Milwaukee, Wis. – The 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival concluded last Thursday, May 8, celebrating a vibrant showcase of cinema and honoring the creators behind the films. The festival, sponsored by Associated Bank, attracted a remarkable turnout, with 32,004 attendees enjoying a diverse range of screenings over a span of 15 days.
This year’s festival highlighted a centralized East Side location, making it more accessible for audiences. The community response was enthusiastic, with attendance per screening increasing by 47% compared to last year. Susan Kerns, the Executive Director of Milwaukee Film, described the event as “two weeks of cinematic bliss,” emphasizing the unique communal experience fostered by the festival.
Across the festival’s programming, a total of 209 films were presented. This included 97 feature films—49 of which were documentaries and 48 fiction works—and 112 shorts. Notably, 45% of the feature films were helmed by women or nonbinary filmmakers, showcasing a commitment to diverse storytelling in cinema.
In addition to the films, the festival conducted the REEL Impact Drive fundraising campaign, which raised $150,550 to support Milwaukee Film’s initiatives. The drive commenced with a $10,000 donation from Susan and Robert Mikulay during a special event. The festival also featured its first-ever online silent auction, raising over $12,000 through bids on unique items, including artwork by Jinjer Markley, who contributed to the festival’s visual identity.
The festival included 265 public screenings, alongside three private showings for members. Filmmakers and industry guests, totaling approximately 80, contributed to the buzz surrounding this year’s event, which featured both established and emerging talents.
This year’s Abele Catalyst Award was awarded posthumously to Carmen and Bill Haberman during the opening night, recognizing their significant contributions to the arts community. The festival also honored several films with jury awards. Winning the Luminaries Jury Award was “Middletown,” directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. “Outerlands,” directed by Elena Oxman, took home the Emerging Fiction Jury Award. Other notable jury accolades recognized works such as “Remaining Native” and “Zastava Brothers.”
Audience participation played a significant role in selecting the winners of the Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Awards. The best feature award went to “The Librarians,” directed by Kim A Snyder, while “Jane Austen’s Period Drama” won best short film.
Looking ahead, the second Dialogues Documentary Festival is scheduled for September 18-21, 2025, furthering Milwaukee Film’s mission to use documentary storytelling as a means to engage and inform the community. The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival is set to take place from April 16 to April 30, promising another exciting installment in the annual celebration of cinema.
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