BIFF 2021 Filmmaker Workshops
Free programs and open to the public.
Saturday, February 20th, 4:00 PM CST
Any successful film requires a director and a writer who function with complete synchronicity – or one person willing to juggle everything. Join us to hear about the joys and frustrations of wearing many hats from director/writers who do it all.
Join us for a discussion with 2021 BIFF filmmakers who both wrote and directed their films.
Parker Winship
Director, Writer – A Lark and a Swallow
David Gutnik
Director, Writer, Lead Actor – Materna
David Gutnik IMDb
Aleksandra Szczepanowska
Director, Writer – Touch
Aleksandra Szezepanowska IMDb
Stephen Mills
Director, Writer, Lead Actor – Love Is Not Love
Stephen Mills IMDb
Saturday, February 27th, 7:30 PM CST
A tete-a-tete between Independent Film Production Designers
Long-time collaborators Kara Mulrooney and Amanda Tollefson share about their Work-In-Progress The Woman Inside Me (Working Title), a feature film with both historically-based and otherworldly design elements.
In this virtual event, the filmmakers will reveal their process in all things set dressing, costume designing, prop fashioning, and color palating.
Consider this an all-access peek into feature film production design – your chance to learn from our very own BIFF alumnae and darlings of Wisconsin filmmaking.
The Woman Inside Me is a feature film directed by (and starring!) Kara Mulrooney + art directed by Amanda Tollefson.
Currently mid-production in Milwaukee, WI, the film alternates between present day and the WWII era, each period experiencing a strange emotional convergence until one character’s supplies in a concealed bunker go short, and the other character’s pregnancy goes long… The director, Kara Mulrooney, also featured her own pregnancy in this film – which might be considered the most dedicated a filmmaker can get.
Fun Fact #368: “The Woman Inside Me” is partially inspired by Tollefson’s real-life stint making mascot costumes.
Logline: A Japanese-American radio operator forced into hiding during WWII accidentally time travels into a contemporary American woman’s womb.
Kristin Peterson Kaszubowski
Director, Writer, BIFF Alum – 2021, 2019
Kristin Peterson Kaszubowski
Kara Mulrooney
Director, Producer, Actor, BIFF Alum – 2019, 2015, 2014,
Filmmaker, Actor, and Producer from Milwaukee, WI whose most recent feature The Field (Actor, Producer) earned international distribution (Gravitas Ventures), including theatrical and VOD, and recently completed a robust festival run.
Her newest short “jazzy@32 (a true story)” won the Golden Badger Award at its premiere, and her previous short “An Evening at Angelo’s” won the Cream City Cinema Special Jury Prize at its debut.
Amanda Tollefson
Costume Designer, Seamstress, Prop Stylist
An Artist, Costume Designer, & Art Director living in Milwaukee, WI.
Highlights from her 10 years in the film industry include a fitness room makeover for a weight loss reality show in 2012, Costume Design for the VR short film “Ashe ‘68” which premiered at the US Open as well as Sundance in 2018, & Props for the 2nd season of Adult Swim show “Joe Pera Talks With You.”
She also makes ecologically minded quilts, clothing, & home goods out of thrifted/recycled fabric, & occasionally shows her work in galleries, most recently the Real Tinsel gallery in Milwaukee, WI. She is also a seamstress for hire who can make your wildest costume dreams come true.
Conversations with Independent Filmmakers
Join us for a free-wheeling story sharing session with BIFF alumni filmmakers as they regale us with their wildest stories from the set.
Audience members are encouraged to join in the conversation. Consider these our safely distanced happy hours during the festival – provide your own pajamas.
Joshua Koopman
Actor, Producer, BIFF Alum – 2021, 2014
Joshua Koopman IMDb
Katherine Bourne Taylor
Director, Writer, Producer, BIFF Alum – 2021, 2019
Katherine Bourne Taylor IMDb
Cynthia Wade
Oscar-winning documentarian
Cynthia Wade IMDb