Milwaukee Film Festival (MFF) is returning in 2026 on Thursday, April 16, with an opening night screening of a film with special Wisconsin ties and a neighborhood crawl to follow.
The 2026 MFF lineup features an eclectic array of award-winning short films and feature-length films from local, national and international filmmakers. MFF will feature a selection of newly restored classics and the return of beloved Milwaukee Film Festival traditions.
“We’re excited to return with the 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival, bringing audiences yet another year of the best movies from around the world. The 2026 lineup is a film smorgasbord with world premieres, emerging new artists and time-tested cinematic masters,” Milwaukee Film’s Executive Director Susan Kerns said.
As part of the opening night neighborhood crawl, starting at 9:00 p.m., the following locations will offer discounts to pass holders and opening night ticket holders.
- Vier North (1832 E. North Ave.)
- Von Trier (2235 N. Farwell Ave.)
- Landmark Lanes (2220 N. Farwell Ave.)
- Wayfinder MKE (2108 N. Farwell Ave.)
- Nadi Plates Food Truck (2050-2000 E. Ivanhoe Place)
The opening night film is “Ueck,” which is a documentary about the Milwaukee sports legend Bob Uecker. This documentary, from Milwaukee-based filmmakers Michael T. Vollmann and Steve Farr, serves as a testament to Uecker’s legacy, giving audiences intimate access to his life, work, family and friends to amplify his humor and heart for future generations.
Another social opportunity is the several happy hour events being offered through April 17-28 at Vier North on Milwaukee’s East Side.
Throughout the festival, head over to the Festival Lounge at Vier North (1832 E. North Ave.), sponsored by the Yabuki Family Foundation, for a series of free happy hours to celebrate the festival and socialize with filmmakers and other guests.
- Friday, April 17 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Hosted by Kartemquin Films and American Documentary
- Saturday, April 18 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Hosted by Eventive
- Monday, April 20 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Hosted by Awen
- Tuesday, April 21 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m | Hosted by Imagine MKE, Action! Wisconsin, and Film Wisconsin
- Friday, April 24 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m | Hosted by Untitled Filmmaker
- Saturday, April 25 | 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Hosted by Motion Makers
- Monday, April 27 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Hosted by North American Cinema
- Tuesday, April 28 | 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Hosted by Washington Park Media Center, Place Base Media, and Medical College of Wisconsin
Special panels will take place on both weekends of the festival. All panels are free and open to the public, and no ticket or pass is required to attend. Seating is on an as-available basis.
MFF 2026 will have films screening at the Oriental Theatre and the Downer Theatre, both owned by Milwaukee Film. See the full lineup of films and where to watch them on Milwaukee Film’s website.
The UWM Post staff has reviewed the festival lineup and picked out recommendations for anyone interested in attending MFF 2026 this year.
Spotlight Presentations
Presented By: Donald and Donna Baumgartner and Sponsored By: Radio Milwaukee 88Nine
Spotlight Presentations are the biggest screening events of the festival, which often feature something special accompanying the film.
The films in this program are scattered throughout the festival, from opening night to the centerpiece and closing night.
“If you can only make one screening, we are sorry for you and strongly suggest choosing one from this list. These crowd-pleasing premium presentations are perfect for first-time festival-goers and seasoned screen junkies alike.”
“Ueck”
Bob Uecker’s impact on Milwaukee and the entire state of Wisconsin goes way beyond his long-time position as the voice of the Brewers.
Uecker’s eccentric personality lit up any room he was in, which made him a staple in most Wisconsin homes.
His “just a bit outside” and “get up, get up, get outta here and gone” still echo in my mind when watching America’s pastime.
The film will open the Milwaukee Film Festival on Thursday, April 16. The feature will surely lead to some laughs and even some tears.
– Jack Laude, UWM Post Sports Editor
Following the last three years of his life, “Ueck” tells the story of Mr. Baseball himself.
Ueck himself tells tales of being in the major leagues (as a Brewer and Cardinal), going to Hollywood and finally coming back home to spend the next 54 summers calling Brewer baseball.
When you think of summer baseball, his name is usually the first thing that comes to mind in Milwaukee and probably all around the baseball world.
As a baseball fan of both Brewers and Cardinals, I’m beyond excited for this film and to hear the stories of his life, and it is very fitting that he opens the Milwaukee film festival this year.
The film screens on the opening night of the festival at 7:00 p.m. on April 16.
– Mitch Utlaut, UWM Post Multimedia Editor
“The General” Feat. Anvil Orchestra
A Milwaukee Film Festival tradition returns with the Anvil Orchestra, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton’s seminal silent comedy “The General” with a live accompaniment. A must-see sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio.
– Mitra Malekghasemi, UWM Post Production & Staff Writer
SHOWTIME:
Monday, April 20 | 6:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Severin Presents: “A Bay of Blood”
“A wealthy countess is murdered for her bayfront real estate, leading to the systematic slaughter of ruthless developers, greedy heirs, and bad neighbors. After he established the giallo genre with ‘Blood and Black Lace,’ Mario Bava once again forever altered the horror landscape with ‘A Bay of Blood,’ bursting onto the scene as the first slasher film. Arrive early for the Severin Films Blu-ray booth and get a free, branded barf bag for the screening (while supplies last).”
SHOWTIME:
Friday, April 17 | 11:59 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Cinebuds Live: “Labyrinth”
Milwaukee Film and Radio Milwaukee have teamed up to bring us a 4K restoration of “Labyrinth” for its 40th anniversary, followed by a post-screening recording of the Cinebuds podcast.
Whether this is an old favorite or you have, like me, been meaning to see Bowie in his iconic role for years, this is your chance to see it on the big screen.
– Mitra Malekghasemi, UWM Post Production & Staff Writer
SHOWTIME:
Sunday, April 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Arts & Artists
Presented By: Heil Family Foundation and Sponsored By: Milwaukee Magazine
“Go into the studio, around the work, and deep into the visionary mind with these films featuring the creativity of visual, performing, literary, and culinary artists.”
“The Way We Move”
“Amber Galloway is a star ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter who specializes in live music interpretations. Amber teaches her art to share her life’s mission: making music accessible to the Deaf community. As the film unfolds, we learn about Amber’s painful past and the lives of her students, as they come together and forge life-long bonds. ‘The Way We Move’ is a powerful film about music, Deaf culture, connection, and resilience.”
SHOWTIMES:
Sunday, April 19 | 8:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Tuesday, April 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Thursday, April 30 | 4:45 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Black Lens
Presented By: Heil Family Foundation and Sponsored By: Milwaukee Magazine
Black Lens programming at the Milwaukee Film Festival features films from Black filmmakers.
Milwaukee Film Black Lens is a year-long effort with a special membership program available to help support Black films on the big screen.
“Fostering meaningful conversation, promoting celebration, and strengthening community through cinema” is what the Milwaukee Film website says is the goal of Black Lens.
“With a singular focus on spotlighting fiction and documentary films by emerging and established Black storytellers, the Black Lens program explores stories and topics from across the Black diaspora and relevant to all in order to inspire conversation, celebration, and community.”
“Black Zombie”
The Black Lens program is sponsored by Radio Milwaukee: HYFIN; WNOV 860AM/106.5 FM “The Voice,” and aims to have a focus on drawing attention towards both documentary and fiction films by Black storytellers. The program focuses on topics from the Black diaspora for the purpose of facilitating community conversation.
The 2026 film “Black Zombie,” which is a part of the Black Lens program and the Cinema Hooligante program within the festival schedule, was directed by Maya Annik Bedward and is a documentary that is described as “for all walks of life,” whether you are a horror fan or not, as it aims to deconstruct the misconceptions that surround one of fiction’s favorite tropes.
The Canadian film reclaims the metaphor of the zombie as a symbol of survival and resilience, tracing the origins of the trope back to the “haunted cane fields of colonial Haiti,” according to the description of the documentary by Milwaukee Film. The film is in four different languages, Creole, French, English and Haitian, and will be shown with English subtitles.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 8:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Wednesday, April 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Friday, April 24 | 9:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
“Misan Harriman: Shoot the People”
Capturing Misan Harriman’s work in action, “Misan Harriman: Shoot the People” follows him as he photographs the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and the Palestinian liberation movement on film.
Harriman’s photographic works bring a human element into mainstream photo documentary work.
This film opens his mind, and we get an inside look at how he captures these moments and why it’s important to get these photos in the first place.
– Mitch Utlaut, UWM Post Multimedia Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, April 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Tuesday, April 21 | 8:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Monday, April 27 | 3:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Cine Sin Fronteras
Sponsored By: Telemundo Wisconsin
“El objetivo de Cine Sin Fronteras es de mostrar las historias no contadas de la vibrante diáspora Latino/a en todo el mundo, que incluye las comunidades Latino/a, Chicano/a, Latinoamericana, Indígena, y Afro-Latino/a.
Cine Sin Fronteras aims to showcase the untold stories of the rich and vibrant Latino/a diaspora around the world, including Latino/a, Chicano/a, Latin American, Indigenous, and Afro-Latino/a communities.”
“Cine Sin Fronteras Shorts”
“From documentaries to animation, the four films in the ‘Cine Sin Fronteras Shorts’ program explore physicality, grief, reflection, and transformation. Guaranteed to take you on a journey of emotions and experiences, these films bring us into the realities of a beloved Luchador, body dysmorphia, unexpected surprises, and unpacking loss.”
This program includes the following short films:
- “Kemonito: La última caída” (Kemonito: The Final Fall) | Teresa de Miguel
- “La pena no duerme de noche” (Sorrow Doesn’t Sleep At Night) | Josefina Montino Cabrera, Martín André
- “Marga en el DF” | Gabriela Ortega
- “Una vez en un cuerpo” (Once in a Body) | María Cristina Pérez González
SHOWTIMES:
Monday, April 20 | 3:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Friday, April 24 | 7:15 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Cinema Hooligante
Sponsored By: Milwaukee Record
“For the grownups who never grew up, the weirdos who never needed normal, and the unicorns who just want to have fun. Welcome to Cinema Hooligante, your home for screenings you’ll never forget.”
“A Useful Ghost”
“March is mourning his wife Nat who has recently passed away due to dust pollution. He discovers her spirit has returned by possessing a vacuum cleaner. Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Critics’ Week, this film smartly plays with tones and social comments while revisiting classism and oppression throughout Thailand’s history. From ambitious and creative newcomer Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke comes a genre-smashing amalgamation of fantasy, horror, romance, comedy, art house and everything in between.”
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, April 17 | 10:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
Sunday, April 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Thursday, April 30 | 6:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Cream City Cinema
“Cream City Cinema showcases the best new work from Milwaukee-area filmmakers, supporting them as they premiere films, build audiences, and celebrate the dedication of their cast and crew. As part of the Milwaukee Film Festival—one of the nation’s most filmmaker-friendly festivals—Milwaukee Film devotes substantial screen time to local creators, helping them leverage festival screenings for future distribution opportunities. ‘The Milwaukee Youth Show’ ensures filmmakers under 18 also see their work projected for a live audience.
Cash prizes and award packages are presented annually to filmmakers in the Cream City Cinema festival program to help them make their next film, Milwaukee Film Festival submission fees are waived for local creators, and most local films receive payment for being part of our programming. (Milwaukee filmmakers are so great that they often donate the money right back! Thank you!)
Through the year-round Cream City Cinema Encore program and the Dialogues Documentary Festival, locally made favorites continue to shine on the big screen, drawing thousands of attendees.
By supporting homegrown cinema, you affirm that Milwaukee’s creative community matters and that our stories are worth sustaining—celebrating where we live through powerful, shared cinematic experiences close to home.”
One of the highlights of the Milwaukee Film Festival returns this year. Cream City Cinema brings us some of the best local cinema from Milwaukee-area filmmakers, and this year, there’s a lot to look forward to, from shorts programming and music videos to feature films.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is represented at “The Milwaukee Show I” and “The Milwaukee Show II” by Chair of Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres Jesse McLean, lecturers Matt Feldman, Paulina Lule Bugembe-Kuwahara and Yinan Wang, and alum Sam Taffel. Teaching faculty member Tate Bunker is also included in “The Milwaukee Music Video Show” shorts showcase.
Feature films selected include “Ixonia’s Mild Kingdom,” the latest pilot from “Beavis and Butt-Head” writer Kristofor Brown. If you’re interested in local comedy, this film, billed as using Monty Python-esque storytelling and compelling characters, is a must-watch.
– Mitra Malekghasemi, UWM Post Production & Staff Writer
SHOWTIMES:
“The Milwaukee Show I” | Tuesday, April 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
“The Milwaukee Show II” | Monday, April 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
“The Milwaukee Music Video Show” | Tuesday, April 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
“Ixonia’s Mild Kingdom” | Friday, April 24 | 9:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Documentary Festival Favorites
Presented By: Christine Symchych and Jim McNulty and Sponsored By: Shepherd Express
The Documentary Festival Favorites program is presented by Christine Symchych and Jim McNulty, and sponsored by Shepherd Express, the alternative monthly magazine published in Milwaukee.
Within the program are three selected films that are highly anticipated, including the screenings of: “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” “#WhileBlack” and “Your Attention Please.”
All of the documentaries in this program are guaranteed to move emotions, change minds, inspire hope, feel relatable or say something insightful about the human experience.
“These stories seem too strange, sad, funny, and incredible to be true. But they are. Explore some of the best documentaries from the current festival circuit.”
“The Six Billion Dollar Man”
“The Six Billion Dollar Man” is a 2025 documentary directed by Eugene Jarecki from the countries of Germany, France and the United States. As truthful journalism has been presently characterized by the attacks it faces, this film by a Milwaukee Film Festival alum follows the rise to prominence and of Julian Assange, a significant figure in the fight for the right to information, as he is the founder of WikiLeaks.
The film is described as able to uniquely utilize rare access to WikiLeaks archives, and never-before-seen evidence and archival footage to materialize as a high-tech international thriller.
“The Six Billion Dollar Man” premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the esteemed L’Œil d’or prize, a documentary film award created in 2015 given to the best documentary presented in one of the sections of the festival.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Monday, April 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Saturday, April 25 | 9:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Thursday, April 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
“The Last Spy”
Espionage. Spymaster. Escaping Nazi Germany. Peter Sichel lived a very interesting life.
The Last Spy is a riveting portrait of Sichel’s life from escaping Germany during World War II to becoming the first CIA station chief and being a key player in the Cold War.
This film tells a true spy story and the secrets that come with that, if Sichel’s willing to spill them.
As someone who finds this history very interesting, I’m excited to dive into the world of espionage and learn the backstory on how some of these events might have played out.
– Mitch Utlaut, UWM Post Multimedia Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, April 17 | 4:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Tuesday, April 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Wednesday, April 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
“#WhileBlack”
“#WhileBlack” is a documentary directed by Sidney Fussell and Jennifer Holness, which is also a part of the Black Lens program. Released in 2026, the film from the countries of Canada and the United States revolves around “one of the most viral videos of our time: George Floyd’s murder, seen 1.4 billion times in 12 days,” as detailed in the description for the film on the Milwaukee Film website.
Darnella Frazier, the woman who recorded the video, and Diamond Reynolds, who livestreamed Philando Castile’s killing, are featured in the film and help bring to light how social media platforms and corporations make a profit off the witnessing of viral footage of Black trauma in the attention economy.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Sunday, April 26 | 4:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Tuesday, April 28 | 4:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
“Your Attention Please”
“Your Attention Please” also centers on the issues the contemporary attention economy brings to society, as the 2026 film from the United States directed by Sara Robin focuses on how a modern generation of parents, teens and progressives are putting up a fight against the agenda of the technology industry to reshape the future of human interaction and connection.
The film is described by Milwaukee Film as a “must-watch for anyone with an online presence, which, in 2026, is most of us.” The documentary puts together personal human stories with information and insight from prominent experts in technology reform and online wellbeing, to ask pressing questions of how new digital developments affect our lives. “Your Attention Please” is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.
Sunday, April 18 | 1:15 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Thursday, April 23 | 4:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
GenreQueer
Sponsored By: Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Richard M. Kaul LGBT Arts Endowment Fund
Spotlighting the best in documentary and fiction filmmaking that explores LGBTQ+ voices and experiences, GenreQueer celebrates the past, present, and future of cinema’s rich queer tradition.
“Adam’s Apple“
“Centered on the life of Adam, a transgender teen, as seen through the lens of his mother, filmmaker Amy Jenkins, ‘Adam’s Apple’ chronicles two decades of adolescence, transition, and parenthood. Adam’s journey balances the milestones of gender transition with the rhythms of adolescence. Every coming-of-age milestone (first love, an emerging personality, teenage rebellion) unfolds with intimacy and grace. It’s a celebration of courage, love, allyship, and the thrill of becoming who you are meant to be.”
SHOWTIMES:
Monday, April 20 | 6:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Wednesday, April 22 | 1:15 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
“Maddie’s Secret”
“Maddie’s Secret” is directed by the hilarious and always relevant John Early, who co-starred in the underrated HBO Max show “Search Party.”
This film marks the comedian’s directorial debut and will undoubtedly follow in that satirized vein of humor for which “Search Party” and John Early are known.
Of course, accompanying Earyl is his longtime partner in crime, Kate Berlant. The two are a comedy duo known for surreal and satirical stand-up and sketch comedy. Berlant had a small guest role in “Search Party.”
The film follows an influencer named Maddie, who Early portrays, struggling with fame and body image. Early also wrote and produced the film, proving he is a capable triple threat.
In the gender-bending role of Maddie, Early shines because he commits to portraying this real character and bringing her to life. Early in drag plays this role, totally straight, and it’s not like other gender swapping comedies where the swap is part of the joke.
Check out this future queer cult classic while it screens at the Milwaukee Film Festival.
– Ethan Ainley, UWM Post Head Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Monday, April 20 | 7:15 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Saturday, April 25 | 10:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Wednesday, April 29 | 6:15 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
“Barbara Forever”
“An intimate, dream-like, and masterfully crafted look at the iconic life, work, and legacy of the pioneering feminist experimental filmmaker responsible for some of the most prominent early works in lesbian cinema. Expanded from her 2022 award-winning short ‘Love,Barbara,’ Brydie O’Connor traces Hammer’s prolific canon alongside never-before-seen documentations of her life, revealing her unconventional attempts to live on forever—especially through extensive archival efforts. Fans and newcomers alike: immerse yourselves fully in Hammer’s legacy of Dyketactics.”
SHOWTIMES:
Sunday, April 19 | 1:45 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
Monday, April 20 | 12:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Wednesday, April 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
North American Independents
Sponsored By: Wisconsin Public Radio
This showcase of modern independent cinema presents fiction exploring all corners of North America – works in which the “where” is just as important as the “who” and “what.”
“Carolina Caroline”
“Carolina Caroline” stars the talented Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving as a mischievous duo on a life-changing journey.
Weaving plays Caroline, who is searching for her estranged mother when she gets entangled with a con man, played by Gallner, and the two quickly become passionately involved with one another.
This film looks like an exciting take on the Bonnie and Clyde trope, and I am excited to see these two favorite actors of mine working together in a film.
Director Adam Carter Rehmeier is an MFF 2020 alum for his film “Dinner in America,” which also had Gallner in a starring role.
– Ethan Ainley, UWM Post Head Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, April 17 | 12:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Monday, April 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Thursday, April 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
“I Want Your Sex”
The North American Independents Program within the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival, sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio, is a showcase of present-day independent cinema that has roots across North America. The films selected have a similar basis to one another, where their settings and locations are just as important as the fictional content.
“I Want Your Sex,” directed by Gregg Araki, is a film I am eagerly excited to see, as it is the latest film by the American cult filmmaker who tends to ferociously tackle subjects of teen alienation and wild sexuality. While Araki once put an unabashed spotlight on the raucously cool generation of the nineties, this film is described as Araki’s attempt to use this knack of his to “beg Generation Z to change their puritanical ways,” according to Milwaukee Film.
As the protagonist of “I Want Your Sex,” played by Cooper Hoffman, begins a job with artist and firebrand Erika Tracy, played by Olivia Wilde, his fantasies come true as she decides she wants him to become her sexual muse. He begins to realize he bit off more than he can chew when he is taken into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal and murder.
The British pop star Charli XCX has a role in the film, which is another feather in her cap as she is making moves to establish herself as an actress.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 9:15 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Friday, April 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
Saturday, April 25 | 11:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Shorter is Better
Sponsored By: WUWM 89.7 FM – Milwaukee’s NPR
“You’ll be amazed by what happens when filmmakers present all the emotion and visual delight of a feature film in a fraction of the time. We took our favorite short films from around the world and put them into neat little packages for your viewing pleasure.”
“Shorts: Surprise, Surprise”
“It’s no surprise why this comedy shorts program has become a Festival favorite. 94 minutes bursting with creativity, hilarious reveals, and jaw-dropping twists, ‘Shorts: Surprise, Surprise’ is the perfect pick-me-up for your MFF experience. I would tell you more, but that would ruin the surprise!”
This program includes the following short films:
- “A Very Normal Seeming Man” | Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty
- “Baa-baa!” | Teresa Juksaar
- “Balloon Animals” | Anna Baumgarten
- “Candy Bar” | Nash Edgerton
- “Halfway Haunted” | Sam Rudykoff
- “Passarinho” | Natalia García Agraz
- “Replay” | Phil Mazo
- “She Raised Me” | Ben Lewis
- “The Weird Guy” | Sandy Honig
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Monday, April 20 | 10:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Rated K: For Kids
Presented By: Marianne and Sheldon Lubar and Sponsored By: Milwaukee With Kids
“One of the most beloved touchstones of the annual event is its family-friendly program, especially curated with the youth (and the young at heart!) in mind. The Rated K: For Kids program offers a selection of award-winning features and shorts from around the world, recommended for ages 3-12.”
“Future Council”
“Seeking solutions for a greener world, documentarian Damon Gameau assembles a group of the world’s most innovative thinkers—who also happen to be kids. Brilliantly flipping climate anxiety into tear-jerking heaps of hope, ‘Future Council’ chronicles eight middle-school activists on the ultimate field trip: traversing Europe in a yellow school bus to visit the natural wonders they aim to save, learn from each other, and challenge real world leaders to fight for their future.”
These films are for kids ages 10 and up, with limited cursing (“shit” and “badass” are said), discussion of anxiety and the weight of carrying global issues as a kid, and some animated peril.
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 10:30 a.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
Saturday, April 25 | 10:30 a.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
Sound Vision
Presented By: Lacey Sadoff Foundation and Sponsored By: WMSE 91.7 FM
Musician Tom Waits said it best: “I always thought songs are movies for the ears and films are like songs for the eyes.” The Sound Vision series showcases highly entertaining films about musical personalities, movements, history, and performances.
“The Last Critic”
Sound Vision is a film program presented by the Lacey Sadoff Foundation and sponsored by WMSE 91.7 FM that showcases entertaining films about musical personalities, movements, history, and performances. Two selections within the program that I am most excited to see are “The Last Critic,” and “We Are Fugazi From Washington, D.C.”
“The Last Critic” centers on two stories that have intertwining threads: the first is of Robert Christgau, the American music journalist and essayist who practically invented rock music criticism sixty years ago and is still at it, and the second is of the trajectory of music criticism as a whole, and where it can go now if print is supposedly dead and the algorithm is winning over critic recommendation.
Christgau has adapted to the multitude of changes that have occurred over the decades and is still practicing his craft in the same vigorous fashion that has characterized his trailblazing career, and Matty Wishnow directs the 2026 documentary, which is the first to paint a captivating portrait of the pioneer of music criticism.
The film premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival, and it was announced last month, on March 19, 2026, that the documentary had won the Documentary Feature Competition Special Jury Award.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Sunday, April 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Thursday, April 23 | 1:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
“We Are Fugazi From Washington, D.C.”
“We Are Fugazi From Washington, D.C.” is a 96-minute music documentary that is comprised of a collection of fan-recorded live performances and rare archival footage that highlights the American post-hardcore band’s talent as a live act. The footage is curated by directors Jeff Krulik, Joseph Pattisall and Joe Gross, and the film was created to commemorate the two decades that have passed since the band’s last live performance on November 4, 2002.
The film is advertised as less of a music documentary and more of a fan experience that will unite the people who were there who want to remember, and the new generation who are catching on to what they have missed.
Fugazi is a band that defined a do-it-yourself ethical movement, with a disdain for the corporate practices of the music industry, and this documentary promises a portrait of the project from a fan perspective.
– Annabelle Hershelman, UWM Post Arts & Culture Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 10:45 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Saturday, April 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Tuesday, April 28 | 9:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Worldviews
Presented By: Joan Lubar and John Crouch
Strong characters and compelling narratives dominate this category. Showcasing favorites from the global festival circuit, these films let you travel the world without leaving the cinema.
“Silent Friend”
This film follows three people, from three different points in time, with three different personalities, all connected by one botanical garden in Germany.
Can a living tree or plant tie them all together to create a bond, even if they never get to see the human they are trying to connect to?
This film brings an interesting question to life and wonders if it’s possible to connect with someone in the past.
That’s where my curiosity is with this film: what is the story they are trying to tell, and what connections can we bring?
– Mitch Utlaut, UWM Post Multimedia Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 18 | 7:15 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Thursday, April 23 | 2:15 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Wednesday, April 29 | 1:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
“Silent Rebellion”
Set during World War II, a teen from Switzerland starts to question her and her village’s morality when they turn away French refugees.
When a personal trauma upends the life she knows, she tries to find the courage to make her own path and go against what society expects of her.
This film brings a different viewpoint from other World War II films, and it’s a fresh point to see.
Also, bringing up a side of history that no one tends to talk about or bring up, it’s kind of refreshing to see how they tell the stories.
– Mitch Utlaut, UWM Post Multimedia Editor
SHOWTIMES:
Monday, April 20 | 4:45 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Tuesday, April 28 | 1:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
Thursday, April 30 | 4:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)