade to add to your credentials, along with a captive audience of filmmakers and enthusiasts that will appreciate your efforts.

Accepted filmmakers who attend will receive passes that include free admission to all film blocks, the VIP ROOM/SHUTTLE BUS, and the red carpet/after-parties, along with a souvenir t-shirt. The after-parties are going to be 'Inspiring', and visiting Muscatine will be a unique chance to experience the charm of a Midwest River Town.

Visit our website for additional information and photos: www.MuscatineFilmFest.com.

Best Short Film - ("Grand Jury Prize"/Must be present to win): Trophy - $250 - MIFF Swag
Best Short Film ("Best of Show" - Regional/National/International Films): Trophy
Best Iowa Made Short Film: Trophy - $125 - MIFF Swag
Best Music Video*: Trophy - $75
*Eligible to be considered for expenses paid performance gig at event
Best Micro-Short Film (Under 4 Minutes): Trophy - $50
Best Featurette: Trophy
Best Sci-Fi (Experimental): Trophy
Murder/Mayhem (The Infamous "M&M Award"): Trophy
Best Local Film: Trophy - MIFF Swag
Best Student Film: Trophy
Viewer's Choice: Trophy
Distinctive Achievement Certificates:
(Categories may include Cinematography, Music/Sound Design, Soundtrack, Music Performance, Screenplay, Iowa Film Making/Acting ,etc)

- All entries are eligible for the Viewer's Choice award.
- Films must have been produced within 3 years of this year's event.
- "Best Local Films" are those produced by current residents of the Greater Muscatine area (35 mile radius of 52761, including the Quad Cities).
- Accepted entries will need to promptly deliver their presentation media.
- Digital HD files (1080p/720p) are the preferred format for accepted entries, made accessible via download.
- All attending award recipients will receive a trophy and/or certificate.
- We don't ship trophies to international destinations.
- We don't mail out the certificates (must be present).
- Attending filmmakers will receive 2 "VIP" passes and a swag bag with souvenir.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I can’t wait to do it again!

    May 2023
  • Wes Worthing

    The hospitality was terrific from the moment I walked in and throughout the festival! It was a joy to network with the musical talent as well as filmmaking peers. Fun festival!

    April 2023
  • Great festival and people. They love film and their community. Always great to see your work with caring people that know how to party!

    December 2019
  • P. Sam Kessie

    Great little festival! Good programming for some great categories. Very supportive staff.

    November 2019
  • Kevin Isaacson

    We had so much fun at this festival. There were a lot of quality films and great Q&A sessions. There were a good number of filmmakers in attendance which really made this enjoyable and provided for a lot of networking opportunities. The hosts did a tremendous job in making us feel welcome and pulling off an entertaining event.

    November 2019
    Logo miffclappersplash
    Response from festival:

    thanks, with your support we should be able to tweak a few things and make it even better next year.