Join Milwaukee Film for the Opening Night Party at Discovery World on Thursday, September 22 from 8:30pm to 1am!

Buy your tickets now!

The evening includes hors d'oeuvres compliments of Bartolotta Catering & Events at Pier Wisconsin, two free drinks courtesy of Bacardi and MillerCoors, a Sound Travels Tent presented by 88NINE Radio Milwaukee featuring a fantastic music lineup all night long. In homage to the Spotlight film, Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, Milwaukee musicians William Seidel (Decibully), Ryan Schleicher (Juniper Tar), Fran Switalski (The Flips), Austin Dutmer (Jaill), Jason Todd (Def Harmonic) and Matthew Gorski (Fresh Cut Collective) will perform as Sex & Cigarettes, a one-night-only band paying tribute to the iconic music of the 1960’s French legend, Serge Gainsbourg. Sex & Cigarettes perform at 10:45pm

With the festival’s Passport: India program in mind, New York-based DJ Rekha, host of Basement Bhangra at S.O.B.’s, closes out the night. Her music blends traditional Bhangra music of South Asia with the fresh hip-hop beats of today. In between sets, Marcus Doucette of 88NINE Radio MIlwaukee spins 1960’s music from France to India. DJ Rekha performs at 11:45pm

The Brew City Bombshells Burlesque add sass, brass and humor to the evening with their award-winning dancers, comedy acts and a variety of other skits. Their performance is a nod to the Closing Night film, On Tour, about an American burlesque group traveling to France to take the Parisian stage by storm. The Bombshells perform at 10pm in the Great Lakes Room

Taking over Discovery World’s Pilot House is the Grolsch Filmworks Lounge designed by CORT Event Furnishings. The Lounge includes soundtrack trivia with WMSE 91.7FM’s Dori Zori and an exhibit of screen printed poster art inspired by festival films from Eric Von Munz (Outrage), Dwellephant (Louder Than A Bomb), Alyssa Schulte (Nostalgia for the Light), Orchard Street Press (Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life), Francisco Ramirez of Bureau of Print Research and Design (Robot and Close Encounters of the Third Kind), Kari Couture of Redline (The Interrupters) and Eric Hancock (for Valley Maker). From 9pm to 12:30am

Also taking place is a Beauty Bar by Neroli, a red carpet by Tap Milwaukee, a Trailers Preview Theater with popcorn and music from DJ Madhatter of 88NINE Radio Milwaukee.

Parking | Metered parking is available on nearby streets; paid parking available in Discovery World’s underground lot, across the street at the O'Donnell Park Garage and in the War Memorial North lot.

Buy your tickets now!

$20.00 | General Admission

$10.00 | with Opening Night Film ticket stub 

FREE with Festival Pass

Sponsored By | The Bartolotta Restaurant Group / Discovery World / Stamm Technologies / Miller Coors / Bacardi / TAP Milwaukee / 88NINE Radio Milwaukee / WMSE 91.7FM / Neroli Salon & Spa / CORT Event Furnishings