Wednesday, August 5, 2026

2026 Advance Tickets

 

Purchase Tickets:

To buy advance tickets you have to go to the website of the Avalon theater. And scroll down to near the bottom of the page. The Avalon will be handling all ticketing for the festival. 

avalonmke.com/
*clicking on pics and links take you to the page for tickets.

There are four blocks of programs. Voices Heard, Juried Part 1, and Part 2, plus the 50th Anniversary Screening of The Giant Spider Invasion. Please be sure that your friends and family know the program block that your film is in. 

Below are each of the blocks, and they link to the blocks on the Avalon's site.

Also, please be sure to tell them that the Avalon has a strict policy on refunds and exchanges.   

TICKET REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES - The Avalon Theater/Neighborhood Theater Group Refund Policy.

Tickets are valid only for the film, theater, showtime and date specified. Refunds and exchanges are available in person at the theater for which the ticket was purchased before the showtime and date on that ticket. 

Purchases made online can additionally be refunded and exchanged in person before the showtime and date on the ticket. Refunds will not be provided after the showtime and date specified on the ticket.

We are suggesting everyone to arrive up to 30 minutes earlier. Our shows have sold out in the past and you want to be sure that you can sit with your group. 

Prices:

The Avalon has priced the tickets at a reasonable $11.00, a price lower than the average ticket price in the city. But if you purchase a ticket online there is a surcharge of $1.00. 

Parking:

The Avalon does not have their own parking space. It is all street parking. Please come early.  Again, we are suggesting everyone to arrive up to 30 minutes earlier since our shows have sold out in the past. 

More info on the filmmakers are on our Facebook page, our Instagram account, Blue Sky account, Threads page and our Youtube Channel, including filmmaker interviews and trailers to select films.  

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September 11th
The Giant Spider Invasion


FEATURE FILM | R | 90M with Q/A and Award Presentation

The Giant Spider Invasion, the cult film classic that put Wisconsin on the map, is officially getting a reimagined reboot. In a historic Hollywood first, the original director, Bill Rebane, returned to film new sequences for the 50th anniversary. This production is a loving homage to Wisconsin's culture, landscape, and people, featuring local actor Dan Davies interacting with original cast members, Alan Hale Jr., Barbara Hale, Leslie Parrish, and Steve Brodie.

The Milwaukee Independent Film Society will be hosting a one-time-only screening during the MKE INT Short Film Fest, at 6:30PM on September 11th at the historic, Avalon Atmospheric Theater. After the screening and Q/A, hosted by Jon Adler of 88 Nine Radio Milwaukee, we'll be honoring Bill Rebane with the Pace-setter Award for his contributions to Wisconsin filmmaking.

Presented by Outpost Natural Foods Co-op, WUWM, Pizza Shuttle, and Fractured Imagination.


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September 12th
Block 1: Voices Heard, 1PM




SHORT FILMS | R | 105M with Q/A

The Milwaukee Short Film Festival celebrates diversity in filmmaking with the eleventh year of "Voices Heard", the only film event in Milwaukee spotlighting the work of local filmmakers of color. This wildly successful program returns this year to screen nine films from talented local, multicultural filmmakers.

Sherman Park by Paulina Lule Bugembe-Kuwahara



Brief Q&A to follow after the films with attending filmmakers.

Click here for more information on the films, or on the title of each film.

TICKETS

Presented by Outpost Natural Foods Co-op, FM102/1, WUWM, Pizza Shuttle, and Fractured Imagination.

After this block of films, Voices Heard will hold a free panel at venue's lounge.

Navigating Festivals

Whether you are a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, navigating the festival circuit can be daunting and expensive. We are here to help you develop a strategic plan to maximize your film's success.

Join us to learn which festivals are the best fit for your work, which ones to avoid, how to build a professional EPK, and whether you should keep your film online. Get direct insights from festival programmers on what they are truly looking for in a submission.

Featuring:
Award wining Filmmaker/Festival Director, Ross Bigley.

Voices Heard member Clarence Aumend

This will be at 3:15PM in the Avalounge.

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September 12th
Block 2: Juried Part 1, 4:30PM



SHORT FILMS | R | 100M with Q/A

More thought-provoking films that'll entertain you. A great mix of the avant-garde, comedy, drama, animation, social commentary, and some horror.

Brief Q&A to follow with attending filmmakers.

Click here for more information on the films, or on the title of each film.

TICKETS

Presented by Outpost Natural Foods Co-op, FM102/1, WUWM, Pizza Shuttle, and Fractured Imagination.


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SHORT FILMS | R | 120M


The last block of the night has more films to excite you, with local horror, drama, comedy, music, animation, and human connections. 

The night closes with the awards presentation after the Q/A.

Order of films:

Extraordinary Rob by Adam Szudrich

Mawu by Glen Popple



Brief Q&A to follow with the Awards ceremony after the films with attending filmmakers.

Click here for more information on the films, or on the title of each film.


TICKETS 

Presented by Outpost Natural Foods Co-op, FM102/1, WUWM, Pizza Shuttle, and Fractured Imagination.


The Awards ceremony will take place after the films have screened in our Juried part 2 7PM block. This includes the Voices Heard Films. 






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2026 Film: Hunger

Hunger by Michael Viers & Ross Bigley
Milwaukee, WI (World Premiere/Out of Competition)
Running Time: 7 minutes
Experimental

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards 
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207




A woman (Drea Ivy) falls into a rut, she craves both physical sustenance and a mental hunger for knowledge. At the end, she finds that a small journey is very satisfying.
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Thursday, July 16, 2026

2026 Film: Gospel For Ghosts

Gospel For Ghosts by Hisonni Mustafa
Las Vegas, NV (Home Town Screening)
Running Time: 9 minutes
Drama

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards 
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207



A desperate addict breaks into the home of a blind woman only to discover the one thing he never expected: someone who needs him.




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Tuesday, July 7, 2026

2026 Festival: Season 28

 

Season 28



Hello,

Welcome to our 28th season! I remember launching this festival in 1994, when there was nothing quite like it in Milwaukee. Back then, if you were a filmmaker wanting to screen your work, you had to bring your own projector to local coffee houses or bars. We weren't using digital formats yet, it was all celluloid. You would set up a 16mm or 8mm projector on a wooden table in the middle of the room, and you felt lucky if the patrons actually stopped their conversations to pay attention to your hard work.

I began this festival with a different approach. I showed films, the festival, then called the Milwaukee Film/Video Festival was on local cable TV. Not annually, just whenever I thought it was time to do another. 

And, as the years rolled on I turned the festival into an annual event, and moved into a movie theater. Other festivals popped up. Some have even gone away. I've even helped a few through the years.  

Now, since the pandemic I've been dealing with health issues. Serious health issues. I was diagnosed with Leukemia in the summer of 2020, and in 2024 another cancer was discovered, MDS. It got so bad that I was at the hospital a couple times a week getting blood and platelet transfusions, or because I was very weak and fell a lot. Those approaches were just band aids, just giving me enough red blood cells to keep me going until the next transfusion. I shouldn't even be here because right after the festival in 2024 I was told that I only had 18 months.

Luckily my sister was a full match for a bone marrow transplant and I spent most of last May and June of last year going through the process, and stuck in a hospital bed. 

I kept the festival running, but during the last few years in the back of my head I felt that I would be wrapping it up. I even thought that 2025 would be its final year. But I was feeling better and decided to do another year.

This year will be different from last year. The Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival (miff) will not be back to join us as they are also in flux, and we are going to be only a one day event. I'm still recovering and last year took a lot out of me. That means only three blocks of programs, with one going to Voices Heard. We'll be screening less films. But to make up for the lower film count I've book a feature film for September 11th, the 50th Anniversary of Giant Spider Invasion by the legendary Wisconsin filmmaker, Bill Rebane. He'll also be honored with the Pace-setter Award for all his contributions to Wisconsin filmmaking.

Putting on a festival is a lot of work, it's more than watching films and selecting them, then showing up to see them. I have to secure the venue, gather sponsors and judges, create multiple pieces of art for each film announcement, record virtual Q/A's and edit them, making sure film files are coming in, and the DCP is on track to being completed on time, plus keep all our social media accounts functioning with new content daily as we get closer to the festival. By having less films means most of that workload is cut in half for me. Less stress, and more time to concentrate on the event itself.

As for next season? I'm not sure yet. I'm 60 and have been doing this a very long time. I'll make a decision by the fall. 


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Thursday, June 25, 2026

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”.





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Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards 
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207



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




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Monday, June 22, 2026

2026 Film: Witchy Women

Witchy Women by Courtney Peterson
Milwaukee (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 12 minutes
Comedy/ Horror

September 12th 
Juried Part 1, Block 2 4:30PM
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.





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Thursday, June 18, 2026

2026 Film: Extraordinary Rob

Extraordinary Rob by Adam Szudrich
Sydney, Australia (Mid-West Premiere)
Running Time: 7 minutes
Comedy

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards 
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.





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2026 Film: Human Error

Human Error by Emma Kipp
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 12 minutes
Sci-Fi/ Thriller

September 12th 
Juried Part 1, Block 2 4:30PM
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.






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2026 Film: DO I DO

DO I DO by Ericka Boston
Bowie, MD (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 7 minutes
Drama/ Romance

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards
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.





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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 12th 
Juried Part 1, Block 2 4:30PM 
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.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2026

2026 Film: The Sketch

The Sketch by Nathaniel C. Blumin
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 5 minutes
Film Noir 

September 12th 
Juried Part 1, Block 2 4:30PM
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207



A short film that attempts to understand a sketch artist's work. Are they really an artist? What purpose does their work have.





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Monday, June 15, 2026

2026 Film: Silence

Silence by Yoona Hwang
Savannah, GA (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 3 minutes
Animated/ Drrama/ Coming of Age 

September 12th 
Juried Part 1, Block 2 4:30PM
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207




Tacet, a mischievous yet art-loving deaf boy, experiences a musical concert in his own unique way. By clutching a balloon to feel the stage’s vibrations, he transforms sound waves into a vivid visual journey. As star-shaped confetti dances within the balloon, Tacet’s imagination takes flight through endless bamboo forests and abstract shapes. When the music ends, he joins the audience with “silent applause,” raising and shaking his hands, celebrating a harmony that transcends sound.






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2026 Film: Abducted

Abducted by Raechel Zarzynski
Los Angeles (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 11 minutes
Sci Fi/ Comedy 

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207




Debra (quirky UFOlogist) and Sydney (stoic Camera Op) are filming an exposé on alien hot spots when they suddenly find themselves at the center of a genuine alien conspiracy. They soon discover that the "truth" that is "out there" is not what they expected.






Directors Bio:







Raechel Zarzynski is a Milwaukee native now based in Los Angeles. She's a writer-director whose work blends character-driven comedy with genre storytelling, fueled by a lifelong love of sci-fi. As a director, her past films include Sinked Up — a queer love story that premiered at Outfest — as well as numerous music videos, such as Low Hum's "Nebraska," which has drawn over 3.7 million views online. Alongside her own projects, she's a regular presence on other filmmakers' sets — recently earning a PGA-producing credit on the feature thriller Snare, which was supported by the Tribeca Film Institute, and serving as Assistant Director on Tender, which premiered at Dances With Films in June — work she sees as part of building a stronger indie film community. Abducted serves as a proof of concept for a sci-fi comedy feature she's currently developing, continuing her interest in stories that find the human — and the absurd — in unexpected places.

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2026 Film: May Day

May Day by Kim Reese
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 11 minutes
Drama 

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards 
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207



After spending her 16th birthday alone, Gemma must confront her future and what she becomes.


Instagram




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Saturday, June 13, 2026

2026 Film: Halftime

Halftime by Darrin Lile
Wisconsin (World Premiere)
Running Time: 9 minutes
Drama/Dark Comedy 

September 12th 
Juried Part 2, Block 3 7PM + Awards
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207




While watching the big game, five guys begin revealing secrets that they've kept bottled up for years. And once they start, there's no telling where it will lead.






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2026 Festival Judges














Maya is a UK/German native. Her company MHK Productions (London, LA, Cork) celebrates feminist, diverse, queer stories; often with a genre edge. She has produced in Beijing, NYC, CDMX, LA, Ireland, Budapest and London. Prior to this, she moonlighted in marketing (The Weinstein Company and BBC) before landing in the female content space (Refinery 29 & Maven Pictures). She is a Columbia University Producing MFA, La Femis, WIF Producing and WEMW graduate. Her features have collectively completed the Berlinale Talent Project Market, Fantasia Frontieres, Eave, Cine Qua Non, Sitges Pitchbox, Bifff Market and Midpoint among others. Recently, she’s been diversifying into the commercial space, working with non-binary director Rhi Bergado to create content for brands with MTV and on Facebook Live’s CARDI TRIES S2.



Maya Korn
MHK Productions
Executive Director/ Producer
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Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Helpful Tips


I recently had to pull a film because it was screening before our event. Filmmakers, please read our rules and terms before submitting, and planning your festival run.

I’ve said this many times, but local filmmakers need to start treating their films like products. Too many here in Wisconsin only submit to local festivals, while filmmakers from other states or countries screen widely across the country and internationally, often hitting just one local fest.

When I see a local filmmaker’s screening history, it’s usually filled with local fests. That’s fine, but realistically, most of those smaller festivals will take your film because you’re local and they think it'll fill seats. Instead, try targeting festivals outside the state first and build your reputation, win awards, and then return home. If you’ve had a successful run elsewhere, local fests will still want your film.

All festivals in this state, and there are a lot, are regional. We don't have big A list fests with movie stars premiering their films night after night. We are not a major hub like Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. There're a few deep pocket fests here, but every fest is still regional. And smaller fests, like ours rely on the friends, family, cast and crew of the filmmakers to buy tickets in order to keep their festival going. Sure, we get walk-ins from media coverage, but the majority of tickets sold are those with a connection to the filmmaker. Showing films that have screened previously is a case of diminishing returns. Each screening has fewer tickets being sold.

Also, premieres do matter. I have taken a film that didn't premiere at our fest, but since the pandemic the viewing habits of everyday people has drastically changed. A film that might've played well with a 3rd screening no longer does. People have become accustomed to sitting at home and wanting a youtube link. Bigger fests fight over premieres, and I've had a few fests in WI do the same. Why, because premieres do better ticket wise than a 3rd run film. I can't tell the number of filmmakers who called me up and were crying that they had to pull their film because another fest demanded it.

A filmmaker should map out their fest run, look at festival dates, read their guidelines, and determine where you'll submit to. And do your research, look at what that festival has screened in the past to see if you are a good fit. As a programmer, I'll let you in on a secret. By the final deadline, or that extended final deadline we pretty much know what's in the festival because we've lived with these films for months, and we are just waiting on something that might fill a spot, or hoping that maybe a comedy will show up. If you send a 15 minute drama it'll probably get passed on. If a festival is charging 60-80 dollars for that extended final deadline, wait on it. They know what they already want in their line up, wait on it because you can just enter in their Early Bird deadline at a lower rate, and they'll live with your film for months. 

We reject many films that don't follow our guidelines. If you choose my fest to submit your film, thank you. If not, that's okay. Do what's best to position your film.





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Monday, June 8, 2026

2026 Voices Heard Film: Strong Friend

Strong Friend by Brandon Champ Robinson
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)
Running Time: 12 minutes
Drama

September 12th 
Voices Heard, Block 1 1PM 
Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207




Randi is the friend everyone leans on, but behind her strength lies a life in ruin—and when no one checks on the strong one, the consequences are devastating.





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