Reels & Roots began the way many good stories do, with a feeling. A spark. A tug in the chest that said, The Northwoods is ready for something new.

For generations, theaters like the Park Center and Hayward Cinema 4 have been the heartbeats of this community. They’re where many of us fell in love with films for the first time. Where the lights dimmed, the air hushed, and the world opened. Those memories live deep in our bones. The Northwoods deserves a home for independent stories. A place not just for nostalgia, but for new nostalgia. New magic. New shared moments in the dark that bring us closer together.

Reels & Roots Film Festival was born from that intention. Our mission is to create an annual gathering where filmmakers, locals, travelers, and dreamers meet in Hayward to celebrate the art of independent cinema. We aim to bring voices from across Wisconsin and beyond into conversation with our own community. Sparking inspiration, pride, and connection. This festival is built on collaboration. It’s built on the belief that small towns can foster big creativity. And it’s built with gratitude for the spaces that raised us, especially the Park Center, a place woven into my own story and into the creative journeys of many filmmakers now returning to Hayward to shoot their work.

This is only the beginning. A seed taking root. A reel spinning into something larger than all of us. Welcome to Reels & Roots. Where stories grow in the Northwoods.