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Press Releases
Recent press releases from Milwaukee Film. For more information, contact Marketing Director Blyth Meier at blyth@milwaukee-film.org or 414-755-1965 x208.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, May 7, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is pleased to announce the director and screenwriter for their yearly Collaborative Cinema educational film production. The film, titled Love You Still, tells an Old Man and the Sea-type tale focused on an elderly fisherman dealing with his isolated place in the world. The screenplay was written by Franklin High School junior Katie Theel and will be directed by Michael Viers, a graduating senior in the UW-Milwaukee Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Announces Collaborative Cinema Film Production: Love You Still
Crew Call Now Open for 2013 Educational Film Shoot
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, May 7, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is pleased to announce the director and screenwriter for their yearly Collaborative Cinema educational film production. The film, titled Love You Still, tells an Old Man and the Sea-type tale focused on an elderly fisherman dealing with his isolated place in the world. The screenplay was written by Franklin High School junior Katie Theel and will be directed by Michael Viers, a graduating senior in the UW-Milwaukee Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres.
“We are thrilled to be working with Katie's script this summer,” says Susan Kerns, Education Director for Milwaukee Film. “This is her third year in our screenwriting program, and it has been wonderful watching Katie's writing develop. She's a hard worker, and a joy to work with, so I'm excited to see her ideas come to life this year.”
Susan also had this to say about director Michael Viers: “Michael's pitch truly impressed us, as it was clear he had spent a lot of time figuring out how Katie's script worked with his personal style and interests. He also presented some unusual visual ideas that I think will be intriguing for students to attempt and make for a great film. It's going to be a challenging and fun project - exactly what Collaborative Cinema is all about.”
In addition to her previous participation in Collaborative Cinema’s screenwriting program, Katie was also a part of 2012’s on-set film crew. Michael also previously participated in the screenwriting program while in high school, and has since continued to keep in touch with one of his writing mentors from the program.
Love You Still will be shot in late June with a full-scale professional film crew and premiere at the 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival, which runs September 26-October 10.
This year, 50 high school students attended Milwaukee Film’s Collaborative Cinema screenwriting workshops. Writers developed a short script idea from a one-page treatment into a 10-page script, and worked with screenwriters, educators, and filmmakers over the course of several months. The top five scripts were then pitched by four emerging local directors to a deciding panel of industry professionals, which included Carlo Besasie (Tempest Pictures), Mark Foote (Flexible Films, LLC), Jeff Kurz (Belle City Pics, Milwaukee Film Production Coordinator), and Kara Mulrooney (Gal Friday Films).
Filmmakers interested in working as crew on the Collaborative Cinema set in June should apply by Tuesday, May 21 on the Milwaukee Film website. These unpaid positions are open to people with a filmmaking background who are looking to gain more on-set experience and meet people working in the local film industry.
More information about the film and program:
About the director, Michael Viers:
Viers was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and developed an interest in filmmaking after seeing John Carpenter’s Halloween while still in middle school. While in high school, he took part in Milwaukee Film’s Collaborative Cinema screenwriting program, and entered various screenwriting competitions, placing in the finals with his very first script. He’s currently a graduating senior in UW-Milwaukee’s Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres. While in film school, he’s completed two noteworthy shorts: Shades of Pride, which was Official Selection at the 15-Minutes of Fame Festival of Short Films in Palm Bay, FL; and From the Darkness Theatre, which will be playing at the 66th Annual Festival de Cannes in the Short Film Corner.
About the screenwriter, Katie Theel:
Theel is a junior at Franklin High School. An amateur filmmaker since fifth grade, Katie is part of her school’s TV Production Class, participated in Collaborative Cinema’s Screenwriting Program for the past three years, and spent Summer 2012 as a member of Collaborative Cinema’s high school film crew. She and her friends are planning on participating in the 48 Hour Film Festival this June. Love You Still is her first film.
Collaborative Cinema Screenwriting 2013 Finalists:
Maggie Beck (Nicolet High School), Lunch Money
Vianca Fuster (Riverside High School), Online Fugitives
Joshua Miles (Milwaukee School of Languages), A Family that Preys
Ellie Wells (Shorewood High School), The Harpist
Collaborative Cinema Director 2013 Finalists:
Nikolas Aldrich
Tony Hunt
Erica Thompson
For more information on this education program from Milwaukee Film, visit: http://mkefilm.org/content/collaborativecinema
Passes and ticket packages for the 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival are now on sale at: http://mkefilm.org/ticketing
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About Collaborative Cinema
Milwaukee Film’s Collaborative Cinema education program provides high school students, college students, and emerging film professionals with an enhanced understanding of filmmaking at all stages. Beginning with screenwriting and including all elements of filmmaking from pre-production to distribution, the program aims to educate and increase the diversity of the local film community while building a network of students and professional filmmakers to be the future of the Wisconsin film industry. Collaborative Cinema is funded by the Herzfeld Foundation, and the Mary L. Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. Collaborative Cinema receives additional sponsorship from Independent and North American Camera. More information can be found at: mkefilm.org/content/collaborativecinema
About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 50,000 attendees over 15 days, with 77 sold-out screenings. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (instagram.com/mkefilm), and the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (past chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin (chair), Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett, Jacqueline Strayer.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, April 16, 2013 – Milwaukee Film announced today that festival passes and ticket 6-packs for the 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival are on sale now. This first wave of ticket sales will feature the lowest prices of the year, and are available exclusively through mkefilm.org/ticketing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Passes & Ticket Packages On Sale Now
Early purchase of festival passes and 6-packs best way to avoid sold-out screenings.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, April 16, 2013 – Milwaukee Film announced today that festival passes and ticket 6-packs for the 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival are on sale now. This first wave of ticket sales will feature the lowest prices of the year, and are available exclusively through mkefilm.org/ticketing.
“We experienced a tremendous increase in attendance last year, and with it, a record number of sold-out screenings,” explained Artistic and Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “We went from 22 sold-out screenings in 2011 to 77 in 2012. Buying festival passes and 6-packs early is the only way to guarantee you won’t miss a single film.”
From now until June 6, 2013, Milwaukee Film Members will be able to purchase festival passes for $200— 33% off the $300 festival Member price — and ticket 6-packs for $36 (normally $48 for Members). The General Public can purchase passes for $315—10% off the regular $350 price— and ticket 6-packs for $51 (normally $60). Individual tickets during the festival cost $8 for Members and $10 for the General Public. Pass and ticket package discounts will decrease the closer it gets to the festival.
Tickets will be available exclusively online until the official Milwaukee Film Festival box office opens September 11 for all Milwaukee Film Members, and September 12 for the General Public. Then and only then will tickets also be available in person, or by phone. Anyone interested in receiving the best value possible on passes and ticket packages can become a Milwaukee Film Member by visiting mkefilm.org/membership.
The 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival runs September 26 – October 10. The complete price breakdown and timeline for festival passes and ticket packages are as follows:
FESTIVAL PASS AND TICKET PACKAGE INFO, SALE DATES, AND PRICES
A FESTIVAL PASS entitles you to:
Admission to ALL screenings, including Opening Night Film, Centerpiece Film, and Closing Night Film, plus admission to the Opening Night Party.
A 6-PACK entitles you to:
Six (6) regular festival screenings valued at $10 or less, depending on individual ticket availability. This does not include Opening Night Film, Centerpiece Film, Closing Night Film, nor the Opening Night Party.
Tuesday, April 16 – Thursday, June 6
FESTIVAL PASSES
$200 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$315 (General Public)
6-PACKS
$36 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$51 (General Public)
Friday, June 7 – Thursday, July 18
FESTIVAL PASSES
$225 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$325 (General Public)
6-PACKS
$39 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$54 (General Public)
Friday, July 19 – Sunday, September 8
FESTIVAL PASSES
$250 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$340 (General Public)
6-PACKS
$42 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$57 (General Public)
Monday, September 9 through the festival
FESTIVAL PASSES
$300 (Milwaukee Film Members)
$350 (General Public)
For more information, visit mkefilm.org/ticketing
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 50,000 attendees over 15 days, with 77 sold-out screenings. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (instagram.com/mkefilm), and the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (past chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin (chair), Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – March 28, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is now accepting entries for the 5th annual Milwaukee Film Festival (Sept. 26-Oct. 10, 2013). Works of all genres, forms, and lengths are considered. The deadline for all entries is Monday, June 24. Once again this year, the festival is offering free submission for all films.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
2013 Milwaukee Film Festival Call for Entries Now Open
Free Entry for All Films; Deadline is June 24
MILWAUKEE – March 28, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is now accepting entries for the 5th annual Milwaukee Film Festival (Sept. 26-Oct. 10, 2013). Works of all genres, forms, and lengths are considered. The deadline for all entries is Monday, June 24. Once again this year, the festival is offering free submission for all films.
“Last year, our lack of an entry fee received a great response from the film community,” explains Artistic and Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “We’d much rather see filmmakers use that money to complete their vision. And for us, it provides a much wider pool of films from which we can build the best festival possible.”
Also returning in 2013 is The Milwaukee Youth Show, a showcase of short films by and for filmmakers ages 18 and under.
In its ongoing efforts to inspire and promote filmmaking in southeastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Film offers a Filmmaker-in-Residence program each year to the filmmaker who receives the Cream City Cinema Award. The Filmmaker-in-Residence program enables the winning filmmaker to make a new film using the support, guidance, and resources provided by Milwaukee Film, including:
· A camera package from North American Camera, valued at over $10,000
· Complete post-production services provided by Independent, valued at over $10,000
· Mentoring and consulting services from Milwaukee Film and other industry professionals
Once completed, the Filmmaker-in-Residence film is premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival.
Previous Filmmaker-in-Residence recipients include:
· Chris James Thompson – 2012 Cream City Cinema winning film: The Jeffrey Dahmer Files; Filmmaker-in-Residence film: TBA
· Michael Hawkins-Burgos – 2011 The Milwaukee Show winning film: Don’t Go; Filmmaker-in-Residence film: TBA
· Tate Bunker – 2010 The Milwaukee Show winning film: Mickey Burgermeister; Filmmaker-in-Residence film: Studies in Space
· John Roberts – 2009 The Milwaukee Show winning film: Mary’s Friend; Filmmaker-in-Residence film: The Wheel
The Milwaukee Film Festival will offer a cash award of $2,500 to our international Fiction Film Competition winner. The winning film is determined by a jury of selected industry professionals, which in past years has included A.V. Club Film Editor Scott Tobias, Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, BAMcinematek Program Director Florence Almozini, Time Out New York Film Editor David Fear, and ME @THE ZOO Producer Jack Turner. In addition, non-juried audience awards, presented by Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig, are given to the top-rated short- and feature-length films based on audience ratings.
Last year’s festival screened 225 films from 47 different countries with 107 filmmakers and industry professionals in attendance. The record-setting crowd of over 50,000 filmgoers flocked to 77 sold-out film screenings, 72 post-film conversations and 11 panel discussions. New in 2012 was the first-ever Live Music Series, a collaboration with The Hotel Foster, that drew over 1300 music lovers to see 20 bands over nine nights during the festival. The centerpiece of the 2012 festival was the U.S. Premiere of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s documentary, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God, with Gibney and several subjects of the film in attendance. The festival’s popular Opening Night Party at Discovery World attracted over 2,400 people celebrating the start of 15 days of exceptional cinema.
Photos of the 2012 festival can be found on the Milwaukee Film Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm/photos) and Milwaukee Film Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/milwaukeefilm).
The entry form and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival is available at http://mkefilm.org/call-for-entries. Questions regarding submissions may be directed to entry@mkefilm.org
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 50,000 attendees over 15 days, with 77 sold-out screenings. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (instagram.com/mkefilm), and the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 5th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (past chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin (chair), Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Dave Stamm, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – January 15, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is proud to announce today that the 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Fifth Annual Milwaukee Film Festival Announces 2013 Dates
MFF 2013 Runs for 15 Days: September 26-October 10
MILWAUKEE – January 15, 2013 – Milwaukee Film is proud to announce today that the 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
“Last year we took a gamble and extended the festival from 11 to 15 days. Milwaukee did us proud and came out strong for the entire run, including 19 sell-outs in those extra four days. We couldn’t be happier to announce that we’ll be back for a full 15 days again in 2013,” says Artistic and Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “The staff and board are hard at work cooking up a lot of good things for our milestone fifth annual festival. Stay tuned, Milwaukee.”
Last year’s festival screened 225 films from 47 different countries and hosted 107 filmmakers and industry professionals, all supported by an incredible 260 sponsors and community partners. Fueling a 40% increase over 2011, the crowd of over 50,000 filmgoers flocked to 77 sold-out film screenings, 72 post-film conversations and 11 panel discussions. For the first time, the festival included a Live Music Series, which brought over 1300 music lovers to The Hotel Foster for 20 bands over nine nights.
The festival’s centerpiece screening slot hosted the U.S. Premiere of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s newest documentary, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God, with Gibney and several subjects of the film in attendance. In addition, MFF 2012 screened several Oscar nominees, including David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, which received eight nominations across all major categories. The festival’s popular Opening Night Party at Discovery World attracted over 2,400 exceedingly handsome people celebrating the start of 15 days of exceptional cinema.
A new video featuring the aforementioned good-looking crowds at last year’s Opening Night film and party is now featured on the Milwaukee Film blog: http://vimeo.com/milwaukeefilm/mff2011openingnight. Photos of the 2012 festival can be found on the Milwaukee Film Facebook page (http://mkefilm.org/media) and Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/milwaukeefilm). The full list of MFF alums on the 2013 Oscar nomination list can also be found on the Milwaukee Film blog: http://mkefilm.org/theblog/mff-alums-2013-oscar-list.
The 2013 Call for Entries, festival venues, and ticket pre-sale dates will be announced in the upcoming months.
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 50,000 attendees over 15 days, with 77 sold-out screenings. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (instagram.com/mkefilm), and the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 5th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 26-October 10, 2013.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (past chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin (chair), Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Dave Stamm, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Friday, October 12, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, concluded its 15-day run Thursday night with the official Closing Night Film, The Sessions. Presenting 225 films from 47 countries, this year’s festival experienced significant growth in nearly every category, including a 40% increase in attendance (50,160 in 2012 vs. 35,700 in 2011) and a 250% increase in sold-out screenings (77 in 2012 vs. 22 in 2011).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival attracts 50,160 attendees for 40% increase over 2011
Best Feature Audience Award goes to Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
MILWAUKEE – Friday, October 12, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, concluded its 15-day run Thursday night with the official Closing Night Film, The Sessions. Presenting 225 films from 47 countries, this year’s festival experienced significant growth in nearly every category, including a 40% increase in attendance (50,160 in 2012 vs. 35,700 in 2011) and a 250% increase in sold-out screenings (77 in 2012 vs. 22 in 2011).
“To see continued success in nearly every facet of the festival is extremely humbling,” says Artistic & Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “It confirms our long-held belief that this festival works because it’s about more than just the films. It’s about the breadth of the experience, including the community that continues to embrace us as part of their culture.”
The centerpiece of this year’s festival was the U.S. Premiere of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s newest documentary, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God, with Gibney and several subjects of the film in attendance. Centering on four courageous students at St. John’s School for the Deaf in St. Francis, WI, the film exposes the clerical sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church and a cover-up that leads all the way to the highest offices of the Vatican. The HBO Documentary Films production Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God received this year’s coveted Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Award for Best Feature Film. Past recipients of this MFF award include Waiting for “Superman” and Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.
Gibney was among the 107 filmmakers and film industry guests in attendance throughout the festival that also included legendary film critic J. Hoberman who addressed a packed Downer Theatre crowd for his keynote address, State Of Cinema In The 21st Century: Film After Film. The keynote was a highlight of an expanded panel series that featured 11 panels and drew 811 attendees (100% increase from 2011). The festival’s popular Conversations series, presented by WUWM 89.7 FM, also expanded, featuring 72 talkbacks after films (up from 64 in 2011).
The Super Secret Members-Only Screening was early 2013 Oscar favorite Silver Lining Playbook from acclaimed director David O. Russel (The Fighter, Three Kings), and featuring a star-studded cast including Robert DeNiro, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
The Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival, presented by PNC, experienced dramatic growth for the second straight year, with its attendance of 9,093 representing a 145% growth over 2011. The Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Award for Best Short Film went to the 3-D film Magic Piano by Martin Clapp (presented as part of the Kids Shorts: Size Large program).
The Milwaukee Film Festival also continued its strong support of the local film community with this year’s edition of The Milwaukee Show. Screened before a sold-out crowd in the main house of the Oriental Theatre, this annual showcase features a selection of short films created by local filmmakers, and included both the 2010 Filmmaker-in-Residence award-winner film and the 2012 Collaborative Cinema short film.
This year also introduced our first-ever Live Music Series—a collaboration with The Hotel Foster, and sponsored by WMSE 91.7FM and OnMilwaukee.com. Free to all MFF 2012 ticket stub and pass holders, this year’s line-up featured 20 bands over nine nights with an attendance of over 1300 music lovers.
In addition to our previously announced juried awards, the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Awards are as follows:
Best Feature Film: Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God (dir. Alex Gibney)
Best Short Film: Magic Piano (dir. Martin Clapp)
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Monday, October 8, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, announced the 2012 Jury Award Winners on Sunday. Awards were given out for both the Competition and Cream City Cinema Programs, including a Filmmaker-in-Residence Award. The year-long residency includes a $20,000+ Filmmaker Services Prize Package (sponsored by Independent and North American Camera) and a $2,500 cash award. The Competition Award also comes with a $2,500 cash award.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@milwaukee-film.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Announces 2012 Jury Award Winners
Crulic – The Path to Beyond and The Jeffrey Dahmer Files take top honors
MILWAUKEE – Monday, October 8, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, announced the 2012 Jury Award Winners on Sunday. Awards were given out for both the Competition and Cream City Cinema Programs, including a Filmmaker-in-Residence Award. The year-long residency includes a $20,000+ Filmmaker Services Prize Package (sponsored by Independent and North American Camera) and a $2,500 cash award. The Competition Award also comes with a $2,500 cash award.
“This year’s jury was a highlight of the festival for me. We were thrilled to welcome this significant group of industry professionals to Milwaukee, whose thoughtful debate on the films was informative and entertaining,” said Artistic and Executive Director Jonathan Jackson.
The Allan (H.) Bud and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Awards for Feature and Short Films will be announced at the conclusion of the festival.
2012 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL JURY AWARDS
Competition Winner
Crulic - The Path to Beyond (dir. Anca Damian)
Competition: Honorable Mention
5 Broken Cameras (dirs. Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi)
Competition: Best Acting
Saul Williams, Tey
Competition: Best Directing
Mohammad Rasoulof, Goodbye
Cream City Cinema: Filmmaker-in-Residence
Chris James Thompson, The Jeffrey Dahmer Files
Cream City Cinema: Special Jury Prize for Short Film
So I Could Fly Away (dir. Blyth Renate Meier)
Cream City Cinema: Special Jury Prize for Feature Film
As Goes Janesville (dir. Brad Lichtenstein)
2012 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL JURY MEMBERS
Cream City Cinema Jury
John Axford – Milwaukee Brewers
Deb McClutchy – Oscilloscope Pictures
Michael Raisler – Creative Director, Cinereach; Executive producer, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Laurel Ward – VP of Development, Ocean Pictures
Competition Program Jury
Ildi Toth Davy – Altadena Pictures
David Heuring – Independent freelance writer and consultant
Brad Wilke – Programmer, Seattle International Film Festival
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Monday, September 30, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is proud to announce a successful first weekend to this year’s festival. Ticket sales are up 24% compared to this time last year, and 36 screenings reached sell-out status within this first weekend—a grand total that exceeds the total number of sold-out screenings (22) from the entire 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Celebrates Successful First Weekend
Record number of sell-outs, increased ticket sales among signs of growth in fourth year
MILWAUKEE – Monday, September 30, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is proud to announce a successful first weekend to this year’s festival. Ticket sales are up 24% compared to this time last year, and 36 screenings reached sell-out status within this first weekend—a grand total that exceeds the total number of sold-out screenings (22) from the entire 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival.
Among the 36 sold-out screenings are this year’s Opening Night Film, Starbuck, and 5 Broken Cameras—the first festival film ever screened at Fox-Bay Cinema Grill. The newest venue for the Milwaukee Film Festival, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill boasted a strong opening weekend in its first year, with a number of upcoming screenings selling quickly and on track to reach Rush status.
“It’s phenomenal to see this kind of increase in our first weekend, especially considering we have fewer total festival screens this year,” says Artistic & Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “But it also increases the importance of buying tickets ahead of time. We can’t stress enough that people purchase tickets in advance, before they reach Rush status.”
Rush status means advance tickets are no longer available, and that any unclaimed seats will be sold 15 minutes before the screening begins. Anyone interested in seeing a film on Rush status must arrive at the theatre early and wait in the Rush line. Rush tickets are made available on first-come, first-serve basis, and cost $10 (cash only, no discounts).
To see which films are selling quickly or have reached Rush status, visit the Rush/Selling Quickly page here. To purchase tickets in advance, visit Milwaukee Film’s Festival Genius Film Guide, or visit any of the official film festival box office venues.
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Wednesday, September 26, 2012 – Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is thrilled to announce a significant increase in advanced ticket sales for this year’s film festival.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Tickets Going Fast
Record increase in advanced ticket sales, four sold-out shows in two weeks since box office opened.
MILWAUKEE – Wednesday, September 26, 2012 – Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is thrilled to announce a significant increase in advanced ticket sales for this year’s film festival.
In the 14 days since the festival box office opened for Milwaukee Film Members (13 days for non-members), the festival has seen an 86% increase in individual tickets to films compared to last year. Four film screenings have already gone to Rush status: Opening Night Film, Starbuck (9/27 • 6:30 PM • Oriental Theatre); Sleepover (10/7 • 4:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema); Quartet (10/7 • 5 PM • Oriental Theatre); and Little Red (9/30 • 7:15 PM • Oriental Theatre).
Rush status means advanced tickets are no longer available. Anyone interested in getting Rush Tickets must wait in line at the theatre the day of the screening in hopes that some unclaimed tickets will be available for sale. Rush Tickets go on sale 15 minutes before each screening for $10 (no discounts), CASH ONLY.
A number of other screenings are on their way to reaching Rush status by the film festival’s opening day, including The Imposter (9/29 • 4:30 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema), Sons of Norway (10/1 • 8:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema), No God No Master (10/9 • 7:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema), Brooklyn Castle (10/10 • 5 PM • Oriental Theatre), and Closing Night Film The Sessions (10/11 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre).
”To see such a drastic increase in ticket numbers and revenue before the festival even begins is a true testament of this community’s support for the Milwaukee Film Festival,” said Artistic & Executive Director Jonathan Jackson. “We can’t stress enough how important it is that people purchase their tickets in advance, so as not to miss a single screening they’re hoping to see.”
Tickets are available three ways:
ONLINE
mkefilm.org
BY PHONE
414-727-8468 (11 AM – 6 PM, 7 days a week)
IN PERSON
Landmark Oriental Theatre
2230 North Farwell Avenue
Fox-Bay Cinema Grill
334 East Silver Spring Drive
Landmark Downer Theatre
2589 North Downer Avenue
(box office opens September 28)
For more ticket information, including sold-out screenings, visit mkefilm.org
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (@mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, September 20, 2012 – Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to announce the full line-up of talent scheduled to appear at the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival. Among this year’s line-up are directors, producers, film subjects, industry professionals, and a panel of judges for both Cream City Cinema and our Competition Program.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Announces Full List of Festival Guests
Filmmakers, subjects, judges and panel participants scheduled to appear at this year’s film festival
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, September 20, 2012 – Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to announce the full line-up of talent scheduled to appear at the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival. Among this year’s line-up are directors, producers, film subjects, industry professionals, and a panel of judges for both Cream City Cinema and our Competition Program.
Most prominent among the scheduled appearances are the subjects of this year’s Milwaukee Film Fesitval tributes—award-winning director Alex Gibney, and author/film critic J. Hoberman. Gibney is scheduled to appear at three screenings: his own Oscar-winning 2007 documentary Taxi to the Darkside; Luis Buñuel’s Oscar-winning 1972 satire The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise; and this year’s Festival Centerpiece, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God. Gibney will also be present for Q & As after each film, and will be joined by some of the local subjects from Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God after its screening.
In addition to presenting this year’s Keynote Address (State of Cinema in the 21st Century: Film After Film), the renowned Mr. Hoberman is also scheduled to appear alongside screenings of two films he selected for this year’s Film Festival: Inland Empire (David Lynch, 2006) and Sans Soleil (Chris Marker, 1983).
Each filmmaker listed below is scheduled to appear at the designated screening of their film, as well as the Q & A afterwards. Each listing includes their name, title, the film they’re affiliated with, and whether they’re scheduled to appear for a screening and/or a panel.
For more information on guests scheduled to appear at the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival, including additions, cancellations and reschedules, visit mkefilm.org
SCHEDULED TO APPEAR AT THE 2012 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL:
FILMMAKERS
3,2,1…Frankie Go Boom
Elliott Lewitt - Executive Producer
Saturday, Sept 29 • 9:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
An Affair of the Heart
Sylvia Carminer - Director
Melanie Lentz-Janney - Executive Producer
Friday, Sept 28 • 7 PM • Downer Theatre
Saturday, Sept 29 • 5:45 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema Grill
An American Contradiction (from the Shorts: Quiet Riots program)
Vanessa Yuille - Director
Wednesday, Oct 3 • 4:30 PM • Downer Theatre
Saturday, Oct 6 • 4 PM • Oriental Theatre
Andrew Bird: Fever Year
Xan Aranda - Director/Producer
Angelo Valencia - editor
Saturday, Sept 29 • 9:45 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sunday, Sept 30 • 3 PM • Oriental Theatre
As Goes Janesville
Brad Lichtenstein - Director
Saturday, Oct 6 • 5 PM • Oriental Theatre
Monday, Oct 8 • 2:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Tuesday, Oct 9 • 7:15 PM • Downer Theatre
Thursday, Oct 11 • 8:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Beauty is Embarrassing
Neil Berkeley - Director
Wayne White - Subject
Sunday, Sept 30 • 5 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sunday, Sept 30 • 6:30 PM • Alterra Prospect (party)
Bending Towards The Light
Brad Pruitt - Director
Sunday, Oct 7 • 7:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Monday, Oct 8 • 5 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Blackmail
Alloy Orchestra - Live Orchestral Accompaniment
Monday, Oct 8 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre
Brooklyn Castle
Katie Dellamaggiore - Director
Nelson Dellamaggiore - Producer
Wednesday, Oct 10 • 5 PM • Oriental Theatre
Chilly (from the Shorts: Whodunit? program)
Dylan Kohler - Director
Monday, Oct 1 • 6 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Cock Gun (short film screening before Klown)
Jack Packard - Director
Saturday, Oct 6 • Midnight • Oriental Theatre
Deadweight
Adam Bartlett - Director
John Pata - Director
Saturday, Sept 29 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Alex Gibney - Presenter
Friday, Oct 5 • 2:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey
Joshua Green - Executive Producer
Sunday, Sept 30 • 7:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
The Giant Spider Invasion
Bill Rebane - Director
Mark Borchardt – Presenter
Saturday, Oct 6 • 9:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
A Girl Like Her
Ann Fessler - Director
Sally Burke – subject
Wednesday, Oct 3 • 7 PM • Downer Theatre
I Am X (part of the Kids Shorts Sized Medium program)
Elise Fachon - Director
Saturday, Sept 29 • 12:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sunday, Sept 30 • 11 AM • Fox-Bay Cinema
I Want My Name Back
Joshua Green - Executive Producer
Friday, Sept 28 • 9:45 PM • Oriental Theatre
Inland Empire
J. Hoberman – Presenter
Sunday, Sept 30 • 4 PM • Downer Theatre
The Jeffrey Dahmer Files
Chris James Thompson - Director
Tuesday, Oct 2 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre
Monday, Oct 8 • 2:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Tuesday, Oct 9 • 7:15 PM • Downer Theatre
Thursday, Oct 11 • 8:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Last Day At Lambeau
Michael Johnson - Writer
David Neelson - Producer
Michael Neelson - Director/Producer
Saturday, Sept 29 • 1 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sunday, Sept 30 • Noon • Fox-Bay Cinema
Tuesday, Oct 2 • 7 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Little Red
Tate Bunker - Director
Sunday, Sept 30 • 7:15 PM • Oriental Theatre
Wednesday, Oct 3 • 4:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
Wednesday, Oct 10 • 7:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Me At The Zoo
Jack Turner - Producer
Saturday, Sept 29 • 7:30 PM • Downer Theatre
Thursday, Oct 4 • 4:30 PM • Fox Bay Cinema
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Alex Gibney - Director
Arthur Budzinski – Subject
Gary Smith - Subject
Friday, Oct 5 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre
The Milwaukee Show
Tate Bunker - Studies In Space
Brooke Duckart - Cat Waco
Jon Elliott - The Evilest of Sorcerers
Ericka Frederick - Walking Peace
Erik Ljung - Sing (For Trouble)
Blyth Renate Meier - So I Could Fly Away
Steven Miosku - Gears
Giorgi Mrevlishvili - Reflection (Anarekli)
Brian McGuire - She Leaves The City
Nathaniel Schardin- The Vampire Formerly Known As Dracula
Sean Williamson - Sing (For Trouble)
Thursday, Oct 4 • 7 PM • Oriental Theatre
No God No Master
Terry Green - Director
(plus local cast & crew)
Sunday, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
Tuesday, Oct 9 • 7:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
The Princess Bride
John Axford – Presenter
Saturday, Oct 6 • 2:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
Remote Area Medical (from the Shorts: Quiet Riots program)
Jeff Reichert - Director
Farihah Zaman - Director
Saturday, Sept 29 • 7:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Sans Soleil
J. Hoberman - Presenter
Saturday, Sept 29 • 4:45 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sleepover
Laj P. Waghray - Director
Sunday, Oct 7 • 4:15 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
Wednesday, Oct 10 • 7:45 PM • Oriental Theatre
Taxi to the Darkside
Alex Gibney - Director
Thursday, Oct 4 • 6:45 PM • Oriental Theatre
Tchoupitoulas
Bill Ross IV - Director
Turner Ross - Director
Saturday, Oct 6 • 9:30 PM • Oriental Theatre
We’re Not Broke
Victoria Louise Bruce - Director/Producer
Karin Lynne Hayes, Director/Producer
Saturday, Sept 29 • 4 PM • Oriental Theatre
Sunday, Sept 30 • 7:30 PM • Fox-Bay Cinema
PANELISTS
Access and Ethics in Documentary Filmmaking
Saturday, Oct 6 • 1 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• Janet Fitch - New Moon Productions
• Bill Ross IV - Director, Tchoupitoulas
• Turner Ross - Director, Tchoupitoulas
• Maureen Ryan - Hands On Productions, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Chinese Cinema in a Transnational Frame
Saturday, Sept 29 • 1 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• Jennifer Feeley - Assistant Professor, University of Iowa
• Dr. Jian Xu - Associate Professor, UW-Milwaukee
Dahmer, Milwaukee
Sunday, Oct 7 • 5 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• Dr. Joe Austin - Associate Professor of History, UW-Milwaukee
• James E. Causey - Columnist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Dr. Pat Kennedy - Former homicide detective, Milwaukee Police Department; key interrogator in the
Dahmer investigation
• Chris James Thompson - Director, The Jeffrey Dahmer Files
Film Distro 101
Saturday, Sept 29 • 3 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• Xan Aranda - director/producer, Andrew Bird: Fever Year
• Victoria Louise Bruce - Director/Producer, We’re Not Broke
• Andrew Carlin - Head of Theatrical Sales and Acquisitions, Music Box Films
• Silke Cole - Film Distribution Consultant
• Karin Lynne Hayes - Director/Producer, We’re Not Broke
• Karen Roberts - CEO KLR Entertainment; former Senior VP Acquisitions, Entertainment Studios
Financing Your Film
Sunday, Oct 7 • 2 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• ldi Toth Davy - Managing Director, Altadena Films
• Mark Foote - Flexible Films LLC
• Michael Raisler - Creative Director/Executive Producer, Cinereach
• Erin Sorensen – president, Third Stage Consulting, Inc.
MKE At Risk: After-School Programs
Wednesday, Oct 10 • 7:30 PM • Kenilworth Square East 640
• Alan Borsuk - Senior Fellow in Law and Public Policy, Marquette University Law School
State of Cinema in the 21st Century: Film After Film
Sunday, Sept 30 • 1 PM • Downer Theatre
• Keynote Speaker: J. Hoberman - Author, Film Critic
Three A-holes Talk About Web Videos
Saturday, Oct 6 • 7 PM • Y-Not III Tavern
• Jay Bauman - Red Letter Media
• Kara Mulrooney - Gal Friday Films
• Jack Packard - Funny Or Die
• Mike Stoklasa - Red Letter Media
JUDGES
Cream City Cinema
John Axford - Milwaukee Brewers
Deb McClutchy - Oscilloscope Pictures
Michael Raisler - Creative Director, Cinereach; Executive producer, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Laurel Ward - VP of Development, Ocean Pictures
Competition Program
Ildi Toth Davy – Altadena Pictures
David Heuring - Cinematographer
Brad Wilke - Programmer, Seattle International Film Festival
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm), Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm), Instagram (@mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Friday, September 07, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to announce the complete 2012 line-up, including Opening and Closing night films, Spotlight presentations, the Competition program, and the U.S. premiere of Alex Gibney’s new film, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Announces U.S. Premiere of Alex Gibney’s New Film
Opening, Closing and Spotlight films among highlights of full 2012 line-up;
Program Book Launch Saturday at WMSE 91.7FM’s Backyard BBQ
MILWAUKEE – Friday, September 07, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to announce the complete 2012 line-up, including Opening and Closing night films, Spotlight presentations, the Competition program, and the U.S. premiere of Alex Gibney’s new film, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God.
Bookending the Film Festival this year are two acclaimed festival circuit favorites: Canadian director Ken Scott’s hilarious coming-of-age tale Starbuck (currently being remade as a Vince Vaughn vehicle by Dreamworks), and Ben Lewin’s Sundance Award-winning The Sessions, featuring memorable performances from Oscar-nominee John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone), Oscar-winner Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets) and the incomparable William H. Macy.
Highlighted in the festival Centerpiece slot is a special tribute to Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), which includes the U.S. premiere of Gibney’s latest film, the HBO Documentary, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, exposes the abuse of power in the Catholic Church and a cover-up that winds its way from our hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare, ruined choirs of Ireland’s churches, all the way to the highest offices of the Vatican. This vital documentary places a focal point on the secret crimes of a charismatic priest who abused over 200 deaf children at St. John’s School for the Deaf in St. Francis, WI, and all the protests and revelations that it inspired in the three decades since. Gibney’s film is based on information gathered from a number of sources, including retired Archbishop Rembert Weakland, The New York Times investigative journalist Laurie Goldstein, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel archives, and interviews with the actual victims from St. John’s.
“Many of the people in Milwaukee have been affected by the scandal at St. John’s School,” states director Alex Gibney. “It is an honor to be able to screen the film at the Milwaukee Film Festival and help give a voice to those who have been fighting for justice for years and are determined to continue the fight."
“I believe Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God is going to be an important film to the Milwaukee community, not only because of the film’s local ties, but also because of the impact the film is going to have on a global level,” explains Jonathan Jackson, Artistic & Executive Director for Milwaukee Film. “This is an incredibly significant film, made by one of the most important documentary filmmakers (and a personal favorite) working today.”
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God will premiere on Friday, October 5 at 7:00 PM at the Oriental Theatre. Director Alex Gibney, along with several of the subjects of the film, is scheduled to attend the premiere and participate in a Q & A afterwards. The film will air on HBO in 2013.
In addition the Centerpiece screening, the Tribute: Alex Gibney program features a screening of his Oscar Winning 2007 documentary Taxi to the Dark Side and a screening of a film that inspired his style and career, Luis Bunuel’s Oscar winning 1972 satire The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. Gibney is scheduled to talk at both screenings.
The 2012 Official Program Book Launch is on Saturday, September 8 in Cathedral Square Park. Books will be available during the East Town Farmer’s Market from 9am to 1pm and the WMSE 91.7FM Backyard BBQ from 3pm to 8pm. More information can be found at: http://mkefilm.org/content/official-program-book-launch.
A complete list of the remaining Milwaukee Film Festival line-up (with links to trailers) is below. For more information on the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival, including the already-announced programs, visit mkefilm.org
THE REMAINING MFF 2012 LINE-UP:
SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATIONS
Presented by Donald & Donna Baumgartner
OPENING NIGHT FILM: Starbuck
This French-Canadian megahit and worldwide film festival favorite tells the story of loveable loser David Wozniak (Patrick Huard), who discovers that his girlfriend is pregnant—and that he’s fathered 533 other kids through the sperm he donated at 35 bucks a pop over 20 years ago. When 142 of the 533 children that resulted work to quash the sperm bank’s anonymity clause and reveal their father’s identity, Wozniak attempts the impossible: making a genuine effort at anonymous parenting.
CENTERPIECE FILM: Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House of God
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney exposes the abuse of power in the Catholic Church and a coverup that winds its way from our hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland’s churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican. By investigating the secret crimes of a charismatic priest who abused over 200 deaf children in a school under his control—St. John’s School for the Deaf in St. Francis—the film shows the face of evil that lurks behind the smiles and denials of authority figures and institutions who believe that, because they stand for good, they can do no wrong.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: The Sessions
Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man (John Hawkes) confined to an iron lung who is determined—at age 38—to lose his virginity. With the help of a “sex surrogate” (Helen Hunt) and the guidance of a priest (William H. Macy), he sets out to make his dream a reality. An early Oscar front-runner, director Ben Lewin’s The Sessions won the hearts and minds of audiences at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it picked up both an Audience Award and Jury Prize.
Blackmail (With Alloy Orchestra)
The Sapphires
Shorts: With A Little Help From My Friends
Quartet
COMPETITION PROGRAM
5 Broken Cameras
Tey
DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Presented by Christine Symchych
The Ambassador
Atomic States Of America
Beauty Is Embarrassing
Big Boys Gone Bananas*
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
Chasing Ice
Detropia
Ethel
A Girl Like Her
How To Survive A Plague
The Imposter
The Invisible War
Last Call At The Oasis
Love Free Or Die
Me @ The Zoo
Planet Of The Snail
Step Up To The Plate
We Are Legion: The Story Of The Hacktivists
We’re Not Broke
FICTION FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Presented by the Heil Family Foundation
Brooklyn Brothers Beat The Best
Las Acacias
My Dad Is Baryshnikov
The Rif Lover
Summer Games
Valley Of Saints
Hi-res photos for films can be downloaded below.
SPOTLIGHT (24.2MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_Spotlight.zip
GIBNEY (32.8MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_Gibney.zip
COMPETITION (12MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_Competition.zip
DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL FAVORITES (44MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_DocFaves.zip
FICTION FESTIVAL FAVORITES (60MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_FicFaves.zip
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PRESS NOTE: The 2012 Media Accreditation Application is now open at http://mkefilm.org/accreditation. Applicants are encouraged to apply early; deadline is September 19, 2012.
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, August 30, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is proud to announce this year’s line-up for Cream City Cinema, presented by Independent and North American Camera. The annual showcase screens brand new work from Milwaukee-based filmmakers, and awards one lucky winner a yearlong Filmmaker-in-Residence prize.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Announces Cream City Cinema Line-up
Annual showcase features new shorts and features from local filmmakers, awards juried prize.
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, August 30, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is proud to announce this year’s line-up for Cream City Cinema, presented by Independent and North American Camera. The annual showcase screens brand new work from Milwaukee-based filmmakers, and awards one lucky winner a yearlong Filmmaker-in-Residence prize.
“This city has an incredibly strong filmmaking community that’s been extremely supportive of our organization since day one,” explains Jonathan Jackson, Artistic & Executive Director of Milwaukee Film. “To be able to pay that support forward, and showcasing high-quality work from local filmmakers is a part of our mission that we’re very proud of.”
This year’s Cream City Cinema showcase includes three feature-length documentaries, two feature-length fiction films (among them Chris Thompson’s The Jeffrey Dahmer Files, whose North American and U.K. rights were recently picked up by IFC Midnight), and The Milwaukee Show—our annual screening of locally made short films, and one of the most well-attended screenings of the entire 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival.
In addition a yearlong Filmmaker-in-Residence prize awarded to the jury winner, which includes a cash award of $2,500, and production equipment and services valued at more than $20,000. Past winners include Michael Hawkins-Burgos (2011), Tate Bunker (2010), and John Roberts (2009).
Following the highly anticipated screening of The Milwaukee Show at the Oriental Theatre, an after-party will be held next door at Landmark Lanes (2220 N. Farwell Ave.) starting at 9 PM. The party is free and open to all (even our underage friends can join in on the fun), and one free Grolsch beer will be available for everyone with a ticket stub or Film Festival pass.
THE 2012 CREAM CITY CINEMA LINE-UP:
As Goes Janesville
In this documentary by Milwaukee’s Brad Lichtenstein, Janesville’s corporate interests and laid-off factory workers form a high-stakes drama on a stage of hazy promises and shattered American dreams. Tension mounts as union supporters fight the governor’s plan to decimate collective bargaining and business leaders flock toward his vow to slash corporate taxes and regulations. Lichtenstein’s politically balanced narrative captures one of Wisconsin’s most harrowing moments at its apex.
Bending Towards the Light
Tackling issues similar to Waiting For “Superman,” but with a specifically local focus, filmmaker Brad Pruitt’s (Mark My Words, MFF 2010) latest film examines the education system in our own backyard with a focus on the community’s role in reform attempts. Less of an indictment of the education system and more of a dialogue on what can be done to fix its problems, this film is essential viewing for anyone interested in the future of our city, state, and society.
The Jeffrey Dahmer Files
Jeffrey Dahmer’s grisly murders of 17 people shook Milwaukee to its core, even more so because the man seemed so ordinary in person. In this critically acclaimed documentary that debuted at SXSW, filmmaker Chris Thompson (The Making of ‘The Pool’, MFF 2009) gives a voice to a detective, a medical examiner, and a neighbor who came face-to-face with Dahmer and deftly intermingles their stories with archival footage and everyday scenes from Dahmer’s life.
Little Red
In Tate Bunker’s (Mickey Burgermeister, MFF 2010) updated version of the classic fairy tale of “Little Red Riding Hood,” we follow a young girl on the adventure of a lifetime. While journeying to see the wild horses of Florida’s Cumberland Island, she encounters a wolf of a man (Mark Metcalf, Animal House) who doesn’t want her to travel alone.
The Milwaukee Show
Last year’s The Milwaukee Show was one of the most well-attended screenings of the entire Milwaukee Film festival, drawing over 1,000 people to the Oriental Theatre’s main house. That doesn’t surprise us one bit, though. This city is filled with incredible filmmaking talent and the kind of people who don’t think twice about coming out and supporting it. This year’s showcase features shorts from both seasoned veterans and rising stars, including:
• Cat Waco by Brooke Duckart
• The Evilest of Sorcerers by Jon Elliott
• Gears by Steven Miosku
• Reflection (Anarekli) by Giorgi Mrevlishvili
• She Leaves the City by Brian McGuire
• Sing (For Trouble) by Sean Williamson & Erik Ljung
• So I Could Fly Away by Blyth Renate Meier
• Studies In Space by Tate Bunker
• The Vampire Formerly Known as Dracula by Nathaniel Schardin (2012 Collaborative Cinema feature)
• Walking Peace by Ericka Frederick
Sleepover
Over ten years in the making, documentarian Laj P. Waghray’s Sleepover charts the journey of four girls from adolescence to young adulthood over the course of three sleepovers set years apart. Through laughter and tears, Molly, Isabelle, Suzanna, and Mariah intimately share with us their stories. In turn, we are able to watch them grow into young women, while realizing how important it is that girls know they are not alone.
Hi-res photos for films can be downloaded here (24.3MB zip file):
http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF2012_CreamCityCinema.zip
Cream City Cinema is presented by Independent and North American Camera.
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PRESS NOTE: The 2012 Media Accreditation Application is now open at http://mkefilm.org/accreditation. Applicants are encouraged to apply early; deadline is September 19, 2012.
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 28, 2012 –The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to introduce this year’s music documentary line-up. Collecting all of the Festival’s music docs into a cohesive category for the first time, this year’s new Sound Vision program features eight films covering a diverse group of artists, from pop culture legends like Rick Springfield and The Sugarhill Gang to a 77-year-old Icelandic woman who released 59 albums in 7 years (starting at age 70).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Announces Sound Vision Line-up
Festival launches new music documentary program; Live music series at The Hotel Foster
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 28, 2012 –The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is excited to introduce this year’s music documentary line-up. Collecting all of the Festival’s music docs into a cohesive category for the first time, this year’s new Sound Vision program features eight films covering a diverse group of artists, from pop culture legends like Rick Springfield and The Sugarhill Gang to a 77-year-old Icelandic woman who released 59 albums in 7 years (starting at age 70).
“One of my personal goals has always been to integrate more music into the Film Festival,” says Blyth Meier, Marketing Director for Milwaukee Film. “Between the unusually high number of great music docs available to us this year, and our great community partners at WMSE 91.7FM, The Pabst Theater and The Hotel Foster, I think we have a great experience for film and music lovers alike at this year’s fest. To quote the great Tom Waits, ‘I always thought songs are movies for the ears and films are like songs for the eyes.’”
In addition to the eight feature-length films, the festival is also partnering with The Hotel Foster (2028 North Avenue) to present a live music series on selected nights throughout the festival run. The popular (and beautiful) East Side bar has served as Milwaukee Film’s official Monthly Member Screening happy hour location for the last year, and became an obvious choice when Milwaukee Film set out to find a location within walking distance of the Oriental to enjoy live music after film screenings.
Each after party show will be free to anyone with a festival pass or ticket stub from one of that day’s festival screenings. Regular admission is $5. Passes and ticket stubs will also entitle attendees to drink specials at The Hotel Foster throughout the festival. A complete list of Sound Vision’s films and the schedule for the live music series are listed below. For more information on Sound Vision and the most updated band line-up, visit mkefilm.org
SOUND VISION FILM LINE-UP (with links to film trailers):
Sound Vision is presented by WMSE 91.7FM, The Pabst Theater, and The Hotel Foster
An Affair of the Heart
Aussie heartthrob Rick Springfield appears to be a hypnotist. He’s entranced thousands of fans since 1981, when he released his hit song “Jessie’s Girl” and joined the cast of General Hospital. In this wildly entertaining documentary, we get to tag along with his diverse and devoted groupies as they storm his concerts, flood his cruises, and swarm to his book signings to bask in his presence and pour out their hearts.
Andrew Bird: Fever Year
Andrew Bird’s fans often sweat and shiver during his stunning violin solos. Bird also exhibited these symptoms during the 165-show tour he launched in 2009. Instead of admitting he was sick, he insisted he was morphing into an “animal perfectly adapted to the music hall.” Kartemquin Film’s Xan Aranda captures Bird’s sometimes-peculiar perspective in intimate documentary segments and showcases his inventive, multi-instrumental looping technique with concert footage from Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater.
Bad Brains: A Band in DC
In the mid-1970s, four black teens bond around a love of jazz fusion, then make history by inventing a loud, fast, punk spin-off called “hardcore” through their band Bad Brains. Their impact and influence can be heard in groups like Beastie Boys, No Doubt, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, and countless more. Filled with concert footage, animation, and interviews with music legends, this high-energy documentary reconstructs Bad Brains’ rich and complicated history.
Charles Bradley: Soul of America
By age 62, most Americans are contemplating retirement. For Charles Bradley, this age marked the takeoff of a career he started long ago, with the lauded release of his debut album, No Time for Dreaming. Director Poull Brien glimpses into the boxes that have confined this genial musician, which range from homelessness to illiteracy and constant poverty, and reveals the extraordinary journey of a man who never gave up.
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey
While searching for a new singer, iconic rock band Journey stumbles across a YouTube video of a Journey cover band in the Philippines. Guitarist Neal Schon is stunned at the vocal similarity of their lead singer, Arnel Pineda, to Journey’s legendary former lead singer Steve Perry. And so begins the rags-to-riches whirlwind journey of Pineda, told to us through candid interviews and rockin’ concert footage that’ll have you singing along.
Grandma Lo-Fi
Step inside the creative world of Icelandic cult hero Sigríður Níelsdóttir, who at the ripe old age of 70 finally decided she couldn’t keep the music inside any longer and released 59 albums over the course of seven years. This delightful doc shows the DIY aesthetic that Níelsdóttir’s work is infused with, and one can’t help but be inspired to create when faced with her charming anything-goes methods.
I Want My Name Back
The Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 megahit “Rapper’s Delight” drew hip-hop into the mainstream with a catchy incantation: “I said a hip hop, the hippie, the hippie, to the hip hip hop.” As thousands of fans shouted these words, the trio’s money, name, and fame quietly drained into their managers’ pockets. In this documentary, Roger Paradiso follows two founding members as they work to reclaim their identities as hip-hop pioneers.
Mama Africa
Miriam Makeba wasn’t just a Grammy-winning singer. She was a real-life angel who used her voice to fight Apartheid. After her native South Africa revoked her citizenship, she launched a music career in America, only to lose it by wedding Black Panther Stokely Carmichael. Director Mika Kaurismäki combines archival footage from Makeba’s personal life, interviews with friends and family, and clips from her historic Cape Town concerts to celebrate her legacy.
LIVE MUSIC SERIES AT THE HOTEL FOSTER
2028 E. North Avenue, Milwaukee
Sponsored by WMSE 91.7FM and OnMilwaukee.com
All music starts at 9:00pm.
Fri, Sept 28 - Crankshaft, TBA
Sun, Sept 30 - Calliope / Wilder Maker (Brooklyn)
Mon, Oct 1 - Heidi Spencer and the Rare Birds
Tues, Oct 2 - TBA
Wed, Oct 3 - Hello Death / Hot Coffin
Sun, Oct 7 - TBA
Mon, Oct 8 - MC Oneself / Klassik
Tuesday, Oct 9 - I’m Not a Pilot / TBA
Wednesday, Oct 10 - The Ragadors / TBA
Thursday, Oct 11 - The Delta Routine Album Release Party w/ Hero Jr. (Indianapolis)
Hi-res photos of Sound Vision films can be downloaded here (13.3 MB zip file): http://mkefilm.org/Press/
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PRESS NOTE: The 2012 Media Accreditation Application is now open at http://mkefilm.org/
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, August 23, 2012 –The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the first two special guests for this year’s film festival.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Festival Welcomes Alloy Orchestra and J. Hoberman
Legendary orchestra, film critic first special guests announced for 2012 Festival.
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, August 23, 2012 –The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the first two special guests for this year’s film festival.
Boston’s Alloy Orchestra made their Milwaukee Film Festival debut two years ago providing live symphonic accompaniment for Fritz Lang’s legendary 1927 classic Metropolis. This year, they return to accompany a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1929 crime thriller Blackmail. None other than Chicago Sun-Times’ Roger Ebert has proclaimed Alloy as “the best in the world at accompanying silent films.”
Set in London, Blackmail is a darkly comic thriller that follows a young woman who kills a man in self-defense, but falls victim to a blackmailer. The film was released both with sound (as one of Britain’s first “talkies”) and without. Alloy will accompany the more successful silent version on Monday, October 8 at 7 P.M. in the beautiful Landmark Oriental Theatre.
Also part of this year’s Festival is a special tribute to noted film critic J. Hoberman. One of the quintessential voices in film criticism, Hoberman wrote for the Village Voice for more than 30 years and took over as senior film critic in 1988. The elimination of his position by the Voice in 2012 was seen as a watershed moment marking the end of journalistic film criticism. His most recent book, Film After Film: (Or, What Became of 21st Century Cinema?) takes up the question of the place of film and film crticism today.
Mr. Hoberman will attend the festival to spotlight two significant films—Sans Soleil (dir. Chris Marker, France, 1983) and Inland Empire (dir. David Lynch, US, 2006)—and present the keynote address of our panels series, State of Cinema in the 21st Century: Film After Film. Co-presented by UW-Milwaukee’s Center for 21st Century Studies, this talk will explore the shifting contexts and future of film and film criticism in a post-9/11 world. This panel discussion will take place Sunday, September 30 at 1 P.M. in the Landmark Downer Theatre, and a book signing will take place immediately after at nearby Boswell Books (2559 North Downer Ave.).
For a listing of the panel discussions announced so far, visit mkefilm.org. The complete panel line-up will be announced on September 8.
In addition to the panels, the Milwaukee Film Festival will host a Conversations Series, which offers filmgoers the opportunity to continue dialogues started by the films. Discussions moderated by local film enthusiasts or experts in the film’s subject matter will be held following selected screenings this year. A complete Conversations schedule will be announced along with the full film line-up on September 8.
The Milwaukee Film Festival Conversations Series is presented by WUWM 89.7.
Hi-res photos of Alloy Orchestra from their 2010 performance at MFF can be downloaded here (11.5 MB zip file): http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/AlloyOrchestraMFF2010.zip
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PRESS NOTE: The 2012 Media Accreditation Application is now open at http://mkefilm.org/accreditation. Applicants are encouraged to apply early; deadline is September 19, 2012.
###
About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the line-up for its new late night film showcase, Cinema Hooligante. An amalgamation of all things raunchy, gory, scary, fun, bizarre and possibly offensive, the Cinema Hooligante program features midnight, cult and genre films.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Announces New Midnight Program, Cinema Hooligante
2012 line-up includes late-night and genre films, including collaboration with Mark Borchardt
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the line-up for its new late night film showcase, Cinema Hooligante. An amalgamation of all things raunchy, gory, scary, fun, bizarre and possibly offensive, the Cinema Hooligante program features midnight, cult and genre films.
“Although we have screened late night films in previous years, we weren’t showcasing them as a cohesive program,” explains Programming Manager Angela Catalano. “This year is my first year programming for the festival, and I wanted to infuse it with the passion I have for genre films. Personally, I think this line-up is kick-ass.”
Cinema Hooligante will feature our annual midnight shorts program (curated by Milwaukee Film Shorts Programmer Anna Sampers) as well as seven of the best feature-length genre films of the festival circuit. In addition, Cinema Hooligante will debut the first installment of “Mark Borchardt Presents”—a brand new collaboration between the local filmmaker/cinephile and Milwaukee Film, in which Borchardt will present a classic cult film and host a discussion afterwards with the director. For 2012, Borchardt has chosen the Wisconsin-made cult classic, Bill Rebane’s The Giant Spider Invasion.
For more information on Cinema Hooligante and the rest of the 2012 Milwaukee Film Festival, visit mkefilm.org
2012 CINEMA HOOLIGANTE LINE-UP:
Beyond The Black Rainbow
In this fantasy Slant dubbed “the cinematic equivalent of LSD,” a mute, psychic teen tries to escape the clutches of a demented doctor who’s made her the guinea pig for his drug experiments. Set in a retro-futuristic version of 1983, this homage to Kubrick and Cronenberg teems with trippy sensory details and a synth-fueled soundtrack by Black Mountain’s Jeremy Schmidt.
Citadel
Deranged humans can be scarier than zombies and werewolves combined, especially when hoodies obscure their faces. In this Irish horror film, real-life phobias merge with fictional underworlds when demon children abduct Tommy's newborn daughter. To rescue her, he teams up with a renegade priest who seems to know everything about these feral, hooded youths. Meanwhile, Tommy’s agoraphobia spills into the audience, fueling a weird, wild ride that won a SXSW audience award.
Dead Weight
Nothing hampers romance like an apocalypse. As a mysterious viral outbreak ravages the Midwest, Charlie (Milwaukee-based Joe Belknap) schleps through the Wisconsin wilderness to meet his girlfriend in Wausau. Though he’s protected by a band of fellow survivalists, he struggles to escape his biggest threat: obsessions with the past. Milwaukee-based cinematographer Travis Auclair extracts beauty from Fox Valley snowdrifts as Charlie’s demons surface in horrific ways.
Eddie the Sleepwalking Cannibal
In this gruesomely dark comedy, a washed-up Danish painter takes a job at a Canadian art school. Chasing his muse—blood and guts—is too risky, so he funnels his energy into teaching. But trouble looms when he takes in the school’s mute benefactor, whose grisly nighttime hobby makes his creative juices flow and strikes up a bond between the two outsiders. Who could imagine cannibalism would be so heartwarming?
Klown
In what critics are hailing as “the funniest movie of the year” (IFC), Klown follows two wildly inappropriate friends as they run amok through the Danish countryside. Rampaging through exclusive brothels, hospitalizations, armed robberies and even prison, they paddle downstream from one chaotic misadventure to the next, all culminating in a surprisingly sentimental portrait of friendship and a final shocking reveal that you'll never be able to unsee.
Mark Borchardt Presents: The Giant Spider Invasion
Milwaukee filmmaker and cinephile Mark Borchardt (American Movie) kicks off a new series with us, presenting one of his favorite cult films. First up on his list is the Wisconsin-made drive-in hit, The Giant Spider Invasion. With zany characters, quotable lines such as "You wouldn't know Rice Krispies from rabbit turds" and director Bill Rebane in attendance, this event all but guarantees a hilariously entertaining evening.
The Best Damn F*#@ing Midnight Program Ever. Sh*t.
Don't let the title diminish your expectations. Sex, horror, gore, comedy. This program delivers. Every time. We're not going to tell you how tall you have to be to buy a ticket to this feast of awesomeness, but maybe wear your big-boy shoes. Because there's no crying at the midnight shorts program. And don't say we didn't warn you.
V/H/S
In this found-footage horror anthology, a band of criminals receives what seems like the world’s easiest assignment: retrieve an old VHS tape from a house in the middle of nowhere. Little do they know what horror awaits them, as they examine an avalanche of tapes, each more grisly and twisted than the next. Featuring some of the genre’s most innovative new directors, V/H/S reintroduces insanely fun scares to contemporary horror.
Cinema Hooligante is presented by The Onion/A.V. Club Milwaukee.
Hi-res photos for films can be downloaded here (21.7 MB zip file): http://mkefilm.org/Press/photo/MFF201_CinemaHooligante.zip
PRESS NOTE: The 2012 Media Accreditation Application is now open at http://mkefilm.org/accreditation. Applicants are encouraged to apply early; deadline is September 19, 2012.
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 14, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the second of this year’s festival programs. Presented by PNC, the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival (MCFF) is a selection of award-quality features and shorts appropriate for all ages, nestled within the Milwaukee Film Festival itself. In addition to the screenings, the MCFF will feature discussions with the filmmakers, hands-on activities inspired by the films, and take-home materials discussing the individual films and filmmaking in general.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blyth Meier, Marketing Director
blyth@mkefilm.org, 414-755-1965 x208
Milwaukee Film Announces Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival Line-Up
Program spotlights award-quality films for all age groups, offers educational screenings and more
MILWAUKEE – Tuesday, August 14, 2012 – The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is pleased to announce the second of this year’s festival programs. Presented by PNC, the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival (MCFF) is a selection of award-quality features and shorts appropriate for all ages, nestled within the Milwaukee Film Festival itself. In addition to the screenings, the MCFF will feature discussions with the filmmakers, hands-on activities inspired by the films, and take-home materials discussing the individual films and filmmaking in general.
”The Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival is an exciting opportunity for families to experience great movies together,” said Milwaukee Film Education Director Susan Kerns. “Last year’s success allowed us to increase the number of films we will show this year and do new things like screen a legendary children’s classic, present our first 3-D film, and host our largest number of children’s filmmaker guests ever.”
Educational screenings for school groups are available on weekdays during the Film Festival. Students are able not only to see the films, but also to participate in post-screening Q & As with special guests. Educators will receive curriculum packets with media literacy activities for use in schools.
For more information on educational screenings, visit mkefilm.org/education, or email childrensfilm@milwaukee-film.org
MILWAUKEE CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP:
Alfie The Little Werewolf – (all ages)
Shy, sweet Alfie morphs into a fluffy, howling werewolf the night of his seventh birthday. Swathed in the full moon’s glow, he chases ducks through the neighborhood. Though he returns to normal the next morning, he vows to hide his wolfy ways as another full moon approaches. An excellent choice for young viewers and fans of Halloween, this live action film based on a book by Dutch author Paul van Loon imparts valuable lessons about being oneself.
Le Tableau – (ages 9 & up)
A wildly inventive animated film built around an unfinished painting and the three kinds of characters who live in it: The complete Allduns, the half-finished Halvies, and the undeveloped Sketchies. Convinced of their superiority, the Allduns assert their power over the other two groups. But a band of misfits, desperate for harmony leave the painting in search of The Painter who made them. Le Tableau is French director Jean-Francois Laguionie’s fourth feature film.
Tales of the Night – (ages 10 & up)
Magic, humor, and ironic twists spring from bright, kaleidoscopic backdrops in this animated fantasy by Michel Ocelot (Azur & Asmar, MFF 2010). Like shadow puppets, three black silhouettes—a boy, a girl, and an elderly cinema technician—stage six fables from Tibet, the Aztec kingdom, and other faraway lands. Suitable for ages 10 and older, these exciting tales teem with monsters, princesses, and a huge talking bee.
The Princess Bride – (Rated PG)
Rob Reiner’s star-studded 1987 cinema classic based on William Goldman’s hilarious book of the same name, The Princess Bride tells the Renaissance-era tale of noble Westley (Cary Elwes) on a quest to reclaim childhood sweetheart Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the nefarious Prince Humperdinck. Along the way he encounters a swordfighter out for revenge (Mandy Patinkin), a helfpful giant (Andre the Giant), rodents of unusual size, a six-fingered Count, and more. Milwaukee Film is proud to present this in glorious 35mm at The Landmark Oriental Theatre as part of the film’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Kids Shorts: Size Small - (ages 3 & up)
This program of kids films from around the world are suitable for our youngest film audiences. These animated and live action films are sure to entertain and engage young viewers. Screening as part of this year’s program is The Gruffalo’s Child, the sequel to last year’s beloved The Gruffalo, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter.
Kids Shorts: Size Medium - (ages 6 & up)
These international kids films for young film lovers hit the highs and lows of being a kid. Featured among these shorts are Brad & Gary, the new short by Despicable Me director Pierre Coffin.
Kids Shorts: Size Large - (ages 8 & up)
A sampling of award-winning films from across the globe for young people. This program includes the film fest’s first 3-D film—The Magic Piano—a gorgeous animated adventure.
Milwaukee Youth Show – (all ages)
For the first time ever, the Milwaukee Film Festival is showcasing a collection of films made by Wisconsin filmmakers ages 18 & under!
The Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival is presented by PNC and sponsored by Brewers Community Foundation, Metro Parent, and MilwaukeeMoms.com
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About Milwaukee Film
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, Milwaukee Film provides incredible opportunities to view the best contemporary American and international cinema. The 2011 Milwaukee Film Festival drew over 35,000 attendees with 22 sold-out screenings, which included the Milwaukee Children’s Film Festival. The organization also supports local filmmakers and gives firsthand experience in film production to high school students and emerging artist through its Collaborative Cinema education program.
Visit mkefilm.org for information on the film festival and the organization, membership, special events, and to sign up for the weekly email newsletter (mkefilm.org/newsletter-signup). Connect with Milwaukee Film on Facebook (facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm) and on Twitter (twitter.com/mkefilm) and visit the Milwaukee Film blog (mkefilm.org/theblog).
The 4th Annual Milwaukee Film Festival will be held September 27-October 11, 2012.
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Donna Baumgartner, Tina Chang, Eva Chess, Dr. Robert Davis, Jeff Fitzsimmons, Alec Fraser, Bill Haberman (chair), Carmen Haberman, Stacey Herzing, Patti Keating Kahn, Tracey L. Klein, Mary Ann LaBahn, Steve Laughlin, Emilia Layden, Marianne Lubar, Sara Meaney, Steve Mech, Barry Poltermann, Bob Pothier, Joseph Rock, Jacqueline Strayer, Julia Taylor, Chad Tessmer. Emeritus members: Chris Abele (past chair), Tom Barrett.
