The 17th annual Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) runs from February 25 – March 6, 2022! Run in conjunction with Beloit College, the BIFF draws thousands upon thousands of film lovers, and writers and directors from around the world for viewing, workshops, and more. The “International” in the title isn’t just for show, after all. Much of it is live, some of it will be virtual.
The Beloit International Film Festival celebrates the power of independent film from around the globe. Local residents and visitors from across the nation fill venues ranging in size from 40 to 400 seats to view more than 150 films and meet scores of filmmakers who come from throughout the U.S. and around the world. This unique festival continues to grow and has caught national attention with the New York Times calling BIFF, “a festival with a unique goal of returning the spirit of film festivals’ golden era, when guests talked film all night with directors and writers who were on hand and available for questions.” The New York Times also listed the festival as a unique alternative to other big international film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca.
Screenings will start at noon on the two weekends of BIFF, and films will be shown evenings during the week at Domenico’s and The Hendricks Center for the Arts at Beloit College. Films by new and established filmmakers in Wisconsin and Illinois will open the Festival on the first weekend with the popular Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown. Filmmakers and their fans will make their way to Beloit from throughout the two states and attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorites.
Getting to Beloit is easy! Just follow I-43 from Milwaukee, I-90 from Madison or Janesville, or Highway 81 from Monroe and points west. Highway 213 also brings you in from points northwest. Then just follow the roads to the Rock River and the downtown area. Guide signs will help you find the way downtown. And be sure to check out all the amazing new developments in downtown Beloit and throughout the area!
Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) Address:
Various locations in Beloit, mostly downtown
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 312-4256 Website
The Driftless Film Festival celebrates this unique region that escaped the glaciers of the ice age and its inspiration for many talented artists and filmmakers. Happening November 4 – 7, 2021 this year, the Driftless Film Festival brings together the best of new independent cinema with the landscape, artistic energy, and local atmosphere of Southwest Wisconsin. Now in its eighth year, Driftless continues to provide a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience for audiences and filmmakers alike.
Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Darren Burrows and Nicholas Langholff, Driftless was born of a love for independent films, an appreciation of the unusual region, and the joy of spending a weekend immersed in the charm Mineral Point’s galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. It is this delightful marriage of place and cinematic story that is the core of the Driftless vision today.
The Driftless Film Festival screens each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, it retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.
Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings.
From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home, and of course Pendarvis, “Shake Rag Alley,” and other places to enjoy in town also makes the trip worthwhile.
2021 Features will be announced soon.
The Driftless Film Festival runs Thursday, November 4th through Sunday, November 7th, so you have several days’ worth of options for when to attend! Check their website for a full slate of films and other activities. Tickets for individual screenings vary; you can also purchase a $50 pass that gets you in to everything. BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE.
Mineral Point Opera House
139 High Street
Mineral Point, WI 53565
(608) 260-8725 Website
Enjoy a drive with exceptional scenery, as the Driftless Area of Wisconsin is ridiculously beautiful. Hit Highways 23, 39, or U.S. 151 to reach Mineral Point, south of Dodgeville and northeast of Platteville and take it all in!
The 12th annual Flyway Film Festival is held in Pepin and Alma along Highway 35, our gorgeous Great River Road, from Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, 2019. Flyway Film Festival’s mission is to bring the best in independent film to the Lake Pepin area of Wisconsin and Minnesota for the purpose of cultural enrichment, community-building, arts education, and to inspire the next generation of filmmakers. The festival venues are on the shores of Lake Pepin, a part of the Mississippi that widens to a 40-square-mile “lake” sixty miles downstream from the Twin Cities. The area is known for its scenic river bluffs as well as for its vibrant art scene, gourmet dining, and sailing. Over 50 national and international independent films will be shown across multiple venues, with many filmmakers and industry professionals in attendance to interact with audiences via Q&A and networking events. It’s three days of films, workshops, music, and parties along the beautiful bluffs of the Mississippi River.
Running through November 1, the annual Milwaukee Film Festival offers more than 300 films, dozens of special guests, seven world premieres, parties for days—this one’s got it all.
Milwaukee Film Festival Venues:
Oriental Theatre (2230 N. Farwell Avenue/Highway 32) on Milwaukee’s East Side serves as the base.
The Oriental Theatre is Milwaukee’s historic movie palace. Its opulent, lavish, East Indian-inspired décor has attracted teeming hoards since its opening in 1927 and makes this theater a must-see-to-believe destination. It has long been the anchor theater of the Milwaukee Film Festival. Amenities include 2K and 4K digital projection, 35mm and 70mm film projection, 6- and 8-channel Dolby Digital Sound, full-service concession stand, and a full bar with beer, wine, and spirits.
The Avalon in Milwaukee’s Bay View district.
Avalon Theater, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue (also Highway 32)
The Avalon Theater is located in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Notable for its combination of classic movie palace and al fresco Mediterranean décor, the theater’s pièce de résistance is its ever-glowing ceiling of stars and planetary features, found in the main auditorium. Amenities include a full-service concession stand, full bar, leather recliners, an adjoining restaurant (Mistral), and the famous atmospheric ceiling—keep an eye out for shooting stars during your movie.
Times Cinema, 5907 W. Vliet Street
The Times Cinema is a single-screen theater on the western edge of Milwaukee that opened in 1935. The cozy neighborhood theater screens everything from summer blockbusters to indie fare to cult classics. Amenities include a full concession stand, full dinner menu, bar service, and couch-like seating.
Fox-Bay Cinema Grille, 334 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay
Fox-Bay Cinema Grill is the Milwaukee area’s premiere “dinner and a movie” theater destination. The theater is part throwback to the classic Art Deco moviehouses of the 1920s and 1930s, part dinner-theater experience, complete with intimate tables, padded swivel chairs, and dinner/bar service. Visit the Fox-Bay Cinema Grill’s website for more details. Amenities include state-of-the-art digital projection and sound, REALD 3D for certain films, and full bar with classic cocktails, beer, and wine.
Jann Serr Studio Cinema, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place (between Farwell & Prospect, both Highway 32)
Around the corner from the Oriental Theatre, the Jan Serr Studio Cinema is located on the top floor of the Kenilworth Square East building and is home to the Milwaukee Film Festival’s first pop-up cinema. Box office and line queues will be located in the building’s breezeway, located off of E. Kenilworth Place, between Farwell Ave. and Prospect Ave. Once a Ford Model-T factory, watching films in this newly remodeled space will provide a great Milwaukee Film Festival experience in a brand new location! Amenities include that the venue is outfitted with professionally installed and calibrated sound and pictures, ensuring audiences are provided with the optimum viewing experience, including stadium seating built out for up to 200 people. Light concessions will be available on site during the festival.
Of course, getting to Milwaukee on a road trip is easy. Main roads include I-41, I-43, I-94, U.S. 18, U.S. 45, and Highways 32, 36, 38, 57, 59, 145, 175 and 190 all bring you into the city and close to at least one of the venues!
Start:
October 18, 2018
End:
November 1, 2018
Venue:
Oriental Theater
Phone:
414-755-1965
Address:
2230 N. Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
The Wisconsin Film Festival is presented by the University of Wisconsin Arts Institute. bringing a vast array of unique films to the Madison area. An eight-day exploration of new American independent dramatic and documentary films, animation, experimental restorations and revivals.
Films are shown in a variety of venues across Madison, including:
Include the movie venues listed above. Festival offices are located at 1050 University Avenue, Madison, 53703. Their office phone is (608) 262-9009. Website
Start:
April 5, 2018
End:
April 12, 2018
Venue:
Various locations around Madison
Phone:
608-262-9009
Address:
1050 University Avenue608-, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Noted “Rascal” author Sterling North hailed from Edgerton (he graduated HS there in 1925), so they celebrate him with the annual Sterling North Book and Film Festival! This year’s takes place on Saturday, November 7th at Edgerton High School.
Year by year, Edgerton works to transform their reputation towards being a literary capitol and Wisconsin’s book town. We might be in a small town, but we think big! Each and every year the festival gets a little bigger and a lot better. It celebrates the eternal significance of the written word and works to open the world of literature to children of all ages. Meet a variety of authors and filmmakers, including Jerry Apps, Michael Perry, Kathleen Ernst, Jamie Swenson, John Garofolo, Susan Wehrley, Patty Loew, Rob Gard, and more.
If you love the power of words, this event is for you! Variety is the name of the game and there’s a lot to do – and read! A full schedule of events is available on their website.
You can get to Edgerton, in Rock County just south of Dane County, via U.S. 51, I-39/90, and Highway 59.
Start:
November 7, 2015 9:00 am
End:
November 7, 2015 5:00 pm
Venue:
Edgerton High School
Address:
200 Elm High Drive, Edgerton, WI, 53534, United States
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events › Film
March 4, 2022 – March 6, 2022
Beloit International Film Festival
The 17th annual Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) runs from February 25 – March 6, 2022! Run in conjunction with Beloit College, the BIFF draws thousands upon thousands of film lovers, and writers and directors from around the world for viewing, workshops, and more. The “International” in the title isn’t just for show, after all. Much of it is live, some of it will be virtual.
The Beloit International Film Festival celebrates the power of independent film from around the globe. Local residents and visitors from across the nation fill venues ranging in size from 40 to 400 seats to view more than 150 films and meet scores of filmmakers who come from throughout the U.S. and around the world. This unique festival continues to grow and has caught national attention with the New York Times calling BIFF, “a festival with a unique goal of returning the spirit of film festivals’ golden era, when guests talked film all night with directors and writers who were on hand and available for questions.” The New York Times also listed the festival as a unique alternative to other big international film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca.
Screenings will start at noon on the two weekends of BIFF, and films will be shown evenings during the week at Domenico’s and The Hendricks Center for the Arts at Beloit College. Films by new and established filmmakers in Wisconsin and Illinois will open the Festival on the first weekend with the popular Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown. Filmmakers and their fans will make their way to Beloit from throughout the two states and attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorites.
Get the schedule of films here
Getting to Beloit is easy! Just follow I-43 from Milwaukee, I-90 from Madison or Janesville, or Highway 81 from Monroe and points west. Highway 213 also brings you in from points northwest. Then just follow the roads to the Rock River and the downtown area. Guide signs will help you find the way downtown. And be sure to check out all the amazing new developments in downtown Beloit and throughout the area!
Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) Address:
Various locations in Beloit, mostly downtown
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 312-4256
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
November 4, 2021 – November 7, 2021
Driftless Film Festival
The Driftless Film Festival celebrates this unique region that escaped the glaciers of the ice age and its inspiration for many talented artists and filmmakers. Happening November 4 – 7, 2021 this year, the Driftless Film Festival brings together the best of new independent cinema with the landscape, artistic energy, and local atmosphere of Southwest Wisconsin. Now in its eighth year, Driftless continues to provide a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience for audiences and filmmakers alike.
Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Darren Burrows and Nicholas Langholff, Driftless was born of a love for independent films, an appreciation of the unusual region, and the joy of spending a weekend immersed in the charm Mineral Point’s galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. It is this delightful marriage of place and cinematic story that is the core of the Driftless vision today.
The Driftless Film Festival screens each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, it retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.
Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings.
From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home, and of course Pendarvis, “Shake Rag Alley,” and other places to enjoy in town also makes the trip worthwhile.
2021 Features will be announced soon.
The Driftless Film Festival runs Thursday, November 4th through Sunday, November 7th, so you have several days’ worth of options for when to attend! Check their website for a full slate of films and other activities. Tickets for individual screenings vary; you can also purchase a $50 pass that gets you in to everything. BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE.
Get the full slate of films HERE
Driftless Film Festival Main Address:
Mineral Point Opera House
139 High Street
Mineral Point, WI 53565
(608) 260-8725
Website
Enjoy a drive with exceptional scenery, as the Driftless Area of Wisconsin is ridiculously beautiful. Hit Highways 23, 39, or U.S. 151 to reach Mineral Point, south of Dodgeville and northeast of Platteville and take it all in!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
October 10, 2019 – October 13, 2019
Flyway Film Festival
Check their website for films, times, and more!
Follow them on Twitter at @flywayfilmfest for updates, too.
Flyway Minema (that’s spelled right, it’s named for a “mini cinema”)
408 2nd Street
Pepin, WI 54759
(855) 800-8008
Website
Big River Theatre
121 S. Main Street (Highway 35)
Alma, WI 54610
(608) 685-4002
Website
Broadway Theatre
611 Broadway Avenue
Wabasha, MN 55981
(651) 564-0569
Website
Pepin Village Hall Community Room
508 2nd Street
Pepin, WI 54759
WideSpot Performing Arts Center
N2030 Spring Street, 2nd floor
Stockholm, WI 54769
(715) 307-8941
Website
Click HERE for more schedule details!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
October 18, 2018 – November 1, 2018
Milwaukee Film Festival
Running through November 1, the annual Milwaukee Film Festival offers more than 300 films, dozens of special guests, seven world premieres, parties for days—this one’s got it all.
Milwaukee Film Festival Venues:
Oriental Theatre (2230 N. Farwell Avenue/Highway 32) on Milwaukee’s East Side serves as the base.
The Oriental Theatre is Milwaukee’s historic movie palace. Its opulent, lavish, East Indian-inspired décor has attracted teeming hoards since its opening in 1927 and makes this theater a must-see-to-believe destination. It has long been the anchor theater of the Milwaukee Film Festival. Amenities include 2K and 4K digital projection, 35mm and 70mm film projection, 6- and 8-channel Dolby Digital Sound, full-service concession stand, and a full bar with beer, wine, and spirits.
Avalon Theater, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue (also Highway 32)
The Avalon Theater is located in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Notable for its combination of classic movie palace and al fresco Mediterranean décor, the theater’s pièce de résistance is its ever-glowing ceiling of stars and planetary features, found in the main auditorium. Amenities include a full-service concession stand, full bar, leather recliners, an adjoining restaurant (Mistral), and the famous atmospheric ceiling—keep an eye out for shooting stars during your movie.
Times Cinema, 5907 W. Vliet Street
The Times Cinema is a single-screen theater on the western edge of Milwaukee that opened in 1935. The cozy neighborhood theater screens everything from summer blockbusters to indie fare to cult classics. Amenities include a full concession stand, full dinner menu, bar service, and couch-like seating.
Fox-Bay Cinema Grille, 334 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay
Fox-Bay Cinema Grill is the Milwaukee area’s premiere “dinner and a movie” theater destination. The theater is part throwback to the classic Art Deco moviehouses of the 1920s and 1930s, part dinner-theater experience, complete with intimate tables, padded swivel chairs, and dinner/bar service. Visit the Fox-Bay Cinema Grill’s website for more details. Amenities include state-of-the-art digital projection and sound, REALD 3D for certain films, and full bar with classic cocktails, beer, and wine.
Jann Serr Studio Cinema, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place (between Farwell & Prospect, both Highway 32)
Around the corner from the Oriental Theatre, the Jan Serr Studio Cinema is located on the top floor of the Kenilworth Square East building and is home to the Milwaukee Film Festival’s first pop-up cinema. Box office and line queues will be located in the building’s breezeway, located off of E. Kenilworth Place, between Farwell Ave. and Prospect Ave. Once a Ford Model-T factory, watching films in this newly remodeled space will provide a great Milwaukee Film Festival experience in a brand new location! Amenities include that the venue is outfitted with professionally installed and calibrated sound and pictures, ensuring audiences are provided with the optimum viewing experience, including stadium seating built out for up to 200 people. Light concessions will be available on site during the festival.
Buy Milwaukee Film Festival tickets here (you have a nice combination of options)
Get the Milwaukee Film Festival list of films – from the master list of 335 – here
Of course, getting to Milwaukee on a road trip is easy. Main roads include I-41, I-43, I-94, U.S. 18, U.S. 45, and Highways 32, 36, 38, 57, 59, 145, 175 and 190 all bring you into the city and close to at least one of the venues!
April 5, 2018 – April 12, 2018
Wisconsin Film Festival
The Wisconsin Film Festival is presented by the University of Wisconsin Arts Institute. bringing a vast array of unique films to the Madison area. An eight-day exploration of new American independent dramatic and documentary films, animation, experimental restorations and revivals.
Check out the latest film guide here, or download a .PDF.
Wisconsin Film Festival Addresses:
Include the movie venues listed above. Festival offices are located at 1050 University Avenue, Madison, 53703. Their office phone is (608) 262-9009.
Website
November 7, 2015
Edgerton Sterling North Book & Film Festival
Noted “Rascal” author Sterling North hailed from Edgerton (he graduated HS there in 1925), so they celebrate him with the annual Sterling North Book and Film Festival! This year’s takes place on Saturday, November 7th at Edgerton High School.
Year by year, Edgerton works to transform their reputation towards being a literary capitol and Wisconsin’s book town. We might be in a small town, but we think big! Each and every year the festival gets a little bigger and a lot better. It celebrates the eternal significance of the written word and works to open the world of literature to children of all ages. Meet a variety of authors and filmmakers, including Jerry Apps, Michael Perry, Kathleen Ernst, Jamie Swenson, John Garofolo, Susan Wehrley, Patty Loew, Rob Gard, and more.
If you love the power of words, this event is for you! Variety is the name of the game and there’s a lot to do – and read! A full schedule of events is available on their website.
You can get to Edgerton, in Rock County just south of Dane County, via U.S. 51, I-39/90, and Highway 59.