March 29, 2024

Iowa Film Lounge preps for Halloween, student films and third season premiere

DES MOINES – Lights ... camera ... and even more action: “The Film Lounge” is expanding. The Iowa Public Television series that showcases the creativity of Iowa filmmakers is rolling out a spooky new Halloween episode, a new educational program for Iowa students and the show’s third season, which premieres in February.

“The Film Lounge” series highlights experimental and art films by Iowans, celebrates filmmaking as an art form and recognizes the contributions of filmmaking to the economic and cultural vitality of Iowa. It is produced by IPTV, the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa, the state office of media production. An overview of this season’s schedule of programs and events follows:

The Film Lounge: Halloween Style

For the second year in a row, the program will feature a special episode of horror and Halloween-themed short films by Iowa filmmakers called “The Film Lounge: Halloween Style” that will air at 11 p.m. Oct. 27 on IPTV’s primary channel and repeat at 10 p.m. Oct. 28 on IPTV WORLD.3. The program will feature Horror Host Ian Miller and the following selections:

• The Hatman (2018) by Charlie Gandez of Forest City

• The Yig (2018) by Harry W. Walker III of Bettendorf

• S3rial (2018) Michael E. Berg of Urbandale

• Black Star (2018) by Tarrell Christie of Cedar Falls

• Ghost Story (2016) by the art cooperative Tiny Circus of Grinnell

In addition, “The Film Lounge: Halloween Style” (2018) will be screened at the following times, dates and locations:

• 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at IPTV’s Maytag Auditorium, 6450 Corporate Dr., in Johnston. The screening is part of the IPTV Pop-Up Film Series.

• 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center – Stephen Sondheim Center for Performing Arts, 200 N. Main St., in Fairfield. This screening will also feature “The Film Lounge: Halloween Style” (2017).

“Iowa artists have responded very well to this program and are excited to see it being aired again this year,” said Veronica O’Hern of the Iowa Arts Council. “We’re very pleased with this year’s entries and look forward to sharing them with viewers across the state.”

To register for free tickets to the screenings, visit iptv.org.

The Film Lounge: Student Challenge

“The Film Lounge: Student Challenge” is accepting entries through Jan. 18. The new educational program challenges Iowa students in grades seven to 12 to polish their filmmaking skills and submit two- to five-minute films on the theme “After Hours” – about unexpected people, unexpected places and what happens after the last school bell rings. Entries can be in any genre, including documentaries, narrative fiction, animation or music video.

The juried films and their young filmmakers will receive statewide recognition and an invitation to join The Film Lounge Academy, complete with a red-carpet premiere screening and workshops with industry professionals in the spring.

“‘The Film Lounge’ has been so popular and we’ve received so many submissions that now we can grow the brand and franchise it out,” Produce Iowa Executive Producer Liz Gilman said. “This new project blends technology with the arts to give students real-world training and shows them how creativity can lead to opportunities in higher education and careers.”

The new educational program emerged from the ongoing partnership between Iowa Public Television, the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa. More information about student challenge film submissions is available at http://iowaculture.gov/thefilmlounge.org.