SHIFT
Can you find yourself in the middle of nowhere?
“Shift” tells the story of RAGBRAI through ground-breaking photography and intimate interviews with three riders and a pair of community leaders as they overcome grueling miles and personal hurdles to find peace, redemption and clarity while bicycling across Iowa.
ABOUT THE FILM
Nearly 50 years ago, a pair of Des Moines Register writers and weekend bicyclists got a wild hair to pedal across the state and call it work.
One condition, the paper’s brass said: You have to invite readers to join the ride.
In the five decades since about 300 brave souls set out on that first ride in 1973, RAGBRAI — the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — has grown into the oldest, largest and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.
"Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary," presented by the Des Moines Register, explores the people who ride, the towns that host and the space RAGBRAI offers riders to find whatever it was that enticed them to put their lives on hold and risk saddle sores in the July heat. The film follows three riders and a pair of community leaders as they reach new personal heights, changing their lives in seven days and finding themselves — literally and metaphorically — in the middle of nowhere.
This documentary is made possible through the support of our fiscal sponsor, Des Moines Film. We are still seeking funds, so please support this film by making a tax-deductible donation to Des Moines Film.
Directors: Kelsey Kremer and Courtney Crowder
Starring: Dayna Chandler, Torie Giffin, Daniel Giffin, Andrew Boddicker, Ian Zahren, Adam Lineberry and Liam Lineberry
Release Year: 2023
Run Time: 57 min.
FESTIVALS
“SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary” has been selected for the following film festivals:
WATCH THE FILM
Showings
STREAMING: Bicycle Film Festival Worldwide
"Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary" is proud to have been selected for the Bicycle Film Festival Worldwide, a virtual festival that celebrates the bicycle in all its human powered forms. The festival includes five shirt film programs and five feature length film programs. Festival passes start at $33 and give access to all 10 programs. Passes just for the program featuring "Shift" start at $12.
Dec. 20, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024
DECORAH, IOWA: Oneota Film Festival
"Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary" was selected as part of the Oneota Film Festival. Screenings will be available at the Hotel Winneshiek on Thursday, Feb. 29 and Sunday, March 3.
WASHINGTON, IOWA: Farm to Film Fest
Join us for a screening of "Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary" and a director Q&A at the State Theater in Washington at 9:45 a.m. on April 20.
Streaming
“Shift” is currently exclusive to movie theaters. We’re seeking a distribution partner who will help amplify the film’s message through broad promotion. Please contact us at ragbraidoc@gannett.com for more information.
SUPPORT
“Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary” was created with the belief that the film’s message of personal achievement through the magic of bicycling would be strong enough to support its production. We are still seeking funds to cover the costs of making this movie.
Please support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to Des Moines Film. Online donations may be made by clicking the button below. Checks made out to Des Moines Film with Shift Documentary in the memo line may be mailed to: Des Moines Film, 1207 25th St., Des Moines, IA 50311
PHOTOS
MERCHANDISE
Own the DVD
You can find yourself in the middle of nowhere. You can change your life in seven days. DVDs are on sale now through RAGBRAI's merchandise channels.
THE TEAM
Kelsey Kremer, Director
Kelsey Kremer is an Emmy award-winning photojournalist and life-long Iowan. She is the photo editor for the state’s largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register. In her time at the Register, she’s traveled to every corner of the state and circled the globe sharing stories about Iowa. In 2017, she was the recipient of a Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting grant for a two-week reporting trip to China to document Iowa’s role in U.S.-China relations. In 2019, Kelsey was the Register's lead political photographer with a focus on coverage of the 2020 Iowa Caucuses, interviewing and photographing every candidate actively campaigning in the state. Kelsey is a part 107 licensed drone pilot. She is a graduate of Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
Courtney Crowder, Director
Courtney Crowder is the Iowa Columnist and a senior writer at the Des Moines Register. A Headliner Award winner, two-time Livingston Award finalist and DART Award finalist, Crowder tells human stories with an investigative eye and a narrative touch. As the COVID pandemic raged, Crowder led the Register's efforts to document the names and stories of Iowans who died of COVID through the “Iowa Mourns” obituary project and penned a seven-part series, "Inside COVID's Siege," after spending weeks embedded in an ICU. She co-founded the Des Moines Storytellers Project, a live storytelling event series, and co-launched the Register's new Off Hours entertainment vertical. She believes in coaxing out the universal truth in people's stories and knows that if you dig deep enough into anyone's stories, you'll find everyone's story.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Carol Hunter
Des Moines Register executive editor
Kathy Kieliszewski
Senior News Director for visuals at the Detroit Free Press
VIDEOGRAPHERS
Charlie Litchfield
Creative Director for University Communications at University of Oregon; Des Moines Register photographer, 2012 – 2015
Andrea Melendez
Multimedia Journalist for WGCU Public Radio in Fort Myers, Florida; Des Moines Register photographer, 2000 – 2016
Rodney White
Content Creator at Bing Bang; Des Moines Register photographer, 2001 – 2019
Michael Zamora
Visual Editor at NPR; Des Moines Register photographer, 2015 – 2018
Trevor Hughes
National Correspondent for USA TODAY
Brian Kaufman
Executive Video Producer for the Detroit Free Press
MUSIC
"RAGBRAI" is written and performed by George McGargill.
PRODUCERS
Virginia Barreda, Philip Joens, Anne Lawrie, Kim Norvell and Matt Phippen.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
Jenean Galvan and Brian Smith.
WEB DESIGN
Spencer Holladay
NEWS
Des Moines Register: 'SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary' wins esteemed award ― beats Taylor Swift at one box office
Des Moines Register: 'SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary' wins Iowa Newspaper Association Award
Sioux City Journal: REVIEW: 'Shift' captures a more human side of annual bicycle ride
Burlington Hawkeye: "SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary" comes to the Capitol Theater Tuesday and Wednesday
Sioux City Journal: Two journalists look inside RAGBRAI for a deeper, cinematic story
Chicago Tribune: RAGBRAI is an annual bike ride across Iowa. This documentary shows what it means to those who ride it.
WGN Radio: The story of a bike ride tradition in Iowa
Ames Tribune: 'SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary' is coming to Nevada's Camelot Theater
Des Moines Register: Varsity Cinema hosts premiere of 'Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary' for sold-out crowd
Iowa Public Radio: New Documentary captures the feeling of riding RAGBRAI
Just Go Bike podcast: Episode 247: 'Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary' hits the big screen
Des Moines Register: Meet the subjects features in 'Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary'
Des Moines Register: 'Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary' releases trailer
The Iowa Podcast: New film about Iowa’s favorite ride
CONTACT
The “Shift” team is seeking collaborators on several fronts, including funding the film as well as ensuring its message has the broadest audience. Individual financial contributors can make donations through our fiscal sponsor, Des Moines Film. Organizations and activists interested in becoming presenting partners or hosting screenings can reach out to us below.
PARTNERS
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Shift: The RAGBRAI documentary tickets, where to watch and more
