DFF 2025: Session 5 | Welcome Poets

With its mission of screening the best in Wisconsin independent cinema in a theater that is worthy of the art that it is showcasing, the Driftless Film Festival returns for its 16th edition this November.

Founded in 2009, the Driftless Film Festival has been the center of independent film in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. From hard-hitting documentaries to thought provoking features to timely short films, the DFF strives to highlight local, regional, and world cinema alike. Join us for this year’s festival on November 5-9, 2025.

DFF screens each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, and with its new marquee finally in place, the theatre retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.

Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings. Friendships form over coffee at the local diner and drafts at the main street bars. This opportunity for one-on-one connection kindles the union of film and community at DFF.

From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home. We welcome you to join us.