Save the Date | April 12 & 13, 2025Harvesting Stories | Cultivating Dreams
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Engage, Inspire, Celebrate
SAVE THE DATE for F2F 2025 - April 12 &13
Our mission is to engage & entertain audiences through film, inspire thought-provoking conversation, & enrich our community with the promotion of the arts while celebrating our film heritage. Are you a filmmaker?Film submissions are OPEN for F2F 2025!
Are you a filmmaker looking to showcase your talents? We are actively seeking films for F2F 2025! For more information about the types of films, rules, awards, & how to submit please visit our Festival information page. Submit your film before September 26th to get 20% off with code 2025FB! Go to Film Freeway to submit your work today! Please note that Farm to Film Fest is NOT limited to agriculture/farm films, we welcome films that cover current issues including arts, adventure, the environment, social justice, travel, & food/agriculture responsibilities! |
FASCINATING HISTORY | State Theatre & Brinton Films
Frank & Indiana Brinton |
Saving Brinton |
Michael Zahs |
Michael Zahs, local historian from Washington, Iowa, is responsible for achieving recognition in the Guinness World Records for the historic State Theatre, and bringing to life the Brinton Films in Washington, Iowa.
The State Theatre, currently owned and operated by Fridley Theatres, R.L. Fridley Theatres, Inc. was formed as an Iowa corporation in 1974. Founder, Robert L. Fridley, has been a prominent leader in the motion picture theatre exhibition business for over 60 years.
The State Theatre, formerly known as The Graham Opera House, has been in operation since 1893. It was certified in the Guinness World Records in April 2016, through the efforts of local historian Michael Zahs, with assistance of other local Washington residents.
The oldest continuously operating cinema in the entire world will host the 3rd annual International Film Festival, Farm to Film Fest, in Washington, Iowa, on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the historical State Theatre.
The Brinton Collection is a collection of early moving pictures that was used by Frank and Indiana Brinton for their traveling shows in the U.S. Midwest from Texas to Minnesota throughout the 1890s and into the 1900s. The shows featured magic lantern slides, sound recordings, and moving pictures when they became available in 1896. Historical records show that Frank Brinton began his shows in the late 1870s which included the West Chester Church as a venue.
The Brinton Collection of films was unknown until Michael Zahs found the mass of magic lantern slides, projectors, sound recordings, and a wealth of paper documents including catalogs located in a basement and then proceeded to salvage the collection, which included some 140 moving pictures. Through the assistance of the University of Iowa Libraries and Library of Congress, the potentially explosive slides and moving pictures were digitized and the film, Saving Brinton, was produced. Some of the Brinton Collection has now been shown world-wide in some 20 different countries through the efforts of former history teacher, Michael Zahs, as his unlimited passion for history continues.
Farm to Film Fest was organized May 10, 2022, and incorporated December 8, 2022, to honor and pay tribute to the local history of the State Theatre, the Brinton Films, and to promote the arts in Washington, Iowa.
-Lyle Moen, President, Farm to Film Fest
The State Theatre, currently owned and operated by Fridley Theatres, R.L. Fridley Theatres, Inc. was formed as an Iowa corporation in 1974. Founder, Robert L. Fridley, has been a prominent leader in the motion picture theatre exhibition business for over 60 years.
The State Theatre, formerly known as The Graham Opera House, has been in operation since 1893. It was certified in the Guinness World Records in April 2016, through the efforts of local historian Michael Zahs, with assistance of other local Washington residents.
The oldest continuously operating cinema in the entire world will host the 3rd annual International Film Festival, Farm to Film Fest, in Washington, Iowa, on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the historical State Theatre.
The Brinton Collection is a collection of early moving pictures that was used by Frank and Indiana Brinton for their traveling shows in the U.S. Midwest from Texas to Minnesota throughout the 1890s and into the 1900s. The shows featured magic lantern slides, sound recordings, and moving pictures when they became available in 1896. Historical records show that Frank Brinton began his shows in the late 1870s which included the West Chester Church as a venue.
The Brinton Collection of films was unknown until Michael Zahs found the mass of magic lantern slides, projectors, sound recordings, and a wealth of paper documents including catalogs located in a basement and then proceeded to salvage the collection, which included some 140 moving pictures. Through the assistance of the University of Iowa Libraries and Library of Congress, the potentially explosive slides and moving pictures were digitized and the film, Saving Brinton, was produced. Some of the Brinton Collection has now been shown world-wide in some 20 different countries through the efforts of former history teacher, Michael Zahs, as his unlimited passion for history continues.
Farm to Film Fest was organized May 10, 2022, and incorporated December 8, 2022, to honor and pay tribute to the local history of the State Theatre, the Brinton Films, and to promote the arts in Washington, Iowa.
-Lyle Moen, President, Farm to Film Fest
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Our Venues
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Thank you to the following venues for allowing us to host the Farm to Film Fest in their locations.
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Former YMCA | 121 W Main St
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Library 2nd Floor & Lower Level | 115 W Washington St
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State Theatre | 123 E Washington St
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City Council Chambers |
215 E Washington St |
118 S Iowa Ave
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How much does it cost?
Nothing, it's free to attend!
Where do I start?
Saturday - At any venue anytime between 9:30a-5p
Sunday - At any venue anytime between 10:30a-3p
Sunday - At any venue anytime between 10:30a-3p
Can I bring my kids?
Kids are welcome, however, while some of the films are only a few minutes long, there are hour+ long features so if your kids are used to sitting quietly through a lengthy film bring them!
Do I have to go in order?
It's ideal if you start at the beginning & follow the schedule but if you aren't enjoying the film where you are, you can go to another venue!
Are all of the films about farming?
NO! Farm to Film Fest is a nod to Washington’s roots in agriculture and while there are some wonderful ag-related films the majority are not, films range from 10min shorts to hour long features.
