/5 - 6
.SEPT
/2025
/WI
/Avalon Atmospheric Theater
2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
"BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL!"
The Longest running Milwaukee film festival that supports Milwaukee filmmakers returns!
/ADDRESS
2324 W Wisconsin Ave #66
Milwaukee, WI 53233
/MAIL
Milwaukeeshortfilmfestival@gmail.com
/TEL
September 5-6th, 2025
VENUE: Avalon Atmospheric Theater
Early Early Bird Deadline:
September 15, 2024
Non Wisconsin Filmmakers: $15
Non Wisconsin Gold Members: $10
Wisconsin Filmmakers: $10
Wisconsin Gold Filmmakers: $8
Early Bird Deadline:
January 15, 2025
Non Wisconsin Filmmakers: $25
Non Wisconsin Gold Members: $20
Wisconsin Filmmakers: $15
Wisconsin Gold Filmmakers: $10
Regular Deadline:
April 15, 2025
Non Wisconsin Filmmakers: $35
Non Wisconsin Gold Members: $30
Wisconsin Filmmakers: $20
Wisconsin Gold Filmmakers: $15
Final Deadline:
May 15, 2025
Non Wisconsin Filmmakers: $45
Non Wisconsin Gold Members: $40
Wisconsin Filmmakers: $25
Wisconsin Gold Filmmakers: $20
Filmfreeway Extended Deadline:
May 31, 2023
$50, Gold Members $45
They must reside in Wisconsin when sending their films into the Local Film section.
We also do not take films that are streaming.
US & International Short Films
This category will be judged by industry professionals and deemed the best out of the competition.
The Filmmaker must live in Wisconsin. This category will be judged by industry professionals and deemed the best out of the competition.
MISSION & OBJECTIVE
To spotlight emerging artists, and give a focus to Midwest filmmakers.
Created by local and independent filmmakers, the Milwaukee Short Film Festival is proud to provide local talent with a venue for their work to be seen.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Milwaukee Independent Film Society was founded in 1996 by Dan Wilson. Its mission and goals were to provide a grass roots community where local filmmakers can share their ideas, projects, and collaborate on local efforts.
MIFS is a non-profit organization who leadership has changed, but the mission remains the same.The Milwaukee Short Film Festival is our signature event, since its inception in 1994 we've steadily built our reputation as one of the best regional festivals in America.
We were signaled out in 2006 by Moviemaker Magazine as "Best Local Festival" with a strong slate of award winning International films, and the best in local filmmaking.
Each year we do our best to get industry professionals from Los Angeles and the Milwaukee area to jury the films. Previous judges were Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Zack Ward (A Christmas Story, Transformers), Uwe Boll (Postal, House of the Dead) Timothy J. Lonsdale (Speed, Species) Adam Kelly (Brit Geek on Ain't it Cool News) and David Streit (Jurassic Park III, River's Edge) .
PRESSKIT REQUIREMENTS
A press kit is required with the entry form, including:
> Film Poster
> High Rez Production Still Photos - Digital
> High Rez Photo of the Director - Digital
> Biography/Filmography - Director
> Statement by the Director
> Press Clippings
> Website info - Digital
> Social media links (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
> Trailer - Digital
INCOMPLETE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
PRIZES & AWARDS
Best of Fest Award
This category is a competition.
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Honorable Mention (2nd Place)
This prize is shared with other categories.
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Best Wisconsin Film
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Best Director
Sponsor:Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Best Actor
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Best Ensemble
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Best Script
Sponsor: Milwaukee Short Film Festival
Rules & Terms:
FOR WISCONSIN SPOTLIGHT:
For Wisconsin Spotlight. This category is only for filmmakers who reside in the state of Wisconsin, if you don't live in Wisconsin, you must enter your film through the US & International option. This category is for local filmmakers only. Your film will be disqualified is you don't follow our rules and terms.
ELIGIBILITY AND WAIVERS
Due to the vast amount of waiver requests we're asked for we are limiting the waiver period. Waivers will only be granted from March 15th 2025 to May 1st 2025. Please do not ask us for a waiver before that time period, we won't even look at the film until the specified dates.
TYPES OF FILMS ACCEPTED
Narrative, documentary, experimental or animated films or videos up to 15 minutes in length.
All entries in a language other than English must be subtitled or dubbed in English unless dialogue is inessential to comprehension and appreciation. The festival will not consider demo reels, commercials or advertisements, video or new media games, films with prior commercial release, industrial and instructional films or films screened in the area, and Milwaukee seven months prior to the fest. These entries may be considered to run out of competition at the total discretion of MSFF.
FORMATS ACCEPTED
A downloadable digital file (H .264) or as an online screener. Exhibition formats accepted are only data digital files (H. 264).
For questions on other video festival screening formats, please contact the MSFF.
ENTRY LIMITATIONS
Filmmakers can submit up to three entries. Each entry must include a separate entry and fee. Entries previously submitted to the Milwaukee Short Film Festival cannot be re-submitted. Entrants are responsible for securing all necessary rights / permissions for festival exhibition of each work submitted and all accompanying materials.
ENTRIES MUST INCLUDE:
-Entry fee
-Film synopsis, principal cast list, and brief filmmaker bio
-Press kit
-Local Wisconsin filmmakers must supply an address to verify.
(Without one your film may be dis-qualified.)
PRESSKIT REQUIREMENTS
A press kit is required with the entry form, including:
> Film Poster meeting social media standards
> High Rez Production Still Photos meeting social media standards - Digital
> High Rez Photo of the Director - Digital
> Biography/Filmography - Director
> Statement by the Director
> Press Clippings
> Website info - Digital
> Social media links (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
> Trailer - Digital
INCOMPLETE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
Entrants are invited to submit promotional materials with initial submission. After notification of acceptance into the festival, filmmakers are encouraged to provide one still each of the director and a scene from the film at 600 dpi 6” x 8” JPEG files, for publicity. All publicity materials should be labeled with the name of the filmmaker and of the film.
https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-image-sizes-guide/
Entries are eligible to be selected for programming and exhibition at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival. We also reserve the right to show the film after it is accepted into the festival, and if notified before a competing local festival accepts your film. We also reserve the right to pull a film out of our line up if the filmmaker doesn't bring forth deliverables in a timely manner.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Clips from accepted films may also be used by the MSFF for festival promotion, festival program and possible televised broadcast. While the festival will take precautions to handle your film and publicity materials responsibly, the festival, its committee and staff cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to any materials entered. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Milwaukee Short Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
Also, once submitted and considered we have the right to show the film, and the filmmaker agrees in advance to this.
NOTIFICATION DATE
Approximately July 1st, 2025
Filmmakers could be notified as early as May.
The filmmaker must send their film 10 days after notified, and no later than July 1st. If the filmmaker fails to send their work on time, we will not program it. Also, we build program blocks, the file you send before July 1st will be the file that we use, please don't ask us at after that date, or weeks before the event to swap out files.
RUNTIME
Shorts: maximum 15 minutes
COMPLETION DATE
Projects completed after 01-Jan-2024
PLACE OF ORIGIN
Projects may originate from anywhere in the world
PREMIERE STATUS
No premiere requirement, but premieres are preferred and will get special consideration. If your film has played before an audience we could pass on it.