The first group of Wisconsin films to benefit from the state's new tax credit program has been identified, marking a significant milestone for the local entertainment industry. Film Wisconsin, a division of the state Department of Tourism, announced six recipients in late summer. These include Mis Undead Quince, a short film directed by Jocelyne Berumen, along with Ueck, Rao, Long Shot: How Bud Selig Brought Baseball Home, Run for Glory: The Don Beebe Story, and The Warehouse.
Berumen, whose Green Bay-based company Cyclops Girl Productions typically shoots weddings and quinceañeras, drew inspiration for Mis Undead Quince from her observations of cultural gaps at such events. Her film, which features a girl and her grandmother fighting a zombie invasion during a quinceañera, explores the experience of growing up Mexican American in Wisconsin. The project was shot in Milwaukee earlier this year and is slated for release on the 2027 film festival circuit. Berumen received up to $19,273 in tax credits for expenses incurred within the state.
Wisconsin now joins 39 other states that offer financial incentives to film productions. To qualify, projects must meet specific spending thresholds within the state. Feature films over 30 minutes in length must spend at least $100,000 on salaries and wages in Wisconsin, while shorter projects require at least $50,000 in in-state spending. Anne Sayers, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, emphasized that the credits are designed to ensure work is performed locally rather than outsourced to Hollywood.
The tax credit functions similarly to a rebate, allowing production companies to recover 30% of their projected budget after spending money on approved in-state expenses. The initial round of applications generated significant interest, with Sayers receiving 20 eligible submissions. For many producers, this financial guarantee serves as an insurance policy that helps secure outside investors by reducing financial risk.
Among the recipients, the documentary Ueck about Brewers radio announcer Bob Uecker is the only film already released. Produced by September Club, the project received $140,008 in credits. Producer Barry Poltermann noted that the funds were crucial for post-production costs, such as licensing music and archival footage. The tax credit effectively saved the team a year of work by avoiding the need to re-edit the film to manage licensing expenses. Ueck screened in Wisconsin theaters this summer and will expand to Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois this fall, with a nationwide release planned for next year.
The Warehouse, a documentary from Omachance Productions, follows artists and retired teachers in Richland Center as they attempt to complete Frank Lloyd Wright's unfinished A.D. German Warehouse. The project was awarded $216,000 in tax credits, which producer John Tymus said helps cover pre-production costs like staff salaries. Tymus, a native of Burlington with credits including over 300 episodes of Let's Make A Deal, anticipates a release in spring 2028.
Steven Zambo of Salty Earth Pictures in Fort Atkinson received $86,000 in credits for his documentary Run for Glory: The Don Beebe Story. While the film covers former Packers wide receiver Don Beebe, who has limited ties to Wisconsin, the post-production work is being handled at Zambo's studio in Fort Atkinson. This local activity qualifies the film for the credit, and Zambo expects a 2027 release.
The state views these productions as a tool for tourism, noting that films set in Wisconsin often drive visitors to shooting locations. Sayers cited the increased tourism in Milwaukee following the filming of Top Chef and in Door County after the release of the Christmas movie A Cherry Pie Christmas. Although centering Wisconsin stories is not a strict requirement for the credits, it is a factor considered during the review process. Sayers expressed excitement about the diverse range of stories and formats being told about the state in this first round of funded projects.
Two of the selected projects, the feature film Rao and the documentary Long Shot: How Bud Selig Brought Baseball Home, did not respond to requests for interviews regarding their receipt of the tax credits.
