It is far too cliché to begin this story with the same overdone explanation that cool arts stuff does, in fact, occur in the Midwest. So I won’t start there. But I will rant about the thrill of discovering something underground, especially when it’s in a place you least expect it. It feels special, uncovering a piece of art that hasn’t been filtered through the glossy machinery of commercial culture.
Beyond the draw of claiming superiority over lovers of mainstream media, underground organizations and events give local artists the chance to exhibit their work without a pile of fees, contracts and qualifications. In a world where art is often valued by its profitability, the Des Moines Underground Film Festival (DSMUFF) offers a space to showcase local filmmakers’ work in a real and completely non-commercial way. The fest returns on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. Submissions are open through Friday, Oct. 10.
Serena Fath has their hands full as the founder, programmer and host of DSMUFF. They began the festival in 2019 after organizing DIY film screenings as an undergrad at Columbia College in Chicago.
“The inspiration came from the fact that I was a broke college kid making short films, and submitting to film festivals was really expensive. I lived in a punk house where we had bands constantly performing in our living room, so I started to host film screenings,” Fath explained. “When I moved back to Des Moines around 2017, I got the idea to start DSMUFF.”
The driving force of the fest is that it doesn’t exist to make a profit. It is free to submit your work. All ticket sales are donated to the venue. It’s not a competition; there is no winner at the end of the night. It’s Fath’s response to the status quo of film festivals, in which filmmakers pay hundreds just to have their submission reviewed. If they’re accepted, they face the pressures of a judged contest.
“I always feel weird about profiting off of art or making art into a competition,” Fath said. “DSMUFF is just about bringing the film community together and celebrating local art.”
Launching an organization is never easy. The festival’s first screening in 2019 was hosted by the Des Moines Social Club, which has since shut down. The following year brought the COVID-19 pandemic. DSMUFF had to get creative, partnering with Reliable Street in Ames to host a drive-in cinema event. Also in 2020, the festival partnered with the Iowa Abortion Access Fund to show the documentary short Ours to Tell.
“It’s this incredible doc about the power that comes with access to abortion through first-hand testimonies,” Fath said. “We also were able to raise money for the fund at the screening. It was the COVID drive-in cinema year, so we projected a QR code and suggested donation on the projector so the audience could donate from their cars.”
Since then, the festival has found a home at the nonprofit Varsity Cinema in Des Moines.
“The Varsity is such a historic and iconic local gem, and I am so grateful to them for hosting us,” Fath said. “The staff at the Varsity has been incredibly supportive of the festival. It’s nice to be able to donate all of the proceeds from ticket sales from our event to the Varsity. I want to make sure they stay open forever!”
In all its incarnations, DSMUFF’s goal remains the same as when it began: to showcase and connect talented local filmmakers, Fath said.
DSMUFF accepts submissions all year. Filmmakers are welcome to submit short films and music videos under 20 minutes long to dsmundergroundfilmfest@gmail.com. The deadline to be considered for the 2025 fest is Oct. 10.
“I am looking forward to hosting DSMUFF in years to come and would love to continue to partner with the Varsity Cinema as long as they’ll have us,” Fath said. “We might end up adding a Q&A with the filmmakers after the event if we have time this year.”
Keep an eye on the festival’s Instagram for updates on the festival lineup.
