Interrobang Film Festival
The Interrobang Film Festival, presented by Des Moines Arts Festival, is a 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. This year's event will feature 24 juried films from nine countries. Screenings will include feature, student, short, and documentary. Special thanks to the Des Moines Area Community College Video Production Students. Admission is free.
interrobang 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: 11:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Saturday: 1 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Sunday: 11:30 A.M. – 5:00 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
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Saturday, June 28th
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1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
DMACC Studio 5 Conversations
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Sunday June 29th
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1:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.
WHAT'S A TALKBACK?
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.

Producer:

Purgatory
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
10:00
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Van McCourt-Ostrand and Michael McCourt
Directed by:
Owen McCourt
Unscrupulous business executive Connor Easton-Osuna meets a beauracratic hellscape upon his untimely death, weaving through departments he tries to make sense of his demise.
Producer:

The Junction
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
40:00
Category:
Web/TV Series Pilot
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Katherine Croft, Natalie Peyser, and Harriet Cauthery
Directed by:
AJ Lambert
A mother and daughter try to navigate their strained relationship while running from a haunting that follows them wherever they go.
Producer:

Ya Hanouni
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
3:00
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
France
Producer:
Directed by:
Lyna Tadount and Sofian Chouaib
While the Mom and the Dad try to put their baby to sleep, a competition arises between them: who will manage to get the baby to say the first word?
Producer:

Shakespeare for all Ages
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
2:42
Category:
Music Videos
Country of Origin:
Germany
Producer:
Hannes Rall
Directed by:
Hannes Rall
Shakespeare's works are timeless - this film proves it!
208 international festivals, 20 awards.
Awarded with the Seal of Approval"Highly Recommended"
the highest distinction of the FBW, the German federal authority for evaluating and rating film and media.
"How can you give the target and age group "smartphone" an overview of the work of this unique literary genius without getting bogged down in long-winded lectures on verse and drama theory? The filmmaker and artist Hannes Rall has turned this consideration into a very short and yet for that very reason so great animated film. (...) He succeeds in depicting the poet's most famous plays in an immediately recognisable way with individual images that flow dynamically into one another. A smart, entertaining and coherent Shakespeare homage in about 3 minutes."
Producer:

Girls Don't Cry
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 1:00 P.M. Feature Documentary
Run time
01:29:00
Category:
Feature Length Documentary
Country of Origin:
Germany
Producer:
Walter Sittler
Directed by:
Sigrid Klausmann
What does it mean to be a girl in the world today? How do they fare in a restrictive world? The documentary “Girls Don’t Cry” is about the longing of six girls from six countries, longing for a self-determined life in freedom, their desire to fall in love, without paternalism, without others having power over their bodies, with equal rights.
We see Nancy, Sheelan, Selenna, Nina, Paige and Sinai deal with the crisis of puberty, their self-confident decisions in difficult situations, their courageous fight against brutal traditions such as circumcision, against social constraints and pressure, against beauty mania and prejudice. Being young and cool, even in the face of trauma and loss.
Producer:

Like A Wandering Cloud
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 3:00 P.M. Short Film
Run time
18:25
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Producer:
Sara Bagheri and Golnaz Ghasemi
Directed by:
Sara Bagheri and Golnaz Ghasemi
In a shadowed mansion, Batoul, a talkative maid, is left alone overnight to care for a comatose elderly woman. As she explores the empty house, she uncovers haunting echoes of the woman’s vibrant past, mirroring her own isolation. The night deepens, and Batoul’s growing loneliness leads to an unsettling connection with the unconscious woman—a bond forged in silence and mystery.
Producer:

3.400KG
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 3:00 P.M. Short Film
Run time
13:02
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Producer:
Atefeh Nafari and Amir Ghasemi
Directed by:
Atefeh Nafari and Samira Mokhtari
A middle-aged woman struggling with obesity faces a critical decision when her pursuit of a life-changing gastric bypass surgery takes an unexpected turn. On the verge of qualifying for the insurance-covered procedure, she suffers a debilitating stroke. Now, she must make a life-altering choice: follow a strict diet to prevent another stroke or consume high-fat foods to reach the weight required by her insurance, further endangering her health.
Producer:

Sasha Counters!
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 3:00 P.M. Short Film
Run time
28:04
Category:
Web/TV Series Pilot
Country of Origin:
Russian Federation
Producer:
Alexander Malinkovich, Anna Zaytseva, Makar Kozhuhov, and Marina Kataya
Directed by:
Anna Zaytseva
Teenagers, boxer Sasha from Moscow and Kazakh rapper Mamazhan, involuntarily become stepbrother and sister and do everything to get rid of each other.
Producer:

Bolour
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 3:00 P.M. Short Films
Run time
16:12
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Producer:
Helia Behrooz
Directed by:
Helia Behrooz
In the wake of the Taliban's return to power in the summer of 2021, Bolour, a 19-year-old music instructor, was urged by her family to swiftly depart Afghanistan. The one cherished item she insisted on bringing with her was a Robab musical instrument that had been passed down to her from her father and grandfather.
Producer:

Reality Frictions
Show time and day
Friday, June 27th, 4:20 P.M. Feature Film
Run time
01:10:00
Category:
Found Footage
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Holly Willis
Directed by:
Steve Anderson
Reality Frictions explores the intersection of fact and fiction on the screens of Hollywood, highlighting moments when images, people or events from the real world intrude on the cinematic one.
In an age when generative AI and synthetic imaging provoke anxieties about our ability to tell the difference between real and fake, Reality Frictions demonstrates that spectators have long traversed the borders of believability, developing nuanced skills for navigating the pleasures and paradoxes that emerge when reality and fiction collide.
Richly illustrated with clips from more than 100 movies and TV shows, Reality Frictions is an entertaining, but also serious, investigation of media’s role in revealing truth and making history.
Producer:

Tortilla
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 2:00 P.M. Short Film
Run time
12:08
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
Canada
Producer:
Yakob El-Moussa
Directed by:
Farah Khalil
In Chihuahua, Miguel, a teenage boy smitten with Camila, faces an unexpected challenge when he's invited to dinner at her family's home, where he must earn her mother's approval. Amidst a chaotic household, Miguel encounters cultural differences which makes him confront his own privileged background. Through effort and an understanding, Miguel gains insight into the importance of family and earns a heartfelt invitation into Camila's world, creating a new bond over homemade tortillas.
Producer:

Light Painter + Talkback
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 2:00 P.M. Short Films
Run time
38:13
Category:
Documentary Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Eric Smidt
Directed by:
Eric Smidt
“To control the story, you must first control the light.” Dan McClanahan is a Master of Photography and "Light Painter" offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he creates some of his most Epic images.
Producer:

Tinker + Talkback
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 3:15 P.M. Short Films
Run time
7:00
Category:
Documentary Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Directed by:
Ryan Adams
Iowa-based Artist Braden Dexter takes us on a tour of whimsical objects of his creation while reflecting on subjects of creativity, old media, and memory.
Producer:

The North Star + Talkback
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 3:15 P.M. Short Films
Run time
31:24
Category:
Documentary Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Golden Bear Records
Directed by:
Tim Weed and Bryan Vanderpool
When George Weed passed away, he left behind a home filled with artifacts and relics collected during his adventurous travels as a young man, including a box of color film he shot between 1938 and the early 1950s. These reels, created by George as an amateur filmmaker, documented his participation in Admiral Byrd’s third expedition to the South Pole, rare scenes from Papua New Guinea and the surrounding South Pacific Islands during World War II, and intimate glimpses of pre-war life in Hawaii, Mount Rainier, and rural Washington State. Inspired by this extraordinary discovery, George's grandson, Tim Weed, joined forces with Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool of the Well Pennies to create The Before Time Orchestra. Originally intended to inspire an instrumental album, the project quickly expanded as more of the rare footage was digitized, revealing its depth and historical significance. What emerged was a powerful short film that fuses these compelling visuals with original music, resulting in a poignant exploration of adventure, history, and the enduring human spirit, with the music acting as both a tribute and a narrative thread for the remarkable imagery.
Producer:

The Entomologist's Wife + Talkback
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 4:30 P.M. Short Film
Run time
12:09
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Shelby Hagerdon
Directed by:
Shelby Hagerdon
This film follows one man's desperate attempt to save his wife through their study of moths and is heavily inspired by German expressionist films, like "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "Nosferatu," and "Metropolis."
Producer:

Only We Know + Talkback
Show time and day
Saturday, June 28th, 4:30 P.M. Short Film
Run time
14:34
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Chris Byrne, Adithya Rajan, and Kat Blade
Directed by:
Chris Byrne
A young couple tries a therapy exercise that leads them down a path of accusations, insecurities and harsh truths.
Producer:

Middle of Nowhere + Talkback
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
4:04
Category:
Music Videos
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Dennis Fuentes
Directed by:
Travis Shields
Music video by the Dennis Fuentes Band
Producer:

Last Rung On The Ladder + Talkback
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
24:25
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Kurt Krauss
Directed by:
Jeff Blankenship
When celebrity psychologist Larry Gatlin returns to his home state of Wisconsin to receive an award for his work fighting the stigma of mental illness, all is not well. An unexpected turn with his estranged sister and personal demons collide, creating a narrative that goes beyond the surface of celebration.
"The Last Rung on the Ladder" is the short film adaptation from the 1978 Stephen King short story, co-written by Max Blaska and Karla S. Bryant. Blaska received permission and extension from the King organization through the "Dollar Baby" program. As the initiative was discontinued in 2024, "The Last Rung on the Ladder" is among the last of the Dollar Baby films.
Producer:

47:10':00"
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 11:30 A.M. Short Film
Run time
14:32
Category:
Narrative Shorts
Country of Origin:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Producer:
Hossein Soleimani
Directed by:
Serna Amini
After his wife’s accident, a man faces a horrifying truth at the hospital: her heart has failed, and an urgent transplant is the only way to save her. But the overwhelming cost forces him to consider an unthinkable offer — selling his only child to a childless couple in exchange for the money needed to buy the heart. An offer that could save his wife’s life, but take everything else from him. Now, he has only 47 hours and 10 minutes to decide…
Producer:

My Friend Miles + Talkback
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 2:00 P.M. Feature Film
Run time
01:32:00
Category:
Feature Length Narrative
Country of Origin:
Belgium
Producer:
Colin Mc Keown, Anne Doelman, and Pieter Solta
Directed by:
Pieter Solta
Solta tries to picture is elusive friend Miles, a wandering mystic with political gusto. Solta fails. Because Miles is strictly unruly celebrating his no-self — and he invites everyone at the party.
Miles, a particularly playful spirit, lures his friend Solta on a journey from Berlin to Friuli, Picardy and Venice, through his life, through the minefields of identity politics, and through the black hole of our oblivion as to what the world could be. Ultimately, he returns to Ireland, the land of his childhood, where he played marbles during the raw identity war of the troubles. Solta tries to track him down, to figure him out, to picture him. Miles, however, marbles in his pockets, infinity in his fingers, constantly eludes him.
A pure cinematographic act of resistance that connects the magical with the political.
A film that looks you straight in the eye, the way only a friend can.
Producer:

Seances - Forgiveness
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 3:40 P.M. Short Film
Run time
3:11
Category:
Music Videos
Country of Origin:
United States
Producer:
Eric Arsnow
Directed by:
Eric Arsnow
Forgiveness is a music video for the Milwaukee post-punk band Seances from the album Power Is A Phantom (2025).
Following a car accident, the ghost of the passenger travels through the haunted house they reside in to find a key to resurrect their past lover.
Producer:

Heavy Weight
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 3:40 P.M. Short Film
Run time
14:14
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
Republic of Korea
Producer:
Sea-Hoon Jeon
Directed by:
Sea-Hoon Jeon
High school student SeeWoo was playing with his little sister, SeoYeon, at home when a water balloon thrown by SeoYeon accidentally fell out the window, resulting in the death of the child living upstairs. The only ones who know the truth are SeeWoo and his mother. SeeWoo hesitates out of fear, but his mother strongly opposes his desire to confess
Producer:

Mother
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 3:40 P.M. Short Film
Run time
29:08
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
Poland
Producer:
Maciej Ślesicki
Directed by:
Sebastian Kwidziński
Paulina (35 years old) is out on parole after serving a prison sentence for the murder of her husband Andrzej. She returns to her hometown to meet her 11-year-old son Nikodem. Jadwiga (55 years old), Paulina's mother-in-law who takes care of Nikodem, does not want this meeting to take place. She is still grieving the loss of her son, Andrzej, and is unable to forgive Paulina for what she did.
The film deals with domestic violence and its consequences.
Producer:

Perfect Wall
Show time and day
Sunday, June 29th, 3:40 P.M. Short Films
Run time
13:06
Category:
Student Shorts
Country of Origin:
Republic of Korea
Producer:
Sea-Hoon Jeon
Directed by:
Sea-Hoon Jeon
Symmetrical stiffness Perfectionism artist Oh Ju-bom's perfect daily life begins to distort.