Milwaukee Film Festival 2011, A Recap

Milwaukee Film Festival 2011, A Recap

For me, I began the festival with one goal in mind. Make this MY Film Festival.

Based for me at the Ridge – it was different than if I spent the days at the Oriental (Film Festival Central). But this was what was convenient for me and allowed me to not only see movies, but also be the man my family deserved during the festival.

I came up short on what I had hoped to see, but still ended with 15 films/packages at the theater. (Got Milwaukee Brewers tickets on the last day of the fest – thanks Bob and we had a dance class and Creek Crawl to deal with during the fest.)

That said, what did I see?

Make Believe, The Human Resources Manager, Give Up Tomorrow, Shorts: World’s Best Commercials, When the Drum is Beating, The Interrupters, Somewhere Between, Wish Me Away, The Redemption of General Butt Naked, The Last Mountain, Bhopali, Page One: Inside the New York Times, The Flaw, Breaking and Entering, How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr. Foster

So after spending nearly 30 hours of my last week or so at the theaters what did I learn.

Chicago has a great group of individuals trying to make a difference in the violence of our neighbor to the south. (The Interrupters)

Paco needs to be freed. (Give Up Tomorrow)

Chely Wright is extremely talented, no matter what her sexual orientation is! (Wish Me Away)

If there is a record to be broken, there will be someone to break it. (Breaking and Entering)

Haitians are an extremely resilient group of people even when you don’t count the Earthquake impact. (When the Drum is Beating)

Magic is alive and well with the youth of the world. (Make Believe)

Despite it’s title, The Redemption of General Butt Naked is not a comedy. (The Redemption of General Butt Naked)

Love him or hate him, David Carr is tenacious! (Page One: Inside the New York Times)

Films can be projected poorly at film festivals. (The Flawat Ridge)

People will complain about anything and everything. (Rumblings in the crowd about having to drive all the way to New Berlin for one of the films)

Directors and producers of even the smallest of films are passionate about filmmaking and are fascinating to listen to at film festivals (Directors/Producers from Make Believe, Give up Tomorrow, When the Drum is Beating, Wish Me Away, Breaking and Entering all did Q & A sessions after their films at the Ridge)

Sure there are things that could be done better – but I’m not here to focus on those right now…but if the Milwaukee Film Festival crew wants my ideas – I’m here! :-)

Overall, Milwaukee Film Festival was a real success. Attendance up 17%, 22 sell-outs and over 35,000 people took in a film. Plus members of Milwaukee Film more than doubled.

Actual festival winners were included in a previous post but here are my picks from what I saw.

Best Film: The Interrupters

I mean it when I say this is the bar for all other documentaries I’ll view before the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards gets my vote.

Most FUN film: Page One: Inside the New York Times, Make Believe (TIE)

Quite frankly, David Carr is the reason, but this film just had a smile on my face throughout. And I just had a smile on my face throughout the magic film Make Believe.

Cause I didn’t know about, but am appalled now that I do:Give Up Tomorrow

Sure with films it takes a side, but the blatant difference between the passion we fight Casey Anthony and others could be used to help Paco get freed with the ACTUAL evidence in his case.

Craziest Title: The Redemption of General Butt Naked

He really is naked at points in here…and he’s now a Christian…but he had impacts in 20,000 deaths (by his admission).

Surprising Moment: Wish Me Away (Chely’s prayers)

I know Christians that would condemn Chely for no other reason than her personal life that don’t pray as well as she admits to in this film. To ask the Lord for peace is so much more effective than wanting a new car, or a job to pay them more money.

Film I Missed that I Really Wanted to See: We Need To Talk About Kevin

Wanted to see this Tilda Swinton film but unfortunately, schedules wouldn’t allow it.