There’s just nothing like the movie theater. The smell of popcorn wafting through the air, the glow of the screen in a dark room, the joy of watching a film for the first time in a room full of strangers. It’s a communal experience that raises our hopes, breaks our hearts and makes us jump out of our seats. Cinema, real cinema, makes us feel, and that’s exactly what the Milwaukee Film Festival is all about.
 

Rolling out the red carpet this week, the 15-day festival boasts nearly 250 films, ranging from nationally renowned filmmakers to up-and-coming producers to local cinematographers that shine a light on our city from every angle. There’s drama, passion, horror, humor and animated films from around the world and across the city at this celebration of cinematography, and it’s all waiting for you to join in.
 

To help you find your film fest at the Downer and Oriental Theatres this month, here’s one film from each day that you should see. Get your popcorn ready!

Bob Uecker wearing a baseball cap and headset microphone smiles while seated at a table, holding a sheet of paper. Another person sits slightly behind him, out of focus, appearing to read or concentrate. The setting looks like a broadcast or commentary area.

April 16

Ueck

There are legends, there are larger-than-life icons, and then there’s Bob Uecker. He was the voice of Brewers baseball for over 50 seasons, bringing every pitch, every run, every long and winding anecdote home with his hallmark blend of wit and insight, making him one of the very best in his craft and extending into the very fabric of pop culture Americana. Kicking off the film fest, this documentary celebrates his legacy, impact, and, of course, humor that made Bob Uecker one of a kind. What better way to kick off MFF 2026?

 

April 17

Late Fame

From one Milwaukee legend to another, "Late Fame" stars UW-Milwaukee alumn, Willem Dafoe, as a has-been New York City poet. His work, panned by critics and readers alike, finds a wider audience among a new generation. After years of anonymity, the poet must now grapple with ego, authenticity and an abandoned creative world that the next generation is desperate to connect to. Great art is all in the eye of the beholder, and this one proves it in a clever and witty way.

 

April 18

Shorts: The Best Damn F*#@ing Midnight Program Ever. Shit.

Shorts are fun. These, well, these may just make you jump clear out of your skin. Although that would fit in this film series, too. What goes bump in the night? Why do you feel like something’s watching you in the dark? And why does the hair stand up on your neck when you walk through the woods at night? Come find out at this collection of horror and cult flicks.

A row of colorful garden gnomes with bright hats and white beards are tightly packed behind a wooden fence, peeking through a narrow vertical gap. In front of them sits a small flower box with blooming purple and pink flowers, surrounded by green grass.

April 19

Kids Shorts: Size Medium

Following an evening of terror (and puss, the description specifically mentions puss), an hour of kid-friendly shorts will do. There’s a show for every age at this year’s film fest, with shorts for younger kids all the way to animated shorts made for grown-ups. This one is somewhere in between. These are heartwarming clips that will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy as you leave the theatre. There’s a lonely polar bear making a friend, a young gamer learning to love his indigenous culture, and gnomes, garden gnomes.

 

April 20

Summer Tour

What’s your relationship with Deadheads? Those Grateful Dead fans with the Dancing Bear t-shirts and the Steal Your Face stickers on the backs of their cars. Those fans who don’t just have a favorite song, they have a favorite date and location that the Dead played their favorite song. Deadheads are easily caricatured, but not easily understood. They’re a complex, self-aware bunch that has endured down generations. Take a trip back, and explore the original traveling commune, and discover the shades of kindness and care so deep that they blend into a beautiful tie-died tapestry. Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings.

 

April 21

Nuisance Bear

First appearing as a short at the festival in 2023 and winner of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize for Documentary,  “Nuisance Bear” expands on the success of its predecessor. Now, as a full-length documentary, the film focuses on the forced adaptation of the polar bear. Once the king of the white north, the enormous carnivore has collided with modern life, tourists, wildlife officers and hunters as its ancient migration path is cluttered with houses and highways. In a world where nature and development are at odds, this 90-minute film begs you to weigh the cost of growth and the profound impact humans have on their surroundings.

A person stands on a rooftop in an urban area, wearing a large satellite dish around their head like a helmet. In the background, there are mid-rise apartment buildings and a hazy city skyline under a pale sky.

April 22

Shorts: Out of This World

Put on your tinfoil hat, set your phasers to stun and charge your sonic screwdriver for this 90-minute sci-fi and fantasy shorts series. Once those theater doors close, you’ll be transported to new, strange worlds, discover that folk tales might actually be true and vindicate your AI concerns throughout the six-movie series, making for a night that’s out of this world (literally).

 

April 23

The Last One for the Road

A foreign film with heart is on deck, with this Italian gem. A pair of broke drinking buddies with a “never skip the last drink” philosophy stumble across a quiet, young architect, drifting through life. The coincidental acquaintance turns into a rough, rambling, chaotic road trip as the trio tears through the Venetian plains. A part of the Worldviews Program this year, the film is in Italian with English subtitles for a little splash of variety to your Milwaukee Film Fest experience.

 

April 24

The Travel Companion

If travel seems to be a recurring theme throughout these selections, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise. That’s what a destination marketing organization is all about. But while “The Travel Companion” centers around travel, this comedy is a study of relationship dynamics. Struggling documentarian Simon relies on his best friend and roommate's airline job, allowing him to collect footage for his films for free. But when Bruce starts dating a fellow filmmaker, Beatrice, he worries that the door to the film industry may be closing before his eyes.

A band performs on stage under warm lighting. At the front, a man in a light-colored suit sings into a microphone. To his left, three women stand at microphones, one playing an electric guitar while the others appear to be backing vocalists. Another musician plays guitar in the background. A tall floor lamp stands on stage among them, adding a unique, living-room-like element to the setup.

April 25

Stop Making Sense

A classic is a classic for a reason. "Stop Making Sense" is essential viewing. One of the best concert films of all time, get out of your seat and dance around to the Talking Heads as they perform their most critically acclaimed album in front of a live audience. I’ll stop short of saying that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it’ll definitely have you burning down the house. Put on your biggest suit and get down to the Oriental Theatre to be a part of this Milwaukee Film Fest tradition.

 

April 26

Space Cadet

A full-length animated family feature, “Space Cadet,” is cute and heartwarming. It’s the perfect film for anyone with a sense of adventure and an active imagination. Young aspiring astronaut Celest knows her calling is among the stars. But when she gets her chance, she realizes she must leave her guardian robot on Earth. During the 86-minute runtime, not a word of dialogue is spoken, but you can feel the emotion in each frame as this futuristic foray explores so much more than space.

 

April 27

The Dating Game

After more than three decades of China’s one-child policy, the country now faces a lopsided gender ratio, with more men than women. With a male loneliness epidemic looming, men throughout the country go great lengths to find a match in the cutthroat dating market. They hire dating coaches, who may actually be making things worse. “The Dating Game” is entertaining and at times absurd, but at its heart, it is about the search for love and companionship in the modern world.

A group of people gather outdoors around a campfire at dusk, many holding red cups and watching. In the center, two people kneel on either side of a small tabletop instrument while another person stands behind it, playing it with mallets. A person off to the side plays a small guitar or ukulele, adding to the casual, festive atmosphere.

April 28

Milwaukee Music Video Show

Milwaukee’s got talent, and there’s no better place to catch it on full display than at “The Milwaukee Music Video Show.” This shorts program features 16 local artists and their music videos that span genres, in an artistic display that blends music and cinematography to tell a story. It’s an incredible display of local talent that has a little bit of everything from Milwaukee’s creative community.

 

April 29

Vainilla (Vanilla)

Set in 1980s Mexico, “Vainilla” takes us inside the lives of a family of seven bold women who find themselves living in an inevitably foreclosed home. Told through the eyes of eight-year-old Roberta, the story weaves us from room to room as we peel back the family’s relationship dynamics and explore the complexities of diverse multi-generational influences. Peppered with heartfelt moments, offset with humor, the Spanish film includes English subtitles.

 

April 30

Power Balad

Paul Rudd plays Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, clinging to his career as a background character during the happiest moment of other people’s lives. During a gig, he meets Danny, a fading boy-band star played by Nick Jonas; the two become fast friends, bonding over a late-night jam session. When Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into a hit, it reignites Rick’s career, leading him to chase the fame he believes he deserves. Close the film fest out with a star-studded feel-good story about friendship and the price of ambition.

 

The credits don’t start rolling here. There are hundreds of other films, all waiting for you to find your fest lineup. Find film fest fun, get your tickets and plan your stay today. Action!