The Red Cedar Film Festival, now in its 7th year in 2025, is an annual showcase of independent cinema held in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Set against the backdrop of the historic Mabel Tainter Theater, the festival fosters a warm, community-centered atmosphere, blending local creative voices with compelling stories from around the globe.

Over 4 days Thursday 17 through 20 July, the main themes of the 2025 Red Cedar Film Festival are organized into curated blocks that reflect a wide range of storytelling styles and cultural perspectives. Detailed Descriptions, Trailers and Buy Tickets

Sunday Schedule

11:00 AM | Next Frame – Student Spotlight
19 Short Films, Total Runtime: 2:30:08

This eclectic collection of international student films explores the boundaries we navigate—between freedom and confinement, past and present, self and society—and the breakthroughs that follow. From animated jailbreaks and buried backyard secrets to surreal loops, poetic reflections, and futuristic oil rigs, these stories span genres and geographies. Whether it’s a raccoon plotting escape, a man confronting his past, or a child unlocking adventure, each film offers a fresh, imaginative lens on friendship, memory, mystery, and the creative process. Brimming with curiosity and courage, these shorts invite us to reimagine the world—and ourselves

2:30 PM | Red Cedar Film Festival Awards
A free public event. Presentation of the RCFF Copper Quill Awards
Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animated Short
Best Midwest Roots
Best Family Friendly
Best Student Short