2026 Voices Heard Film: The Side Effects of U

The Side Effects of U by RJ Smith
Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 14 minutes

Drama

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

A cry for help and an answered prayer. The Side Effects of U follows Darius Bryant as he navigates a fractured reality shaped by the ghosts of his past. Drifting between memory and revelation, Darius confronts the unraveling of his relationship with his father, and the truth that refuses to stay buried.

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2026 Voices Heard Film: Charlie

Charlie by Contrell Smith
Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 4 minutes

Horror

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

An unknown cosmic horror infiltrates a family through a VHS player.

2026 Voices Heard Film: Stay

Stay by Aden Gonzalez
Wisconsin (Milwaukee Premiere)

Running Time: 14 minutes

Drama

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

STAY is a short narrative film about love, family, and resilience within a Mexican household facing an unspoken threat. Through intimate moments and rising tension, the film captures the emotional reality of living between hope and fear, where home is both a sanctuary and a fragile promise.

Inspired by real events.

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2026 Voices Heard Film: Harambee, Milwaukee: The Movie

Harambee, Milwaukee: The Movie 

by Pryscilla Balladares, Selena McKnight, Dana Watson
Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 15 minutes

Documentary

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

This is what you get when you add inquisitive film directors with adequate funding to make a documentary in a historical Milwaukee neighborhood.

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2026 Film: Dead Air

Dead Air by Andrew Barnard
Chicago, IL (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 5 minutes

Sci-Fi/Horror

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

It's 3 AM and AM radio host Skip Kabasinsky has a strange night ahead of him.

2026 Voices Heard Film: The Path

The Path by Caroline Ferrero
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 3 minutes

Animation

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

This animated short will explore the concept of the afterlife. It’s been my fascination to play with the concept of the afterlife since no one can answer what happens after we die. In this short, I want the audience’s question to be what happens if someone younger dies? And do they know where they are going? And if not, they are going to need a garden to guide them. The kids will never know what destination they are going to; they can only trust the person leading them the right way. This short will explore new terrains towards a world that the audience has never been to before. This short will not have talking to captivate the audience in the world around them. I want this animation not to feel like a short, but a world the audience is diving into.

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2026 Film: Teeth for Tithes

Teeth for Tithes by Stephanie Kalogriopoulos
New York (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 10 minutes

Comedy

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

It’s the height of summer 1999, the time is 2AM. You’ve fallen asleep on the couch when a glow from the TV nudges you awake. Enter Pastor Holy offering you the deal of a lifetime… Or rather, the deal of an eternity.