Beloit festival shines spotlight on independent filmmakers
It’s about to get all cinematic near the Wisconsin-Illinois border.
One of Wisconsin’s more ambitious film gatherings, the Beloit International Film Festival kicks off Friday and runs through March 4. More than 100 movies from around the world, and especially Wisconsin, screen at eight venues around Beloit, with an emphasis on independent filmmakers and a sprinkling of classics from the past.
Sponsored by the Hendricks Group, the film festival is in its 13th year.
Among this year’s festival’s offerings is a showing of “The Blood Is at the Doorstep,” Erik Ljung’s documentary exploring the death of Dontre Hamilton, who was shot 14 times by a police officer in Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee in 2014, and the aftermath for his family and for the city. The movie has had a handful of Milwaukee screenings since it was shown at last fall’s Milwaukee Film Festival, but they’ve quickly sold out, including one Sunday at Marquette University.
There are also parties every night of the festival, starting with an openingnight bash Feb. 23 at the Grand Avenue Pub starting at 7 p.m., with live music and an outdoor light show.
Tickets for movies in the festival are $10 at the door, $5 for students; advance and online tickets are available for $9. A full schedule of movies and other happenings at the festival can be found at beloitfilmfest.org.
Other highlights of the 2018 Beloit International Film Festival include:
❚ The WI/IL Showdown, one of the Beloit festival’s most popular components, pits movies made in Wisconsin vs. films from Illinois filmmakers in a contest decided by audience votes. Screenings are at multiple venues.
❚ A showing of the 1973 best-picture Oscar winner “The Sting,” selected in a community survey last fall. The Robert Redford/Paul Newman classic is screening at 2:30 p.m. March 4, at Schubert’s Luxury 10 Cinema.
❚ A Silent Screen Showcase with a showing of the 1928 Buster Keaton gem “The Cameraman,” with live music by the Beloit Memorial High School Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. March 3 at Beloit Memorial.
❚ An old-time-radio-style performance of the 1950 classic “All About Eve,” staged live at LaCasa Grande in Beloit at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23, and carried on Beloit radio station WCLO-AM (1230).