17th Annual Festival (Feb. 12-14) Offers 17-Film “Shorts” Program, Three Feature Films, and 10-Film Program by Student Filmmakers
Fish Creek, Wis. (January 29, 2026) — The Door County Film Fest has announced its official program lineup for the 17th annual event, scheduled for February 12-14 at Northern Sky Theater’s Barbara and Spencer Gould Theater. As in previous years, the 2026 festival will feature an entire day (Sat., Feb. 14) of independent short films, including a total of 17 dramas, comedies, suspense and romance films. On the opening night of the main festival (Friday, Feb. 13), the award-winning documentary “The Librarians” will be screened, while Saturday night’s feature film is “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” filmed in dozens of well-known Door County locations throughout March-April, 2026. Thursday night’s program features 10 films largely created by students from throughout the Wisconsin university system, including Oshkosh, Stout, Green Bay, Madison, and Milwaukee.
Film Fest attendees can purchase individual film sessions ($15) or a full pass ($60) that includes all festival sessions (in-person festival tickets are available at northernskytheater.com). For those who are unable to attend the festival in-person, an online streaming option is available. Starting Sunday, Feb. 15, a day after the in-person festival ends, the public can purchase streaming tickets through the festival’s website (doorcountyfilmfest.com). Just like the in-person festival, virtual attendees can purchase passes for one or more sessions or purchase an all-inclusive pass. The festival’s executive director, Chris Opper, noted that filmmaker interviews and other bonus content are already available on the site at no charge. Films are available for streaming for one week, until Sunday, Feb. 22.
The festival kicks off on Thursday night, Feb. 12 at 6pm with a wide variety of films by student filmmakers, including suspense, crime, relationships, grief, friendship, and science fiction. Friday night opens with a “filmmaker social” at 4pm — festival attendees are invited — followed by a 6pm screening of the 2025 documentary “The Librarians.” The award-winning film follows the growing movement to restrict access to books and information in public libraries, and the librarians who are pushing back to protect intellectual freedom, democratic values, and the freedom to read.
The screening is being sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Door County and Friends of Door County Libraries. Following the screening, a Q&A with film producer Janique L. Robilard will provide insight into the issues explored in the documentary and its impact on communities nationwide.
Saturday’s programming consists of two sessions of 17 short films, with a heavy focus on Wisconsin filmmakers. The festival then wraps up with a Saturday evening screening of “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” the much-heralded romantic feature that was entirely filmed in Door County in 2025.
The Door County Film Fest will present four submitting filmmakers with “Golden Mug Awards” in 2026, each handcrafted by local potter Larry “Thor” Thoreson of Gills Rock Pottery. The four award categories are: Jury Award, People’s Choice (short), People’s Choice (feature narrative), and People’s Choice (feature documentary). Festival attendees are encouraged to submit their votes for the three People’s Choice Awards.
The 17th Annual Door County Film Fest will take place Feb. 12-14 at Northern Sky Theater’s Barbara and Spencer Gould Theater, located at 9058 County Road A, Fish Creek, WI 54212. Tickets for the in-person festival can be purchased at northernskytheater.com, while tickets for the festival’s streaming option can be purchased at doorcountyfilmfest.com.
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