THE WEYAUWEGA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
November 8-11, 2023

2023 will mark the thirteenth annual Weyauwega International Film Festival in Weyauwega, Wisconsin.

We are here to celebrate film and filmmaking and to bring filmmakers together from around the world to share their work with our film going public as well as with each other.

WIFF encourages filmmakers to attend the festival and will provide local housing for visiting filmmakers as well as local transportation if needed. We have had filmmakers from around the world attending WIFF.

Films are screened at the historic Gerold Opera House in the charming small town of Weyauwega, Wisconsin.

The Gerolds - We award cash prizes to the best jury selected films in seven categories: The Gerolds go to best Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short. There is a Bloch Award for the Best of Psychofest and new for 2023 are awards for Best Animated Film and Best Student Film.

Whatever reflects your own sense of the world, of people, of the ties between people and conveys this personal sensibility to us will be valuable. At WIFF we show the work of filmmakers who are finding or at least listening for their own voice. There is no one way. We are looking for all genres of film: narratives, documentaries, features, shorts, comedies, experimental, animation, etc. Half of the films screened at WIFF are foreign language films. WIFF also hosts filmmaker forums, events and parties.

PSYCHOFEST!
Horror, Sci-fi and Thrillers
Friday nights feature horror, sci-fi and thrillers. The best Psychofest selection receives the Bloch Award. Sixty years ago in 1959, the novel Psycho was written by Robert Bloch while living with his wife and daughter here in Weyauwega. He was inspired by the nearby Ed Gein murders in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Hitchcock purchased the rights to the novel and sent his art designer to the area for inspiration. You can spot the places on which many of the main locations were based including the Lake Shore Motel and the Bates Mansion.

For 2023 we will presenting a retrospective of Jon Jost films. Jon popularized super low budget film making in the 1970's, 80's & 90's. Jon will be here to present and discuss several of his films. Jon has made over 40 feature films and in 1991, The Museum of Modern Art, NYC, screened a complete retrospective of his work.

Some of our past Midwest Premieres and Features include PARASITE, THE GRIM GAME, THE LOVE WITCH, HOLY MOTORS, ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW. Our 2013 pick for best documentary short, THE LADY IN NUMBER SIX won the Academy Award and our 2012 best narrative feature, WEST OF THUNDER has gone on to be awarded both the Best Film (Peace) and Best Film (Human Rights) 2012 by the Political Film Society of Hollywood, CA.

The festival is held in the historic 1915 Gerold Opera House. The opera house features a bar as well as an international menu from the Wega Bistro offering table service while screening films. A true destination festival! Set in the scenic farm country of Central Wisconsin, Weyauwega is located about 25 miles from Appleton, Wisconsin, and about 45 miles from Green Bay. The area is noted for its many lakes, cheeses and world class local beer!

WIFF is presented by Wega Arts, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to creating original works in film and theater.

WIFF is also made possible by assistance from the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Gerold Awards and Cash prizes are awarded in the following categories:
Best Narrative Feature - $500
Best Narrative Short - $250
Best Documentary Feature - $500
Best Documentary Short - $250
Robert Bloch Award for best of Pyschofest - $250 (Horror, Thriller or Sci-Fi)

New for 2023 are $200 awards for Best Animated Film and Best Student Film.

Honorable mentions for each category

1) The Weyauwega International Film Festival will present their 13th Festival from November 8-11, 2023 at the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega, Wisconsin. Filmmakers are encouraged to attend.

2) We will have a panel of judges. Winners will be announced at the festival on Saturday, November 11th. The first prize winner in each category will win $500 for features, $250 for shorts and Bloch Award. New for 2023 are $200 awards for Best Animated Film of any length and Best Student Film of any length or genre. Students must have produced the film while a student.

3) People whose films have been selected will be notified by October 10, 2023.

4) Submitted films will not receive a screening fee if screened at the Weyauwega International Film Festival.

5) Weyauwega International Film Festival will provided housing for visiting filmmakers whose films are selected for screening at the festival on a limited basis based on availability. Details about housing will be sent to selected filmmakers in early October, 2023 along with their notifications.

6) There may be distributors present but no distribution is guaranteed.

7) Weyauwega International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Weyauwega International Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. USB Drives or other media will not be returned unless a prepaid mailer or label is included.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ethan Alesch

    What a cool film festival in the state where I grew up! Fantastic curation of diverse films, screened in classy old vaudeville house with a cafe setup... delicious food and a killer bar. Stunning projection and sound made my animated short look fantastic. And made new lifelong friends at "campfilmfest" 😄 Thank you for the invitation!

    November 2022
  • Paige McKenna Grube

    This was by far my favorite festival this year! The organizers were wonderful at creating events and spaces where the filmmakers could network and support each other. Would definitely recommend any filmmaker to apply! I met so many lovely connections.

    November 2022
  • James Berg

    Had a great time at the Weyauwega International Festival. Honored that my film Cricket was on the screen with so many fabulous local and International films. Great venue to hang out in and meet filmmakers.

    November 2022
  • Falko Jakobs

    We are very grateful that our feature film was selected for the Weyauwega International Film Festival.
    Unfortunately, we didn't manage to be there, but we will definitely submit future projects to the festival again.
    The communication was great and friendly.

    November 2022
  • Eric Du Bellay

    Thank you Weyauwega Int. Film Festival!
    For the warm welcome, for the award for Menina Casilda, for the videocall you manage to organise in order to have a real Q&A with your audience at the end of the screening. It is great to see such a good festival, well done!

    November 2022