Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Film Festival (Festival) is presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arts Institute in association with the Department of Communication Arts and is the largest university-produced film festival in the nation.
10 Film Preview
This year the Wisconsin Film Festival screens over 140 films ranging from shorts to features. The following 10 films are an alphabetically-ordered taste of the Festival:
“The Blood is at the Doorstep” | Director: Erik Ljung
Focusing on the Dontre Hamilton case, this deeply moving documentary cuts deep into issues of police brutality, mental health and racism, while also capturing a powerful dialogue in the Milwaukee community about how to reform these unjust structural barriers.
“Blue Collar” | Director: Paul Schrader
A 40th anniversary 35mm presentation of “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull” writer Schrader’s directorial debut, starring Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel.
“Brewmaster” | Director: Douglas Triola
This bubbly, effervescent documentary celebrates the passion and innovation currently flooding the beer industry.
“The Guilty / Den skyldige” | Director: Gustav Möller
Winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, this ingeniously innovative police procedural thriller takes our breath away without taking the camera once out of the walls of an emergency call center.
“I Am Not a Witch” | Director: Rungano Nyoni
Nominated for Best International Film at the 2018 Independent Spirit Awards, Zambia-born director Nyoni’s sharp satire righteously mocks her home country’s patriarchy.
“Let the Sunshine In / Un beau soleil interieur” | Director: Claire Denis
In a comic tour de force, the luminous Juliette Binoche stars as Isabelle, a divorced artist searching (and searching) for new love in this brilliant new dark comedy from renowned director Denis of “Beau Travail.”
“Mountain” | Director Jennifer Peedom
Filmed atop peaks across the globe, this ravishing contemplation of humanity’s relationship to mountains explores our collective desire to conquer these foreboding summits and considers what lies behind it.
“Oh Lucy!” | Director: Atsuko Hirayanagi
A Tokyo office drone is reborn as an adventurous free spirit in this winning transpacific comedy with a deceptively deep undercurrent.
“RBG” | Directors: Betsy West and Julie Cohen
Find inspiration in the life of a true American icon, Supreme Court Justice and millennial meme machine Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Support the Girls” | Director: Andrew Bujalski
Festival veteran Bujalski’s latest comedy shows us a day in the life of the staff and customers of a highway-side Hooters knock-off.
More Festival Facts
The Festival is known for its diverse film offerings including American independent, international cinema, documentaries, experimental and avant-garde, restored classics, the Wisconsin’s Own Competition (selections featuring filmmakers/cast, themes or settings that have Wisconsin connections) and Children’s Cinema: Big Screens, Little Folks. In 2016, the Festival provided $1.6 million in direct economic impact to the Madison area based on a report from the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau.
First Look at the Fest – March 7
Wednesday, March 7 | 7:00–10:00 p.m.
AMC Madison 6 (Hilldale) | 430 N. Midvale Blvd. | Madison
Cost: $40 in advance, $50 at the door
First Look at the Fest is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Real Butter Fund. Attendees have an opportunity to peruse the Film Guide the night before it hits the stands in the March 8 issue of Isthmus and purchase up to two tickets per screening before tickets go on sale on March 10. Event includes curated Festival film trailers, appetizers from Hilldale-area merchants and more.
Film Guide – March 8
The Film Guide will be released in the Thursday, March 8 edition of Isthmus. The printed guide will be available in different locations around the Madison area, including local library branches, the Festival’s theater venues and box office, various Hilldale merchants, coffee shops, etc.
This year’s website: 2018.wifilmfest.org will have an electronic version of the Film Guide starting March 8. The site is also the home of lots of other Festival facts, including box office and venue information.
Tickets on Sale – March 10
Ticket Prices
- $10 General public
- $8* Students, Seniors (65+), UW Faculty/Staff and Military Personnel
- $5 All Big Screens, Little Folks films
- $25 Opening Night Celebration
- $325 All Festival Pass (unlimited access to films and special events for one person)
2018 Wisconsin Film Festival tickets are sold exclusively through Wisconsin Union’s Campus Arts Ticketing. Campus Arts Ticketing will charge a $1 per ticket processing fee for every ticket, in-person, online or by phone.
Tickets can be purchased starting at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday, March 10 online, visiting the below Campus Arts Ticketing locations or by calling 608-265-2787 during box office hours.
*Special pricing for students (any high school, college or university), seniors (65+), current UW or UW faculty/staff and military personnel with valid ID. All discounted tickets are subject to verification – please carry a valid ID. Only four discounted tickets allowed per screening, per transaction.
Box Offices – New Location for 2018
Memorial Union Box Office (closed Sundays, except on April 8)
800 Langdon St. | Madison
- Opening Day of ticket sales: Saturday, March 10 | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST
- March 12–April 5: Monday-Friday | 10 a.m.– 7 p.m. & Saturday | 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- April 6–12: One hour before the first film of the day begins up until ½ hour after the last film of the day begins
On March 10, the Union South Box Office (1308 W. Dayton St.) will also be open from 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. to help with opening day sales. This will be the only day it is open. The primary Campus Arts ticketing location on opening day of ticket sales and throughout ticketing sales is the Campus Arts Ticketing Memorial Union Box Office.
AMC Madison 6 Box Office
Hilldale | 430 N Midvale Blvd. | Madison
- April 6–12: One hour before the first film of the day begins until ½ hour after the last film of the day begins
To purchase ticket/s on the day of a film being screened, any available tickets will only be sold at the venue where the film is being shown. For additional information on tickets and the Box Offices, visit 2018.wifilmfest.org.
Theater Venues (all are in Madison, WI)
City of Madison:
- AMC Madison 6 | 430 N. Midvale Blvd.
-
- (April 6–12)
UW–Madison campus:
- Chazen Museum of Art – Auditorium | 750 University Ave.
-
- (April 6–8)
- Cinematheque – 4070 Vilas Hall | 821 University Ave.
- (April 6–8)
- Wisconsin’s Union Theater – Shannon Hall, Memorial Union | 800 Langdon St.
- (April 5–7)
- Union South Marquee | 2nd Floor, 1308 W. Dayton St.
- (April 6–8)
Opening Night Celebration – April 5
Thursday, April 5 | 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Wisconsin Union Theater – Shannon Hall, Memorial Union | 800 Langdon St.
Reception starts at 5:30 and tickets are $25 for the reception, Golden Badger Awards Presentation and films. The awards presentation starts at 7:00 and the films “Elemental” and “Mountain” start at 7:30 and the cost without the reception is $10. After the films, one of Madison’s favorite bands, VO5 will play at the Rathskeller in the Memorial Union.
This year’s Golden Badger Awards honorees are:
- “The Blood is at the Doorstep” | Directed by Eric Ljung
- “FUTURE Language: The Dimensions of VON LMO” | Directed by Lori Felker
- “Great Light” | Directed by Tony Oswald
Wisconsin Film Festival News & Social Media accounts
To stay informed of any updates and learning about some of the films shown during the Festival, film enthusiasts are encouraged to sign for the Festival’s Newsreel (sign up on the go.wisc.edu/artsnews in the “Subscribe to our Newsletter” section) or follow the Festival’s social media accounts: @wifilmfest (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).
The Newsreel is sent approximately once a week from mid-February through the end of April. During the rest of the year it’s sent out approximately on a monthly basis.
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