The Ames Documentary Film Festival has announced the 11 official selections for its inaugural festival, taking place Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Ames Public Library.
The inaugural lineup features documentaries from four countries and four states, offering audiences a diverse collection of nonfiction stories exploring history, family, community, the environment, and social issues that shape our world. The program also includes several films with Iowa and local connections, providing an opportunity to showcase documentary storytelling from close to home alongside filmmakers from across the country and beyond.
The 11 official selections are:
- Giving Back Breath (19:34)
- Henry Knox: Resolved Forged by Revolution (27:43)
- Keeping the Bees (25:07)
- Middle Grounds (26:52)
- MOMdeszoon: A Mendeszoon Family Story (39:06)
- Resilient Roots: Food and Community in Marshalltown (28:00)
- The Congress (10:58)
- The Dying Business (20:58)
- The Elk (30:09)
- The Land We Fight For (39:17)
- Urban Mining (23:16)
Together, the films represent nearly five hours of documentary storytelling and reflect the festival’s goal of bringing compelling nonfiction work to Ames.
The Ames Documentary Film Festival was created to celebrate the art of documentary filmmaking and the power of nonfiction storytelling. The festival will take place in conjunction with the 55th Annual Octagon Art Festival, which will also be held September 27 in Downtown Ames. The collaboration with the Octagon Center for the Arts and Ames Main Street adds another layer of art and cultural programming to an already-established community event and creates an opportunity for audiences to experience film and visual art throughout the day.
“Our goal from the beginning has been to create a festival that brings people together through authentic storytelling,” said Eric Smidt, executive director of the Ames Documentary Film Festival. “For our inaugural festival, we wanted to create a program that reflects the quality and variety of documentary storytelling while also giving local filmmakers a place at the table. We are excited to bring these films to Ames and introduce audiences to the people behind them.”
Additional details, including the complete screening schedule, filmmaker information, and festival updates, will be shared in the coming weeks.
For more information about the Ames Documentary Film Festival, visit AmesDocFilmFest.com and follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Ames Documentary Film Festival
The Ames Documentary Film Festival is a new annual celebration of nonfiction storytelling in Ames, Iowa. The inaugural festival will take place Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Ames Public Library and will feature short documentary films from Iowa, across the United States and around the world. The festival is organized in collaboration with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, Octagon Center for the Arts and Ames Main Street and is presented in conjunction with the Octagon Art Festival.