2026 Voices Heard Judge

Danny Villanueva Jr. is a Mexican-American writer/director/producer and founder of the independent production company, Velvet Pall. He is celebrated for his micro-budget, self-produced genre features that tackle complex and heavy themes such as WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL, a film that premiered at Fantastic Fest ‘24 and was featured in the New York Times "5 Horror Movies to Stream Now" list. Villanueva Jr. has become widely considered a “new voice to pay attention to”.

2026 Film: It's Not About the Bacon

It's Not About the Bacon by Daniel W Wilson
Milwaukee (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 10 minutes

Comedy

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

A man and woman discuss the equitable division of a plate of bacon.

2026 Film: Witchy Women

Witchy Women by Courtney Peterson

Milwaukee (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 12 minutes

Comedy/ Horror

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

After accidentally murdering a man during a night out, Mazy looks to her two friends to bring the man back to life.

Instagram

2026 Film: Extraordinary Rob

Extraordinary Rob by Adam Szudrich

Sydney, Australia (Mid-West Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes

Comedy

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Rob can do the impossible, but only when no one is watching. After a lifetime of invisibility, one anonymous act forces him to decide whether being unseen is a curse or a choice.

Instagram

2026 Film: Human Error

Human Error by Emma Kipp

Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 12 minutes

Sci-Fi/ Thriller

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

When a security guard takes a chance on a drifter, down on his luck, and lets him take refuge in the building he protects, he unwittingly falls into the sinister scheme of a sentient computer.

Instagram

Instagram

2026 Film: DO I DO

DO I DO by Ericka Boston
Bowie, MD (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes

Drama/ Romance

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

What begins as a mundane day becomes a test of wills when a couple's unspoken resentments simmer to the surface.

2026 Film: Badge of The Dead

Badge of The Dead by Hannah Brown

Appleton, WI (Milwaukee Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes

Animation/ Comedy/ Horror

September 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Three teen Evergreen Scouts on a camping trip face off against a sudden zombie apocalypse! They'll have to find a way to get past their differences and work together or die trying.

Instagram