Des Moines Film Society

A showcase of one-minute films, inspired by Wes Anderson

Posted on February 14, 2017
by Ben Godar

We're honored to be hosting The Life Yelpquatic - a party celebrating the work of Wes Anderson - along with our friends at Yelp! Des Moines. The party will be a fundraiser for Des Moines Film Society.   As part of that party, we are calling all filmmakers and asking you to produce a one-minute film (maximum) in the style of Wes Anderson. We will be showcasing the films during the party, and plan to offer some...

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Join the Home Cinema Club

Posted on February 10, 2017
by Ben Godar

Today we are proud to launch the Home Cinema Club, a unique opportunity for you to discover great movies, watch them at home, then meet-up with other film lovers to discuss over drinks.   Here's how it will work:   Each month, we'll pick a movie that we think is worth watching and discussing. The movies will be available on Netflix, though in many cases they will also be available at your local library, a great video store like...

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You built DMFS; We need you again

Posted on November 29, 2016
by Ben Godar

We came to you last year at this time and asked you to make a donation to help us grow the film scene in Des Moines. You came through and we delivered.   We promised: A membership program with exclusive benefits We delivered: A membership program with discounts to all DMFS events We promised: Special screenings with visiting filmmakers We delivered: Exclusive premiere screenings and filmmaker Q&As with Sundance Winner Birth of a Nation and Brent Roske's Courting Des Moines We...

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There’s More to Kurosawa Than Samurai Films

Posted on November 17, 2016
by Kevin Kretschmer

Recently, thanks to Turner Classic Movies (and my DVR), along with an assist from the Des Moines Public Library, I was able to view several films by Akira Kurosawa for the first time. Not only is Kurosawa in the group of Japanese directors known as The Big Three (along with Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirô Ozu) he is, without question, in the international pantheon of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Known primarily for his talent...

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The Rogue One Shuttle Transport

Posted on November 10, 2016
by Ben Godar

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://desmoinesfilm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AKVkR_xt7JuGTduRGY7B.mp4"][/video] Join the DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY as we take a Transport Shuttle (chartered bus) to the Death Star Themed Alamo Drafthouse in Omaha for a screening of ROGUE ONE on Saturday, Dec. 17.   Last year's Tarantino Express bus trip to Chicago was a big success, selling out in under 48 hours. So get your tickets early. Tickets go on-sale to the general public at 10am on Nov. 11.   BUY TICKETS   The Transport will blast off...

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Birdman Live with Antonio Sanchez

Posted on September 12, 2016
by Ben Godar

Birdman Live with Antonio Sanchez Presented by Des Moines Film Society & Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation Thursday, March 2 Hoyt Sherman Place Reserved Seating Adults: $35 DMFS and Hoyt Sherman Members: $30 BUY TICKETS NOW Composer and renowned jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez will perform his Grammy-winning score live along with the Oscar-winning film, Birdman, in a live cinema event at Hoyt Sherman Place, presented by Des Moines Film Society and the Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation, with additional support from Mercedes-Benz of Des Moines. The...

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The Birth of a Nation: Special Advance Screening

Posted on August 31, 2016
by Ben Godar

The Birth of a Nation Special Advance Screening w/ Co-Producer Ben Renzo Friday, Sept. 30 7pm Fleur Cinema   Des Moines Film Society is proud to host a special, advance screening of THE BIRTH OF A NATION, winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. A discussion with Co-Producer Ben Renzo will follow the screening.   Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and...

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A few words about Membership

Posted on August 19, 2016
by Ben Godar

Yesterday, we officially launched our Membership program. I wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit about why this is so important and why we need you to become a Member of The Des Moines Film Society.   In the last year, we brought Alloy Orchestra to Des Moines to perform their original, live score to Metropolis, took a bus full of you to Chicago for the Hateful 8 Road Show, hosted an Open...

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The Olympic Games Documented on Film: 1938-1986

Posted on August 10, 2016
by Kevin Kretschmer

There are few, if any, events on the worldwide stage that can match the excitement, scope and grandeur of the Olympics. My earliest Olympic memories are from 1968, when the Winter Games were held in Grenoble and the Summer Games were in Mexico City. Both festivals (held in the era when both games were contested in the same year) were broadcast by the ABC Television Network. They were the first Olympics to be televised in...

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