Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Crifm

Crifm fosters Iowa's film community by connecting local talent through events like the FilmSprint Mixer, empowering creatives to collaborate and build their skills in a supportive environment.

CRIFm

Love film challenges, but wish you had a few more hours? Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers (CRIFm) is excited to put our twist on a common formula, and launch the inaugural&nbsp;Iowa 55-hour FilmSprint!&nbsp; The race begins on Friday, Nov 6th at Noon, with the live reveal of this year&#39;s secret elements: genre, character, prop, dialogue line and an Iowa-related icon/landmark. Teams will have until Sunday at 7:00pm&nbsp;to write, shoot, edit and upload their 4-6 minute short film, utilizing all of the secret elements. Dates:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Filmmaker &amp; Actor Mixer (Optional): Thursday, Oct. 22 (6:30pm &ndash; 8:30pm) @ The Ellis House. Free to attend; match with local DPs, sound recordists, writers, and actors to finalize your crew. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Race Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 6 @ 12:00pm (Secret elements released via email and livestream). &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Submission Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 8 @ 7:00pm&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Premiere Screening &amp; Awards: Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 7:00pm @ Whipple Auditorium (Cedar Rapids Public Library).</li></ul> Registration Fees:&nbsp;$75 Standard (through Oct. 23)&nbsp;$95 Last Chance (Oct. 24 &ndash; Nov. 4, or until all slots full).&nbsp;Capped at&nbsp;15 teams for our first year.

Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint

Build Your Crew. Find Your Cast. Get Race-Ready. Whether you are a registered Team Captain looking for that final sound recordist, an actor wanting on-camera screen credits, or a solo creative looking to join an active production, this mixer is designed to match local talent and form complete crews for the Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint (Nov 6&ndash;8). &nbsp; Attendance is completely free, but an RSVP is preferred so we can keep headcount comfortable inside Ellis House. We&#39;ll go over the rules and guidelines of the FilmSprint, discuss tips and tricks for success, and give people a chance to tell the group about themselves and/or their team needs. The vibe will be casual and creative to kick off this exciting new event in Iowa filmmaking.

Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint Mixer

This Giving Tuesday, support Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers (CRIFm) as we champion independent filmmakers with Iowa ties and bring unique film experiences to our community. Your gift fuels CRIFm programming including the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF), the IF Workshop, The Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint, and creates more opportunities for Iowa-connected filmmakers to grow, connect and share their stories. Want to help all year long? Choose a monthly gift. Thank you for being part of our community.

This Giving Tuesday, support Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers (CRIFm) as we champion independent filmmakers with Iowa ties and bring unique film experiences to our community.Your gift fuels CRIFm programming including the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF), the IF Workshop, The Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint, and creates more opportunities for Iowa-connected filmmakers to grow, connect and share their stories.Want to help all year long? Choose a monthly gift.Thank you for being part of our community.

Giving Tuesday: CRIFm

IF you have an idea, this event is the next step to making your film. The IF Workshop, presented by Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers. Take the next step: transcend being an aspiring filmmaker, BECOME a filmmaker, or raise the bar on your next project - right here in Iowa. Whether you&rsquo;re brand new to the camera, a dedicated hobbyist looking to polish your skills, or a life-long learning professional eager to gain new strategies and network, this day is for you. Join us for a fun, focused afternoon of conversation, networking, and sessions designed to take your skills to the next level. For 2026, a session with a professional screenwriter (David Matalon, Totally Killer,&nbsp;2023) covering how to prep your screenplay to be ready for all the people that need to engage with it and hold their interest. A second session about scaling your production to fit the budget and resources you have available led by&nbsp;Mediaverse Studios.&nbsp;

IF Workshop 2026

What happens when regional filmmakers, writers, and actors are given just 55 hours to write, shoot, edit, and deliver an original short film from scratch? Come find out at the official big-screen theatrical premiere of the inaugural Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint! From Friday, Nov. 6th at noon to Sunday, Nov. 8th at 7:00pm, several Iowa-based filmmaking teams raced against the clock to produce completed 3-to-6-minute short films. Every project was required to incorporate secret elements drawn at kickoff, including the genre, a character name &amp; occupation, a prop, line of dialogue, and an Iowa-specific element. Now, their work hits the big screen in a single theatrical showcase at Whipple Auditorium! You Be the Judge: Live Audience Choice Award Your ticket includes a vote for the official Audience Choice Award. You&rsquo;ll watch every completed film, vote for your favorite, and watch the winner crowned live at the end of the evening! What&rsquo;s on the Line for the Filmmakers:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The CRIFF 2027 Pipeline: The Top 3 films (two juried picks and the Audience Choice winner) earn guaranteed official selection slots at the 2027 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival!</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cash Prizes &amp; Trophies: Cash prizes awarded to top finishers, plus custom trophies for Best Film, Runner-Up, and Audience Choice.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Category Honors: Award Certificates presented for Best Director, Cinematography, Writing, Acting (Cast), and Best Use of Secret Elements.</li></ul>Evening Schedule<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">5:30pm: Doors open, filmmaker step-and-repeat photos, and seating.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">6:00pm: Screening begins (all completed films shown back-to-back).</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">7:30pm: Audience Choice voting &amp; brief intermission.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">7:45pm: Awards ceremony &amp; announcement of the CRIFF 2027 Official Selections.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">8:00pm: Closing remarks and post-event mixing.</li></ul>Ticketing<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">General Admission: $10 per seat.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Limited Capacity: Due to theater capacity, only 125 public tickets are available. We strongly recommend reserving in advance online; walk-up tickets at the door are subject to availability.</li></ul>Parking &amp; AccessibilityFree evening street parking is available around Greene Square and 5th Ave. SE. Covered parking is also available in the 4th Ave. City Parking Ramp directly across from the library. Whipple Auditorium is fully ADA compliant with wheelchair-accessible seating.

CRIFm

CRIFm

Upcoming events

Events

Get your tickets

IF Workshop 2026

Get your tickets

Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint Premiere

More ways to support us

Donate now

Giving Tuesday: CRIFm

Powered by

.css-jjssc6 a{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jjssc6 a:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:hsl(209, 0%, 100%);}CRIFm

Upcoming events

Events

Get your tickets

IF Workshop 2026

Get your tickets

Iowa 55-Hour FilmSprint Premiere

More ways to support us

Donate now

Giving Tuesday: CRIFm

Powered by

CRIFm