by Ben Godar, Director of Des Moines Film The best thing about looking back at the year 2020 in film is that it means the year is over. The fact that The Oscars are happening in late April feels somehow appropriate for this long, long year. Here's my Top 10 films that were released or at least made their way to me in this strange 2020+. 10. Bacurau How you see a film can be just as important...
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We are proud to partner with the Franklin Avenue Library to present two film series: Becoming American and The Immigrant Experience Film Festival. Becoming American is a six-week program featuring documentary film screenings and scholar-led discussions designed to encourage an informed discussion of immigration issues against the backdrop of our immigration history. Kevin Gannon, Ph.D., a professor of History at Grand View University, will serve as the series' scholar/moderator. Films will screen Mondays at 6pm, beginning Feb....
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Buy Tickets Now Join us for a special Advanced Screening of "Shoplifters," winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, before it opens in New York and Los Angeles. After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making...
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Des Moines Film Society is proud to co-host the Des Moines premiere of Saving Brinton, a documentary about Iowa film history produced by Iowa filmmakers. Saving Brinton is the story of Michael Zahs, an eccentric Iowa collector who uncovers five hours of film from the early 1900s that once belonged to Frank Brinton, one of America's most successful barnstorming moving picture exhibitors. Produced by Iowa City filmmakers Tommy Haines, John Richard and Andrew Sherburne, the film premiered...
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Buy Tickets It’s a novel from the master of horror and a film from the greatest filmmaker of his generation, and now you can read and see The Shining, complete with a reception in a historic (and perhaps haunted) hotel. Des Moines Film Society and the Des Moines Public Library Foundation Next Chapter are proud to present The Shining, Book vs. Movie. After reading the novel, attendees invited to a screening Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining on the big screen...
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We are very excited to announce our Lost Films Poster Art Show is back for a 2nd year! If you missed last year's event, we asked local designers to create movie posters for real films which were never completed, some abandoned during production, some written but never filmed, others little more than ideas...
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It's one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year, it's premiering on Netflix and it's our May Home Cinema Club pick: Casting JonBenet. A few of us saw the film at this year's True/False Film Festival and haven't been able to stop talking about it. The film consists of a dozen or so actors auditioning for roles in a movie version of the JonBenet Ramsey story. But as these actors move beyond just reading the script...
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May 22 Kum & Go Theater at Des Moines Social Club Doors 6pm / Show 7pm FREE Filmmakers and film lovers: We are proud to announce another installment of Open Screen Night, in partnership with Des Moines Social Club. Have you ever been to an open mic? This is the same idea, only with video as opposed to live performances. Open Screen is a forum for any filmmaker to share their work with a live audience. Submit your own work...
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The Blank IMAX Dome at the Science Center of Iowa is an under-appreciated gem in the local film scene: One of the last remaining dome style IMAX screens showing documentaries on actual celluloid. Starting this week, they will be open late on Fridays and Saturdays...
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We've got two more exclusive opportunities for you to really enjoy a night out with Birdman Live with Antonio Sanchez - a farm-to-table dinner and an after-party at jazz club Noce. Hoyt Sherman Place has partnered with The Wallace Centers of Iowa to offer a farm-to-table dinner before the show, prepared by Chef Katie Porter. A limited number of seats are available for the dinner, which will include a pre-fixed seasonal menu and begin at 5pm....
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