One of the bigger successes in independent film last year got its start as part of a film festival. “Napoleon Dynamite” earned more than $44 million in 2004 and was first showcased at the Sundance Film Festival.

This weekend, Iowa hosts its own independent film festival. The Wild Rose Independent Film Festival at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe in Des Moines runs from Thursday through Sunday and will showcase a wide variety of films from documentaries to student productions.

Festival Director Kimberly Busbee says more than 25 films are up for the festival’s awards this year, including many entries from Iowa residents. In order to be shown, all entries were prescreened and judged according to the festival’s criteria.

“If they made it this far, they’re worthy of being screened in the festival,” she says.

When choosing entries, Busbee says the judging panel tried to pick interesting and quirky films that are not as likely to be seen by the general public as often as more mainstream films.

“We really expect people are trying to do exciting, surprising, new, maybe sometimes edgy, truthful storytelling,” she says.

This year’s entries include several student films from around the country, including “Her Summer,” a drama by two University of Iowa students, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, through their company, Bluebox Limited.

They have been awarded an Iowa Award for Outstanding Filmmaking in addition to being in the top 3 percent of Project Greenlight, an online script contest sponsored by HBO. Beck and Woods were also were recently named semifinalists in MTV’s Best Film on Campus Trailer Challenge.

Beck says he thinks an event like the Wild Rose Film Festival is extremely important not only to the Iowa filmmaking scene, but also to potential student filmmakers who want to showcase their work.

“Wild Rose is a great outlet for filmmakers to screen their work, and at the same time, a great place to learn,” he says. “Wild Rose really supports student filmmakers and allows them to showcase their talents. I really see the filmmaking community growing in Iowa.”

Although she is not connected with a film, Rachel Norgaard, senior in architecture, will be playing the piano at the wine reception to be held Friday evening for the cast of “Boone Style,” a film by former Iowan Mas Gardner.

She says when she went to the festival last year, it was inspiring to learn that films don’t have to be feature-length to be powerful. She compares the film festival to a compilation CD because the movies are experienced as a whole, rather than individually.

“If people go in with an open mind, it’s very powerful because everything is in context with other films,” Norgaard says. “They can give appreciation for the genre, even if it is their first experience.”

Both Beck and Norgaard say events like the Wild Rose Film Festival are excellent in providing exposure and experience for student filmmakers. Norgaard says any time anyone sees someone’s work, it opens up possibilities, even at a smaller venue like the Wild Rose festival.

Beck says part of the reason he thinks the filmmaking community is growing is because of students.

“It’s extremely important to have festivals such as this one, in order to support the emerging Iowa film community,” he says. “Wild Rose gives us an opportunity to share our films with an audience.”

In addition to the films, Busbee says the festival will host a keynote speaker Saturday evening. Greg Alan Williams is a working Hollywood character actor and will also be holding auditions at Wild Rose for an actors seminar.

The festival will conclude Sunday evening, with the awards ceremony Saturday night after Williams’ address.

“The arts community in [Des Moines] and around the state is huge, and hopefully as more people learn about filmmaking in Iowa, they’ll embrace it and support the festival,” Beck says.