The feature film is “a fake story about the real Iowa caucuses” and is the brainchild of writer/director and Roll Call contributor Brent Roske. The movie, a sequel to Roske’s “Chasing the Hill” series, follows the fictional presidential campaign of Rep. Samantha Clemons, played by Melissa Fitzgerald, as well as real-life candidates as Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and other public officials who traipse through the Hawkeye State in the lead-up to the first-in-the-nation caucuses.  

The show starts at Des Moines’ Varsity Theater at 9 p.m., and will be followed by a question and answer session with Roske, former Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and the film’s co-star Catherine Urbanek. Invitation follows the jump: Roll Call, former Sen. Tom Harkin and Brent Roske invite you to the premiere of the new political feature film “Courting Des Moines” on Sunday, Jan. 31st – the night before the Iowa caucuses – at the Varsity Theater in Des Moines at 9 p.m. Harkin and writer/ director Roske will be at the Q&A following the film, moderated by Roll Call’s own Jason Dick and actress Catherine Urbanek. The Wrap premiered the movie’s trailer last week featuring cameos from Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush and more.  

ABOUT “COURTING DES MOINES” : After leaving her seat in the House of Representatives under tax fraud allegations, California Congresswoman Samantha Clemons (Melissa Fitzgerald from ‘The West Wing’) moves to Des Moines, Iowa to avoid further scrutiny. Her arrival arouses attention from the Des Moines citizens, as “all politics are local and everything local is affected by politics.”  

After some deep reflection Samantha decides to run for POTUS, hiring a young and politically passionate local, Kelli Brown (Catherine Urbanek), to run her dark horse Iowa campaign. Interspersed are appearances from real politicians: Bernie Sanders, Tom Harkin, Lindsey Graham, Paul Strauss, Jeb Bush and Martin O’Malley, to name a few.  

In this sequel to Richard Schiff’s “Chasing the Hill,” “Courting Des Moines” tells the story of the race for the presidency of the United States of America right where it starts – in ‘first in the nation’ Iowa.  

Cast: Brandon Jones (“Pretty Little Liars”), Carolyn Hennessy (“True Blood”), Brian Haley (“Gran Torino”) GregAlan Williams (“Old School”), Steve Lewis and Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland. Featuring the original song “Under A Midwestern Sky.”  

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