Interrobang Film Festival
The Interrobang Film Festival, presented by Des Moines Arts Festival, is a free to attend three-day IMDb-verified Festival. It is a juried show, featuring public showings and talkbacks with Directors. Filmmaker submissions are accepted in nine categories and are juried by a panel of peers. The 2026 Festival featured 36 juried films from nine countries. Special thanks to the Des Moines Area Community College Video Production Students.
Location
Interrobang Film Festival is held at the east end of the Des Moines Arts Festival inside the (air-conditioned) Des Moines Central Library (1000 Grand Avenue).
Interrobang Hours
Friday, June 26: 11:10 A.M. – 8:45 P.M.
Saturday, June 27: 2 – 7:10 P.M.
Sunday, June 28: 11:15 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Interrobang Film Festival 2024 Recap video, Credit: Hannah Carlton
Film Panels
Iowa Filmmakers Panel
Hosted by: Produce Iowa, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority
-
Saturday, June 27, 2 P.M. - 2:45 P.M.
DMACC Studio 5 Conversations
-
Sunday June 29, 1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
Talkbacks
A "talkback" is a post-screening discussion where the audience engages with the filmmakers, actors, or other experts involved in the film. These discussions provide a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process and allow attendees to ask questions and deepen their understanding of the film.
2026 Interrobang Film Festival Screening Times
Producer:
May Day
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block A
11:10 a.m.
Run Time
00:10:45
Category:
Student Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Kim Reese
Country of Origin:
United States
Kim Reese
May Day follows 16-year-old Gemma on a birthday that she spends with herself. After allowing herself to feel, she leaves her room to enter a house that she is not familiar with. Following the sound of chatter through the house, she finds herself
in a celebration of a 26th birthday: her own 26th birthday. By observing herself in the future, she then confronts who she is and what she becomes. The short answer, loved. Returning to her 16th birthday, Gemma allows herself to feel, to feel happy.
Producer:
Ranger Dave Enjoys a Quiet Evening
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block A
11:10 a.m.
Run Time
00:02:42
Category:
Student Short, Animation
Directed by:
Producer:
Sarah Via
Country of Origin:
United States
Sarah Via
A park ranger's peaceful night of watching over the animals at the beach is suddenly interrupted by a drunk man on an ATV.
Producer:
On The Dry Bank Of The River / Jafaaf
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block A
11:10 a.m.
Run Time
00:23:10
Category:
Student Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Almourad Aldeeb
Country of Origin:
Germany
Almourad Aldeeb
During the war, the father dies, the rest of the family gathers. Three siblings, after years of separation, must deal with their fractured relationships and the death of the father.
Producer:
Blame Island
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block A
11:10 a.m.
Run Time
00:30:10
Category:
Student Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Maxwell Burton
Country of Origin:
United States
Maxwell Burton
The infamous college experience. In a friend group of four, Kai and Kora test the romantic potential of their relationship. Peyton and Alex find out. When their opinions come into play, everything changes.
Producer:
The Journeying
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block B
12:20 p.m.
Run Time
00:40:36
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Josh Dragge and Chris Ward
Country of Origin:
United States
Josh Dragge and Chris Ward
On a multi-day stand-up paddle-board journey to his childhood home in Iowa, a Colorado father and four friends confront the humor, hardship, and uncertainty of middle age.
Producer:
Marie's Ambition
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block C
1:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:17:00
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Manu Fernández
Country of Origin:
Spain
Manu Fernández
Marie faces the hegemonic king of chess and during the tournament, in a speakeasy, a high-ranking official of an organization will make an attractive but crazy proposal to the French player to improve her game. What she doesn't know is that this persuasive and elegant man is none other than the prince of darkness himself.
Producer:
Ideal Recruit
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block C
1:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:07:09
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Mike Stinnett
Country of Origin:
United States
Mike Stinnett
A young man meets a potential employer at a restaurant for an interview over lunch. All goes well and his chances look good.
Producer:
Homebound
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block C
1:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:23:52
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Tamás Katona, Gergő Angyal, Béla Lendvai, Bence Szemerey, Szabolcs Szakacsits
Country of Origin:
Hungary
Kristóf Lendvai
Lost in the foreign city of Budapest, a solitary Chinese man finds his place in the world not through words, but through a single, unexpected moment of human connection.
Producer:
Girl Dad
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block D
1:55 p.m.
Run Time
00:14:34
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Rachael Hudson, Ty Hudson
Country of Origin:
United States
Rachael Hudson
Across laughter and quiet conversations that span years, a father and daughter navigate the joy of being together and the pain of a love that must learn to endure being apart.
Producer:
Middle Grounds
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block D
1:55 p.m.
Run Time
00:26:52
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Kevin Smokler & Christopher Boone
Country of Origin:
United States
Kevin Smokler & Christopher Boone
MIDDLE GROUNDS is a documentary short about Bison Coffeehouse, a Northeast Portland hub for coffee, community, and conversation — things that unite us when so much divides us. Coffee shops often become the places where we play out the struggle between our political and social differences in America. MIDDLE GROUNDS is the story of one small business at a time in our country when who we are, what we believe and with whom we associate remain questions we can either settle with difficult conversations or with simpleminded violence.
Producer:
The Oldest
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block E
2:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:09:48 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Yasmeen Magar, Kristian Day, Cathlin McCullough, Jenn Coast, Allison & Chris Maddox
Country of Origin:
United States
Cathlin McCullough
12-year-old Kate longs to escape her lonely reality as the oldest of 5 under the shadow of her father's addiction in this coming-of-age story set in late 80s rural Iowa. “The Oldest” focuses on the inner life of a girl forced to grow up too fast, longing to escape her stressful home life and just be a kid.
Producer:
I Went to the Party
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block E
2:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:25:04
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Aminee Hoff
Country of Origin:
United States
Max Buzecky
Back home after graduating college, Sam's only connection to the outside world is online chat spaces and her co-worker, Trevor. One New Year's Eve, she will get the chance to change that.
Producer:
Dobrina
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block E
2:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:05:00
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Hannes Rall
Country of Origin:
Germany/Singapore
Hannes Rall
Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short,
where desire burns as bright as the desert sun.
Producer:
Broken Promises
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block F
3:35 p.m.
Run Time
00:43:42 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Joseph Giitter
Country of Origin:
United States
Joseph Giitter
The Omaha Public Power District has the largest customer base in Nebraska, a state that is 100% public power. The utility management has repeatedly promised to retire an aging coal plant located in a low-income community of color--a community that has just more than its share of problems. As the utility prepares to convert the plant to natural gas, the State of Nebraska intervenes with a lawsuit. Will the utility buckle under political pressure or keep its promise to the people?
Producer:
Hold Me - Walter Day
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block G
4:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:05:14 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Music Video
Directed by:
Producer:
Ed Cunningham
Country of Origin:
United States
H.D. Harmsen, Patrick Tape Fleming, and Dan Welk
Walter Day is considered the father of eSports. At the ripe age of 70 he decided to record his first album. Walter Day – Hold Me (Official Video) is a short-form visual meditation on love, loss, and transcendence, inspired by the life and music of Walter Day.
Producer:
New Midlife Disco
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block G
4:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:03:27
Category:
Music Video
Directed by:
Producer:
HYUN Jiyun
Country of Origin:
South Korea
HYUN Jiyun
New Midlife Disco depicts the “second act” of life for the new midlife generation, portraying individuals who once again step forward as the protagonists of their own stories. Rather than dwelling on nostalgia for youth, the film looks toward the present and the future, where they move forward with greater agency.
Through music and movement, the video sings of dreams and hopes that continue to burn—affirming that life, even in midlife, remains a space for choice, desire, and becoming.
Producer:
On the Ground
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block G
4:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:04:25
Category:
Music Video
Directed by:
Producer:
Powersource Productions
Country of Origin:
United States
Branjae Jackson
On the Ground is a cinematic meditation on resilience, exploring the space between despair and hope, isolation and perseverance. Set against striking visual landscapes, an abandoned warehouse drenched in shadow, vast green fields beneath endless blue skies, and a solitary journey down an open road bathed in golden light. The film follows artist Branjae as she moves through depression, loneliness, and the desire to escape. Through dreamlike floating imagery, sweeping cinematic compositions, and intimate performance moments, the narrative reveals the quiet strength found in remaining grounded through life's darkest seasons. Captured with breathtaking visual storytelling by Cherokee filmmaker and director of photography Jeremy Charles, the film contrasts gritty realism with vibrant color and ethereal movement, evoking the visual richness of an independent feature film. Produced by Powersource Productions, On the Ground is an inspirational visual poem about choosing presence over surrender and discovering power in standing firmly where you are.
Producer:
Opera Houses of Iowa
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block H
5:05 p.m.
Run Time
00:15:28 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Documentary Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Eddie Arruza
Country of Origin:
United States
Eddie Arruza
Between the mid-1800s and the early 20th century, an estimated 1500 opera houses were built in Iowa in towns of every size. The buildings often had multiple uses with spaces for stores, a community gathering area, and as the name suggests, an auditorium where a wide range of entertainment could take place in an era when strict moral standards oversaw all aspects of society. In the 21st century, only about 300 of these buildings are still standing. A few have been restored to something approximating their original look while meeting modern public space standards. Meanwhile, a handful of others are waiting, most likely in vain, for a renaissance of their own.
Producer:
Fork in the Road
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block H
5:35 p.m.
Run Time
01:28:24
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Nick Offerman, Lisa Holmes, Ricki Stern
Country of Origin:
United States
Vivian Sorenson and Jonathan Nastasi
An exploration of the profound connections between people, the land, and the future of our food system. From independent small-scale farmers across the United States, from Alaskan kelp harvesters to dairy farmers in Kentucky, the film reveals the authentic, lived realities and unprecedented challenges of those working against the tide of escalating industrialization in agriculture. Fork in the Road expands the conversation beyond the farm, highlighting how food sustainability is a shared responsibility that extends into our kitchens and communities. More than a call to environmental action, the film illuminates the vital ways that sustainable food practices can nourish our bodies, strengthen our communities, and heal the Earth.
Producer:
A TROUT AND THE LAST WALTZ
Date
Friday, June 26
Time Block I
7:05 p.m.
Run Time
01:35:00
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Asato Sakamoto
Country of Origin:
Japan
Asato Sakamoto
A Yamame trout born in the river travels to the sea, eventually becoming a Masu Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) and returning to the river. This journey connects the forest and the sea, nurturing the life and culture of the river basin over a long period. However, the development of modern society gradually began to obstruct this migration. Tens of thousands of dams built for disaster prevention have divided the river from the sea, and abandoned forests are increasing the risk of disasters. The development of renewable energy, promoted as a measure against global warming, is also shaking the very foundation of nature and society. This documentary, through the life of the Masu Salmon, questions the trajectory of nature and culture being lost in the shadow of economic development.
Producer:
NIGHT FEEDS
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block A
3:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:16:40
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Adia Ivey
Country of Origin:
United States
Rana Roy
An Arab-American mother drowns in postpartum as a night nurse unsettles her and war floods her screens. Her private paranoia bleeds into the violence beyond her walls- blurring nightmare and reality... But is the madness in her mind or the world around her?
Producer:
Fade to White
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block A
3:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:10:57
Category:
Student Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Angela Tapia
Country of Origin:
Canada
Liam Fowler
As a dying film director’s life flashes before his eyes, his memories morph into a shifting movie genre fantasy where he’s faced with the friends that helped built his career but he left along the way— looking for mercy in those final moments, he is met with those familiar faces in a bad joke from his subconscious in the form of a redeeming dream.
Producer:
[Trans] Texan
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block A
3:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:20:13
Category:
Student Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Hallie Harper
Country of Origin:
United States
Hallie Harper
Amidst the changing political environment in Texas, two trans individuals-- James and Evie-- navigate their day-to-day lives while discussing the implications of the current social and political landscape.
Producer:
Urban Mining
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block B
4:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:23:16 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Eric Smidt
Country of Origin:
United States
Eric Smidt
Urban Mining highlights how Central Iowa innovation is tackling a global challenge by transforming discarded electronics into a domestic source of rare earth elements. By recovering critical materials from electronic waste, the film highlights efforts to strengthen America’s supply chain for strategically important technologies, energy systems, and national defense.
Producer:
untitled
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block B
4:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:14:56 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Chris Wubbena, Jaime Mayfield, Giovanni Wubbena
Country of Origin:
United States
Chris Wubbena
An unexpected stranger ducks into a gallery and turns a typical, boring day into a life altering event as he wanders from sculpture to sculpture, pondering how he got there, how he can get away, and what’s waiting for him outside.
Producer:
The Retirement Party
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block C
5:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:06:43 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Justin & Kristin Schaack
Country of Origin:
United States
Justin & Kristin Schaack
A retirement party is derailed by coworkers who can't agree on anything - even basic facts about their recent shared history.
Producer:
My Adoring Husband
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block C
5:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:08:33 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Tyson Stock
Country of Origin:
United States
Tyson Stock
An adored but constrained wife considers her options to break free of her supposedly charmed life.
Producer:
Detour
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block C
5:00 p.m.
Run Time
00:18:55 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Beth Hinde
Country of Origin:
United States
Demian Alan Mancino
Detour is a tense, emotional drama about a young woman trapped in the shadows of abuse while working at a high-pressure corporate job. She hides the truth behind polite smiles and late nights, but her friends begin to notice cracks in her carefully built façade. As her boss piles on pressure and hostility, the walls close in, leaving her questioning if she’ll ever find a way out—or if the road she’s on will end in ruin.
Producer:
Foresight
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block D
6:15 p.m.
Run Time
00:06:33 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Kayla Sullers- Fresh Films
Country of Origin:
United States
Aj Johnson & Declan Sibley
Mike has a secret he never asked for: flashes of the future strike him without warning. The visions are never clear enough to explain why they happen, only who will suffer. When a glimpse reveals that the people he loves most are at the center of an unfolding chain of tragedies, Mike makes it his mission to stop what he’s seen, even if it means unraveling his own life in the process. Each attempt to change the future only seems to twist it into something worse, forcing Mike to confront a cruel paradox: knowing what’s coming may be the very thing that causes it. As the visions grow darker and more personal, he must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice to protect the people he loves
Producer:
SIMULTANÉ
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block D
6:15 p.m.
Run Time
00:14:00 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Sheri Davenport
Country of Origin:
France/USA
Thomas Grascouer
On the sun-drenched shores of the Côte d’Azur, a woman slips away from her family for an afternoon and steps out of time to rediscover forgotten dreams and imagine the person she might have become.
Producer:
Pocket Change
Date
Saturday, June 27
Time Block D
6:15 p.m.
Run Time
00:15:13
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Lana Link
Country of Origin:
United States
Tanner Mobley and Heston Roewe
When the power goes out at a roadside diner in the middle of nowhere, a mysterious drifter and his seemingly worthless quarter hold the key to saving everyone from a deadly threat.
Producer:
UNDIVIDED with Simran Jeet Singh
Date
Sunday, June 28
Time Block A
11:15 a.m.
Run Time
00:30:00
Category:
Documentary, Television
Directed by:
Producer:
Colby Gottert
Country of Origin:
United States
Jack Gordon
UNDIVIDED is a docuseries that asks the question: “Who is included in the story of America?” Hosted by Simran Jeet Singh—an educator, activist, and national bestselling author—UNDIVIDED takes us on a cross-country tour to discover how the fight for freedom through American history has shaped and been shaped by our diverse religious communities. UNDIVIDED introduces audiences to stories that are often unknown and overlooked, shedding light on how our unique struggles actually bind us together.
Producer:
Midnight Metro: A Fashion Story
Date
Sunday, June 28
Time Block A
11:15 a.m.
Run Time
1:08:28
Category:
Student Feature Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Madeline Carlton
Country of Origin:
United States
Madeline Carlton
In a place better known for cornfields than catwalks, a determined group of students redefines what fashion looks like in the heart of the Midwest. Midnight Metro: A Fashion Story goes behind the scenes of the tenth annual fashion show at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, spotlighting the passion, pressure, and purpose that drive the students and faculty of the DMACC Fashion Institute (DFI). The documentary follows the journey and preparation for the 2024 fashion show, from the first sketch to the final runway walk. Fueled by ambition and heart, Midnight Metro: A Fashion Story is a celebration of ten years of transformation—of garments, of lives, and of what’s possible when artistry meets opportunity in unexpected places.
Producer:
'Kamal's'
Date
Sunday, June 28
Time Block B
1:50 p.m.
Run Time
01:12:12 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Feature Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Laura Fendt
Country of Origin:
United States
Nich L. Perez
In rural Iowa, a Muslim chef and his Catholic wife fuse their cultures in the kitchen and beyond, serving dishes that blend Middle Eastern tradition with Midwestern bounty. But their greatest recipe is for belonging, as they build a community where everyone has a seat at the table.
Producer:
Track Guy Movie
Date
Sunday, June 28
Time Block C
3:20 p.m.
Run Time
01:05:00 + Talkback (00:10:00)
Category:
Documentary
Directed by:
Producer:
Andrew Snyder
Country of Origin:
United States
Andrew Snyder
For over 30 years, Mike Jay’s voice has echoed through track and field stadiums across Iowa and the United States, from the Iowa High School State Meet to the Drake Relays and beyond. But his impact goes far beyond the mic. Through the Track Guy Foundation, Mike, his family, and foundation supporters have helped advance the sports of track and field and cross country by supporting athletes and building community across the state. Follow the high school track season through Mike’s eyes and witness the profound influence he and the foundation have had on generations of athletes.
Producer:
Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up
Date
Sunday, June 28
Time Block D
4:40 p.m.
Run Time
00:14:48
Category:
Short
Directed by:
Producer:
Chris Edgar and Trần Hoàng Calvin
Country of Origin:
United States
Trần Hoàng Calvin
The Clifford family hopes to start a new life by selling their dilapidated, impoverished farm. But when the discovery of an endangered bird on the property threatens to collapse the sale, the son Andy must decide whether to make the bird's presence known or to shoot, shovel, and shut up.
2026 Festival Information
November 3, 2025: Submissions open on Film Freeway
December 31, 2025: Early bird submission deadline
February 8, 2026: Regular submission deadline
March 8, 2026: Late submission deadline
March 29, 2026: Extended (and final) deadline
May 15, 2026: Selection notification
May 29, 2026: Material deadline for selected films
June 26 - 28, 2026: Festival