Selig Family gives $200k to Milwaukee Film

Peep this — way to go, Milwaukee Film. And for the rest of you, now you know what it costs to get a MF (Milwaukee Film, gutter minds!) award named after you. Yep, apparently right around the 200k mark. Not bad.

Milwaukee Film Announces $200,000 Gift From the Selig Family
Generous gift from Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig to be spread over two years; Film festival audience awards to be named after the family

MILWAUKEE – August 3, 2009 – Milwaukee Film, the new and independent organization dedicated to presenting Milwaukee’s premier film festival, is thrilled to announce today that it will receive a $200,000 gift from Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig for its 2009 and 2010 Milwaukee Film Festivals.

“Bud and I are delighted to put our support behind the Milwaukee Film Festival,” said Sue Selig. “We’re so impressed with the enthusiasm and determination of this group, as well as with their ability to think big and think long-term. We’re confident that the film festival will boost Milwaukee’s profile in the arts and culture scene across the country and across the world, and we’re so glad to be a part of that.”

To show its appreciation for this gift, Milwaukee Film will name its two film festival audience awards after the Selig family. The Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Award will be given to the overall audience favorite film in the feature and short film categories.

The Allan H. (Bud) and Suzanne L. Selig Audience Award allows each and every film festival patron to vote on the film he/she just saw and to rate the film on a scale of Poor to Excellent. At Milwaukee Film’s recent six-week film series, Monday Night at the Movies with Milwaukee Film, all six films ended with a rating between Great and Excellent, a testament to the quality programming that Milwaukee Film brings to Milwaukee.

“Sue and Bud’s gift is a great validation of our independent and community-wide effort to bring back an exceptional film festival to Milwaukee and to help build the foundation for a vibrant, year-round cultural institution” said Marianne Lubar, Milwaukee Film Board Member.

The Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will take place September 24 – October 4, 2009. The festival will feature 11 days of film screenings, special events and much more. More than 100 films will screen at the Landmark Theatres Oriental Theatre and the Marcus Theatres® North Shore Cinema, and special events will take place throughout the Milwaukee area.

Ticket packages and passes for the film festival are on sale now, and movie lovers are urged to purchase in advance to avoid any sellouts.

Film buffs are invited to visit www.milwaukee-film.org for more information on tickets, film festival selections, and special events, as well as on joining the Milwaukee Film Founders’ Club.