Will This be Milwaukee Short Film Festival’s Final Year?

The Milwaukee International Short Film Festival returns to the Avalon in September, reminding us that like a good short story, a good short film has no room for extraneous digressions. But this may be the event’s last year.

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Film

Length doesn’t make a film better. Some of the worst motion pictures (Cleopatra?) were among the longest. The Milwaukee International Short Film Festival (MISFF) returns to the Avalon in September, reminding us that like a good short story, a good short film has no room for extraneous digressions. But this 28th installment of MISFF may be the last, at least in the format of a multi-day festival with multiple programming blocks.

Founder Ross Bigley has battled cancer since 2020, receiving a bone marrow transplant last year. MISFF has always largely been a one-person show with help from volunteers, especially Bill Quirmbach for the past 15 festivals.

“I really thought for sure last year was going to be it,” Bigley says. “With my health issues and my age, and that here in Wisconsin we've got a glut of film festivals, I think we have more than Illinois, and they are a major film hub. Last year Sheboygan had its first, and Susan Kerns is bringing new life to MKE Film. When I began, there wasn't much of anything.”

Despite the “International” in its name, MISFF gravitated increasingly toward local and regional filmmakers. Animation has also grown more prominent in the lineup. “We do have more animation than previous events, that seems to be an emerging trend.,” Bigley says. “Nearly all the animated films were by women filmmakers too, which I found interesting. And a lot of documentaries this year—that had a big uptick in submitted entries. It might be because they can be made over a period of time with less crew, and filmmakers searching for ways to tell stories in these troubled times.”

Voices Will be Heard

One facet of MISFF that may continue into the future is the Voices Heard program, a selection of shorts by local filmmakers of color chosen by Bigley, Shun Powell, Brandon Cole, Clarence “Sammy” Aumend and LaRheatra Cole. “It's a committee made up largely by filmmakers and creatives of color, excluding myself,” Bigley explains. “They have positioned themselves to take over, I've shown them the ropes, and I hope it can continue without me. There's a need for it—after all it's still the only showcase in this city for local filmmakers of color. Other festivals will show one or two films, or films from out of state.”

Every year MISFF gives out awards in several categories, judged this year by filmmakers whose work appeared in previous festivals. “I try to keep it simple—they get a score sheet and links. They judge films on Artistic Merit, Entertainment Value, and the skill in which it was made,” Bigley says. “Plus they give suggestions on Best Director, Script, Actor and so forth. I then total them up and then call for the awards to be made.” Full disclosure: I was given MISFF’s 2010 Pace Setter Award for “service to the Milwaukee film community.”

The 2026 MISFF will include one feature film, a 50th anniversary screening of indie director Bill Rebane’s Wisconsin-set The Giant Spider Invasion. He will be the recipient of this year’s Pace Setter Award. With a running time of 95 minutes, Rebane’s cult film will dwarf the remaining entries, which run from three to 15 minutes in length.

“There's lots of really strong work this year,” Bigley begins. “Hisonni Mustafa has a really good piece called Gospel for Ghosts, and May Day by Kim Reese. There's 9-Ball by Justin Graham, Joy Ride by MS Now producer Eric Greenberg, Do I Do by Ericka Boston, From Section 48 to King Drive by the MKEOCA Collective and Yinan Wang—it's a documentary on the history of Chinese laundries in the city.” Festival favorite Tommy Simms is back with Never Fall in Love.

“But there's so much good stuff in all different genres and runtimes made by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, telling fascinating stories,” Bigley continues. “About half our line is by women filmmakers. And that coincides with our virtual panel this year, ‘Being a Woman Filmmaker Today,’ moderated by Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival director Amber Rose MacNeill. It'll be online before the festival.”

Milwaukee International Short Film Festival runs September 11-12 at the Avalon Theatre, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. For tickets and more information, visit https://rbigley.wixsite.com/mifs/mifs

Tickets will also be available from the Avalon’s website and box office.