Capitol-City Lens: A Madison video production roadmap
Madison video production’s next two weeks pack surprising punch for creators: the 25th Annual Bicycle Film Festival cruises into the Barrymore on Oct 2, Project Projection closes its early-bird submissions on Oct 3, and the Wisconsin 48-Hour Horror/Sci-Fi Project kicks off Oct 10-12—three opportunities for fresh reels and meet-ups. Behind the scenes, the city’s online film-permit portal and Madison Parks’ streamlined commercial-shoot form slash red tape, while Hinckley Productions’ newly bookable LED-wall studio and Next Wave’s 30-foot infinity wall give crews affordable virtual-production options inside city limits. Volunteer sign-ups for the 2026 Wisconsin Film Festival open Oct 1, hinting at bigger cycles ahead, and although the Madison Social Media Marketing Awards on Oct 15 land just outside our window, they’re a prime networking follow-up.
Festival crank-start
Madison video production” headlines the week on Oct 2 when the 25th Annual Bicycle Film Festival rolls into the Barrymore Theatre with curated shorts on cycling culture. Madison Bikes’ promo reel says the 90-minute program caps a two-year city push to brand itself as a “ride-and-shoot” capital, attracting GoPro-friendly crews from the Twin Cities and Chicago. Because the Barrymore sits in the Atwood corridor, operators can grab alleyway B-roll under string-light façades before doors open—handy for commercial clients chasing hygge vibes.
Project Projection’s last call
Mills Folly Microcinema offers a different stage: its Project Projection series closes early submissions on Oct 3 for local experimental works, with filmmakers notified on a rolling basis. The free screening isn’t until Oct 22, but the Oct 3 cutoff still falls inside our window—meaning crews with ready-to-export shorts can snag a slot and Q&A exposure without festival fees. Organizers emphasize 90 minutes max for the lineup; overflow rolls to the winter edition, so timing matters.
48-Hour Horror/Sci-Fi sprint
The adrenaline hit arrives Oct 10-12 as teams gather at Art Lit Lab for the Wisconsin 48-Hour Horror/Sci-Fi Project: genre prompts drop at 5:45 p.m. Friday, films must upload by 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Regular registration ($178) also closes Oct 10, making this week the final chance to assemble cast, secure props, and pre-light preferred interiors. Premiere screenings are later in the month, but editors aiming for award fodder need to lock crews now.
Quick date reminders
- Oct 1 – Volunteer sign-ups open for 2026 Wisconsin Film Festival, giving newcomers a backstage pass ahead of spring selection meetings
- Oct 2 – Bicycle Film Festival at Barrymore Theatre (6:30 p.m.)
- Oct 3 – Project Projection early-bird deadline; form link via Arts + Lit Lab
- Oct 10 – Kickoff & registration cutoff for 48-Hour Horror/Sci-Fi Project
- Oct 12 – Film drop-off deadline for 48-Hour sprint
Permit & venue contacts
- Film/Photo Parks Permit: parks special-events office, 608-266-6033
- Citywide Permits Portal: elam.cityofmadison.com (24/7 uploads)
- Barrymore Theatre rentals: [email protected] (gear load-in curbside)
- Art Lit Lab Inquiries: [email protected]
Studio boosts & tech
Hinckley Productions’ Studio 54 opened LED-wall bookings on Sept 1, giving indie crews a 25′×9′ screen and 50′ shooting depth—ideal for on-demand virtual backdrops during October’s unpredictable weather. Across town, Next Wave Studios touts Dane County’s largest infinity wall at 30 feet, with hourly rates for music-video shoots and product demos. Both sites still had Oct 8-13 slots open as of press time, according to their online calendars.
Studio boosts & tech
While outside our strict 14-day frame, two dates deserve pencil-marks: the Madison Social Media Marketing Awards on Oct 15—four days after our cut-off—deliver agency networking in a cameras-welcome settinn and the Wisconsin 48-Hour Project’s thriller premiere Oct 25 offers a red-carpet vantage for press EPK crews. Budget-minded DPs might prep interview packets now to leverage those back-to-back crowds.
