Freedom, Wisconsin (film)

A young woman seeking self-discovery is held up after running into a struggling writer from the big city.

• Aimee La Joie as Penny
• Stephen George as Ephram
• Melissa Shoshahi as Trisha
• Michelle Renee Thompson as Shelly
• Cory Hardin as Young Priest
• Jessica Ambuehl as Lily
• Richard Baiker as Bruce
• John Clark as Farmer{{Cite web |title=Freedom, Wisconsin (2023) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/freedom-wisconsin-2023 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}

The film was shot in Kaukauna, Wisconsin{{Cite web |last=Seibt |first=Cora |date=2021-08-26 |title='Freedom, WI': Film crews close Kaukauna road, Mayor participates |url=https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/freedom-wi-film-crews-close-kaukauna-road-mayor-participates/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=WFRV-TV |language=en-US}} and the Fox Cities in August and September, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Jon |date=2021-08-28 |title=A small Wisconsin town is headed to the big screen |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/green-bay/news/2021/08/27/freedom-wisconsin-movie |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=Spectrum News 1 |language=en}} Preston originally penned the script around 2011 when she lived in Appleton, Wisconsin{{Cite web |last=Plutchak |first=Dan |date=2021-08-23 |title=Film crew in downtown Kaukauna this week |url=https://kaukaunacommunitynews.com/2021/08/23/film-crew-in-downtown-kaukauna-this-week/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=Kaukauna Community News |language=en-US}} after graduating from Lawrence University.{{Cite web |last=Berthiaume |first=Ed |date=2021-09-29 |title=Lawrence alumna returns to Appleton to direct film {{!}} Lawrence University |url=https://www.lawrence.edu/articles/lawrence-alumna-returns-appleton-direct-film |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=Lawrence University |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Berthiaume |first=Ed |date=2021-09-20 |title=Lawrence University alum back in Fox Cities shooting a movie, 'Freedom, WI' |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/09/20/lawrence-university-alum-shooting-movie-freedom-wi-fox-cities/8378234002/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922102324/https://www.postcrescent.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/09/20/lawrence-university-alum-shooting-movie-freedom-wi-fox-cities/8378234002/ |archive-date=2021-09-22 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=The Post-Crescent |language=en-US}} The film is set in Freedom, Wisconsin{{Cite web |last=McNeal |first=Rick |date=2022-07-15 |title=Hollywood in the Fox Valley – the Trailer for the Movie Freedom, WI [VIDEO] |url=https://www.wapl.com/2022/07/15/53359/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=WAPL |language=en}} and features Kaukauna Mayor Tony Penterman.

The film premiered at the Oregon Independent Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon on September 27, 2023.{{Cite web |title=2023 Oregon Independent Film Festival |url=https://www.oregonindependentfilmfest.com/pg2023/09_27.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018220000/https://www.oregonindependentfilmfest.com/pg2023/09_27.php |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Oregon Independent Film Festival}} In 2024, it screened at the 10th Nevada Women's Film Festival,{{Cite web |title=Lucky Day {{!}} Freedom, Wisconsin screening at NWFFest |url=https://luckyday.tv/news/freedom-wisconsin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521030805/https://luckyday.tv/news/freedom-wisconsin |archive-date=2024-05-21 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Lucky Day |language=en-US}} Red Cedar Film Festival in Menomonie, Wisconsin,{{Cite web |title=2024 Film Festival – Red Cedar Film |url=https://redcedarfilm.org/2024-film-festival/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521030910/https://redcedarfilm.org/2024-film-festival/ |archive-date=2024-05-21 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Red Cedar Film Festival |language=en-US}} Cactus Club Independent Film Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,{{Cite web |date=2024-08-05 |title=Cactus Club Independent Film Festival- Day 2, Program 2 |url=https://www.cactusclubmilwaukee.com/events/cactus-club-independent-film-festival-day-2-program-2/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Cactus Club Milwaukee |language=en-US}} Kansas City Underground Film Festival in Kansas City, Missouri,{{Cite web |last=Neet |first=Mel |date=2024-09-10 |title=Offbeat, Bittersweet and Eye-Opening: Kansas City Underground Film Festival's 5th Year |url=https://kcstudio.org/offbeat-bittersweet-and-eye-opening-kansas-city-underground-film-festivals-5th-year/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=KC STUDIO |language=en-US}} and Klamath Independent Film Festival in Klamath Falls, Oregon.{{Cite web |title=2024 Klamath Independent Film Festival |url=https://www.mybasin.com/event/2024-klamath-independent-film-festival/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=KLAD (AM) |language=en-US}}

The film was nominated for a Femmy Award in the category of Best Feature Film at the Nevada Women's Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=2024 Femmy Awards |url=https://www.nwffest.com/2024-femmy-awards/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Nevada Women's Film Festival |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|title=Freedom, Wisconsin}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
• [https://fsm.ink/q-a-with-filmmaker-molly-preston/ Interview with Preston]

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Category:Films shot in Wisconsin

Category:American black comedy films

Category:American coming-of-age comedy films

Category:Films about writers

Category:2023 independent films

Category:English-language black comedy films

Category:English-language independent films

Category:2023 black comedy films

Category:2020s coming-of-age comedy films