The Milwaukee Film Festival recently concluded, and the UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts has much to celebrate. With a longstanding relationship with the festival, the talented students, faculty, and alumni from the Peck School showcased their passion, organized compelling programs, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to contribute to the festival’s success. Their outstanding efforts were instrumental in making the Milwaukee Film Festival a memorable and impactful event.
The festival offered a diverse and international selection of stories and perspectives, screening 283 films from 51 different countries at the Oriental Theatre, Times Cinema, and the Avalon Theatre from April 20 through May 4. Among the many exciting programs at Milwaukee Film are Culture and Communities, Black Lens, and Cine Sin Fronteras.
Geraud Blanks, a UWM alum (BA, 2014, MA, 2016) and friend of the Peck School of the Arts, directs the Culture and Communities program, which prioritizes diverse perspectives and representations of marginalized communities through film, conversations, and events.
Marquise Mays, a faculty member in Film, Video, Animation, & New Genres, screened his film “Black Strings” and leads the Black Lens program, which celebrates African American filmmakers and their work, inspiring conversation, celebration, and community. “Black Strings” follows The Black Strings Triage Ensemble, a group of Black and Latinx musicians in Milwaukee, as it performs at crime scenes in the immediate aftermath of tragic events. Ensemble member and UWM alumna Alida LaCosse (BFA 2000, Music Education) is featured in the film.
Adilene Quezada (BFA, 2022) coordinates Cine Sin Fronteras, which showcases films about the Latinx diaspora’s identity, culture, and history, including stories from Cicanx, Latin American, Indigenous, and Afro-Latinx communities.
Associate Professor Mike Gibisser screened, “A Common Sequence,” (co-directed by Mary Helena Clark, and co-produced by Graciela Guerrero-Reyes).
The Milwaukee Show 1 featured works by:
- Professor Emeritus Dick Blau, Polka Time!
- Former faculty member Lori Felker, Patient
- Nick Leffel (BFA, 2022), DAHKLA
- Libbey Kirchner (BFA, 2022), 100 Seconds to Midnight
The Milwaukee Show 2 featured works by:
- Instructor Owen Klatte, Of Wood
- Janelle VanderKelen (MFA, 2016), Language Unknown
- Sam Drake (current MFA candidate), Body Legato
- Grace Mitchell (MFA, 2020), Pet World
- Sofia Theodore-Pierce (MFA 2021), Pet World
- Alyssa Borkowski (BFA 2021), Stuck Somewhere
- T.J. Blanco (currently pursuing BFA), Seen/Unseen
We are proud of the talent and dedication shown by all our students, faculty, and alumni. The Peck School of the Arts is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive environment where creativity and passion can flourish. It was thrilling to see our community represented so strongly at the Milwaukee Film Festival and look forward to the amazing works that will be showcased in the future.