An opening night of mischievous minds and animated delights.
We begin the 2025 season with a jubilant detour into the mischievous, the magical, and the delightfully unhinged.
The attic creaks open and bursts into song as two tiny adventurers dance through dusty memories in Tin Tune. A highway rest stop becomes a liminal dreamscape in A Night at the Rest Area, where strangers drift together for a fleeting moment of peace. And then—she’s back. Ms. Rossi, Emberlight’s most enduring heroine, returns in all her awkward glory. From her misdirected airport pickup in Ms. Rossi (a fan favorite from our inaugural season), to the bureaucratic disaster of Ms. Rossi Takes the Cake, where a simple banking errand spirals into chaos, to this summer’s high-stakes showdown Ms. Rossi Meets the Mob, the complete trilogy unfolds like a comedic fever dream—stitched together by one woman’s epic struggle to just do her job.
The night swells into darker whimsy: in Les Bêtes, a rabbit with magic keys summons grotesque creatures to entertain a debauched king. Deluge plunges into the psyche with a haunting flood of memory and identity. Al fresco finds bleak hilarity in a Spanish apartment hunt that goes… nowhere. And finally, four over-accessorized socialites from 1890s New York air their grievances, crushes, and debts in Victorian Ladies—with parasols at the ready.
With stop-motion creatures, surreal daydreams, and absurd societal rituals, this is a night for the oddballs, the animators, the eccentrics, and anyone in need of a laugh with a little bite.
INDEPENDENT VOICES. INTERNATIONAL VISIONS. UNFORGETTABLE FILMS.
The Emberlight International Film Festival (EIFF) is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing film festivals in the country, bringing exceptional feature and short films from across the globe to Ironwood, Michigan, from August 15–22, 2025. With a highly competitive selection process — only about 4% of submissions are chosen each year — EIFF curates an unforgettable lineup of bold storytelling, compelling performances, and visionary filmmaking.
Since 2021, EIFF has received thousands of submissions from over 80 countries across six continents, drawing a dedicated audience of film lovers and industry professionals alike. Attendance has soared year after year, proving that something special is happening in the Upper Peninsula — and word is spreading fast.
Filmmakers from the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and beyond have joined us to experience Emberlight’s signature blend of world-class art and small-town charm. The festival culminates in our award presentation on August 22, where we celebrate excellence in filmmaking with over $3,000 in cash prizes.
Screenings take place at The Ember Club, an intimate setting where artists and audiences connect in ways that larger festivals can’t offer. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a cinephile, or just someone who loves a great story, EIFF 2025 is your invitation to experience the power of independent filmmaking like never before.
MORE ART TO DISCOVER
Over the final two weeks over our festival, we rev things up into full Emberlight mode with the Film Festival and live performances hitting our local theaters. Stroll through Art in the Park and Emberlight Photographers in the afternoon, see international films or world-renowned performers in the evening, and mingle with friends and the artists over a pint in the evening. Plus it’s the most beautiful weather of the year in the UP!
This summer the Emberlight International Film Festival (EIFF) returns to The Ember Club on August 15, 16, 20, and 22. Pianist Adam Rothenberg and The Broadway Strings return to the Hurley Auditorium on August 21 and 23 for concert to close out our 5th anniversary season.
Plan your trip to Emberlight today so you don’t miss these unforgettable nights in the Northwoods.
