Sheboygan Film Festival to Open at the Weill

Excitement is building as the Sheboygan Film Festival prepares for its inaugural event, October 2–5, 2025, and now we can reveal where it will all begin.  Opening night will take place at the iconic Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,150-seat venue in the heart of downtown Sheboygan.

Photo Credit: Mike Hume

For Festival Chair Beah Travis, the location couldn’t be more fitting. 

“We couldn’t have asked for a better venue to kick off our first film festival,” said Travis, who also serves as Founder and Executive Director of the Belladonna Film Project. “The Weill is iconic. When our neighbors and guests arrive there to meet filmmakers from across the state and the world, it will be an experience no one will be able to forget.”

The Weill Center has been a cornerstone of Sheboygan’s arts community since 1928, hosting everything from Broadway productions and symphonies to international ballet. 

Executive Director Katy Glodosky noted that the venue’s mission is to collaborate with local arts organizations and enhance Sheboygan’s cultural landscape. “The Sheboygan Film Festival is a great opportunity to do that,” she said. “Bringing guests into town for this event will benefit the entire downtown economy, bringing new patrons into our restaurants, local shops, and hotels.”

The theater also has a proud history of cinematic moments. Past highlights include the premiere of Kevin Costner’s Open Range, when Herb Kohler arranged for Costner to arrive by horse and carriage, and Disney’s sailing film Morning Light, when Roy Disney himself attended the screening.

With its rich history and stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the Weill Center offers a perfect stage for filmmakers and audiences alike. Its selection as the festival’s opening night venue reflects both the ambition of the Sheboygan Film Festival and the city’s dedication to growing its arts community.

Will we see you on opening night? Tickets and festival passes are on sale now!