If you are a fan of weird cinema – be it horror, sci-fi, paranormal, any underground film or documentaries – you are surely in for a treat at MidWest WeirdFest.

This past weekend, from March 6-8 at the Downtown Micon Cinema (315 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) the annual film festival celebrated its 10th anniversary. “A Night Of Horror,” which some might consider the creepier, gore-filled sibling of MidWest WeirdFest, ran concurrent showings throughout the weekend.

Attendees with tickets for the full festival weekend – or single day passes – were not surprised to find crowds pooling into the downtown theater and lines stretching into both the upstairs and downstairs screens.

MidWest WeirdFest holds a special place for dedicated attendees, Cassie Pearson and Emma Truitt. Having proudly attended all 10 runs of the festival, they view the event as a celebration of community.

“Everyone wants to talk about their art and I want to talk about it with them too,” Pearson said. “Even if there is a different mix of people each year, at this point, (MidWest WeirdFest) is a pretty tight-knit community.”

“It’s nice to see people you recognize – that maybe you don’t touch base with in the ‘outer world’ beyond MidWest WeirdFest. It is easy to fall back into it and talk about common interests,” Truitt added.

For over two decades, Dean Bertram, the founder of MidWest WeirdFest and A Night Of Horror, has been involved with and attended film festivals in cities across the country and the world. And yet, he can’t imagine finding a better home for his community than Eau Claire. 

“We receive many more submissions than we actually screen, probably approaching a ratio of one film selected for every dozen or so received.”

dean bertram

founder, midwest weird fest & a night of horror

“Bringing A Night of Horror International Film Festival from Sydney, Australia, to screen simultaneously with MidWest WeirdFest, has also seen the event almost double in size over the last few years,” Bertram said. “Around twice as many filmmakers now attend and both cinema screens at the Micon Downtown are constantly running for the whole event.”

The desire to keep MidWest WeirdFest – and now A Night of Horror – accessible, affordable and without any gatekeepers remains strong, Bertram said. The Micon Cinema owners and staff have continued to be committed hosts and nothing but supportive since year one, he noted.

The festival’s official bar just right next door, The Mousetrap Tavern (311 S. Barstow St, Eau Claire) is also “a complete gem.” This year, like any other, it hosted countless post-screening conversations and celebrations.

Filmmakers and local cinephiles in attendance said MidWest WeirdFest favorites often include the “Best Of The Midwest” shorts program and other short-film screenings.

This year, feature-length film “Peeping Todd,” written and directed by Josh Munds, stole the show with a packed house and roaring laughter. The screening, as with nearly all film showings in both festivals, was complemented by a question-and-answer from cast and crew.

“We receive many more submissions than we actually screen, probably approaching a ratio of one film selected for every dozen or so received,” Bertram said. “I watch every film submitted, so I am fortunate that I see trends beyond what we even screen.”

When Bertram first launched MidWest WeirdFest a decade ago, he was just a newcomer to the Chippewa Valley. Today, he is grateful to see such a loyal audience support his passions – with many familiar faces returning to the festival year after year.

Here’s to the next decade of the Chippewa Valley’s annual gathering for oddity, obscurity and plain weird creativity. 

“Where else in town can you hang out with similar-minded cineastes, meet the filmmakers themselves, and celebrate the type of film that we all love, for four days?” Bertram said. “If you haven't attended a past edition, please, next year, come get weird with us!”

Visit the MidWest WeirdFest and A Night Of Horror festival webpages online to learn more about the two 2026 screening schedules.