The Milwaukee Film Festival is turning 10 years old. Over the past decade the organization has grown into a cultural institution unlike any other in the city. Excellent curation paired with a vibrant local film community has been the driving force behind making the festival what it is today. But a partnership with another Wisconsin institution has allowed both organizations to deepen their roots in the community.
In 2015, Associated Bank began its partnership with the Milwaukee Film Festival. “Milwaukee Film’s mission is to entertain, educate and engage the community through cinematic experiences,” says Associated Bank chief marketing officer Christopher Piotrowski. “This aligns with Associated Bank’s commitment to the community. As an added bonus, John Utz, our head of corporate banking, serves on the board of directors for Milwaukee Film, so it all just worked out perfectly.”
The partnership has allowed Associated Bank to provide more than 8,000 film festival ticket vouchers to its customers this year and give away nearly 2,000 ticket vouchers through partnerships with Stone Creek Coffee and 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. Programs like this introduce film to many in the city who may not have gone to an event like the film festival otherwise.
This year, the bank also partnered with 88Nine Radio Milwaukee to sponsor Cinebuds, a podcast collaboration with Milwaukee Film. Every Wednesday on the podcast, Justin Barney from 88Nine and Milwaukee Film’s Kristopher Pollard discuss upcoming new releases, local filmmakers, historical theaters and more.
The centerpiece of Associated Bank’s partnership with the film festival is the Milwaukee Film checking account. The account includes benefits such as Milwaukee Film-themed checks and debit card, discounts on a single or dual Milwaukee Film “Festival Fan” annual membership1 and two complimentary film festival vouchers2. Also, five cents from every transaction made with a Milwaukee Film Debit Mastercard is donated back to the organization3.
"As a non-profit organization, Milwaukee Film relies on the financial support from membership, donations and sponsorships for a significant chunk of our operating budget,” commented Milwaukee Film chief marketing officer Sara Meaney. "Our partnership with Associated Bank has been an excellent example of the mutual benefit of our relationships with our sponsors, driving employee and community engagement and well as audience expansion and financial support. The 5 cent give back from the Associated Bank debit card represents significant opportunity for both of our organizations, providing a new way for the community to engage with our brands while also building awareness and valuable income to sustain our mission."
“The Milwaukee Film Festival is one of the fastest-growing cultural events in the region,” Piotrowski adds. “Through our partnership with the festival, we are able to connect with an ever-expanding and diverse cross section of the community, connect our customers to their passion for film and help change the way the Milwaukee community views filmmaking as a whole.”
You can learn more about Associated Bank’s Milwaukee Film checking account here.
1. Memberships are valid for 12 months. Dual memberships are available only to members that reside at the same address. Discount is available for new membership or at time of renewal. Show your Milwaukee Film Festival debit card or checks when making a purchase or call 414-755-1965 x204 for more information. All benefits are subject to change. See mkefilm.org for membership information.
2. To receive the Milwaukee Film Festival ticket vouchers customer must be over the age of 18 with a retail checking account in open and in good standing tied to a Milwaukee Film Debit Mastercard®. To be eligible for the ticket vouchers, account must be open a minimum of 12 weeks prior to the current year's Milwaukee Film Festival. Tickets will not be mailed to international addresses. Associated Bank employees are not eligible for ticket vouchers. Benefit may be changed at Associated Bank or Milwaukee Film's discretion at any time. Each voucher must be redeemed for a regularly-priced ticket at any festival box office no less than one hour prior to the desired film's scheduled showtime. Exclusions may apply. Please see banker for details.
3. Five cents from every transaction (less returns) made with a Milwaukee Film Festival Debit Card will be given back to the Milwaukee Film Festival, up to $25,000 annually.Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
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