Cedar River Film Festival

Cedar River Film Festival Celebrating films from the Heartland since 2023. Oster Regent Theatre, Cedar Falls, IA This will be a 17+ event.
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The aim of the Cedar River Film Festival is to promote and present films made in the American Heartland (aka The Midwest). Our festival is based in Iowa, and we love how much creativity and diversity there is in Iowa and the states whose borders we share--you know who you are: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska. The Cedar River Film Festival 2025 will take place on October 31st

and November 2nd at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre in Cedar Falls, Iowa just a stone’s throw away from (you guessed it) the Cedar River. Day 1: We will kick off our festival on October 31st with your offerings of horror films, sci fi and adult comedy to celebrate Halloween and all the things creepy and scary (heck, this year some political documentaries might quality). Day 2: Enjoy a day of Shorts, Features, and Documentaries that celebrate stories about the American Heartland. The Cedar River Film Festival is an annual event hosted by the Cedar Falls Community Theatre at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre in Cedar Falls Iowa.

We’re looking for stories that reflect the people, places, humor, horror, struggles, and spirit of the heartland — wheth...
06/12/2026

We’re looking for stories that reflect the people, places, humor, horror, struggles, and spirit of the heartland — whether it’s a feature, short, documentary, comedy, or something completely unexpected.

If your film was made in, by, or about Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, or South Dakota, we’d love to see it.

Submit your film today. Link in the comments.

We love hearing feedback like this from our filmmakers.Creating a welcoming home for Heartland storytellers is at the he...
06/11/2026

We love hearing feedback like this from our filmmakers.

Creating a welcoming home for Heartland storytellers is at the heart of the Cedar River Film Festival, and we're grateful for every filmmaker who joins us at the historic Oster Regent Theatre.

Link in the Comments
06/05/2026

Link in the Comments

We're incredibly grateful for filmmakers who spent time with us at Cedar River Film Festival.Building a festival isn't j...
05/31/2026

We're incredibly grateful for filmmakers who spent time with us at Cedar River Film Festival.

Building a festival isn't just about screening movies, it's about creating a place where filmmakers feel welcomed, supported, and connected. Hearing feedback like this reminds us why we do it.

If you're looking for a festival that values filmmakers, audiences, and community, we'd love to see your work. (Link in the Comments)

Link in the Comments.
05/27/2026

Link in the Comments.

05/26/2026
Got a story that feels like the Midwest?We’re now accepting films from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, N...
05/14/2026

Got a story that feels like the Midwest?

We’re now accepting films from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota for the Cedar River Film Festival. If you’ve been working on something you’re proud of, we’d love to see it.

Submit now on FilmFreeway and be part of this year’s lineup!

https://filmfreeway.com/CedarRiverFilmFestival

If your film was made in, by, or about Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, or South Dakota, we’d love to see it.

We’re looking for stories that reflect the people, places, humor, horror, struggles, and spirit of the heartland — whether it’s a feature, short, documentary, comedy, or something completely unexpected.

Submit your film today. Link in the comments.

If your film was made in, by, or about Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, or South Dakota, we’d l...
05/14/2026

If your film was made in, by, or about Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, or South Dakota, we’d love to see it.

We’re looking for stories that reflect the people, places, humor, horror, struggles, and spirit of the heartland — whether it’s a feature, short, documentary, comedy, or something completely unexpected.

Submit your film today. Link in the comments.

At the Cedar River Film Festival, we’re looking for films that reflect the Midwest, stories created by filmmakers from I...
05/09/2026

At the Cedar River Film Festival, we’re looking for films that reflect the Midwest, stories created by filmmakers from Iowa and the six states around us, or films rooted in the places we call home.

Whether it’s a horror film, documentary, comedy, drama, or something completely unique, we want to see what you’re making.

Submissions are open now. Link’s in the comments.

And here’s what one of last year’s selected filmmakers had to say about their experience at the festival:

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103 Main Street
Cedar Falls, IA
50613

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