Julien Dubuque International Film Festival

10/05/2026

Once is an honor. Twice means we must be doing something right 🎬✨

For the second year in a row, the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival has been recognized by Destination Film Guide among its Top North American Film Festivals.

And while we’re incredibly proud of the recognition, what makes JDIFF special has never been a title on a list.

It’s the filmmakers who trust us with their stories.�The audiences who fill the theaters.�The conversations that continue after the credits roll.�The volunteers, partners, sponsors and community who show up year after year.�And the connections that begin in Dubuque and continue long after the festival ends.

That’s JDIFF!

Eight days built around independent film, storytelling, community and the people behind the work.

To everyone who has been part of this festival over the years, this recognition belongs to you too! 🩵

And now… we get to do it all again 😬

🎬 JDIFF 2027�📍 Dubuque, Iowa�📅 April 17–24, 2027

Come experience JDIFF!

10/02/2026

Consider this your warm-up for the World Series ⚾🎬

Baseball meets the big screen as JDIFF joins Five Flags Center as a presenting partner for a special screening of UECK: The Movie - The Story of Baseball’s Most Unlikely Legend.

Join us October 22 at 7:00 PM at Five Flags Theater as we celebrate the unforgettable life and legacy of Bob Uecker, followed by a post-show Q&A with filmmakers and special guests.

And with the World Series beginning the next night… we’re calling this what it is: A pre-World Series party ⚾🍿

Film. Baseball. Stories from behind the scenes.
One night in Dubuque.

🎬 UECK: The Movie
📅 October 22 • 7:00 PM
📍 Five Flags Theater
🎤 Post-show Q&A with filmmakers + special guests

Tickets are on sale now through Five Flags Center.

We’ll see you at the ballpark… well, the theater 😉⚾🎥

09/26/2026

TONIGHT! 🫂❤️‍🔥🎥

You’ve got a friend in us Dubuque. 🤠🎬

Movie night is heading outdoors! Join the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival for Movie in the Park, featuring Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story under the stars✨🍿

📅 Saturday, September 26
📍 Asbury City Park
🍕 Food + fun begins at 6:15 PM
🎬 Movie begins at approximately 7:15 PM

Bring your chairs, blankets, family and friends and settle in for an evening of food, fun and one of Pixar’s most beloved movies.

Admission is FREE, with goodwill donations welcomed!

Come hungry too 👀🍕🍦 Food will be available for purchase from Birds. Fried Chicken and Lloyd's Pizza Co , with Delaney's Ice Cream Shoppe , popcorn, beverages and more available throughout the evening.

A special thank you to Premier Bank, Dubuque for sponsoring JDIFF Movie in the Park and helping us bring another night of film and community to Asbury 💙

Facebook friends: RSVP to our Movie in the Park event and let us know you’re coming!
Instagram friends: send this to the person you’re bringing with you 👀

And make sure you’re following JDIFF on Instagram + Facebook for event updates, upcoming opportunities, submission deadlines and everything happening on the road to JDIFF 2027! 🎥

We’ve missed you all, see you under the stars! ✨

09/22/2026

Another JDIFF story continuing beyond the festival 🎬✨

Today’s JDIFF Alumni Spotlight celebrates Do Us Part, a 2026 JDIFF selection that has officially made its way from the festival circuit to audiences beyond it.

The romantic comedy from writer/director Reed Russell follows its festival run — including stops at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival, Naples Film Festival, Omaha Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival and more — with its public release on Video on Demand.

Along the way, Do Us Part has picked up recognition including Audience Choice Best Feature Comedy at Sedona Film Festival, Best First Feature at Naples Film Festival, Best Comedy at Route 66 Film Festival, and additional honors throughout its festival run 🏆🎥
Now it’s your turn to watch!!

🎬 DO US PART
📺 Available now on Video on Demand
🍎 Available via Apple TV and additional digital streaming platforms

There’s something special about watching a film come through the festival world and then continue building a life of its own afterward. Congratulations to Reed Russell and the entire Do Us Part team on the release! 💙

And to the filmmakers working on what comes next: JDIFF 2027 submissions are OPEN. We can’t wait to see what stories find their way to Dubuque next 🎬

09/18/2026

From JDIFF to what’s next 🎬🌊

For our first JDIFF Alumni Spotlight, we’re catching up with filmmaker Ben Judkins and The Cigarette Surfboard — an award-winning environmental documentary that previously made its way through the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival and is now available for its Online Premiere through September 27!

Directed by Ben Judkins, The Cigarette Surfboard follows surfer Taylor Lane as he builds a functional surfboard using 10,000 cigarette butts collected from California beaches, turning one of the world’s most littered items into a platform for a much bigger conversation about ocean health, plastic waste and what each of us can do to be part of the solution. 🌊

🎟️ ONLINE PREMIERE: SEPTEMBER 15–27
🎬 Watch the film online from wherever you are
💬 Select tickets also include access to live virtual Q&As with professionals featured in the film

We love getting to see where the stories (and filmmakers) that have come through JDIFF go next. Congratulations to Ben and the entire The Cigarette Surfboard team on continuing to take this film and its message out into the world 💙

👉 Tickets + viewing information: check out The Cigarette Surfboard and visit the link in their bio.

And filmmakers, remember: JDIFF 2027 submissions are currently OPEN. Maybe we’ll be talking about where your film goes next someday 👀🎬

09/11/2026

You’ve got a friend in us Dubuque. 🤠🎬

Movie night is heading outdoors! Join the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival for Movie in the Park, featuring Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story under the stars✨🍿

📅 Saturday, September 26
📍 Asbury City Park
🍕 Food + fun begins at 6:15 PM
🎬 Movie begins at approximately 7:15 PM

Bring your chairs, blankets, family and friends and settle in for an evening of food, fun and one of Pixar’s most beloved movies.

Admission is FREE, with goodwill donations welcomed!

Come hungry too 👀🍕🍦 Food will be available for purchase from Birds. Fried Chicken and Lloyd's Pizza Co , with Delaney's Ice Cream Shoppe , popcorn, beverages and more available throughout the evening.

A special thank you to Premier Bank, Dubuque for sponsoring JDIFF Movie in the Park and helping us bring another night of film and community to Asbury 💙

Facebook friends: RSVP to our Movie in the Park event and let us know you’re coming!
Instagram friends: send this to the person you’re bringing with you 👀

And make sure you’re following JDIFF on Instagram + Facebook for event updates, upcoming opportunities, submission deadlines and everything happening on the road to JDIFF 2027! 🎥

We’ve missed you all, see you under the stars! ✨

05/26/2026

“What the hell happened?” — sometimes that’s exactly the question that drives the story.

Eliza Fox joins us to discuss the making of What The Hell Happened and the moments that sparked this powerful project.

🎥 Film: What The Hell Happened

05/25/2026

Travel, culture, and storytelling through a different lens 🌍

We sat down with Julien Jean Zayatz to talk about Tea Travel, a short film that explores connection through ritual and global experience.

Filmmakers, what inspires your next journey?

🎥 Film: Tea Travel

05/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Festival Executive Directors Panel at JDIFF 2026 ❤️‍🔥🫂🎥

As promised, we’re sharing the festivals mentioned by filmmakers in the room: peer-to-peer recommendations from those actively navigating the circuit.

Tag a filmmaker who’s planning their festival strategy for next year 👇🏼

05/12/2026

We sat down with Katrine Eichberger () and Nikolas Mühe () to discuss The World Outside (OT: Draußen die Welt)

A film that reflects on perspective, distance, and the spaces we inhabit — both physically and emotionally.

Catch the conversation and learn more about the vision behind