Michael Cowan’s work for one of the field’s most prominent international gatherings coincides with new collaborations in silent film scholarship, music, and performance at the University of Iowa.

Fueled by the confidence he built as a University of Iowa student, Ty Schmit made a play in 2017 to join Pat McAfee’s fledgling media enterprise as an intern. Now he produces the retired football player’s daily sports show, which recently was acquired by ESPN.

Kaia Olsen's experimental research invites audiences to move through photographically captured events reconstructed as three-dimensional spaces, revealing new perspectives and possibilities for storytelling.

From literary agents to filmmakers, the Industry Professionals in the Arts and Humanities program gives students direct access to the professionals shaping today's creative industries.

After nearly three decades of teaching, mentoring, and shaping Film Studies at the University of Iowa, Corey Creekmur has written a reflection on his career and the communities that supported it. His retrospective looks back on the courses, collaborations, and creative work that defined his time in Cinematic Arts.

From crash-course lessons to project guidance and support, Kelvin Nucico, Instructional Services Coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is committed to helping students from start to finish.

The University of Iowa's Alumni Day created meaningful opportunities for mentorship, networking, and career exploration, allowing students to hear firsthand how alumni have applied their education in film, television, media production, and other creative industries.

Organized entirely by University of Iowa students through CINE:2863, the 2025 Iowa City Documentary Film Festival (ICDOCS) showcased more than 60 documentary films alongside feature-length screenings, filmmaker talks, and community events. With a festival theme of “Metamorphosis,” students gained real-world experience in programming, marketing, outreach, and event planning, resulting in record audience engagement and significant social media growth. The festival highlighted the importance of experiential learning, collaboration, and expanded career pathways within documentary film and arts administration.

Six filmmakers from the University of Iowa continued a long-standing tradition at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF) this past April, showcasing their films alongside other independent works while contributing to the festival's celebration of emerging talent and creative storytelling.

Shadow Play Across the Arts and Humanities was an interdisciplinary symposium held on April 16th at the University of Iowa's Visual Arts Building. The event explored shadow as an interdisciplinary medium across art, film, and performance and through diverse presentations and collaborations, it highlighted shadow’s creative, cultural, and critical potential.