Oscar-winning filmmaker to attend 2014 Milwaukee Film festival

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Film Festival kicks off today, and in its sixth year, organizers say the event continues to entertain, educate and empower through film. 

This year's festival will be hosted at seven local venues, including the Landmark Oriental and Landmark Downer theatres, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, and The Hotel Foster. 

The unique event is known to showcase rare and inspirational films, including short films and dramas. Eight films have already sold-out for advance sales. 

One film generating a lot of buzz this year is Jimi: All By My Side, an intimate look into the life of Jimi Hendrix, written and directed by Milwaukee's own John Ridley.

Ridley received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his movie 12 Years a Slave. He'll attend a single screening of Jimi: All By My Side at 7 p.m. October 4 at the Oriental Theater. Hendrix is portrayed by Outkast’s André Benjamin and follows a year in Hendrix’s life from 1966-1967.  

A full festival guide, tickets and showtimes can be found on the film festival's website. 

The Milwaukee Film Festival opens at the Oriental Theatre with the thrilling documentary, 1971, followed by the Opening Night Party from 9 to11:30 p.m. at Kenilworth Square East.

CBS 58's Marshanna Hester has a preview.