While other film festivals in the area work towards bringing independent and international films to Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival brings a variety of edgier films to the public.
"Milwaukee Underground Film Festival (or, M.U.F.F.) is an annual three-day event showcasing radically independent experimental, documentary and narrative films and videos from around the world," says M.U.F.F. director Ariana Hamidi.
"We are committed to publicly promoting the provocative, bizarre, political, and otherwise controversial film, video and new media work. We are interested in pushing boundaries for the true independent producing low-budget films."
The festival also showcases art, video and sound installations from local talents. Hamidi says that it's because M.U.F.F. works to unify the Milwaukee community through "cross promotions and diverse programming."
Filmmakers looking to submit their work to M.U.F.F. still have time. Films are being accepted until April 12.
"We show a range of material, but primarily we focus on experimental or alternative work. There is typically an equal ratio of local vs. national/international filmmakers included," Hamidi says. "We have everything from non-fiction experimental, political animation, narrative, per formative, and those works that seem to be generally unclassifiable."
A change from previous years, M.U.F.F. is allowing submissions from high school students and younger talent for a special program dedicated to emerging talent.
"We want Milwaukee residents to reach out of the rubble of the mundane and explore new ways of experiencing film, we believe that once they see it they'll be hooked," Hamidi says.
M.U.F.F. is a non-profit organization, so for the next two weeks, there will be several fundraising events happening around Milwaukee.
There are two events happening this week. There will be a poetry reading at 6 p.m. April 4 at the Amaranth Café, 3329 W. Lisbon Ave. The event will feature poets and an open mic. There will be an all-ages rock and roll show featuring the Lillies, Richie Murry and Waffleberry at 8:30 p.m. April 5 at Club Timbuktu, 520 E. Center St.
"We are dedicated to offering a platform for marginalized and underrepresented artists, as well as bringing the types of work to Milwaukee that rarely get shown in public venues," Hamidi says.
"Our programming committee is concerned with making programs accessible and challenging to people from all walks of life, whether someone has never been to a movie or produces and watches movies all day long, MUFF has something to offer everyone."
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
