Cedar Rapids Film Festival 2022 announces winners

CEDAR RAPIDS — “The Collins Story — Connecting the Moon to Earth: Live from the Moon,” took viewers to the moon and back, and landed the top prize in the professional documentary category at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival.

This film takes a close look at Collins Radio Company’s contributions to Apollo missions 8 through 17, including how the Cedar Rapids company’s reliability was essential in ensuring the astronauts’ safety during Apollo 11'’s moon landing and the tense moments of Apollo 13.

“Two Ways Home” won in the professional feature category. It tells the story of a young woman living with bipolar disorder, who struggles to care for her cantankerous grandfather and his dilapidated farmhouse, while trying to reconcile with her estranged 12-year-old daughter.

Staged by the Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers, the festival was held April 1 and 2 at Collins Road Theatres, and featured stories or filmmakers with strong Iowa connections. The event returned after pandemic postponements in 2020 and 2021.

The Eddy Awards, presented at the festival’s conclusion, are named after Thomas Alva Edison, a pioneer in motion picture technology. The term “eddy” is also is defined as “a current moving contrary to the direction of the main current,” which event organizers said is an apt description for independent filmmakers, who often go against the current trends in mainstream cinema.

Professional Short Form

Gold Eddy: “The Burial,” written and directed by Jack Meggers of West Des Moines, Anatomical Heart Films

Silver Eddy: “The Last Minute Till Midnight,” directed by Adam Orton of Cedar Rapids, written and produced by Beau Batterson of Waterloo, Flow Media and Bus-Stop Productions

Professional Feature

Gold Eddy: “Two Ways Home,” produced by Tanna Frederick, directed by Ron Vignone, both of Los Angeles

Silver Eddy: “A Dead Dame in Hollywood,” written and directed by Shawn Schminke, produced by Alicia Schminke, both of Van Nuys, Calif., Schminke Studios

Professional Documentary

Gold Eddy: “The Collins Story — Connecting the Moon to Earth: Live from the Moon,” executive produced and written by Annette Juergens Busbee of Cedar Rapids, edited by Eric Dean Freese of Marion, Busbee Communications/Wired Production Group/AACLA

Silver Eddy: “Stout Hearted: George Stout and the Guardians of Art,” produced by Marie Wilkes, directed by Kevin Kelley, both of Iowa City, Vibrant Image Productions and New Mile Media Arts

Pro-Am Feature

Gold Eddy: “The Seagull,” directed by Carol MacVey of Iowa City, composed by Gary Monheit of El Cerrito, Calif.

Pro-Am Short Form

Gold Eddy: “Friendly Faces (Pilot),” written and directed by Keaton Fuller of Cedar Rapids

Silver Eddy: “Happy Birthday,” directed by Joseph Belez of Marengo

Pro-Am Documentary

Gold Eddy: “A Place to Grow,” directed by Dick DeAngelis of Fairfield, Fair Field Productions

Silver Eddy: “The Story of Vermeer Strong: Remembering the Events of July 19, 2018,” directed by Aaron Riggs of Oskaloosa, Vermeer Corporation Visual Content Studio

Pro-Am Freestyle

Gold Eddy: “Chance,” directed, edited and videography by Alisabeth Von Presley, videography by Rob Merritt, both of Cedar Rapids

Silver Eddy: “Gnats! (Trailer),” written and directed by Insane Mike Saunders, directed by Jason Bolinger, both of Ottumwa, Prescribed Films

Student Short Form

Gold Eddy: “Ink,” written, illustrated, animated and composed by Anna Steenson of Des Moines

Silver Eddy: “The Idea List (Or How To Get My Purse Back),” written and directed by Kazek Israni-Winger of Grimes, produced by David Hindman of Johnston

Student Long Form

Gold Eddy: “FLAVA,” directed by Tarrell Christie of West Des Moines, Lost Utopia Films

Student Documentary

Gold Eddy: “My Dad’s Working Hands,” directed and produced by Lauren Weber of Gilbertville

Silver Eddy: “Barbershops in the Cedar Valley,” directed by Lauren Weber of Gilbertville

Student Freestyle

Gold Eddy: “The Rocket,” directed by Abraham Schaecher of Des Moines

Silver Eddy: “Ticks,” directed by Jenna Wilson of Cedar Falls

Special Awards and Scholarships

In addition to the competitive awards, Cedar Rapids Independent Filmmakers, their sponsors and fans honored three films with special distinctions:

Collins Road Theatres Scholarship is awarded each year to a student filmmaker in order to further the recipient's filmmaking education and career. This year's $1,000 scholarship went to director Lauren Weber of Gilbertville, in recognition of her film, “My Dad’s Working Hands.” The short documentary highlights the need for skilled trade careers. To find out more about Collins Road Theatres, go to collinsroadtheatres.com

Iowa Connection Award, sponsored by Produce Iowa, is given each year to the film that best represents the state and the heart of Iowa filmmaking. This year's award was given to Jenifer Westphal and Zack McTee for their film, “The Foursome.” The short documentary follows a lively foursome as they play their 50th outing at the Waukon Men's Invitational.

Audience Choice Award: “Friendly Faces (Pilot),” written and produced by Keaton Fuller of Cedar Rapids. Festival attendees vote by secret ballot for their favorite film, and the winner is announced at the close of the festival. The pro-am short tells the story of Ollie and Dean, who start a rent-a-friend service and go meet their first client.

Festival goals

The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival was created to provide a venue for Iowa filmmakers to screen their work for peers and general audiences. The organization’s primary goals are to encourage Iowa independent filmmakers to continue improving their craft, to provide a place to specifically showcase Iowa-connected films, present a unique cultural event to the community, and to offer networking opportunities for the purpose of building the Iowa film industry.