film + art + community
The Benson Film Festival unites filmmakers, artists, businesses, and audiences to create an immersive celebration of culture, connection, and community in the heart of the Benson Creative District.
Through local partnerships and curated programming, we foster meaningful connections and community engagement, strengthening the creative and economic vitality of the neighborhood.
Simply put: we love film, art, and community and we want to share it with you.
Our Crew
The Benson Film Fest team is small but mighty. We’re local, we’re friendly, and most importantly, we’re passionate about our community.
Ben Matukewicz - Executive Director
Michael Hennings - Festival Director
Jenna Lacy - Festival Coordinator
Aaron Wiesman - Festival Coordinator
We’d like to thank the volunteers and selection committee judges who pour their time and energy into bringing this festival to life each year.
Want to get involved? Fill out a volunteer application!
Film Selection Committee
Our selection committee is comprised of local filmmakers, artists, administrators, creative community members, and community leaders. These amazing folks are tasked with recommending the films that best align with our festival mission out of over 100 submissions each year. We thank them for volunteering their time and contributing to our mission.
2026 SUBMISSION JUDGES
Dawn Bower, Will Bristol, Derek Dillon, Reid Doehling, Emil Dubas, Nik Hulstein, Roosa Jawed, Joi Katskee, Precious Lesley, Greg Lilly, Austin Taylor, R.C. Schmidt, Kitty Tyree, Bart Vargas
We’re proud to partner with the Benson Theatre.
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Benson Theatre’s mission is to engage, enhance, and enrich the community through educational and artistic experiences. Located at 6054 Maple Street, renovations on the organization’s historic 1923 facility were completed in 2021, and the new Benson Theatre opened to the public in early 2022.
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Visit the Benson Theatre policies page to learn about the Patron Code of Conduct.
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ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Hearing loop system
Full ADA compliance
Elevator service to the green room, auditorium, and stage
Adult changing station
Compression swing