• Experimental Tuesdays: Ken Jacobs — Looking Forward to a World without Money 

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Ken Jacobs, one of the true radicals of American cinema and a lion of experimental film, passed October 5th, a mere season since his beloved wife and collaborator Flo preceded him. They lived long, full, beautiful lives. In addition to his inimitable work in film, video, painting, performance and all range of moving images, Ken started and was at the center of the film program at SUNY-Binghamton and co-founded The Millennium Film Workshop.

  • Lights, Camera, Action! A Day in the Life of Film & Animation Majors

    Kenilworth Square East, 4th Floor Gallery 2155 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI

    Are you a high school student with a passion for film or animation? Whether you’re already experimenting with movie making and animating or you’re simply a curious film or animation buff, we’re hosting an exciting event that provides a glimpse inside of our Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres! Join us for a series of hands-on workshops for a taste of what it feels like to get creative at the Peck School of the Arts.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: Una Sombra Oscilante (An Oscillating Shadow) 

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    In her debut feature, photographer and filmmaker Celeste Rojas Mugica confronts the political weight of images, revisiting her father’s photographic archive developed in exile in Latin America following activist involvement during the Pinochet dictatorship. 51 years later, this gentle, complex and visually resourceful account of densely traumatic history conjures an intimate family portrait from the dark room – opening spaces for reflection and resistance.

  • Special Features: ART & PRODUCTION DESIGN for Short Film Workshop

    Mitchell Hall, Fine Arts Cinema Room B91 3203 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI

    The heart and soul of many film productions lie within the Art & Production Design departments. From set design, to costuming to props, these departments allow for other worlds to be introduced, sustained and transported in any film. As a key component within the pre-production process it is essential that young filmmakers know how to approach art in their films. Join us at SPECIAL FEATURES to learn more about props & wardrobe budgets, sourcing & shopping, and process / mood boards. Local filmmakers and artists, Kara Mulrooney & Amanda Tollefson, will lead us in a workshop offering their expertise and backgrounds working on films with high concept art, commercial products and indie film work. If you interested in art and production design departments, this Special Features is for you!

  • Experimental Tuesdays: From the Archives

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Curated by MFA candidates from the Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres, these programs feature a unique opportunity to see some of the incredible 16mm prints from the 51ÁÔÆæ Cinema Arts Archive. For each program, the curator is invited to program a selection of films around a theme of their choosing.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: Iva Radivojević

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Iva Radivojević was born in Belgrade and spent her early years in Yugoslavia, Cyprus and NYC. She is an artist and filmmaker who currently divides her time between Athens and Lesbos. Her work presents itself as a collection of fragments {observations, poetry, images, sounds, melodies, languages}  which collage together to connect into a ruminating whole. The work circles around dislocation, migration and belonging, seeking to connect to the metaphysical or the magical. 

  • Special Features: OFFICIAL SELECTION | Film Festival Strategies & Campaigns

    Mitchell Hall, Fine Arts Cinema Room B91 3203 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI

    Looking to learn more insight and practical knowledge on our larger art industries, and how to prepare for an art-life post-graduation? Special Features is an artist talk and workshop series that is meant to provide filmmakers and artists with practical and insightful advice and skills as they navigate a variety of film industries.

  • Senior Screenings

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Graduating seniors showcase their exceptional work with the culmination of years of hard work and artistic growth. Get a first look at what the next generation of filmmakers has in store for the industry.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: Weather, or Not

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    The weather moves around as the clouds imagine their own nephology: wondering what these people see when they see what they see. Fluttering by, attention pulls focus from the movement of the cloud, to the movement of the wind, to the movement of the eye, to the movement of the mind, without ever moving an inch. All the while, we’re watching seeing, or observing looking, or something like that. A program of short works that explore place, space and the weather, in all its sublime, mundane and chaotic glory.

  • Special Features | Real to Reel: Industry Standards for Cinematographers

    Virtual Event

    Join us virtually for our first workshop of the semester offers students, staff and community members with a practical, industry-focused look at working as a cinematographer on professional film and television sets. Designed for emerging filmmakers, the workshop demystifies the role of the cinematographer and equips attendees with actionable knowledge they can apply immediately—whether on student sets or professional productions.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: A Brief History of Chasing Storms

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    The weather moves around as the clouds imagine their own nephology: wondering what these people see when they see what they see. Fluttering by, attention pulls focus from the movement of the cloud, to the movement of the wind, to the movement of the eye, to the movement of the mind, without ever moving an inch. All the while, we’re watching seeing, or observing looking, or something like that. A program of short works that explore place, space and the weather, in all its sublime, mundane and chaotic glory.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: From the Archives, Curated by Aidan T. Collins

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Curated by MFA candidates from the Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres, these programs feature a unique opportunity to see some of the incredible 16mm prints from the 51ÁÔÆæ Cinema Arts Archive. For each program, the curator is invited to program a selection of films around a theme of their choosing.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: From the Archives, Curated by Gabi Rudin

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Curated by MFA candidates from the Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres, these programs feature a unique opportunity to see some of the incredible 16mm prints from the 51ÁÔÆæ Cinema Arts Archive. For each program, the curator is invited to program a selection of films around a theme of their choosing.

  • Special Features | Impact Filmmaking: Documentary, Advocacy & Community

    Mitchell Hall, Fine Arts Cinema Room B91 3203 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI

    This workshop explores documentary filmmaking as a tool for community advocacy and social impact. Attendees will examine how nonfiction stories can amplify marginalized voices, engage local communities, and move audiences toward awareness and action. Through case studies and practical discussion, the workshop addresses ethical storytelling, relationship-building with participants, and strategies for designing films with impact beyond the screen—equipping emerging filmmakers to tell responsible, community-centered stories that matter.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: An Evening with Ben Caldwell

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    An evening of films, videos and conversation with the legendary filmmaker, artist, community activist and educator Ben Caldwell. Caldwell is widely known for his role in the L.A. Rebellion and for founding KAOS Network, a media arts hub dedicated to Black artistry, fellowship, and love for over four decades. 

  • Special Features | Screen Playing: From Short Film to Feature

    Mitchell Hall, Fine Arts Cinema Room B91 3203 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI

    This workshop guides filmmakers through the process of transforming a short film script into a feature-length screenplay. Focusing on character depth, narrative structure, and thematic expansion, students will explore how to grow a contained idea into a sustained, compelling story without losing its core. Through practical frameworks and development strategies, the session offers tools for reimagining scale, stakes, and arcs—helping writers envision their short film as the foundation for a feature.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: Sublime Ridiculous

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    A collection of shorts that shift from abject to exalted in the black between frames. In each of these films, the mire of life is dissolved and re-made by humor. And don't we need it.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: From the Archives, Curated by Aidan T. Collins

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Curated by MFA candidates from the Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres, these programs feature a unique opportunity to see some of the incredible 16mm prints from the 51ÁÔÆæ Cinema Arts Archive. For each program, the curator is invited to program a selection of films around a theme of their choosing.

  • Special Features | Producing Magic

    Virtual Event

    This virtual workshop focuses on the producing and pre-production strategies that set short films up for creative and logistical success. Students will learn how to break down a script, build a realistic budget and schedule, assemble a strong team, and plan for production with intention. Emphasizing preparation, communication, and problem-solving, the session equips emerging filmmakers with practical tools to move from idea to set efficiently—maximizing limited resources while protecting the story.

  • Experimental Tuesdays: An Evening with Dick Blau

    51ÁÔÆæ Union Cinema 2200 E. 51ÁÔÆæ., Milwaukee, WI

    Join archivist Shiraz Bhathena in conversation with Dick Blau to celebrate a major archiving and remastering project. Blau—a co-founder of the 51ÁÔÆæ Film Department, longtime professor and fixture of the Milwaukee art community—works across film, photography and video producing a varied body of work that includes psychological portraiture, experimental narrative, devised performance, ethnomusicology and the domestic.