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Iowa City filmmaker Mokotsi Rukundo’s ‘East of Middle West’ movie making U.S. debut at FilmScene
Film makes U.S. debut in Iowa City after international tour
Mar. 18, 2022 11:12 am, Updated: Mar. 18, 2022 12:11 pm
IOWA CITY — Following a successful festival circuit tour, “East of Middle West,” a feature-length crime drama written by Iowa City filmmaker Mokotsi Rukundo, will debut soon at FilmScene in Iowa City.
The film’s limited theatrical release will start in Iowa City, head to Los Angeles and appear at showings around the country before its digital release. A second showing in Iowa City has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2. The first scheduled showing, set for Sunday, April 3, has already sold out.
The drama, filmed in rural Iowa last year, was inspired by the story of Victoria Ruvolo, a New York woman who made headlines in 2005 after urging prosecutors in court testimony to grant leniency to Ryan Cushing, an 18-year-old who almost killed her. Cushing threw a frozen turkey into Ruvolo’s windshield as she was driving, breaking nearly every bone in her face and nearly killing her.
The film has won best feature awards at the Sarasota International Film Festival and Chelsea International Film Festival; best director, producers, editing and actor with star Carson MacCormac from the Montreal Independent Film Festival, and best American indie film from the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Actor Joris Jarsky also snagged an award for best supporting actor from the Chelsea International Film Festival.
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A still image from “East of Middle West,” a new feature-length crime drama written by Iowa City filmmaker Mokotsi Rukundo, shows the natural backdrop of Rural Iowa. (Mokotsi Rukundo)
Mokotsi Rukundo, an Iowa City West High School and University of Iowa graduate, filmed his first feature-length film, “East of Middle West,” in Iowa. It debuts locally in April. (Mokotsi Rukundo)
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