Nathan Deming's Latest Film, 'Winter Hymns,' To Show In Eau Claire
narrative drama set in a Wisconsin palliative care office will show at the Micon Cinema in Oakwood Mall, April 24-26
“Over a single snowy day in a hospital, a doctor meets with patients nearing the end of their lives.” This small but mighty introduction sets the scene for an upcoming feature film by Eau Claire- and Los Angeles-based filmmaker, Nathan Deming.
Deming and his new feature film, Winter Hymns, will soon embark on a regional tour of premieres this month, including a debut weekend in Eau Claire at the Micon Cinema in the Oakwood Mall (4800 Golf Rd.) from April 24-26.
Winter Hymns is a narrative drama set in a single room at a palliative care office from an unnamed city in Wisconsin. Deming’s inspiration for the film spans decades; it originated in part from his father’s work in these healthcare fields.
However, the writing for Winter Hymns began to take shape on paper seven years ago.
“I'm always interested in character first, that’s half why I do anything as a filmmaker,” Deming said. “I think (physicians are) often covered in the media – but the focus is usually on how hard their job must be.
“For my film, I was interested in how resilient these people largely are and incredibly smart,” he continued.
A key focus of Deming’s previous films – February, Speaking In Tongues and more – and identity as a Chippewa Valley native, has been to highlight the presence of filmmakers and creatives within this Midwestern region.
Shot entirely in a pocket of Menomonie earlier this fall, Winter Hymns centered its focus on local talent; both the cast and crew come from the Chippewa Valley, Spring Green and other Midwest cities.
“I was blown away by the work ethic of the (University of Wisconsin-Stout) students who joined us, who were enthusiastic and worked long hours around their class availability and always had enthusiasm,” Deming said. “This is what makes filming in Wisconsin so fun for me personally – the connections you build with people who have a shared love of filmmaking, even if it’s their first time on set.”
This sentiment was especially true for Thaddeus Sykora, who plays the role of Jared: a young lineman with stomach cancer, a condition inherited by both his father and grandfather.
Jared, throughout the film, appears fairly stoic toward his condition and does not want to impact his remaining family during his illness, Deming said.
While Winter Hymns was Sykora’s first experience working on screen, he has long been involved in the area film industry; his truck was used by Deming for one of his previous projects, February and he has witnessed the vibrant, local filmmaking community on the sets of other area projects.
Sykora said this new venture into acting perhaps offers a more authentic portrayal of the character’s story arc and ultimately, one which embodies certain elements of what it means to be a Wisconsinite.
“It felt close to home, being in Jared’s shoes, because I wasn’t playing a person dissimilar to who I actually am,” Sykora said of his character. “A very Midwestern approach to grief… (is) very stoic, oftentimes upfront (and) non-tearful view of grief.”
The film’s leading character, Dr. Linda Vobernik, was portrayed by Colleen Madden of Spring Green – a core member of the American Players Theatre with decades of experience in both live and on-screen performances.
True of the many regional performances in Madden’s career, she insists the “midwest corridor” remains rich in artistic talent, work ethic and collaboration.
Throughout Dr. Vobernik’s journey – a character patterned after Deming’s father – she expresses little emotion as she constantly keeps ups with the feelings and reactions of her patients, Madden said.
As Madden continued to develop her character’s patterns and mannerisms – the direction of both cast and crew offered a chance to uplift themes of empathy present in Winter Hymns.
“It was constricting and it was also home,” Madden said of the set design and area cast whom she worked with. “The most marvelous thing about the film is this constant current of people coming into her office, who are very aware that they are dying – it’s such an incredible slice of Midwest life.”
Though Dr. Vobernik may not present as an immediately comfortable person or someone you’d “go get a beer with,” Madden suggests her character highlights the crucial role of companionship and empathy in people’s end-of-life experiences – as the effects of grief never truly leave us.
" 'Palliative care' pretty much means 'care without a cure.' It is the hospital system admitting, in a way, that there is nothing left to try – but that doesn't mean care has to stop."
NATHAN DEMING
DIRECTOR, WRITER OF WINTER HYMNS
“What is lovely about this film is I don’t feel the grief is oppressive in this film; it’s not the Midwest way,” she continued. “The most interesting, liberated people are the people who understand that there is great grief and fear and darkness in the world.”
The local screenings in Eau Claire – at 7pm on April 24, 25 and 3pm on April 26 – are preceded by a sequence of sold-out screenings with the 2026 Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison.
Additional screenings will be held in Hayward, Manitowoc, Viroqua – and the city of Menomonie where the film was shot.
As local viewers will soon have the opportunity to see Winter Hymns at the area Micon Cinemas, Deming hopes the film’s themes of grief, compassion and local storytelling will resonate with everyone who sees it.
“I really think people will recognize themselves on screen in this movie and different Midwest personalities that I think often get ignored,” Deming said. “It’s my larger hope that people can start to see places like Eau Claire as capable of making cinema that people are interested in and maybe turn to.”
To learn more about Winter Hymns, a feature film by Nathan Deming – produced by Tim Schwagel, Zach Staads and others – visit winterhymnsfilm.com. Future screenings of the film, across Wisconsin and in the Chippewa Valley, are available to view on the website’s showtimes page.
