Milwaukee Film Festival
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Milwaukee Film Festival
April 16 – April 30
One of the largest film festivals in the Midwest, the 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival runs April 16-30 and features more than 250 short and feature-length films from diverse independent filmmakers around the world.
Screenings take place at Milwaukee Film’s historic Oriental Theatre and Downer Theatre.
Presented by Associated Bank, the festival features world premieres, acclaimed international films, sneak previews, and beloved cinematic classics. Milwaukee Film Executive Director Susan Kerns notes that the milestone 18th festival celebrates both the event’s
legacy and the vibrant community that has supported it since its beginnings.
The festival’s popular
Rated K: For Kids series offers films suitable for children ages 3–12. This year’s lineup includes the documentary Cookie Queens (2026), Kids Shorts: Size Small and Kids Shorts: Size Medium, Australian director Damon Gameau’s Future Council (2024), and Richard Linklater’s beloved comedy School of Rock (2003).
Among the special screenings is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of The General, the 1926 silent comedy starring Buster Keaton and directed by Keaton and Clyde Bruckman. The screening at the Oriental Theatre will feature a live score performed by the Anvil Orchestra.
Additional selections include Gregg Araki’s provocative I Want Your Sex (2026), Misan Harriman: Shoot the People (2025, directed by Andy Mundy-Castle), Obsession (2026, directed by Curry Barker), the animated short Paper Trail (2026, directed by Don Hertzfeldt), Powwow People (2025) by University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumnus Sky Hopinka, They Dream (2025, directed by William Caballero), and What Does That Nature Say to You (2025, directed by Hong Sang-soo).
A festival favorite also returns: Stop Making Sense, the iconic 1984 concert documentary about Talking Heads directed by Jonathan Demme.
Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit organization dedicated to entertaining, educating, and engaging the community through cinematic experiences, with a vision of making Milwaukee a center for film culture.
Advance ticket packages and passes for the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival are available at mkefilm.org/mff26.
The Oriental Theatre
Opened in 1927 on Milwaukee’s East Side, and dazzles with ornate East-Indian–inspired décor, murals, and chandeliers. This beautifully preserved movie palace showcases independent, international
and classic films.
The Downer Theatre
Milwaukee Film recently purchased this theater which first opened in 1915. This historic neighborhood cinema screens independent, international and classic films in an intimate setting that celebrates more than a century of moviegoing. See details at mkefilm.org
