June at Milwaukee Film’s historic cinemas features an abundance of themed programming, from two Pride Month series that explore various corners of queer media, to the return of Cinematic Sisterhood. Milwaukee Film is also participating in the now international phenomenon, Bleak Week, a film series that originated with the American Cinematheque in LA. On Saturday, June 20, the Wisconsin-made film Winter Hymns will have its Milwaukee premiere at the historic Oriental Theatre.

Pride Month Programming – Throughout June

There’s an abundance of options screening throughout June as part of our Pride Month Programming. 

In addition to films like Adam Shankman and RuPaul’s Stop! That! Train! (opening June 12), WMSE’s Friday Night Freak Show screening of Paris is Burning, and the Pride Month Edition of our monthly Rocky Horror Picture Show feat. a live shadowcast performance from Milwaukee’s Sensual Daydreams, we have two mini-series to round out the festivities: Summer Camp 2 (a sequel series to last year’s Summer Camp) and Queerious at the Oriental Theatre. 

Summer Camp 2 is the return of our celebration of over-the-top, outrageously fun films that have become absolute queer classics. Join us as we shout “Wagon Wheel Watusi!” with Cher during Burlesque, cheer after every Julie Andrews performance in Victor/Victoria, bask in the glow of But I’m a Cheerleader, and MFF2026 favorite She’s the He.

The full lineup for Summer Camp 2:

Queerious is a showcase of films that on the surface may not appear to be queer, yet are rich with innuendo. LGBTQ+ audiences have recognized these films as queer classics, despite their queerness being danced around or simply unspoken because of when they were made. This is a chance to welcome new communities to recontextualize these films and celebrate them as such.

The full lineup for Queerious:

Cinematic Sisterhood – Returns June 9, 2026

The Cinematic Sisterhood series, presented by Tracey B. Thomas, began in 2025 as a result of a special grant by the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. The series returns for its second season, continuing its mission of uplifting the work of women in the film industry with a special screening of Give Me the Ball! On Tuesday, June 9. 

This new documentary from co-directors Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff follows world champion tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King, and her game-changing impact on culture and sports. Rare archive and candid interviews with Billie Jean and those closest to her reveal how one woman put changing the world ahead of saving herself.

Winter Hymns – June 20

Milwaukee Film is thrilled to host the Milwaukee premiere of Winter Hymns at the historic Oriental Theatre. From Wisconsin filmmaker Nathan Deming, this drama follows a palliative care doctor (American Players Theatre’s Colleen Madden) on a single day as she meets with a series of dying patients and their families. A Q&A with cast and crew will occur following the screening. Guests expected to attend include writer/director Nathan Deming and cast members Chiké Johnson, Tara Mallen, and Winter Williams.

“Bringing the film to the Oriental Theatre is very exciting,” says writer/director Nathan Deming. “Our goal was always to create a story that resonates with the people of the Midwest, and the response we’ve seen in Madison and beyond proves there is a deep hunger for this kind of authentic, local storytelling.”

Bleak Week – June 21-27, 2026

Bleak Week, presented in partnership with the American Cinematheque, spotlights some of the greatest films from around the world that explore the darkest sides of humanity. This year, we delve into the theme of work as one of the foremost sources of bleakness in our daily lives. The series opens with a Father’s Day screening of The Turin Horse to honor the late, great Béla Tarr, an early champion of Bleak Week. Our screening of American Job will feature a Q&A with lead actor Randy Russell. Wallow in the rest of the lineup and by the end you may realize you could have it worse!

The full lineup for Bleak Week:

BEAU TRAVAIL – 6/78 at 3:00 PM