One thing we've learned from shifting to virtual films and events: "Virtual" doesn't necessarily mean "easy." But we're here to help!

If you have a question, please take a look at the FAQ below to see if you can find your answer. If you are still having trouble, feel free to email help@mkefilm.org - we will respond as soon as we can between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT.

THE BASICS

When are virtual films available to watch?

All Sofa Cinema films are available on demand around the clock. Purchase your streaming ticket at mkefilm.org/sofacinema, and you'll be able to watch right away.

Black History Month films will be available starting at 9 a.m. Central on Monday, Feb. 1. Titles will expire at 11:59 p.m. Central on Sunday, Feb. 28. Some titles will be available for limited times, as clearly marked in the film descriptions.

Women's History Month films will be available starting at 9 a.m. Central on Monday, March 1. Titles will expire at 11:59 p.m. Central on Wednesday, March 31. Some titles may be available for limited times, as clearly marked in the film descriptions.

Outside of Festivals and special events, any new Sofa Cinema titles are added on Fridays, and titles whose run on Sofa Cinema is ending expire after 11:59 p.m. Central on Thursday night.

How much are tickets?

Passes: Passes are available for Festivals and other special events. For Black History Month, passes are now on sale for $24.99 ($19.99 for Milwaukee Film Members). Starting Feb. 16, passes for Women's History Month in March will be available at the same price.

Currently, Sofa Cinema passes are not available for purchase.

Tickets: Tickets for individual Black History Month films and shorts programs go on sale Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. Central for $3.99 ($1.99 for Milwaukee Film Members). Starting March 1, tickets for Women's History Month films will be available at the same price.

Sofa Cinema ticket prices may vary based on the requirements of film distributors. Whenever possible, our standard price is $5 for Milwaukee Film Members / $8 for non-members.

Single-use streaming tickets offer the opportunity to view a single film within a 48-hour window.

Please note: There are no refunds for tickets to virtual films.

What devices can I use to watch a film?

TV using Amazon Fire TV: Get the Milwaukee Film app for Amazon Fire TV >>

TV using Android TV: Get the Milwaukee Film app for Android TV >>

TV using Apple TV: The app is only available on 4th generation HD or 5th generation 4K versions of Apple TV. Get the Milwaukee Film app for Apple TV >>

Roku: The channel is only built for 3rd generation or newer Roku devices. Get the Milwaukee Film channel for Roku >>

Samsung Smart TV: Search for "Milwaukee Film" in the Apps section of your TV's Smart Hub. Get the Milwaukee Film app for Samsung Smart TV >>

TV using HDMI cord: Watch a quick video to learn how to use a laptop and HDMI cord to watch on your TV >>

TV using Chromecast or AirPlay

Computer: Any PC running Windows 7+; any Mac running OS 10.12+

Android tablet or phone: Any tablet or phone using Chrome on Android 6.0 or later

iPad or iPhone: Any iPad or iPhone using Safari on iOS 11.2 or later

Do I have to be in the U.S. to watch a film? Or in Wisconsin?

All virtual films are available only to viewers within the U.S. If there are any additional restrictions from film distributors, those will be clearly marked in the film descriptions.

Please note: Even if your billing address or mailing address is in the U.S., your location is determined by your device’s IP address. If your IP address is not in the U.S., you won’t be able to access your film.

Also, if you have a VPN (virtual private network) set up, we recommend that you disable it, as it may prevent you from accessing the films.

Since we’re not in a theater, can a film sell out?

Currently, Sofa Cinema titles do not have limitations on tickets available for sale. If there are any additional restrictions from film distributors, those will be clearly marked in the film descriptions.

How long do I have before I have to finish watching a film?

For ticket holders, once you start a film, you can view it up to 48 hours from the time you begin watching.

If any passes are made availble for Sofa Cinema titles, passholders will be able to view their films at any time on demand.

Any films leaving Sofa Cinema in a given week will expire at 11:59 p.m. Central on Thursday. In that case, no matter when you start your film, it won’t be available at midnight.

I didn’t get to finish a film before it expired!/This film wasn’t for me! Can I get a refund?

We’ll do our best to help you navigate any technical issues you have – reach out to us at help@mkefilm.org and we’ll reply as soon as possible, but definitely within 24 hours. As a policy, there are no refunds or exchanges available.

My streaming ticket/link isn’t working. What do I do?

For customer support, email us with any questions or issues at help@mkefilm.org. We will respond as soon as possible, but definitely within 24 hours.

BUYING YOUR TICKET

What do I get when I buy a Sofa Cinema ticket?

When you buy a ticket, you get access for your household to a single Sofa Cinema film. Plus, you get the great feeling of knowing you’re supporting a Milwaukee cultural institution during a challenging time!

How do I purchase a single ticket?

Tickets for individual films are available as soon as the film opens in Sofa Cinema.

  1. Go to mkefilm.org and sign into your account. If you’re a new user, you’ll need to create an account.
  2. Browse through the films currently playing at mkefilm.org/sofacinema.
  3. Click the "AVAILABLE NOW" button, which you'll see for any film currently available.
  4. If you are a Member, be sure to be signed in to access your discounted ticket rate.
  5. Click the "CLICK TO BUY" button. After you’ve selected your ticket(s), go to your cart and check out.
  6. You’ll know you’ve completed your purchase once you receive an email confirmation.

Note: When you check out, the date that displays is the date the film opens. If you're buying a ticket in advance for one of our films, you can start watching on the date listed. If the film is already open, you can start watching right away!

Does every person watching need a separate pass/ticket?

Only one pass or ticket is needed per household to view our films. If you would like to support us further, we’d love for you to make a donation - or round up to donate when you purchase your ticket.

If you’re trying to purchase an additional ticket for a friend so you can watch the same film from different locations, you’ll have to do this in two separate transactions to generate a separate, unique link. If not, this will create problems when you’re trying to watch.

Please note: Tickets cannot be shared outside of a single household.

ACCESSING FILMS

How do I access my pass?

If you have purchased a pass for any of our Festivals or special events:

  1. You will receive an email from CineSend, our virtual platform, with the subject, “Milwaukee Film – On Demand Invite.”

  1. Once you open the email, click on the red “Join” button.

  1. You will be taken to our CineSend portal at watch.mkeilm.org, where you will need to enter your name and email address and create a password. Pro Tip: If you are prompted to Save your email and password on your browser, we recommend doing so. This will ensure that you do not have to log in every time you want to watch one of our wonderful films!

  1. You will be automatically directed to our watch.mkefilm.org virtual screening room, where you can browse all of the film offerings associated wiht yo before deciding which you want to watch.
What happens if I forget my login info?

Use the email address you entered when you purchased your pass to log in. If you forgot your password, use the password reset option on the login page to reset your password; you will need access to the email address you use to log in.

If I have a pass or ticket, when can I watch?

With any virtual ticket, once you start a film, you can view it up to 48 hours from the time you begin watching. Passholders can watch any available film included with their pass on demand.

If a film is leaving Sofa Cinema, it will no longer be available after 11:59 p.m. Central on the Thursday of the week the film closes.

Black History Month films will no longer be available after 11:59 p.m. Central on Sunday, Feb. 28. Women's History Month films will no longer be available after 11:59 p.m. Central on Wednesday, March 31.

How does my pass work?

Black History Month passes: Once you set up your login (see "How do I access my pass?"), your pass grants you access on demand to all Black History Month films as they are available during February, through our viewing portal at watch.mkefilm.org or through our apps for your TV. 

Women's History Month passes: Once you set up your login (see "How do I access my pass?"), your pass grants you access on demand to all Women's History Month films as they are available during March, through our viewing portal at watch.mkefilm.org or through our apps for your TV. 

Please note: Location-based restrictions still apply for passholders.

Where can I find my ticket?

You can find details on how to watch in the confirmation email you receive after you purchase a ticket. That email will contain a 9-digit number that you can enter at watch.mkefilm.org or on any of the Milwaukee Film TV apps to start watching the film.

I'm in the U.S., but it says I can't watch a film because I'm not in the right location. What's the deal?

Your location is determined by where your Internet provider says you are currently located, not based on your billing address. If you're in the right place to be able to view the film, check if you have a VPN (virtual private network) enabled. If you do, that may prevent you from playing the film. Please disable any VPN before enjoying your film.

WATCHING FILMS ON DIFFERENT DEVICES

I hear I can use an app to watch on my TV – what apps are available?

Amazon Fire TV: Get the Milwaukee Film app for Amazon Fire TV >>

Android TV: Get the Milwaukee Film app for Android TV >>

Apple TV: The app is only available on 4th generation HD or 5th generation 4K versions of Apple TV. Get the Milwaukee Film app for Apple TV >>

Roku: The channel is only built for 3rd generation or newer Roku devices. Get the Milwaukee Film channel for Roku >>

Samsung Smart TV: Search for "Milwaukee Film" in the Apps section of your TV's Smart Hub. Get the Milwaukee Film app for Samsung Smart TV >>

How can I use an HDMI cord to watch on my TV?

You can connect your laptop to your TV with an HDMI cord, then open watch.mkefilm.org on a supported browser in your laptop. The video below is extremely helpful in walking through how to connect your laptop to your TV.

Watch a quick video to learn how to use a laptop and HDMI cord to watch on your TV >>

If you don’t have an HDMI cord, you can purchase one at most stores that sell electronics – an example is here.

What are the system requirements to watch on my computer?

You should be able to watch on any PC running Windows 7+ or on any Mac running OS 10.12+ through watch.mkefilm.org.

Can I watch on my tablet or smartphone?

For iPhone/iPad: You can watch content using Safari on iOS 11.2 or later through watch.mkefilm.org. Important note: Due to content protection restrictions, the Screen Mirroring feature cannot be used. Additionally, HDMI or other video dongles cannot be connected to your device.

For Android phones/tablets: You can watch content using Chrome on Android 6.0 or later through watch.mkefilm.org.

NOTE: Our apps are not available via mobile devices. You can view titles on your phone/tablet's web browsers only,

Can I Chromecast content (Android)?

You can Chromecast from a Firefox (recommended) or Chrome web browser on PC and Mac computers, as well as Android devices, by selecting the cast button in the bottom right-hand side of the player at watch.mkefilm.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Some customers have reported issues with casting using the Chrome and Edge browsers, so if you experience any issues, we recommend you try Firefox or another browser.

Can I use AirPlay (Apple)?

You can AirPlay from most browsers if you have Apple TV by selecting the cast button in the bottom right-hand side of the player at watch.mkefilm.org.

How do I watch films using the Amazon Fire app?

First, install the Milwaukee Film app on your Amazon Fire device – search for “Milwaukee Film” or use the link below.
Get the Milwaukee Film app for Amazon Fire TV >>

TICKETS: After you’ve purchased your virtual ticket on the Milwaukee Film website, your confirmation email will contain a 9-digit code. Enter this code into the Milwaukee Film Amazon Fire TV app to watch.

Please note: Some ticket holders have been experiencing issues redeeming their tickets using Amazon Fire TV devices. We are working with our app developer to work through this issue. In the meantime, if you are a ticketholder and have an issue watching on the Amazon Fire TV app, we encourage you to try another platform. Appreciate your understanding!

How do I watch films using the Android TV app?

First, install the Milwaukee Film app on your Android TV device – search for “Milwaukee Film” or use the link below.
Get the Milwaukee Film app for Android TV >>

TICKETS: After you’ve purchased your virtual ticket on the Milwaukee Film website, your confirmation email will contain a 9-digit code. Enter this code into the Milwaukee Film Android TV app to watch.

How do I watch films using the Apple TV app?

First, install the Milwaukee Film app on your Apple TV device – search for “Milwaukee Film” or use the link below. The app is only available on 4th generation HD or 5th generation 4K versions of Apple TV.
Get the Milwaukee Film app for Apple TV >>

TICKETS: After you’ve purchased your virtual ticket on the Milwaukee Film website, your confirmation email will contain a 9-digit code. Enter this code into the Milwaukee Film Apple TV app under "Ticket Holders" to watch.

How do I watch films using the Roku channel?

PLEASE NOTE: The Milwaukee Film app only works on 3RD GENERATION ROKUS OR BETTER.

First, install the Milwaukee Film channel on your Roku – search for “Milwaukee Film” or use the link below.
Get the Milwaukee Film channel for Roku >>

TICKETS: After you’ve purchased your virtual ticket on the Milwaukee Film website, your confirmation email will contain a 9-digit code. Enter this code into the Milwaukee Film Roku channel to watch.

How do I watch films using the Samsung Smart TV app?

First, install the Milwaukee Film app on your Samsung Smart TV – search for “Milwaukee Film” in the Apps section of the Smart Hub. Get the Milwaukee Film app for Samsung Smart TV >>

TICKETS: After you’ve purchased your virtual ticket on the Milwaukee Film website, your confirmation email will contain a 9-digit code. Enter this code into the Milwaukee Film Samsung Smart TV app under "Ticket Holders" to watch.

Once I start a film, how long do I have to watch it?

For ticket holders, once you start a film, you can view it up to 48 hours from the time you begin watching. If a film is leaving Sofa Cinema, it will no longer be available after 11:59 p.m. Central on the Thursday of the week the film closes.

Can I rewind or start a program over?

Yes. If you have a pass, you can view films on demand and use those controls. If you have a ticket, you have complete access to the entire program for 48 hours within your household.

PLEASE NOTE: Some app users have experienced issues when pausing a film on the Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV apps. They have found that the film will sometimes restart after it has been paused for a period of time. We're working with CineSend to resolve this issue, but please be aware that you may have to re-find your spot if this happens to you.

Why is my video stalling or not playing smoothly?

Your streaming quality automatically adjusts based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is poor or inconsistent, you may experience problems during playback. If you’re using wifi, try moving closer to your router.