Cedar River Film Festival
Date & Time
Fri, 30 Oct, 2026 at 10:00 am to Sun, 01 Nov, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00
Location
Cedar Falls Community Theatre | Cedar Falls, IA
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Details
Welcome to the Cedar River Film Festival
Some of the best stories don't come from Hollywood.
They come from quiet neighborhoods, gravel roads, family farms, river towns, bustling cities, and places most people fly over without a second thought. They come from the American Heartland, where independent filmmakers are creating bold, funny, moving, and unforgettable films that deserve to be seen.
The Cedar River Film Festival celebrates those storytellers.
Hosted in Cedar Falls, Iowa, our annual festival showcases independent features, documentaries, and short films from Iowa and the states that share our borders, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Over three days, audiences will experience a carefully curated lineup that reflects the creativity, diversity, and imagination of the Midwest.
Across the weekend, you will discover a wide range of films, powerful documentaries, inventive shorts, and compelling features, alongside opportunities to engage with filmmakers and explore stories that stay with you long after the credits roll.
Just steps from the Historic Oster Regent Theatre, guests can also enjoy Cedar Falls’ beautiful and walk-able historic downtown, filled with local shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and plenty of places to gather, explore, and make a full weekend out of the experience. It’s the perfect backdrop for a festival built around community, creativity, and conversation.
Saturday night brings a special festival tradition: a Halloween program dedicated to the silly, the strange, the thrilling, and the unexpectedly dark corners of independent cinema.
From horror and suspense to science fiction, dark comedy, and cult-leaning favorites, Halloween Night is designed for audiences who enjoy films that challenge expectations, build tension, and lean into the uncanny. It’s a night for bold storytelling and unforgettable atmosphere.
Saturday evening's program is for audiences 17 and older.
Join us October 31 – November 1st at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre for a weekend of remarkable cinema, conversations with filmmakers, and the chance to discover your next favorite film before everyone else does.
Whether you're a lifelong film enthusiast or simply looking for something unexpected, you'll find stories that make you think, laugh, feel, and see the Midwest in a new way.
Because the Midwest has always had great stories to tell.
Midwest Stories. Quietly Unexpected.
Presented annually by the Cedar Falls Community Theatre at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Some of the best stories don't come from Hollywood.
They come from quiet neighborhoods, gravel roads, family farms, river towns, bustling cities, and places most people fly over without a second thought. They come from the American Heartland, where independent filmmakers are creating bold, funny, moving, and unforgettable films that deserve to be seen.
The Cedar River Film Festival celebrates those storytellers.
Hosted in Cedar Falls, Iowa, our annual festival showcases independent features, documentaries, and short films from Iowa and the states that share our borders, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Over three days, audiences will experience a carefully curated lineup that reflects the creativity, diversity, and imagination of the Midwest.
Across the weekend, you will discover a wide range of films, powerful documentaries, inventive shorts, and compelling features, alongside opportunities to engage with filmmakers and explore stories that stay with you long after the credits roll.
Just steps from the Historic Oster Regent Theatre, guests can also enjoy Cedar Falls’ beautiful and walk-able historic downtown, filled with local shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and plenty of places to gather, explore, and make a full weekend out of the experience. It’s the perfect backdrop for a festival built around community, creativity, and conversation.
Saturday night brings a special festival tradition: a Halloween program dedicated to the silly, the strange, the thrilling, and the unexpectedly dark corners of independent cinema.
From horror and suspense to science fiction, dark comedy, and cult-leaning favorites, Halloween Night is designed for audiences who enjoy films that challenge expectations, build tension, and lean into the uncanny. It’s a night for bold storytelling and unforgettable atmosphere.
Saturday evening's program is for audiences 17 and older.
Join us October 31 – November 1st at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre for a weekend of remarkable cinema, conversations with filmmakers, and the chance to discover your next favorite film before everyone else does.
Whether you're a lifelong film enthusiast or simply looking for something unexpected, you'll find stories that make you think, laugh, feel, and see the Midwest in a new way.
Because the Midwest has always had great stories to tell.
Midwest Stories. Quietly Unexpected.
Presented annually by the Cedar Falls Community Theatre at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Event Location
Cedar Falls Community Theatre, 103 N Main St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613-2621, United States
Event Host
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