Wisconsin Film Festival announces line-up, ticket sales

The 2004 Wisconsin Film Festival has announced its full line-up for the April 1-4 event in Madison. Advance ticket sales began March 4.

Still from a film showing Charlie Chaplin lying on a giant gear. A public program of the Arts Institute, the festival will feature 140 films – including 25 narrative features, 33 documentary features, 25 documentary shorts, 29 experimental films (feature and short), 28 narrative or animated short films – and nine talks and panels, a musical performance and a film trivia contest.

More than 60 filmmakers, speakers and industry professionals, along with 30 student and youth filmmakers, will participate. The films and talks will be presented over four days in seven venues: the Orpheum Theatre, Bartell Theatre, Club Majestic, Memorial Union, UW Cinematheque, UW Hillel and the University Square Theatres.

The international line-up includes films from more than 26 countries, along with 45 films from major, emerging and youth filmmakers with Wisconsin ties. For the complete festival line-up, schedule, ticket, hotel and travel information, visit the festival web site or call (877) 963-FILM.

Film still of a close-up of a girl wearing a mask with a bar-code on it. In its sixth year, the Wisconsin Film Festival is gaining favorable recognition in the independent film industry. Organizers say this year’s festival raises the bar with a number of Midwest premieres for major films, including “Festival Express,” “The Yes Men” and “Green Butchers.” Film enthusiasts can look forward to exploring a cross-section of contemporary Danish cinema in person with the talented writer/directors Lone Scherfig (“Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself”) and Anders Thomas Jensen (“The Green Butchers,” co-writer “Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself”).

A special focus on documentary film includes sessions with seasoned documentary producers and UW–Madison alumni Mark Samels, executive producer of PBS’s “American Experience,” and Lisa Heller, vice president of original programming at HBO, plus award-winning filmmakers Mark Achbar and Harold Crooks (“The Corporation”), Wisconsin’s own Sarah Price (“The Yes Men”), Mark Moskowitz (“Stone Reader”) and many others.

Film still of two butchers looking at the camera, a large piece of meat hanging between them. Audiences can join UW–Madison alumnus Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine’s renowned film critic as he presents his new documentary “Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin.”

“To the Best of Our Knowledge – Live” will be presented by Jim Fleming, Steve Paulson and Anne Strainchamps, hosts of Wisconsin Public Radio’s nationally syndicated program, for a special on-stage interview event with some of the festival’s guests on Saturday, April 3, at the Orpheum Theatre.

For die-hard film buffs, there will be a live “IFC Ultimate Film Fanatic Challenge” trivia contest. And, in response to popular demand, festival organizers have included more repeats of the ever-popular screenings of short films by Wisconsin filmmakers and students.

Film still showing a boy opening a door, a group of men behind him. Festival organizers have worked with the Wisconsin Union Box Office, and festival sponsors IMS and Planet Propaganda to implement online ticket ordering this year, making ticket purchasing more convenient. The full schedule of programs, complete ticket buying instructions, a handy wish list, itinerary planner and downloadable ticket order form are available at http://www.wifilmfest.org/.

Advance ticket packages are recommended since many screenings sell out. Tickets are required for admission to each program at all festival venues unless otherwise indicated. For some selections this year, a limited number of “standby” tickets will be held for sale at the door during the festival. In addition, empty seats will be filled with “rush” ticket sales at curtain time. Sale of standby tickets begins 30 minutes before the film starts, and “rush” tickets will be sold until every seat is filled.

Film still showing an asian man raising his glass at dinner in a toast. Tickets may also be purchased at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, 800 Langdon St. The box office can also be reached by phone at (608) 265-2933 and (608) 262-5981, or by fax at (608) 262-5869. Order forms are available at the festival Web site and may be faxed or mailed to the box office.

The box office will be open through March 31. Hours are Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. (Spring Break hours on March 15-19 are 3-8 p.m.), and Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. (Spring Break hours on March 13 and 20 are noon-5 p.m.). The box office is closed on Sundays.