Iowa actors Steve Mathews (at left) and Mike Pace in “Our Fathers”

An eight-day international film festival opened last night in central Iowa that includes the world premiere of a British film.

Kim Busbee is director and co-founder of the Wild Rose Independent Film Festival, now in its 10th year in Des Moines, which showcases actors and filmmakers from Iowa — and from around the globe.

“We had over 400 entries and we have 37 films screening, 34 in competition,” Busbee says.

“It was one of the toughest years to judge because the production values were so good, everything was so great, it really made it hard on the judging committee.”

Many of this year’s films have Iowa ties, as they feature Iowans on the screen, Iowans as writers and filmmakers, Iowa as the setting and sometimes all of the above. One film stars a Mason City native.

Tanna Frederick is starring in the feature-length comedy, “Just 45 Minutes from Broadway” with well-known actor Judd Nelson. It’s about the fine line between acting and real life. Another feature, “I Heart Shakey,” stars Rylie Behr, a 13-year-old actress from Des Moines, with several Hollywood actors, including Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D’ Angelo.

The festival will be showing full features, documentaries, shorts, student films and animated films. Busbee says the list also includes a special screening of a movie that hasn’t been shown anywhere else.

There’s a world premiere from the United Kingdom called “Confine,” an intense thriller with “really high production value,” according to Busbee. In addition to the films, the fest offers a filmmakers’ panel and acting workshops presented by top industry professionals. The festival runs through November 15th at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe in Des Moines.

Learn more at: www.wildrosefilmfest.com