BCFF - Des Moines

06/11/2025

In Providence for Strong Towns National Gathering!

06/06/2025

The Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival is tomorrow! Come join us for a terrific slate of stories to inspire everyone to make their community better. Big thanks to the The Varsity Cinema, Des Moines Area MPO, Conveyance Law, PLC, Rotary Club of Northwest Des Moines, and Kevin Klimowski for helping bring BCFF to Iowa! And of course, Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers for hosting our after party!

06/04/2025

Time to thank one of our screening supporters! Big thanks to the Rotary Club of Northwest Des Moines for sponsoring the Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival!

Rotary International is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Check out the terrific initiatives by the NW Des Moines club at: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1664

06/02/2025

Time to introduce our third panelist for the Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival!

Michael Wagler is the State Director of AARP Iowa. AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50+ to choose how they live as they age. Prior to joining the AARP team, he worked for the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Main Street Iowa program helping to lead the state’s comprehensive downtown revitalization and community engagement efforts. Nationally, Michael is a member of the Main Street America Board of Directors. Locally, he is the Des Moines Film + Varsity Cinema board president. He earned a BFA in Historic Preservation and Architectural History from the Savannah College of Art & Design in addition to a Masters of Community & Regional Planning from Iowa State University.

05/30/2025

Time to thank one of our screening supporters! This time, it's my dad! Big thanks to Kevin Klimowski for sponsoring the Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival!

He didn't have a logo, so we made him one! Of course it's metal! Keep an eye out for Kevin on screening day, as he may be helping out with logistics and presentation!

05/23/2025

Tickets are available now the for the Des Moines edition of the Better Cities Film Festival! Join the conversation on improving our cities, towns, and neighborhoods while enjoying some terrific stories about people doing the same!

https://varsitydesmoines.com/purchase/792974/

Join us for a best-of-show screening of the Better Cities Film Festival! BCFF showcases short documentary films profiling...

05/21/2025

Time to thank one of our screening supporters! Big thanks to Larry James and Conveyance Law, PLC for sponsoring the Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival!

Larry is an ardent supporter of building better communities and giving you the tools to do the same! Learn more about the services Conveyance offers for real estate, business, and land use law at https://www.conveyancelaw.com/

05/19/2025

The Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival is happy to be joined by Lauren Kollauf as a panelist for the event!

Lauren has been the Executive Director of The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand since January 2022. The Avenues is a nonprofit organization that provides economic development, marketing & promotion, enhanced maintenance and beautification of this commercial, cultural and residential district. Lauren is originally from eastern Iowa but came to Des Moines to attend Drake University where she studied journalism. She previously worked at the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative and Des Moines Register. Outside of work, Lauren stays busy chasing after her two-year-old son and visiting new restaurants with her husband.

05/12/2025

The Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival is happy to be joined by Alec Davis as one of the panelists for the event!

Alec Davis is the founder and chair of Momentum DSM, a local advocacy organization focused on making Des Moines a more accessible, liveable, and sustainable city for all. Momentum DSM works to educate and elect local officials to Des Moines City Council that will be supportive of these changes. Alec is a Des Moines native who returned in 2018 following stints in Chicago and Milwaukee and started a hospitality company launching Dough Co. Pizza in the Drake neighborhood. He is passionate about making neighborhoods that are walkable/bikeable and accessible via public transit, and creating welcoming public and third spaces where people can come together as a community. He also currently serves as Board Chair of The Des Moines Street Collective and is Vice Chair of the Des Moines Water Works Board of Trustees.

05/05/2025

Support your local arts!

05/05/2025

Time to thank one of our major supporters! Big thanks to the Des Moines Area MPO for sponsoring the Des Moines edition of Better Cities Film Festival!

Learn more about their central Iowa community-building initiatives including their Bike-Ped Transportation Plan at https://dmampo.org/plan/bike-ped-plan/

04/29/2025

The Better Cities Film Festival Event page is now active on The Varsity Cinema website! You can also purchase tickets now! Stay tuned for all things BCFF - Des Moines!

https://varsitydesmoines.com/purchase/792974/

Join us for a best-of-show screening of the Better Cities Film Festival! BCFF showcases short documentary films profiling...