Series & Special Events

FilmScene hosts numerous special events, community screenings and ongoing series to bring a diverse slate of
film programming to Eastern Iowa audiences.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

Tue, Feb 11 7:00pm

A Royal Air Force pilot who has jumped from a burning plane to his imminent end must make the case to the celestial court as to why he should stay on Earth after falling in love with an American radio operator when his escort to the other world misse...

BLUE VELVET

BLUE VELVET

Wed, Feb 12 7:00pm

There's something going on behind the white picket fences of Lumberton, North Carolina. And after stumbling upon a severed human ear in a field, mystery-loving college student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle Maclachlan) is determined to find out what.

LUNATICS - A LOVE STORY

LUNATICS - A LOVE STORY

Wed, Feb 12 10:00pm

You have to be a little crazy to fall in love. Hank's downright insane. They're lunatics and they're in love!

MULHOLLAND DR.

MULHOLLAND DR.

Thu, Feb 13 7:00pm

David Lynch’s seductive and scary vision of Los Angeles’s dream factory is one of the true masterpieces of the new millennium, a tale of love, jealousy, and revenge like no other.

LADY AND THE TRAMP

LADY AND THE TRAMP

Sat, Feb 15 11:00am Sun, Feb 16 11:00am Thu, Feb 20 3:30pm

The romantic tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel and a streetwise downtown mutt.

STORIES OF COMMUNITY 5

STORIES OF COMMUNITY 5

Sat, Feb 15 open Caption 12:30pm

Come celebrate the neighborhoods portrayed in the Stories of Community short film series. And stick around after to enjoy some soup and help us vote for the winner!

ROMEO + JULIET

ROMEO + JULIET

Sat, Feb 15 10:00pm

A modern twisted version of William Shakespeare's play about two young people from opposite families who fall in love in secret. Multiple events will shape their lives that will leave them and their families in trouble and punishment in the city.

BONJOUR TRISTESSE

BONJOUR TRISTESSE

Sun, Feb 16 3:30pm Wed, Feb 19 7:00pm

Otto Preminger directs this sumptuous adaptation of the provocative best-seller by Françoise Sagan about a jaded 17-year-old (Jean Seberg) who wreaks havoc when she begins manipulating her playboy father's (David Niven) love life.

WE ALWAYS COME HERE

WE ALWAYS COME HERE

Tue, Feb 18 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm Wed, Feb 19 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm Thu, Feb 20 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm Fri, Feb 21 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm Sat, Feb 22 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm

In this poetic meditation on the half-century history of the Ped Mall, Iowa City artist Ian Bennett reassembles archival film and video, found footage and photos, interviews through the ages, and contemporary reflections. A video loop that is both of...

THE PEOPLE'S JOKER ON 35MM

THE PEOPLE'S JOKER ON 35MM

Tue, Feb 18 7:00pm

An aspiring clown grapples with her gender identity and combats a fascistic caped crusader when she moves to Gotham City to make it big as a comedian.

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

Wed, Feb 19 open Caption 10:00pm

Two tales of terror from the master of mystery and the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe.

CURIOUS WORLD: THE SHORT FILMS OF JESSE MCLEAN

CURIOUS WORLD: THE SHORT FILMS OF JESSE MCLEAN

Thu, Feb 20 7:00pm

Jesse McLean has dedicated her creative research and art practice to exploring what it is to be human in relation to what is not. This special event highlights a selection of her experimental work.

ONE BOOK TWO BOOK 2025

ONE BOOK TWO BOOK 2025

Sat, Feb 22 10:00am

Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s annual One Book Two Book Children’s Literature Festival offers the chance for children and their families to hear from published authors about their work, celebrate the cultural impact of children's literatur...

HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN

HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN

Sat, Feb 22 10:00pm

Valeria's joy at becoming a first-time mother is quickly taken away when she's cursed by a sinister entity. As danger closes in, she's forced deeper into a chilling world of dark magic that threatens to consume her.

MINNESOTA MEAN

MINNESOTA MEAN

Mon, Feb 24 7:00pm

Minnesota Mean follows the powerful women of the Minnesota RollerGirls for a season as they balance life, friendship, and roller derby.

HEAVEN CAN WAIT

HEAVEN CAN WAIT

Mon, Feb 24 7:00pm Thu, Feb 27 7:00pm

A deceased turn-of-the-century playboy (Don Ameche) must make his case to get into Hell by recounting his past transgressions—particularly his dalliances with women—to a bemused Satan in this sophisticated comedy of manners.

LOVE GODDESSES OF BLOOD ISLAND

LOVE GODDESSES OF BLOOD ISLAND

Wed, Feb 26 10:00pm

A sun-baked, kitsch-gore horror classick restored uncut from 35mm elements assembled from Something Weird, Library of Congress, and Harvard Film Archive.

BLUE CARPET BASH 2025

BLUE CARPET BASH 2025

Sun, Mar 2 4:30pm

An annual FilmScene tradition! No matter who you’re cheering for on Hollywood’s biggest night, there’s only one place to watch the ceremony - at FilmScene with a community of cinema lovers. And it’s free!

THE ZERDA AND THE SONGS OF FORGETTING

THE ZERDA AND THE SONGS OF FORGETTING

Tue, Mar 4 7:00pm

Algerian novelist and translator Assia Djebar uses French colonial propaganda of Pathé-Gaumont newsreels to recapitulate the colonization of the Maghreb people in a poetic essay film that reveals the resistance behind the mask.

PULP FICTION

PULP FICTION

Wed, Mar 5 open Caption 10:00pm

Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino's tribute to hard crime capers redefined pop cinema.

THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

Fri, Mar 7 open Caption 10:00pm

Writer/Director and inaugural Refocus Film Festival guest, Jason Pitts (Voorhees: Night of the Beast) returns to FilmScene to present his new tale of horror and survival.

BABE: PIG IN THE CITY

BABE: PIG IN THE CITY

Sat, Mar 15 11:00am Sun, Mar 16 11:00am Thu, Mar 20 3:30pm

Babe’s kind and steady heart achieves miracles once again as he, Ferdy and Mrs. Hoggett travel to the city where they must turn enemies into friends and raise enough money to save the farm.

SPRING BREAK DAY CAMPS 2025

SPRING BREAK DAY CAMPS 2025

Mon, Mar 17 8:30am Tue, Mar 18 8:30am Wed, Mar 19 8:30am Thu, Mar 20 8:30am Fri, Mar 21 8:30am

Tell your own animated stories with FilmScene! At Spring Break Day Camp, camper creations come to life! Join us for five unique days of spring break animation camp.

THRUST! THE PUNK CUT

THRUST! THE PUNK CUT

Fri, Mar 21 open Caption 10:00pm

Writer/Director Victor Bonacore and producer Bork Torkleson join us at FilmScene to present the Punk Cut on VHS of this post-apocalyptic underground, girl-gang wokesploitation film. So wild it has to be seen on VHScious Video.

ANIMATION IN BLOOM: THE FILMS OF EZRA WUBE

ANIMATION IN BLOOM: THE FILMS OF EZRA WUBE

Mon, Apr 7 7:00pm

Ezra Wube is a cross-disciplinary Ethiopian artist who works in video, drawing, painting, and installations. This program highlights Wube's climate change/ecological works through a survey of stop-motion animated film.

FOLLOW THAT BIRD

FOLLOW THAT BIRD

Sat, Apr 12 11:00am Sun, Apr 13 11:00am Thu, Apr 17 3:30pm

After well-meaning do-gooder Miss Finch sends Big Bird to the suburban Dodo family for adoption, the gawky, gullible eight-footer runs away and heads back to Sesame Street.

MOTHER'S NATURE: THE BODY BEAUTIFUL + DREAMING RIVERS

MOTHER'S NATURE: THE BODY BEAUTIFUL + DREAMING RIVERS

Tue, May 6 7:00pm

The relationship between mother and child is a sacred and delicate one. This pair of powerful shorts examines the specific relationships of the filmmakers and their mothers with beautifully poetic works of art that only they could create.

A GOOFY MOVIE

A GOOFY MOVIE

Sat, May 17 11:00am Sun, May 18 11:00am Thu, May 22 3:30pm

This classic blend of irresistible characters, unforgettable music, and an endearing modern-day story follows the lovable Goofy as he bonds with his teenage son Max on a hilarious cross-country road trip.

MINIATURE CONSTRUCTION CAMP 2025

MINIATURE CONSTRUCTION CAMP 2025

Mon, Jun 16 8:30am Mon, Jun 23 8:30am

In this week-long camp, campers will learn the history of miniature making, study design, and create their own miniature set pieces, including buildings, terrain, and more! Curriculum includes 3D printing.

ANIMATION CAMP 2025

ANIMATION CAMP 2025

Mon, Jul 7 8:30am Mon, Jul 14 8:30am Mon, Jul 21 8:30am Mon, Jul 28 8:30am Mon, Aug 18 8:30am

Tell your own animated stories with FilmScene! At Animation Camp, campers imagine and create their own animations, totally from scratch. Each day, campers learn the key principles of animation and explore the styles of 2D paper, 3D object, Pixilation...

ADVANCED ANIMATION CAMP 2025

ADVANCED ANIMATION CAMP 2025

Mon, Aug 4 8:30am Mon, Aug 11 8:30am

Take your stop motion skills to the next level in our advanced class! Confident campers who have attended at least one, preferably two camps, are invited to work on honing acquired skills, learn more challenging techniques, and apply knowledge to lon...

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