Festival Events
Blacklist Brewery

Pre-Festival Gathering
Are you in town Monday night before the festivities begin? If so, join as for cocktails and conversation as we say hello and prepare for Minnesota WebFest and the North Star Story Summit.

Kick-Off Happy Hour
Join us after our first day of screenings for an evening of beers (and maybe some axe throwing?) at Blacklist Brewery.

The Purple Carpet
Relax, have a local brew, and take some pictures on the Minnesota WebFest Purple Carpet (yes, it is purple). The Purple Carpet will be set up just outside the UMFO Lounge where the 2023 Awards Ceremony will be held. It's a great opportunity to meet up with all of the filmmakers from this year's festival and compare notes on what you saw during the screenings.

2023 Awards Ceremony
Welcome to the 2023 Minnesota WebFest Awards Ceremony! By popular request, Lori Roovers returns for her third year hosting our awards ceremony and this year promises to be a great integration of the Minnesota WebFest and Catalyst festivals in support of the North Star Story Summit. Who will walk away with the Best Overall Web Series and Best Overall Podcast Awards? Who will be selected as the best creators in Minnesota?
The Depot

Strategies for Launching a Streaming Series
Launch every episode together for binging? Launch one episode per week? How do I integrate my festival strategy into my launch plans? Seeka TV's VP of Programming (and MNWF Director) George Reese will discuss launch strategies for streaming series to answer the questions filmmakers often have around taking their work to market. In addition to the questions above, Reese will touch on issues like how to approach multiple platforms and how a first season differs from launching new seasons.

Shooting Your Project in Northern Minnesota
Join Executive Director Shari Marshik to talk logistics about shooting your next project. Northern Minnesota has amazing (and accessible) financial incentives to shoot in the region. The best part is that they are stackable - which means there are certain expense lines for which you can get up to 75% cash back! Shari will go over what's available, she'll explain the process of applying (in human terms!). We'll also talk a bit about the help and services that are available through the Upper Midwest Film Office, including things to think about while making your budget! This will be an informal format with plenty of time to bring real-world questions about planning your project.