Wega Arts to screen 70 movies
The Weyauwega International Film Festival (WIFF) will be held online Nov. 11-21.
“We are going virtual this year so you can watch from the comfort of your home,” according to Ian Teal, co-organizer of WIFF. “We will be screening 70 films with about half being foreign language films and the rest from the U.S., with a great selection of Wisconsin-based shorts and features. There are narrative and documentary features and a great variety of short films including animation.”
Check out the full lineup at wegafilm.com.
Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include “Small Town Wisconsin.”
The film’s leads include Kirsten Johnston of “Mom” and “Third Rock From the Sun” and David Sullivan, whose previous credits include the award-winning sci-fi thriller “Primer” and the Netflix series “Flaked.”
After losing a custody battle and learning that his ex-wife is moving to Phoenix, Wayne Stobierski takes his 9-year-old son away for one last father-son weekend to Milwaukee.
The Boston Film Festival gave “Small Town Wisconsin” its 2020 Best Director Award (Niels Mueller) and Best Music Award (Nicholas Jacobson-Larson).
Two documentaries about veterans include “Return to Nam” about the Old Glory Honor Flights from Wisconsin and “Sijan,” about a Vietnam War hero from Milwaukee.
These two films will be offered free on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
“Royalty Free” is a documentary about composer Kevin MacLeod of Green Bay whose “practice of releasing all his music for free and how he unwittingly became one of the most heard living composers in the world with his work ending up in millions of videos, thousands of films and many odd places,” Teal said.
“Herzog & Morris,” is a comedic noir that dramatizes a pivotal moment in the real life relationship between Werner Herzog and Errol Morris during the summer of 1975.
Set in Plainfield, the film revolves around both filmmakers’ obsession with Ed Gein and his mother’s grave.
Psychofest is WIFF’s annual tribute to Robert Bloch who wrote the novel “Psycho” while living in Weyauwega after being inspired by the nearby Ed Gein murders in Plainfield.
This year’s Psychofest features horror, thrillers and science fiction, including the world premiere of “Alien Abduction – AV Super Sunshine.”
This film tells the story of a bandleader and his wife being kidnapped by aliens right here in Wisconsin.
There are discussions with many of the participating filmmakers throughout the festival.
Festival passes are on sale at $28 for all 70 films.
The price goes up to $34 on Nov. 11.
Individual films and film blocks are $8.
Passes and tickets are available at wegafilm.com.
WIFF’s Virtual Fest is on the Eventive Platform.
Those who have an Apple TV or Roku device can use WIFF’s dedicated apps for these platforms.
People who have Chromecast can cast to it from Chrome on their computer or Android phone.
This year’s festival was made possible with support from the Waupaca Area Community Foundation and the Rhoades Sanford Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board and sponsors Mt. Morris Insurance and Hutchinson Insurance of Weyauwega.