MidWest WeirdFest 2021: First Programming Wave Announced!

MidWest WeirdFest announces its first programming wave for 2021 today. The cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird, is now in its 5th year. The festival will take place March 5-7, 2021 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“The world has never seemed so weird. Neither has MidWest WeirdFest's program of cutting-edge cinema,” says festival founder and director Dean Bertram. “It’s filled with alien abductees, serial killer victims who can't die, real-life dinosaurs that still live in the Congo, Lovecraftian fish people, mystically empowered but inept ninjas, an erotically twisted re-imagining of Edgar Allen Poe, and a dystopian fungal pandemic that makes Covid-19 look like a cake-walk... and that's just from our first wave of feature film programming.”

Discounted festival passes are now on sale here: https://filmfreeway.com/MidWestWeirdFest/tickets

Festival passes, t-shirts, face masks, collectable dog tags, and more fest merchandise is available only via the festival's Indiegogo page here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/midwest-weirdfest-2021

Half of the proceeds from this crowdfunding campaign go directly to the Micon Downtown Cinema. Help MidWest WeirdFest, help the Micon, and get cool perks in the process!

Individual tickets to each film will go on sale closer to the festival; both on the fest's website, and directly from the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Full program details and filmmaker guests will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The first seven feature films announced follow:

ALIEN ABDUCTION (director: Jared Sagal) AV Super Sunshine (a rock and roll band couple) approach a young filmmaker and ask for his help in finishing a film about their true story: being abducted, experimented on, and taken off planet aboard a flying saucer. The couple send the filmmaker their home-made alien abduction film, and he sets out on a mission to either verify or discredit their experience. Unable to debunk the authenticity of the couple's story, the documentarian resorts to the use of psychological tactics in an attempt to make the couple turn their narratives against one another.

THE EXPLORER (director: Alexandre Brecher) Fresh from it's “Best Documentary” win at Another Hole in the Head Film Festival, this stunning documentary takes us to the darkest heart of the Congo Basin. There, accompanying cryptozoologist Michel Ballot, we search for Africa's most famous cryptid: The Mokele-mbembe, an alleged giant reptile or dinosaur (think brontosaurus), that has been reported to stalk the region's rivers, swamps, and jungles for hundreds of years.

H. P. LOVECRAFT'S THE DEEP ONES (dir: Chad Ferrin) Fest alumni Chad Ferrin (THE CHAIR) returns; this time, riffing on the works of cosmic horror maestro H. P Lovecraft. Ferrin delivers a disturbing, comedic, and sexy adaptation, which brings to mind the work of genre giants from Roman Polanski (ROSEMARY'S BABY) to Stuart Gordon (RE-ANIMATOR).

LADY USHER (dir: George Adams) Based on Edgar Allen Poe's classic tale (The Fall of the House of Usher), this updated re-telling possesses the quintessential features of the Gothic: a large dreary house, strange macabre characters with doubled personalities, and a mysterious sickness. But the fantastic film spins with modern sensibilities, tongue-in-cheek moments, bizarre twists, and dark eroticism.

MIRANDA VEIL (dir: Levin Garbisch) When aspiring serial killer Soren, abducts his first victim Miranda, both of them are shocked to discover that she is unable to die. Faced with the unknown, the two of them struggle to come to terms with this revelation as they embark on an increasingly surreal road trip home. A disturbing yet touching film, that resonates with a richness of character and an all round originality not often captured in the horror/thriller genres.

NINJA BADASS (dir: Ryan Harrison) The Ninja VIP Super Club is doing a slow drag across the American Midwest, culminating in female sacrifice. When they kidnap a “super hot babe” that local scumbag Rex has his eyes on - it's up to him to become a ninja to steal her back. Then, he hopes, she will have his babies! This hilarious indie hit of the festival season is set to make the director/lead actor a cult genre star.

TIN CAN (dir: Seth A. Smith) An unrelenting fever dream that feels like a nightmarish allegory of the Covid-19 pandemic (even though the film was shot prior to the outbreak). As the world enters quarantine, a front-lines parasitologist is imprisoned in a life-suspension chamber. And to escape, she must destroy the last of her kind. Filled with potent imagery and disturbing themes, this is the brand new sci-fi/horror film from the director of 2018's critically acclaimed THE CRESCENT.

Help MidWest WeirdFest and the Micon Downtown Cinema! Get Cool Stuff!

MidWest WeirdFest, the cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird, is now in its 5th year. And today, it is asking for your help to make this year's event another success, by checking out the festival’s Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.

The 2021 festival takes place March 5-7, at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is consistently reviewed by filmmakers as being in the world's top 100 film festivals (out of over nine thousand festivals) on the industry's leading festival submission website, FilmFreeway.

“I'm asking for your help to deliver the plethora of cinematic weirdness that MidWest WeirdFest's audience and visiting filmmakers have come to expect,” says festival founder and director Dean Bertram. “Because, like many small businesses and arts organizations, MidWest WeirdFest and our fantastic venue the Micon Downtown Cinema have both been impacted by Covid-19. So, if you can afford to help, even a little, please check out our Indiegogo campaign. We would really appreciate it.”

In return for their support, people who back the festival can select from a wide range of super cool perks. The exclusive merchandise ranges from stickers and magnets, through T-shirts, tote bags, and face masks, to a collectable dog tag that also works as a season pass to the 2021 fest. The festival's Indiegogo campaign also offers discounted bundles of tickets combined with other perks, as well as sponsorship packages for businesses.

Half of the proceeds raised go directly to the Micon Downtown Cinema, the other half will assist in the 2021 festival's operating costs.

More details can be found at MidWest WeirdFest’s Indiegogo campaign here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/midwest-weirdfest-2021

Thank you for your help and keep it weird!

Photo by Luong Huynh

MidWest WeirdFest 2020 Winners Announced

The 4th annual MidWest WeirdFest wrapped this week at the Micon Downtown Cinema, Volume One Gallery, and Ivy in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The festival again delivered a cinematic smorgasbord of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird, to enthusiastic audiences. Today, MidWest WeirdFest announces the winning films of the 2020 event.

Greg Newkirk (left) and Karl Pfeiffer (right) of HELLIER (photo by Luong Huynh)

“Its truly an honor to win 'Best Director' and 'Best TV/Web Content' here at MidWest WeirdFest for HELLIER.” says Karl Pfeiffer, director of the ground breaking paranormal series, which is now in its second season. “After seeing so many great films all weekend and meeting so many talented creators, it’s a humbling experience to be recognized amidst it all. Biggest thanks to festival director Dean Bertram for putting on such a great festival, and thanks to everyone for coming out to see the films, and of course to my small team of fantastic humans (and perhaps non-humans!) who helped to get this very special project made.”

An overview of the festival's other winning films follows:

(Left to right) Eric Silvera, Sean Kenealy, and Alex Nordenson in the audience during MidWest WeirdFest 2020 (photo by Luong Huynh)

The frenetic and hilarious two-man action extravaganza IN ACTION - from directors/writers/stars Sean Kenealy and Eric Silvera, and producer Alex Nordenson - captured the fest's “Best Film” award.
While the fascinating RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN: WISCONSIN'S BLACK PANTHER NEXUS - from world renowned cryptid and paranormal writer Linda S. Godfrey, her husband Steven Godfrey, and son Nate Godfrey - won “Best Documentary”.

Linda S. Godfrey and her son Nate Godfrey, directors of RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN (photo by Luong Huynh)

The hilarious, yet blood soaked, BAD WITCH (directed by Joshua Land and Victor Fink) won the festival's “Best Horror Film” award.

Joshua Land (left) and Victor Fink (center) during their Q&A for BAD WITCH at MidWest WeirdFest 2020 (photo by Luong Huynh)

While “Best Foreign Language Film” was taken by the haunting and beautiful THE SOUL CONDUCTOR directed by Russia's Ilya Maksimov. SQUATCHMORE, a wonderfully weird trip down the rabbit hole of Bigfoot belief (from Dane Mainella, Jay Jadick, and Benjamin R. Davis), captured the festival's “Independent Spirit Award”.

SQUATCHMORE’S Dane Mainella (left) and Jay Jadick (right) at MidWest WeirdFest’s Weird Filmmaking Forum (photo by Luong Huynh)

“Best Short Film” was won by the chilling drama THE GREEN SEA (directed by Steven Alexander Robbins ).

Sally Robbins producer of THE GREEN SEA (photo by Luong Huynh)

Steve Chappel's experimental head trip TRILOGY OF TEAR was awarded “Best Animated Short”. And spooky supernatural doco THE UNDEPARTED (from director Chris McGuinness) captured the fest's “Best Short Documentary” award.

One of the animated “stars” of Steve Chappell’s TRILOGY OF TEAR (photo by Luong Huynh)

The award for “Best Sci-Fi Short” went to ORBIT (directed by Nicholas Camp and Don Thiel), a futuristic reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart". “Best Horror Short” was won by the masterful and high-strangeness ladened PREFIGURED (from festival alumni and second time award winner at MidWest WeirdFest Zeshaan Younus). And “Best Music Video” was awarded to the spacey love song and clip LUCY DAYDREAM - RED (directed by Alexander Stephens.)

Zeshaan Younus (PREFIGURED) (photo by Luong Huynh)

MidWest WeirdFest also hosts both a feature and short screenplay competition. The competition's head reader, Sevé Schelenz (best known as the writer/director of feature horror films SKEW, and PEELERS), says, “What an amazing turnout! With so many amazing screenplays submitted, it was a difficult task to decide the winners for the 2020 competition. It's too bad we couldn't give them all the awards they are so due. Thank you to all the screenwriters for their amazing submissions. And remember, keep writing!”

(Left) Feature screenplay competition finalist Dillon Fuhrman & (right) Competiton head reader Sevé Schelenz (photo by Luong Huynh)

The winning feature screenplay was KATIE KILLED BRIAN, written by Andrew Miller and Zack R. Smith . John F. Saunder's JATUM took the 1st Runner-up spot. And the competition's 2nd Runner-up was ADONIX by Daniel Boddicker.

The short screenplay competition was won by writer Stuart Creque's WET ROT. The 1st Runner-up was THE WOODS ARE LOVELY, DARk AND DEEP by Lindsay Jaeger. And Valerie Schwartfigure's SUPER NANCY was awarded 2nd Runner-up.

You can enter your film or screenplay to the 5th Annual MidWest WeirdFest - taking place at Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin from March 5-7 - via FilmFreeway, here:.

4th Annual MidWest WeirdFest: Amazing Guests, World Premiere Films, Special Side Events and More!

MidWest WeirdFest - the cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird - returns to the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire from March 6-8, 2020. Now in its fourth year, the festival includes special side events, more guests, more films (including three world premieres), and two additional venue partners: Ivy Creatives and The Volume One Gallery.

One of the fest's headlining guests, Greg Newkirk - renowned paranormal investigator and co-creator/star of the hit paranormal series HELLIER – states: “When we started to plan on screening HELLIER, we knew that Midwest WeirdFest had to be the first festival we submitted to. The festival's commitment to celebrating the underground, the independent, and the just plain weird is a mission that's very near and dear to our hearts, so we're beyond thrilled to be attending this year. We can't wait to see what Midwest WeirdFest has in store for 2020.”

Along with introducing the world premiere screening of her highly anticipated documentary at the Micon Downtown Cinema - RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN: WISCONSIN'S BLACK PANTHER NEXUS - Linda Godfrey, the world famous paranormal researcher and writer, will also be discussing the background to her film and her broader cryptid research at a special event and book signing at the Volume One Gallery.

“RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN is a true mom and pop - and son - creation,” Linda says. We made it to tell the story of the many mountain lions returning eastward to old habitats, along with a slew of the mysterious 'black panthers' that scientists say do not exist. I am especially thrilled to be part of Midwest WeirdFest as co-author and author of Barnes and Noble's 'Weird Wisconsin' and 'Weird Michigan' volumes of their 'Weird US' series. It's a grand, weird world out there.”

Feature filmmakers and TV series guests presenting their work at the 2020 MidWest WeirdFest - some of whom will also part of the Weird Filmmaking Forum at Ivy Creatives - include:

Greg Newkirk, Dana Newkirk, and Karl Pfeiffer, the creators and stars of the ground-breaking paranormal series HELLIER.

Linda Godfrey, Stephen Godfrey, and Nathan Godfrey the creators of the fascinating and chilling documentary RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN: WISCONSIN'S BLACK PANTHER NEXUS.

Eric Silvera and Sean Kenealy directors and stars of the festival's closing night film: the hilarious and frenetic action/buddy comedy IN ACTION. Which is world premiering in the fest's closing night slot!

Dane Mainella (director) and Jay Jadick (director/star) of the genre bending drama and bigfoot focussed head trip SQUATCHMORE. Also world premiering at MidWest WeirdFest 2020!

Joshua Land and Victor Fink, the directing duo behind the bloody-hilarious horror comedy BAD WITCH.

Filmmakers in attendance to present their short films at the festival include: Mac Cushing (THE VISIT and THE BASEMENT), Steve Chappel (TRILOGY OF TEAR), Maxwell Frey and Dominic Reno (WELCOME TO HELLTOWN), Paul von Stoetzel (CARNAGE THE EXECUTIONER - EAT TO LIVE), and Zeshaan Younus (PREFIGURED).

Full guest list here: http://www.midwestweirdfest.com/guests-2020

Individual tickets to each session as well as discounted festival passes can be booked here:

http://www.midwestweirdfest.com/tickets/

MidWest WeirdFest's full 2020 feature line-up follows: (you can also browse the full program here)

BAD WITCH (directors: Joshua Land and Victor Fink) Xander is a witch whose abuse of black magic has led him to disaster after disaster. After trying to go clean of witchcraft, Xander befriends a young loner, helping Roland with bullies, girlfriends, and other teenage atrocities. A bloody fun horror flick that's sure to bewitch genre cinephiles.

THE FEAR OF LOOKING UP (director: Konstantinos Koutsoliotas) While chasing a serial killer inspired by the god of sleep, a cop’s life is overturned by the death of her lover. Looming monsters and the need for revenge cloud the border between her nightmares and reality, in this atmospheric and hypnotising descent into Lovecraftian madness and terror.

THE HAT MAN: DOCUMENTED CASES OF PURE EVIL (director: Kyle J. Macias) Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, to find a tall man wearing an old fashioned hat, his face shadowed, looming over you in bed. He’s intently examining you with pure evil radiating from his cold death-like stare. He lingers in your bedroom. You grip your bedsheets, you’re terrified to the core and shaking profusely. Just when you think he’s going to attack, he disappears. He’s gone, without a trace. In this documentary eyewitnesses share their true stories of how they encountered this ‘Hat Man’. A being who torments their dreams, seemingly in conjunction with sleep paralysis and night terrors... Terrors that in some cases, also affect daily life. Will you see him...?

HELLIER (director: Karl Pfeiffer) A small crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences leads them to a decades-old mystery with far-reaching implications. HELLIER is the most original and paradigm shaking paranormal documentary series ever produced. Come and watch the haunting finale to Season 2 - “NIGHT OF PAN” - on the big screen, with the shows creators and stars!

IN ACTION (directors: Sean Kenealy and Eric Silvera) WORLD PREMIERE! Sean and Eric are just two bumbling screenwriters working on the “next big action flick”, utterly oblivious to the shit storm that awaits when the government intercepts their script, believing it to be a veritable terrorist plot.

MAKING MONSTERS (directors: Justin Harding and Rob Brunner) When a celebrity couple famed for their YouTube scare-prank channel are invited to a friend’s converted church in the countryside for a weekend getaway, a series of startling events unfold that spiral them into an inexplicable nightmare.

ON THE TRAIL OF UFOS (director: Seth Breedlove) SNEAK PEAK! From MidWest WeirdFest alumni filmmaker Seth Breedlove (MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER, ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT) comes the latest Small Town Monsters documentary. With host Shannon LeGro, ON THE TRAIL OF UFOS takes viewers from the gates of Area 51 itself, to the snow-capped White Mountains of New Hampshire. Filmed in several states across the country, no stone was left unturned in putting together the most comprehensive look at the subject ever produced. The first public screening of episodes from this highly anticipated miniseries!

PUPPET KILLER (director: Lisa Ovies) While celebrating Christmas at a cabin in the woods, a group of high school students are stalked by a psychotic killer obsessed with horror movie icons. This laugh out loud horror comedy is overflowing with clever homages to the genre, and serves up a perfect mix of gore and gags.

RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN: WISCONSIN'S BLACK PANTHER NEXUS (directors: Linda Godfrey and Nathan Godfrey) WORLD PREMIERE! Strangely, in some parts of North America, black-furred big cats make up over half the eyewitness reports of mountain lions; but zoologists say black pumas don’t exist. If that’s true, then exactly what are these ebony felines? Might one small central Wisconsin town hold a clue to this growing mystery? The directorial debut of one of the world's leading writers and investigators of the weird: Linda Godfrey (WEIRD WISCONSIN, MONSTERS AMONG US, I KNOW WHAT I SAW).

THE SOUL CONDUCTOR (Director: Ilya Maksimov) Katya is a disaffected and gloomy young woman. But she is endowed with a mystical gift: she is a conduit between the world of the dead and the world of the quick, and helps earthbound souls to regain peace. But her already weird world spirals even further out of control when a demonic serial killer targets both her and her twin sister. A beautiful and creepy supernatural thriller, loaded with twists and frights that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end credits roll.

SQUATCHMORE (Directors: Dane Mainella, Jay Jadick, and Benjamin R Davis) WORLD PREMIERE! Two men from rural Western Pennsylvania embark on a quest to track down the legendary monster, Bigfoot. They will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the great American myth, even as their journey leads them ever deeper into the mind of the beast itself. Part mumble-core, part early Wes Anderson, part psychedelic trip down the rabbit-hole of Sasquatch belief, SQUATCHMORE delivers the weird like few others.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GHOSTS? (dir: Aaron Daniel Annas) Psychics, scientists, skeptics, and a film professor delve into the paranormal - attempting to answer, "Do ghosts exist?” Director Aaron Annas states: “As a child, I remember my dad reassuring me, ‘There's no such thing as ghosts.’ However, when I would ask my mom about the supernatural, she would never give a definitive answer. I grew up fascinated by the concept of the supernatural and why people believe the way they do. It is amazing to me how even one's religious belief system can allow for some elements of the supernatural while negating others. This film, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS GHOSTS?, is my journey to understanding why people believe what they believe when it comes to the supernatural.”

Full 2020 program details here: http://www.midwestweirdfest.com/program

MidWest WeirdFest 2020: First Programming Wave Announced!

MidWest WeirdFest announces its first programming wave for 2020 today. The 4th annual festival - a cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird - takes place March 6-8, 2020 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“MidWest WeirdFest is back with the type of cutting edge genre, paranormal, and underground cinema that our regular attendees have come to expect, and that first time fest-goers are going to adore,” says festival founder and programming director Dean Bertram. “We are delighted to announce this year's first wave of feature programming. From murderous puppets and ghostly encounters, through legendary beasties and UFOs, to Lovecraftian nightmares and serial killers; the festival's 2020 program is loaded with weirdness. Some of it real, some of it imagined, and much of it from that mysterious twilight territory that lays in between.”

Discounted festival passes are now on sale here. Individual tickets to each film will go on sale closer to the festival; both on the fest's website, and directly from the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Full program details and filmmaker guests will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The first seven feature films announced follow:

BAD WITCH (directors: Joshua Land and Victor Fink) Xander is a witch whose abuse of black magic has led him to disaster after disaster. After trying to go clean of witchcraft, Xander befriends Roland, a young loner. But he can’t seem to resist sliding back into his old witchy ways, as he begins to help Roland with bullies, girlfriends, and other teenage atrocities. A bloody fun horror flick that's sure to bewitch genre cinephiles.

THE FEAR OF LOOKING UP (Director: Konstantinos Koutsoliotas) While chasing a serial killer inspired by the god of sleep, a cop’s life is overturned by the death of her lover. Looming monsters and the need for revenge cloud the border between her nightmares and reality, in this atmospheric and hypnotizing descent into Lovecraftian madness and terror.

ON THE TRAIL OF UFOS (director: Seth Breedlove) From MidWest WeirdFest alumni filmmaker Seth Breedlove (MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER, ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT) comes the latest Small Town Monsters documentary. With host Shannon LeGro, ON THE TRAIL OF UFOS takes viewers from the gates of Area 51 itself, to the snow-capped White Mountains of New Hampshire. Filmed in several states across the country, no stone was left unturned in putting together the most comprehensive look at the subject ever produced.

PUPPET KILLER (director: Lisa Ovies) While celebrating Christmas at a cabin in the woods, a group of high school students are stalked by a psychotic killer obsessed with horror movie icons. This laugh out loud horror comedy is overflowing with clever homages to the genre, and serves up a perfect mix of gore and gags.

RETURN TO WILDCAT MOUNTAIN: WISCONSIN'S BLACK PANTHER NEXUS (directors: Linda Godfrey and  Nathan Godfrey) Strangely, in some parts of North America, black-furred big cats make up over half the eyewitness reports of mountain lions; but zoologists say black pumas don’t exist. If that’s true, then exactly what are these ebony felines? Might one small central Wisconsin town hold a clue to this growing mystery? The directorial debut of one of the world's leading writers and investigators of the weird: Linda Godfrey (WEIRD WISCONSIN, MONSTERS AMONG US, I KNOW WHAT I SAW).

THE SOUL CONDUCTOR (Director: Ilya Maksimov) Katya is a disaffected and gloomy young woman. But she is endowed with a mystical gift: she is a conduit between the world of the dead and the world of the quick, and helps earthbound souls to regain peace. But her already weird world spirals even further out of control when a demonic serial killer targets both her and her twin sister. A beautiful and creepy supernatural thriller, loaded with twists and frights that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end credits roll.

SQUATCHMORE (Directors:  Dane Mainella, Jay Jadick, and Benjamin R Davis) Two men from rural Western Pennsylvania embark on a quest to track down the legendary monster, Bigfoot. They will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the great American myth, even as their journey leads them ever deeper into the mind of the beast itself.  Part mumblecore, part early Wes Anderson, part psychedelic trip down the rabbit-hole of Sasquatch belief, SQUATCHMORE delivers the weird like few others.

MidWest WeirdFest 4th Annual Call for Entries

MidWest WeirdFest, the cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, underground and just plain weird announces its 4th annual call for entries today. The film festival will return to the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from March 6-8, 2020.

“I’m so glad I went to the festival with our film,” says Ted Michaels writer and director of TANGOBORN MENCLENTY, the hilarious comedy/sci-fi feature that won the “Best Sci-Fi Film” award at the 2019 event.

“I can’t say enough good things about festival director Dean Bertram and what he’s done with WeirdFest. It’s a truly independent film festival for truly independent film makers. That should be the norm for film festivals, but the reality is that it isn’t. Most films at most festivals are sourced right from studios. Dean actually watches all his submissions. His picks are based on quality and if they fit the weird vibe of his festival, and If you have a work of originality, your submission fee will not be wasted here. I’ll always be thankful that Midwest WeirdFest exists!”

Ted Michaels introducing his award winning film TANGOBORN MENCLENTY at MidWest WeirdFest 2019.

MidWest WeirdFest is now accepting submissions in the following categories: Feature films, Documentary films, Short films, Animated short films, TV or web content, and Music videos.

The festival also hosts two screenplay competitions: One for feature length screenplays, and one for short screenplays.

For more details, or to submit your film or screenplay, visit: http://www.midwestweirdfest.com/submit

MidWest WeirdFest 2019 Winners Announced

The 3rd annual MidWest WeirdFest wrapped last week at the Micon Downtown Cinema, Eau Claire Games and Arcade, and Ivy Creatives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The festival once again provided enthusiastic audiences a cinematic smorgasbord of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird. Today, MidWest WeirdFest announces the winning films of the 2019 event.

Jason Trost introducing THE FP and FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE double feature at MidWest WeirdFest 2019 (photo by Luong Huynh)

“Midwest WeirdFest is everything you could ask for as a filmmaker,” says Jason Trost, winner of the fest's “Best Director” award for FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE, the long-awaited sequel to his cult classic THE FP. “The fest goes to great lengths to give every film and filmmaker their time to shine. Most importantly, the fest's passionate fan-base of film lovers creates a place that truly gives our best and weirdest ideas a place to call home.”

An overview of the festival's other winning films follows:

Lonnie Martin and Cindy Marie Martin THE LAST OF THE MANSON GIRLS (photo by Luong Huynh)

Director Lonnie Martin and producer/actress Cindy Marie Martin's psychedelic re-imagining of one of the darkest byways of Americana, THE LAST OF THE MANSON GIRLS, was awarded “Best Film”. While the captivating THE SECRET OF BYRON PREISS by writer/director James Renner took “Best Documentary”.

James Renner during the Q&A for his documentary THE SECRET OF BYRON PREISS (photo by Luong Huynh)

The atmospheric and chilling THE INVISIBLE MOTHER won the festival's “Best Horror Film” award. The satirical and hilarious TANGOBORN MENCLENTY from Ted Michaels was awarded “Best Sci-Fi Film”. And the side-splitting black comedy superhero spoof ZEROES (directed by Charles Smith) captured the “Independent Spirit Award”.

L to R: Jacob Gillman, Matthew Diebler (THE INVISIBLE MOTHER) and Ted Michaels (TANGOBORN MENCLENTY) on the panel at MidWest WeirdFest’s Filmmaking Master Class (photo by Luong Huynh)

Charles Smith at MidWest WeirdFest’s opening night screening of his film ZEROES (photo by Luong Huynh)

“Best Short Film” was won by the disturbingly hilarious BFF GIRLS (directed by Brian Lonano). The trippy and mesmerizing DEATH VAN (directed by Michael Enzbrunner ) was awarded “Best Animated Short”. The award for “Best Sci-Fi Short” went to the dark futuristic vision of CIVET (directed by and starring Benjamin Capps). “Best Horror Short” was won by the eerie and atmospheric GREY CANYON (Zeshaan Younus). While the P. K. Dickian cyber-thriller series SUBVERSE (directed by Joseph White) took “Best TV / WEB content”. And “Best Music Video” was awarded to the animated space opera HALF AN ORANGE - BUZZ LIGHT YEAR (directed by Michael Maloof & Andrew Spellman.)

Benjamin Capps, director and star of CIVET (photo by Luong Huynh)

3rd Annual MidWest WeirdFest: Cutting-Edge Films, Filmmaking Class, Dance-Off, and More!

MidWest WeirdFest - the cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird - returns to the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire from March 8-10. Now in its third year, the festival is expanding to include more special events, more guests, more films, and introduces two additional venue partners: Eau Claire Games and Arcade, and Ivy Creatives.

“MidWest WeirdFest is co-hosting two free events this year that I'm thrilled about,” says festival director Dean Bertram. “Before the fest's double feature screening of the cult classic film THE FP and the brand new sequel FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE – at Micon Downtown Cinema on Saturday March 8 - we are presenting a free 'Dance Off’ around the corner at Eau Claire Games and Arcade. Jason Trost, the films' star and director, will be competing against any challengers on the arcade's 'Pump It Up Fiesta' dance machine, just as he does in his two iconic films. Then, on Sunday March 10 at 2:15pm, the festival is presenting a Filmmaking Master Class with Ivy Creatives at their offices across the street from the Micon Downtown.”

Some of MidWest WeirdFest's feature filmmaker guests, who will be presenting their films at the festival and will be part of the Filmmaking Master Class, include:

Jason Trost, writer/director/star of the cult classic THE FP and FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE, which are screening back-to-back at the fest.

James Renner, writer/director of the fascinating documentary THE SECRET OF BYRON PREISS.

Charles Smith director of the festival's opening night film: The hilarious superhero black comedy ZEROES.

Matt Diebler and Jacob Gillman, whose atmospheric and terrifying supernatural chiller THE INVISIBLE MOTHER world premieres as MidWest WeirdFest's 2019 closing night film.

Ted Michaels, director of the delightfully dark, surprisingly sweet, science-fiction-political-satire-love-story TANGOBORN MENCLENTY.

Filmmakers in attendance to present their short films at the festival include: Benjamin Capps (CIVET), Troy Deutsch (BROWN FISH), Matt Erman (THE LEGEND OF HOLCOMB ROAD), Drew Angle and Katelyn Douglass (TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE BREAD FACTORY), Stewart Koski (SASQUATCHES), and Paul von Stoetzel (THE CONQUEROR WORM).

Tickets to each session as well as discounted festival passes can be booked here:

http://www.midwestweirdfest.com/tickets/

MidWest WeirdFest's full 2019 feature film line-up follows (you can also browse the full program here)O

27 WEST (Tait Colberg) A solitary man's morning and evening routines appear ordinary enough. But during the hours in between, his chores grow darker each day: with quiet efficiency, he procures an unregistered vehicle, an untraceable weapon, and tools for demolition. What is he planning? Will he succeed? Should he? Don't miss this compelling, brilliant, and unique thriller.

THE FP (director: Jason Trost and Brandon Trost) Two rival gangs feud for control of rural wasteland Frazier Park ('The FP') in the deadly arena of competitive dance-fight video game "Beat-Beat Revelation." After hometown hero BTRO is slain on the dance platform by thug leader L Dubba E, his protégé younger brother JTRO (Jason Trost) goes into isolation, vowing never to duel again. One year later, The FP is in ruins, and JTRO must find the courage to return and restore order in a ruthless battle for revenge that can only leave one man dancing.

FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE (director: Jason Trost) Despite hanging up his boots following the events of the cult classic “THE FP”, JTRO must return to the blood sport of Beat-Beat Revelation one last time. JTRO and KCDC - his mystical hype man - will quest deep into The Wastes, a land decimated by the Beat Wars, to compete in the ancient Beat-Beat tournament, called "Beats of Rage", face AK-47, and, hopefully, save the world. Imagine a MAD MAX style future, where battles to the death are fought via the video game Dance Dance Revolution, and you might have an inkling of the crazy and hilarious post-apocalyptic world of THE FP…..

THE INVISIBLE MOTHER (directors: Matthew Diebler and Jacob Gillman) WORLD PREMIERE at MidWest WeirdFest 2019! When lesbian stoner Marcy returns to her grandparents’ home to help care for her mentally declining grandmother, she discovers they are being terrorized by a malevolent force from a Victorian post-mortem photograph. THE INVISBLE MOTHER is a giallo-styled, terrifying descent into supernatural terror.

LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER (director: Ryland Tews) The eccentric Captain Seafield hires a crew of specialists to help him plot revenge against the creature that killed his father. After several failed attempts, Seafield is forced to take matters into his own drunken hands. What began as a simple case of man verses beast, soon turns into a rabbit hole of mysterious unknowns and Lovecraftian hijinks. LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER -- banned in four lakes!

THE LAST OF THE MANSON GIRLS (director: Lonnie Martin) Convinced there's more to the Manson murders than meets the public eye, counterculture journalist Paul Krassner embarks on an LSD tinged investigation of the last of Manson's disciples: Brenda McCann, Sandra Good, and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. What he finds could change how the world sees the 60s... if he lives long enough to tell the story. A riveting, speculative, and psychedelic journey into one of the darkest byways of 1960s Americana.

LET'S SCARE JULIE TO DEATH (director: Jud Cremata) WORLD PREMIERE at MidWest WeirdFest 2019! Shot in 85 real-time minutes, this is a bona fide one-shot movie and one of the first of its kind in the United States. The movie is a form of a cinéma vérité. The camera is a fly on the wall witnessing a ghost story unfold as it follows a group of teenage girls - who conduct a doomed Halloween prank - into the rainy, inky night. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

MILLENNIUM AFTER THE MILLENNIUM (Jason Morris) This new documentary focuses on Chris Carter’s landmark television series MILLENNIUM. Set twenty years after the show ended, we take a look back at what makes the show so enduring to fans and critics alike. Featuring every major crew and cast member: including Chris Carter, Lance Henriksen, Frank Spotnitz, Chip Johannessen and many, many more

ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT (director: Seth Breedlove) From Small Town Monsters, and MidWest WeirdFest alumni filmmaker Seth Breedlove (THE MOTHAN OF POINT PLEASANT, THE BRAY ROAD BEAST), comes this enthralling documentary examining the history of the Bigfoot phenomenon. ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT was filmed coast to coast during 2018 and features witnesses and investigators of the elusive creature. Prepare to go deeper into the Bigfoot subject than you've ever gone before.

REBORN (director: Julian Richards) A stillborn baby girl is brought back to life by a morgue attendant using electrokinetic power. On her sixteenth birthday she escapes her captor and sets out to find her birth mother leaving a trail of destruction behind her. Don’t miss this stunning modern twist on 70s and 80s horror classics like CARRIE, FIRESTARTER, and THE FURY. Stars genre legends Barbara Crampton (RE-ANIMATOR, BEYOND THE GATES) and Michael Parle (STREETS OF FIRE, THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT).

THE SECRET OF BYRON PREISS (director: James Renner) When journalist James Renner follows the clues from Byron Preiss's enigmatic 1982 book 'The Secret,' his cross-country search for buried treasure uncovers even deeper mysteries. This compelling documentary from a master storyteller, is one of the most fascinating documentaries of the decade.

TANGOBORN MENCLENTY (director: Ted Michaels) An absurdist comedy about an artificially manufactured moron (Tangoborn) who is tasked with saving the Earth from itself. There is your usual cast of Aliens, Bikers, Ninjas and a Refraction Biopter named Marigold. A pimp named Parquet keeps things grounded, as Tangoborn learns the importance of loyalty, true love, and putting on a good live sex show. A delightfully dark, surprisingly sweet, science-fiction-political-satire-love-story!

ZEROES (director: Charles Smith) After leaving a Halloween party dressed as ninjas, Kenneth and Ray - two drunken roommates - thwart a robbery and their heroics go viral. No litterer or public urinator is safe until an actual serial killer begins to ravage the city. Our inept crime-fighting duo, with the help of the enigmatic and insanely wealthy Gary, must catch the killer before Kenneth’s crush Kate becomes the next target. Hilarity abounds in this superhero spoof.

MIDWEST WEIRDFEST 2019: FIRST PROGRAMMING WAVE ANNOUNCED!

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, January 16, 2019 – MidWest WeirdFest announces its first programming wave for 2019 today. The third annual festival - a cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird - takes place March 8-10, 2019 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“This year's fest line-up is set to delight fans of cutting edge horror, sci-fi, underground, and documentary cinema”, says festival founder and programming director Dean Bertram. “We've put together a heady and eclectic mix of speculative genre offerings, underground strangeness, and paranormal revelations: From a psychedelic Manson Family reimagining and a post-apocalyptic dance-off epic, through tales about a reanimated electrokinetic teenager, haunted stoners, and inept buddy superheroes, to a bonkers lake monster adventure and the most in-depth Bigfoot documentary ever produced. And that's just from MidWest WeirdFest's first programming wave of 2019!”

Discounted festival passes are now on sale here.

Individual tickets to each film will go on sale closer to the festival; both on the fest's website, and directly from the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Full program details and filmmaker guests will be revealed in February.

The first seven feature films announced follow:

FP 2: BEATS OF RAGE (director: Jason Trost) Despite hanging up his boots following the events of the cult classic “THE FP”, JTRO must return to the blood sport of Beat-Beat Revelation one last time. JTRO and KCDC - his mystical hype man - will quest deep into The Wastes, a land decimated by the Beat Wars, to compete in the ancient Beat-Beat tournament, called "Beats of Rage", face AK-47, and, hopefully, save the world. Imagine a MAD MAX style future, where battles to the death are fought via the video game Dance Dance Revolution, and you might have an inkling of the crazy and hilarious post-apocalyptic world of THE FP.

THE INVISIBLE MOTHER (directors: Matthew Diebler and Jacob Gillman) When lesbian stoner Marcy returns to her grandparents’ home to help care for her mentally declining grandmother, she discovers they are being terrorized by a malevolent force from a Victorian post-mortem photograph. THE INVISBLE MOTHER is a giallo-styled, terrifying descent into supernatural terror.

LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER (director: Ryland Tews) The eccentric Captain Seafield hires a crew of specialists to help him plot revenge against the creature that killed his father. After several failed attempts, Seafield is forced to take matters into his own drunken hands. What began as a simple case of man verses beast, soon turns into a rabbit hole of mysterious unknowns and Lovecraftian hijinks. LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER -- banned in four lakes!

THE LAST OF THE MANSON GIRLS (director: Lonnie Martin) Convinced there's more to the Manson murders than meets the public eye, counterculture journalist Paul Krassner embarks on an LSD tinged investigation of the last of Manson's disciples: Brenda McCann, Sandra Good, and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. What he finds could change how the world sees the 60s... if he lives long enough to tell the story. A riveting, speculative, and psychedelic journey into one of the darkest byways of 1960s Americana.

ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT (director: Seth Breedlove) From Small Town Monsters, and MidWest WeirdFest alumni filmmaker Seth Breedlove (THE MOTHAN OF POINT PLEASANT, THE BRAY ROAD BEAST), comes this enthralling documentary examining the history of the Bigfoot phenomenon. ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT was filmed coast to coast during 2018 and features witnesses and investigators of the elusive creature. Prepare to go deeper into the Bigfoot subject than you've ever gone before.

REBORN (director: Julian Richards) A stillborn baby girl is brought back to life by a morgue attendant using electrokinetic power. On her sixteenth birthday she escapes her captor and sets out to find her birth mother leaving a trail of destruction behind her. Don’t miss this stunning modern twist on 70s and 80s horror classics like CARRIE, FIRESTARTER, and THE FURY. Stars genre legends Barbara Crampton (RE-ANIMATOR, BEYOND THE GATES) and Michael Parle (STREETS OF FIRE, THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT).

ZEROES (director: Charles Smith) After leaving a Halloween party dressed as ninjas, Kenneth and Ray - two drunken roommates - thwart a robbery and their heroics go viral. No litterer or public urinator is safe until an actual serial killer begins to ravage the city. Our inept crime-fighting duo, with the help of the enigmatic and insanely wealthy Gary, must catch the killer before Kenneth’s crush Kate becomes the next target. Hilarity abounds in this superhero spoof.

Book your discounted 2019 festival pass now!

MIDWEST WEIRDFEST 3rd ANNUAL CALL FOR ENTRIES

MidWest WeirdFest, the cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, underground and just plain weird announces its call for entries today. The third annual film festival will return to the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from March 8-10, 2019.

"MidWest WeirdFest was unforgettable." says Peter Marcy the director of the horror feature film ATTACK OF THE TATTIE-BOGLE that screened at the 2018 event. "Festival director Dean Bertram was a pleasure to meet and a champion of our movie.  Leading up to the fest, he maximized anticipation and got us a 25-minute podcast interview, two reviews by critics, a newspaper article, and tons of social media exposure.  The fest itself was great.  The venue had an old theater charm that I thought had been lost forever.  The crowd was warm and enthusiastic and gave some whoops and applause when the end credits rolled.  We had a lively Q&A afterward that I didn’t want to end.  And downtown Eau Claire was delightful with numerous restaurants and coffee shops within blocks of the theater.  I loved my experience and hope to return."

MidWest WeirdFest is now accepting submissions in the following categories: Feature films, Documentary films, Short films, Animated short films, TV or web content, and Music videos.

And this year, the festival introduces two screenplay competitions: One for feature length screenplays, and one for short screenplays.

Full entry details can be found here.

Peter Marcy during the Q&A for ATTACK OF THE TATTIE-BOGLE at Midwest WeirdFest 2018 (Photo by Luong Huynh)

MidWest WeirdFest 2018 Winners Announced!

The 2nd annual MidWest WeirdFest wrapped this past Sunday, at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The festival again provided enthusiastic audiences a cinematic smorgasbord of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird. Today, MidWest WeirdFest announces the winning films of the 2018 event.

“MidWest WeirdFest was a blast, and winning the festival's Independent Spirit Award is an immense deal to us”, says Kevin Losani, who, along with Michael J. Widger, directed the incredibly ambitious super hero/comedy feature film OFFICER PIGSEY. “To stand out in a lineup consisting of such impressive, creative, and alternative films is major props! We always believed and hoped people would look beyond our film's budget restrictions and recognize all the other aspects that we think make it great. We feel this award honors that.”

An overview of the festival's other winning films follows:

Rob Cousineau Josh Cousineau and Chris Rosik (FUTURE) Photo by Luong Huynh.

Director Usher Morgan's stunning western/neo-noir hybrid PICKINGS was awarded “Best Film”. Amara Cash won “Best Director” for her visionary erotic drama DADDY ISSUES. The mesmerizing and chilling BORLEY RECTORY from British animator Ashley Thorpe captured the fest's award for “Best Documentary”. And “Best Screenplay” went to the darkly comedic time-travel tale FUTURE, written by Joshua P. Cousineau, Rob Cousineau, and Doug Kolbicz (directed by Rob Cousineau and Chris Rosik) .

Drew Krehel, Kyle Talley, Matthew Giordano, Andrew Melzer THE STREET WIZARD'S APPRENTICE

“Best Short Film” was won by the bloody hilarious LUNCH LADIES (directed by J. M. Logan). The monstrous comedy CRYPTO FORCE ALPHA (directed by Megan Kluck) was awarded “Best Animated Short”. While the unique and ambitious thriller MENTAL STATE: REVELATION (directed by Chris Page) took the fest's “Independent Spirit Award – Short Film”. The laugh out loud web series THE STREET WIZARD'S APPRENTICE (directed by Andrew Melzer, Matt Giordano, and Drew Krehel) snagged the fest's “Best Web/TV Content” award. And “Best Music Video” went to director Jed Schlegelmilch's video for HOT COFFIN - “WHISTLE, HAWK & SPIT”.

HOT COFFIN - "WHISTLE HAWK & SPIT" director Jed Schlegelmilch. (Photo by Luong Huynh)

Matt Erman writer, producer and cinematographer  of MENTAL STATE: REVELATION (Photo by Luong Huynh)

Filmmaker Guests Attending MidWest WeirdFest 2018

Horror, sci-fi, underground, and documentary filmmakers from around North America descend on Eau Claire, Wisconsin on the weekend of March 9-11 to showcase their films at the 2nd annual MidWest WeirdFest. Taking place at the Micon Cinema in downtown Eau Claire, the film festival is a cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird.

“Bringing together filmmakers and their audience is one of the most important functions of a film festival,” says festival director Dean Bertram. “That audience members get to interact with the films' creators, not just during Q&As, but in the cinema lobby and at after parties, is a rewarding experience for both filmmakers and audiences alike. MidWest WeirdFest is delighted to have a plethora of fantastic directors, producers, writers, and stars in attendance this year.”

Some of MidWest WeirdFest's feature filmmaker guests for 2018 include:

Director duo Rob Cousineau and Chris Rosik (also known as Get Super Rad), and writer/star Joshua P. Cousineau, who are representing their quirky and enthralling lo-fi sci-fi slacker time travel tale FUTURE.

Amara Cash, Hollywood based director of DADDY ISSUES, the fest's closing night film. A compelling, erotic, and at times confronting, underground romantic drama.

Peter Marcy, a Minnesota based filmmaker whose ATTACK OF THE TATTIE-BOGLE - which was filmed in Wisconsin - is an exceptional entry to the “cabin in the woods” sub-genre: with a great ensemble cast of believable adult characters and a realistic portrayal of rapidly descending, unexpected, and brutal violence.

Wayne Clingman, producer of THE MILWAUKEE MAFIA: FRANK BALISTRIERI. A fascinating documentary about Wisconsin's most notorious crime boss, infamous for murdering his enemies with car bombs.

Kevin Losani and Michael Widger co-directors of the indie super-hero epic OFFICER PIGSLEY (Losani also stars), which bats miles above its meager budget, and delivers laughs, gasps, and feels.

Filmmakers representing their short films at the festival include: Jack Birdsall (EARTH TO ISAAC), Carlos Nahuel Cerutti (TIME TO FADE), Steve Chappell (HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT ED GEIN), Matt Erman (MENTAL STATE: REVELATION), Matthew Giordano, Drew Krehel and Andrew Melzer, (THE STREET WIZARD'S APPRENTICE), Marinah Janello and Evan Phennicie (ENTROPIA), Stewart Koski (THE PEPIE LEGEND), Jeremiah Milmine (DITCHPEOPLE), Travis Prow and Nic Thorson (NIGHT SKY), Jed Schlegelmilch (WHISTLE, HAWK, AND SPIT), and Paul von Stoetzel (MULES).

Read the biographies of each of the above filmmakers here.

Tickets to each session as well as discounted festival passes can be booked here.
 

Individual tickets can also be booked directly through the Micon Downtown Cineama. Either at the box office or through their website here.