The 28th Wisconsin Film Festival

The 28th Wisconsin Film Festival returns to Madison April 9–16, 2026, bringing one of the Midwest’s most celebrated independent film events back to the big screen. This year’s festival showcases a diverse lineup of over 135 international, documentary, short, and independent feature films screening across multiple Madison venues. From world premieres and American indies to restorations, rediscoveries, and films made right here in Wisconsin, there is something for every kind of film lover. Families won’t want to miss Big Screens Little Folks, a specially curated selection of films chosen with young audiences in mind (tickets for children age 12 and under are only $6!) — making WFF a perfect outing for all ages. Attending the Wisconsin Film Festival is a chance to support local cinema, connect with fellow film lovers, and experience stories from around the world that you simply won’t find anywhere else — not in local theaters, and not on streaming. General admission tickets are $12 per screening, with All-Festival passes available for $325. Tickets are on sale now at wifilmfest.eventive.org. The Wisconsin Film Festival is presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Arts Institute and is the largest campus-based film festival in the United States.