Overview

Joining the Peck School of the Arts Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres is more than just choosing an education—it’s an invitation to be part of a thriving community of storytellers and artists. Here, you’ll cultivate your creative potential while gaining the skills, experience, and connections needed to launch your career.

What sets us apart is our commitment to meaningful connections. Our faculty of working artists, dedicated staff, fellow creatives, and the broader arts community will serve as your mentors and collaborators. These relationships will form a valuable professional network, supporting you long after graduation.

Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, our department provides access to a vibrant, creative economy and stunning visual landscapes. As a student, you’ll learn from active filmmakers and artists while gaining real-world experience through internships and collaborations with arts organizations and creative agencies—both in Wisconsin and beyond.

We offer unique hands-on learning experiences, including doc|UWM, a professional documentary media center where students work with real clients to produce documentary media, and the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, where students gain experience in every aspect of running a film festival.

Within our department, every space is designed to fuel your artistic journey. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art production equipment, and our studios, cinemas, and screening rooms provide the perfect environment for experimentation and creative exploration. Additionally, we offer unique resources and opportunities, including a black box studio, greenscreen studio, and audio studio with a voice-over chamber; 16mm analog filmmaking resources; the Union Cinema offering free screenings; Experimental Tuesdays screening series featuring visiting artists; one of the largest collections of 16mm artist films available for public screenings and classroom study; a variety of student-run clubs and organizations; and a dedicated Living Learning Community for students in Film, Video, Animation & New Genres.

But our greatest asset is our community—a space where students collaborate, create, and form lasting friendships and professional relationships that extend far beyond graduation.

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Faculty and Staff

Our inspirational faculty and staff make sure students feel welcome and empowered to think outside the box and explore all possibilities of making art at UWM. Visit the Peck School of the Arts directory to meet these artists, explore their biographies and engage with recent work.

Scholarships and Aid 

Financial constraints shouldn’t hinder your artistic dreams. Our comprehensive range of scholarships and aid programs is designed to empower and support artists like you.

Study Abroad

We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.

Mission

The Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres is dedicated to transforming students into expressive filmmakers and artists. Our programs foster creativity, ideation, and technical expertise while providing the flexibility to explore all aspects of the field. What sets us apart is our strong community—artist faculty, dedicated staff, fellow creatives, and the wider Milwaukee film scene—who cultivate meaningful connections and support the next generation of innovative filmmakers. Joining our department means immersing yourself in a dynamic creative environment, honing your craft, and developing the skills to navigate the professional world. 

Programs

Undergraduate Majors

Minors

 Graduate Degrees

Undergraduate Advising

Academic advising is a collaborative process that empowers students to realize their maximum educational potential. Students are encouraged to visit the Peck School of the Arts Advising & Student Services page to meet with your advisor prior to each semester’s registration period. Advisors provide students with individualized appointments to assist with degree requirements, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and more.

Graduate Advising 

Individual Peck School of the Arts graduate advisors are assigned upon admission. Your advisor will work closely with you during your time here. To connect with your graduate program representative, please visit the Graduate tab on the Peck School of the Arts apply page.

Film, Video, Animation and New Genres Courses

NameRankDegreeSchoolGraduate FacultyEmeritus Faculty
Benjamin Balcom Assistant Professor MFA University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Yes No
Joel Benjamin Assistant Professor MFA DePaul University No No
Richard Blau Professor Emeritus PhD Yale University No Yes
Portia Cobb Professor MA San Francisco State University Yes No
Michael Gibisser Associate Professor MFA University of Illinois at Chicago Yes No
Laura Harrison Assistant Professor MFA School of the Art Institute of Chicago Yes No
Kelly Kirshtner Associate Professor PhD University of California, Irvine Yes No
Jesse Malmed Assistant Professor MFA University of Illinois at Chicago No No
Marquise Mays Assistant Professor MA University of Southern California No No
Jesse McLean Associate Professor, Chair MFA University of Illinois at Chicago Yes No
Stephen Wetzel Associate Professor, Director of Academic Affairs MFA University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Yes No