WF Special Grant to Milwaukee Film
The Women’s Fund awarded a special grant to Milwaukee Film to launch Cinematic Sisterhood, a monthly series of films that celebrate women’s voices on and off the screen.
For nearly 40 years, the Women’s Fund has challenged the status quo and advocated for gender equity. This collaboration brings that mission to the big screen by amplifying women as writers, directors, producers, editors, actors, and critics.
We made this special grant to expand the visibility and influence of women in the film industry. We want conversations, roles, and investments in all areas of our lives to include more women.
About the Series
Cinematic Sisterhood runs July 2025 through January 2026 at Milwaukee Film’s historic Oriental Theatre. Each screening features:
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Networking opportunities to connect with local changemakers.
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Conversations with filmmakers and cultural leaders.
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Talkbacks, roundtables, and master classes that extend the stories beyond the screen.
From documentaries on entrepreneurship to dramedies about family and identity, these films invite us to see the world through women’s perspectives and take action together.
Film Lineup
July 14, 2025 – She Rises Up
August 23, 2025 – The Queen of My Dreams
September 18–21, 2025 – Arrest the Midwife
July 14, 2025 – She Rises Up
August 23, 2025 – The Queen of My Dreams
Told through bold colors, complex characters, and multiple timelines, The Queen of My Dreams, the second film in our series, is a dazzling coming-of-age story that navigates faith, queerness, identity, and the nuances of mother-daughter love across cultures and generations.
After the credits we’ll be hosting a post-film conversation to unpack the themes, share insights, and celebrate the voices behind the film. Both Fawzia Mirza, the film’s director, and Andria Wilson-Mirza, its producer, are expected. Q&A moderated by Lajwanti P. Waghray, Milwaukee-based filmmaker.
Click here to read the press release about this film.
September 18–21, 2025 – Arrest the Midwife
With rare access to an intensely private community, Arrest the Midwife exposes the rural healthcare desert created by restrictive maternal health policies. The film tells the story of criminalized midwives, and the Amish and Mennonite women who defy tradition to advocate for bodily autonomy and reproductive justice.
We view this story as a catalyst for broader conversations on inequities in reproductive health by shining a light on racial disparities, restrictive regulations, and systemic barriers that women face here in greater Milwaukee and beyond. It calls us to consider how advocacy, policy reform, and community action can expand access to care.
The screening will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A and a discussion on documentary ethics:
- Elaine Epstein, director of Arrest the Midwife
- Julie Forrest Wyman, director of The Tallest Dwarf
Click here to read the press release about this film.
The series will also feature:
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A tribute event honoring a luminary woman director later this fall.
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Additional monthly screenings. Click here for details as they become available >> https://womensfundmke.org/calendar
Why It Matters
Film has the power to start conversations that ripple outward, which shape communities, industries, and futures. By investing in this series, the Women’s Fund is ensuring that women’s stories are seen, heard, and valued.
This collaboration accelerates transformational change, creating a cultural space where women’s voices aren’t the exception… they are the expectation.
Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to making Milwaukee a hub for film culture, operating the Oriental and Downer Theatres, and hosting the annual Milwaukee Film Festival.