Iowa City

In its fourth year, Big Grove For Good will offer six grants to organizations that are working to make Iowa a better place to live.

Martians, moms and all things movies were in the spotlight over the weekend at the 2024 Refocus Film Festival in Iowa City. It’s the only film festival dedicated to celebrating the art of adaptation, which this year included the Iowa premiere of Nightbitch.

Profs and Pints, an organization based in Washington, D.C. partners with colleges to put on academic lectures that are open to the public. Iowa City will hold a lecture on witch hunts Oct. 22.

Amy Adams takes a bite out of motherhood in Nightbitch, the new film adapted from Rachel Yoder’s 2021 debut novel. Here’s how you can see it before it opens nationwide in December.

Drag queens at the Iowa City gay bar Studio 13 started the competition to give drag artists a chance to experiment, grow and gain recognition. Now, past contestants are going head-to-head in “Star Search: All Stars.”

Public transportation in Iowa urban areas is important for commuters, but faces funding challenges.

Will & Harper stars the two longtime friends on a road trip as they reconnect and explore Steele’s trans identity. The film will screen daily for two weeks at FilmScene beginning Sept. 13 before dropping on Netflix.

Actor Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele have been collaborators and friends for 30 years.

The Refocus Film Festival announced its opening night film selection, "Nightbitch." The film stars Amy Adams and is based on the novel of the same name by Iowa City author Rachel Yoder. The festival takes place in downtown Iowa City Oct. 17-20.

The museum on the University of Iowa campus presented two works of art from its collection to the royal family of Nigeria in a special ceremony held at the Benin Palace, marking the first time a U.S. museum has directly returned artwork to the royal family that was stolen during a British invasion in 1897.