The 2023 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival will be held April 14-15, 2023 at the Collins Road Theatres, 1462 Twixt Town Road, Marion, Iowa. The festival is now accepting entries statewide, nationwide, and worldwide for the 20th annual event. Complete rules are available on the festival website, crifm.org, and on its FilmFreewaypage. The Festival accepts films of all genres and from filmmakers at any level of experience - student to seasoned pro - and there is no date-of-completion requirement.
Films are welcomed from anyone, anywhere, however they must meet the unique Iowa Connection requirement. One mission of CRIFF is is to celebrate the fact that there are people in the production industry everywhere, with ties to Iowa. Films must have an Iowa connection of some sort, which 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 (past or present, real or fictional). Said Festival Director, Eric Dean Freese, "In past years, 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!"
Professional, Pro-Am (hobbyists or filmmakers earning <60% of their income from production activities), and Student (K-12 up to Postgraduate) filmmakers can enter Narrative Long Form/Features, Narrative Shorts, Documentaries, and Freestyle Films (entries that don't easily fit into the other 3 categories including, but not limited to: experimental films, music videos, film/video art). The entry period has 3 deadlines, each with an increase in fees. There is a 10% discount for being a FilmFreeway Gold Member.
Deadlines | Pro and Pro-Am Entry Fees | Student Entry Fees |
January 2 | $40 / $36 for FilmFreeway Gold Members | $30 / $27 for FilmFreeway Gold Members |
January 22 | $45 / $40.50 for FilmFreeway Gold Members | $35 / $31.50 for FilmFreeway Gold Members |
February 13 | $55 / $49.50 for FilmFreeway Gold Members | $45 / $40.50 for FilmFreeway Gold Members |
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. Very few film festivals offer this interaction, which gives each filmmaker a chance to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their films, as well as gain valuable information that may help them in any future projects.
In addition to being screened twice, Official Selections are honored with a commemorative t-shirt (with the film names on the back), the entry featured in promotional statewide media, and advancement into the Eddy Awards competition, where they are judged by a panel of production industry experts.
Gold and Silver Eddy Awards are presented in each of the 12 categories. The Audience Choice Eddy is voted on by audience members. The $1,000 Collins Road Theatres Scholarship is awarded each year to a student filmmaker to further the recipient's filmmaking education and career. The Iowa Connection Award is unique to CRIFF. This Eddy is awarded to the film which best represents Iowa's filmmaking community. Freese said, "To put it simply, it is a film that tells the world who is making films in Iowa, why they're doing it in this state, and what Iowa stories are being told."
The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival was created to provide a venue for Iowa-connected filmmakers to screen their work for peers and general audiences. The organization's primary goals are to encourage independent filmmakers with Iowa ties to continue improving their craft, to provide a place to specifically showcase Iowa-connected films, present a unique cultural event to the community, and to offer networking opportunities for the purpose of strengthening Iowa connections in the film industry everywhere.
The Eddy Awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison who, among 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.
FilmFreeway is used by over 12,000 of the world's best film festivals and contests, including 189 Academy Award / BAFTA Award accredited festivals. More than 1 million entries submitted through the platform have been chosen as Official Selections.
For more information, visit www.crifm.org, and to enter, visit https://filmfreeway.com/CedarRapidsIndependentFilmFestival. Up-to-the-minute information can also be found on the festival's Facebook page and other social media platforms. Email CRIFF at info@crifm.org.