2025 Voices Heard Film: the refrain

the refrain by DeMar Walker

Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 10 minutes
Dance 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

The second installment of the dance short film series features myself as a portrayal of a traveling man or “wanderer”. It explores themes of finding home and belonging as a commentary on societal expectations of race and gender through performance. The film features cinematography by Derek Schmitt.

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2025 Films: Behind the Bells

Behind the Bells by Katharine Craig
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes
Documentary 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Students from Marquette University created this documentary to highlight the university's carillon bells. The students are excited to share Mark's story and bring awareness to this beautiful and unique instrument - with hopes of reaching a bigger audience!

Director's Bio:

I study digital media, advertising, and communications at Marquette University. I chose Marquette because they believe in the philosophy of high-quality education and having core values.

At work and in my personal life, I focus on following my core value of being the best version of myself. This involves being timely, creative, flexible, and always being open to try new things!

2025 Films: Bound In Rosemary

Bound In Rosemary by Reanna Madson
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 13 minutes
Horror/ Dance 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Bound In Rosemary is a horror short about a young woman who, after struggling with a new dance sequence, is interrupted by a stranger at her door. As the night goes on, not only does the stranger invade her house, but her mind as well. Soon the young woman finds herself in an invisible, yet barbarous battle to maintain control over her own body and mind.

Director's Bio:

Reanna Madson is a Director - Actor - Dancer. Primarily an actor, she has dipped her toes into Directing. "Bound In Rosemary" is her second short film with "Avelina" being her first short.

Reanna grew up in Eau Claire, WI and moved to St Paul, MN in 2021. She is a co-founder of the film production company New Neighbor Productions alongside Tim Schwagel, Nick Houchin, and Zach Staads. New Neighbor is based in Eau Claire, WI where most of their films are filmed including "Bound In Rosemary."

2025 Films: Between the Ears

Between the Ears by Timothy Lonsdale (Out of Competition)
Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 7 minutes
Documentary 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

If you called Diane and Chuck Gross mulish, they’d take that as a compliment. They, along with Josie and Traveler— their mules, not their children— have been to 21 states in pursuit of the trail-riding experience. Pulling a trailer that has charming and efficient living quarters in front for them, with comfortable and secure compartments in back for the mules, they traverse the country, stopping in national parks, state parks and anywhere there’s a beautiful trail to ride. And they make lots of friends along the way, many of whom they see at multiple campgrounds. For Diane and Chuck, it has truly become a way of life…and that’s fine by them.

Director's Bio:

Growing up in Wisconsin, Tim was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer. He helped organize a train trip to the National Scout Ranch in Philmont, New Mexico. The next logical step was Special Forces. In 1968, he joined the Army, went to Jump School, became a Green Beret and spent a year in Vietnam as a sergeant with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Upon his discharge, he attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for a BA in English and Theatre, and a BS in Secondary Ed. While there, he landed his first paid acting gig—he was cast in six radio dramas at WHA, the campus PBS station. He also acted in a play with classmate Jane (“Malcolm in the Middle”) Kaczmarek.

He decided to pursue an MFA in Acting. He chose to go to Southern Methodist University, where they offered him a full scholarship and a T.A. position. Besides, he always wanted to be a “Methodist” actor. While in Dallas, he performed with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival, got his Actors’ Equity card doing a dinner theater tour, and his SAG-AFTRA card when he was cast as a guest star in several episodes of “Dallas,” including three of the most watched TV episodes in history.

In 1981, he moved to New York where he acted Off-off-Broadway and in bit parts in multiple TV shows and films. He was accepted by acting guru Sanford Meisner for his private two-year program at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

The same week he was notified of good news from Mr. Meisner, he got a letter from the Directors Guild of America regarding an application and testing process he had begun six months earlier. The DGA was inviting him to join their two-year Training Program, which would ultimately lead to membership as an Assistant Director. He accepted the offer from the DGA. He knew he made the right choice when, on his first day on the job as a DGA Trainee, he was assigned to a movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Nick Nolte, directed by Tony Harvey.

Over the course of 34 years in production—7 in NY, 23 in LA and 4 in Atlanta—he has worked with about one hundred directors, including Marty Scorsese, Night Shyamalan, Martha Coolidge, Barnet Kellman, Harold Ramis, Shawn Levy and Carl Reiner. The scores of actors he has enjoyed working with include Meryl Streep (twice), Robert DeNiro, Gene Hackman (twice), Christopher Lloyd (twice), Bruce Willis, Jason Momoa, Samuel L. Jackson, Marlee Matlin and Jeff Bridges. He will not list the actors he did not enjoy working with.

Tim got the opportunity to direct prime time when he worked on “Charmed” (Aaron Spelling/WB Network) for five seasons as an AD. He successfully ended his “below-the-line” career when he worked as the Unit Production Manager on the first two seasons of “Stranger Things” (Netflix). Matt and Ross Duffer were nominated both years for DGA Best Directing Awards, and as such, the DGA also recognized Tim as the UPM and the Assistant Directors for their contributions as part of the directorial team. Due to the success of the show, he was invited to join the Producers Guild of America.

Now back in Wisconsin, Tim is focusing on “above-the-line” opportunities in writing, producing and directing. “Cricket” was the first film produced by his new company, Spring Lake International, llc.

2025 Voices Heard Film: So Others May Live

So Others May Live by Löki Ferno, Will Kaftan

Wisconsin (World Premiere)

Running Time: 10 minutes
Horror/ Sci-Fi  

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

In the 1980s, a guilt-ridden firefighter, haunted by those he couldn't save, battles an ever-mutating horde of shadow entities—manifestations of his past failures. Riddled by survivor's remorse, he must confront his deepest fears or discover that the true horror lies in the blurred line between reality and his own haunted mind.

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2025 Voices Heard Film: Against The Ropes

Against The Ropes by Kleyon Prince Hampton
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 5 minutes
Sports Documentary  

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

The Journey of Javier Zamarron, a boxer from Milwaukee, WI, making it to the professionals and the adversity he faced to achieve this level in his career.

2025 Films: Morning Yoga

Morning Yoga by Darrin Lile
Wisconsin (Wisconsin Premiere)

Running Time: 9 minutes
Comedy 

Avalon Atmospheric Theater

2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

A yoga class takes an unexpected turn when the new instructor introduces some novel techniques.