Milwaukee Film Festival: ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,’ ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc,’ ‘Paris Is Burning’ Events Lead Dynamic Retrospective Films
Audiences can look for more in films from the past, with fresh insight from special guests
MILWAUKEE – Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 – The 11th annual Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by Associated Bank, will underscore its long-running commitment to bringing audiences the best in film – regardless of whether the film was made in 2019, Milwaukee Film announced on Thursday. This year’s dynamic set of retrospective films, many of which will present well-known films in a new light, showcase the range and quality of the 15-day Festival, which will take place Oct. 17-31.
Among the most notable retrospectives are screenings of “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” with cast members in attendance; “The Passion of Joan of Arc” presented with a live performance of an original score; and “Paris Is Burning,” paired with a Festival keynote talk by the film’s director.
“No matter what our audiences love most about film, these events will spark the discovery, the thrill and the passion of cinema that we all share,” said Cara Ogburn, Festival director at Milwaukee Film. “We are elated to have such incredible guests who will help extend the already-special experience of the Milwaukee Film Festival.”
“Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” will screen on Tuesday, Oct. 29, followed by an extended conversation with actors Ray Wise (Leland Palmer) and Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer). A film afterparty will give fans of the film and TV show a chance to celebrate the 1992 David Lynch-directed cult classic beyond the theater.
Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” brings historical events to life in its depiction of the trial and execution of Joan of Arc. On Friday, Oct. 18, contemporary electronic composer George Sarah will lead Milwaukee-based musicians in performing his original score alongside the film. His soundtrack was first performed in 2010.
The iconic 1990 documentary “Paris Is Burning,” directed by Jennie Livingston, documents New York City’s drag ball culture through the late 1980s and the African American, Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities that created it. A newly restored version of the film will be followed by a Q&A with Livingston, who will also deliver a keynote speech during the Festival.
The Festival will also present “Showgirls” (1995) in 35mm, paired with the 2019 documentary “You Don’t Nomi,” which explores the film’s journey into a cult classic. Additional retrospective films slated for the Milwaukee Film Festival include Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “The Birds” (1963); Milwaukee-made “Coven” (1997), directed by Mark Borchardt and presented in 35mm; animated classic “The Last Unicorn” (1982); and the traditional Festival screening of Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense” (1984).
Jack Hazan’s groundbreaking 1974 film “A Bigger Splash,” a documentary about artist David Hockney’s breakup with his longtime partner that has only been made available in the U.S. this year, will also be screened during the Festival.
Tickets for all Milwaukee Film Festival screenings and events, including these titles and over 300 more, will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 3. Milwaukee Film Members get an early opportunity to purchase tickets with discounted pricing, starting on Tuesday, Oct. 1. For more information on becoming a Milwaukee Film Member, fans can visit mkefilm.org/membership.
Films listed above may be ticketed at premium prices. Full Festival passes, as well as voucher packages that can be exchanged for tickets to non-premium screenings, are currently available at mkefilm.org/tickets.
Additional films and events will be announced throughout September, and the full Festival schedule is expected to be released on Thursday, Sept. 26.
About Milwaukee Film
Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to entertaining, educating, and engaging our community through cinematic experiences, with a vision to make Milwaukee a center for film culture. Milwaukee Film operates the magnificent Oriental Theatre, a historic cinema palace committed to high-quality and accessible film and education programming. The 11th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will take place Oct. 17-31, 2019. For more information or to become a member, visit mkefilm.org.
Facebook: facebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm | Twitter: @mkefilm | Instagram: @mkefilm
About the Milwaukee Film Board of Directors
Milwaukee Film’s independent board is made up of the following members: Chris Abele (Past Board Chair); John P. Bania; Donna Baumgartner; Elizabeth Brenner; Héctor Colón; Karen Ellenbecker; Jeff Fitzsimmons; Alexander P. Fraser (Immediate Past Board Chair); Carmen Haberman; Susan Haise; Katie Heil; Patti Keating Kahn (Board Chair); Tracey L. Klein (Past Board Chair); Michael G. Klein; Michael J. Koss Jr.; Alexander Lasry; Steve Laughlin (Past Board Chair); Emilia Layden; Michael R. Lovell; Joan Lubar; Marianne Lubar; Steve Mech; Mark Mone; Susan Mikulay; Kenneth W. Muth; Bob Pothier; John Ridley; Joseph A. Rock; Ramona Rogers-Windsor; Lacey Sadoff; Dave Stamm; Julia Taylor; John Utz; Kimberly Walker; Emeritus members: Tom Barrett; Jacqueline Strayer
Posted by: Milwaukee Film