FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee Sponsors Milwaukee Film’s
“Cinematic Sisterhood” Series

The “Cinematic Sisterhood” film program begins in July and continues through January 2026

June 27, 2025, Milwaukee: Milwaukee Film is thrilled to announce a new collaborative film series called Cinematic Sisterhood sponsored by the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. For nearly forty years the Women’s Fund has been a powerful voice boldly challenging the status quo and advocating for gender equity.

Lisa Attonito, executive director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee said, “The Women’s Fund made this special grant to expand the visibility and influence of women in the film industry. We want conversations, roles, and investments to include more women—as writers, directors, producers, editors, actors, and critics.” She continued, “Women need more and greater access to opportunities in the industry; Milwaukee Film can leverage the big screen to accelerate transformational change in our community and beyond.”

The first film in the lineup is Maureen (Mo) Castle Tusty’s documentary She Rises Up on Monday, July 14. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for networking, with the film screening starting at 6 p.m., followed by a panel discussion featuring the film’s director. The film follows the struggles of three resilient women determined to battle poverty by establishing and sustaining businesses, thereby empowering their communities.

Director Maureen (Mo) Castle Tusty is the co-owner and primary creative director/film director with Sky Films Inc., creating documentary films that inform, uplift and inspire. She is co-filmmaker with her partner James Tusty, and has directed six documentaries that focus on “global stories of triumph of the human spirit. They tend to resonate around the theme of
freedom, whether it’s personal freedom or economic freedom, and are constant reminders of how precious freedom is and where freedom can lead people.” She’s also a NYS-licensed wildlife rehabilitator who assists injured and orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning them to the wild.

Joining Tusty on the panel is Angela Mallett, CEO and founder of Honeybee Sage Wellness & Apothecary, Kathryn Dunn, president/chief visionary officer of Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), and LaShawndra Vernon, CEO and founder of Pryme Solutions. The panel will be moderated by Stephanie Melnick, founder of She Stands Tall and
owner of Melnick and Melnick, S.C.. The talkback will explore local entrepreneurship, funding options, success stories and roadblocks, and ways audiences can take action.

Susan Kerns, executive director of Milwaukee Film, expressed, “We are delighted to focus on women filmmakers and utilize these films to facilitate conversations and connections in Milwaukee and beyond. Meeting people face to face is invaluable, especially today, so Milwaukee Film is eager to offer space in the historic Oriental Theatre to foster communication
and support our communities while showcasing the incredible talents of women filmmakers far and wide.”

Each screening in the Cinematic Sisterhood series will be accompanied by an event involving the visiting filmmakers and networking, roundtable discussions, panels, or master classes to maximize connecting event attendees.

Screenings will continue through January 2026, with one screening occurring during Milwaukee Film’s Dialogues Documentary Festival (September 18-21) and a tribute event featuring a luminary woman director in the fall. This event will present several of the filmmaker’s films and conversations about working in male-dominated fields. More details will be announced in late summer.

Possible press conversation themes:
● Maureen Castle Tusty interview
● Women in the film industry
● Entrepreneurship and the arts
● Women’s entrepreneurship in Milwaukee
● Community activation through cinematic experiences
● Economic empowerment

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About Milwaukee Film
Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to entertaining, educating, and engaging our community through cinematic experiences, with a vision to make Milwaukee a center for film culture. Milwaukee Film is committed to high-quality and accessible film programming through their operation of the magnificent Oriental Theatre, a historic cinema palace, and the iconic Downer Theatre, Milwaukee’s oldest running cinema. The second
Dialogues Documentary Festival will take place September 18-21, 2025. The 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will take place April 16-30, 2026. For more information or to become a member, visit mkefilm.org. Official Milwaukee Film photo assets can be found here, and should be credited to Valerie Hill.

About The Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
The Women’s Fund is activating philanthropy that fosters unity for gender equity and stands at the forefront of the women’s movement locally. Founded in 1986, and established as an independent organization in 2006, we are focused on protecting rights, removing obstacles, and creating ripples of change. We challenge the status quo through advocacy and policy work,
relevant programming, strategic grant making and scholarship awards.