Why Iowa?

Iowa helped pioneer film studies—and today, you can hone your craft and find your voice in America’s best small city for the arts.

Turn creativity into storytelling

Advance your craft

Learn from experts

See yourself here

Experience the energy of Iowa City, where filmmakers, dreamers, and storytellers turn vision into art.

Write your story

Iowa’s cinematic arts programs prepare you to think critically, create boldly, and lead in a changing media world.

faculty helping student with VR

15

Full-time faculty
student in camera check out

229

Undergraduate cinema majors

Fall 2025 data

179

Undergraduate screenwriting majors

Fall 2025 data

screenwriting student in class workshopping

70 +

Courses taught
student in theatre discussing films

News and announcements

Cinematic Arts faculty projects are changing the way we see and hear the world through the Arts and Humanities Initiative

Friday, February 20, 2026
Faculty members Constantine Bakopoulos, Laura Conway, Laura Gede, Kate Hinshaw, and Kaia Olsen will advance their creative works through funding from the Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI).

Dewey Stuit Fund Student Award

Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Congratulations to screenwriting student Danny Willis for being awarded from the Dewey Stuit Fund for Undergraduate Research to support her ongoing work on a script called NORTHSIDE!

Recent Cinematic Arts Faculty Awards

Friday, February 6, 2026
Learn about the different awards that faculty from the Department of Cinematic Arts received and the work their awards are supporting!

Events

Symposium: Shadow Play Across the Arts and Humanities  promotional image

Symposium: Shadow Play Across the Arts and Humanities

Thursday, April 16, 2026 5:15pm to 8:00pm
Visual Arts Building
Symposium on Shadow Play
Alumni Day 2026 promotional image

Alumni Day 2026

Saturday, April 18, 2026 (all day)
Levitt Center for University Advancement
Once a Hawkeye, Always a Hawkeye
Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together promotional image

Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together

Tuesday, April 21 to Thursday, April 23, 2026 (all day)
Old Capitol Museum
The 2026 Provost’s Global Forum, Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together, will bring together experts from across the University of Iowa campus, the greater Iowa City area, and around the world for film screenings, keynote talks, and lively conversations about how movies foster connection across cultural, religious and generational divides.
Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together promotional image

Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together

Wednesday, April 22 to Thursday, April 23, 2026 (all day)
Old Capitol Museum
The 2026 Provost’s Global Forum, Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together, will bring together experts from across the University of Iowa campus, the greater Iowa City area, and around the world for film screenings, keynote talks, and lively conversations about how movies foster connection across cultural, religious and generational divides.
Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together promotional image

Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together

Thursday, April 23, 2026 (all day)
Old Capitol Museum
The 2026 Provost’s Global Forum, Cinematic Connections in a Polarized World: How movies bring us together, will bring together experts from across the University of Iowa campus, the greater Iowa City area, and around the world for film screenings, keynote talks, and lively conversations about how movies foster connection across cultural, religious and generational divides.
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