The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by Associated Bank, came to an end last Thursday, April 30th, and Milwaukee Film is honored to announce the winners of the 2026 Jury Awards and reveal the 2026 Audience Award Winners. 

MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL BY THE NUMBERS 
Milwaukee and its surrounding communities came out in droves for this 15-day festival, with attendance of 36,922 across the screenings and events on offer, 15.4% growth over 2025.

“Steven Spielberg once said, ‘Every time I go to a movie, it’s magic.’ Milwaukee Film is so lucky we have audiences who want to experience that magic with us day in, day out for two weeks every spring,” expressed Susan Kerns, Milwaukee Film’s Executive Director. “This year was especially meaningful since we just purchased the Downer Theatre, and were able to hold the World Premieres of four feature films, starting with our Opening Night screening of Ueck. Milwaukee loves to celebrate as a community, and we are so honored to be part of its cultural fabric. We look forward to doing it again next year when the Oriental Theatre celebrates its 100th birthday!” 

OVERALL

243 Films: 105 feature films, including 54 documentary features and 51 fiction features, and 138 short films. 45% of feature films were directed by women or nonbinary filmmakers. 

$163,605 was raised through the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival REEL Impact Drive—a fundraising initiative that raises essential operational funds for the organization. This year’s REEL Impact Drive included an always-popular silent auction (featuring items such as exclusive Milwaukee Film experiences, movie posters, local artworks, and more), and a $5,000 last-day match from Jim and Santha Kerns—parents of executive director Susan Kerns.

ATTENDANCE 

  • 281 Public Screenings (and 3 Private Screenings, including our Super Secret Members-Only Screenings!)
  • 36,922 Total Attendance; over 33,400 at public screenings
  • 114 Filmmaker & Industry Guests + countless local filmmakers

2026 ABELE CATALYST AWARD
The Abele Catalyst Award is presented annually by Milwaukee Film to a person or entity who has been catalytic to the organization. The 2026 Abele Catalyst Award was presented to Matthew G. Helmerich on Festival Eve.

2026 JURY AWARD WINNERS

Luminaries Jury Award – $2,500 – The Blue Trail, dir. Gabriel Mascaro

  • Luminaries Jury:
    • Gilberto Blasini-Caceres, UWM
    • Gavin Briscoe, Cartuna x Dweck
    • Marya E. Gates, film critic

Emerging Fiction Jury Award – $2,500 – Blue Heron, dir. Sophy Romvari

  • Special Mention: If I Go Will They Miss Me?, dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández
  • Emerging Fiction Jury:
    • Colton Campbell, Art House Convergence
    • Bri LeRose, filmmaker
    • Grace Mitchell, filmmaker

Emerging Documentary Jury Award – $2,500– All of the Above, dir. Allison Walsh

  • Special Mention: TheyDream, dir. William David Caballero
  • Emerging Documentary Jury:
    • Paige Bethmann, MFF alum and 2025 Emerging Documentary Jury Award winner (Remaining Native)
    • Cayla Clements, POV
    • William Howell, MFF alum and 2025 Cream City Cinema Jury Award winner (Cycle)

Cream City Cinema Jury Award – Beyond, dir. Michael Kleiman, Asia Johnson

  • $5,000 + in-kind production services valued at $23,600

Cream City Cinema Jury Award – Placeholder, dir. Jesse McLean

  • $5,000 + in-kind production services valued at $23,600

Cream City Cinema Jury Award – 甜腻腻 Thick & Sweet, dir. Yinan Wang

  • $5,000 + in-kind production services valued at $23,600
  • Special Mentions:
    • Fred’s Basement Bijou – dir. Michael T. Vollmann
    • Now! More! Yes! – dir. Max Hey
  • Cream City Cinema Jury:
    • Robert Daniel, film critic and associate editor at RogerEbert.com
    • Jonathan DeMaio, 1-2 Special
    • Kelly Young, Sundance Film Festival
  • Cream City Cinema production services donated by Electric Sun Corporation, North American Camera, attorney Dan Kattman of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., and Seadog Creative

Shorts Jury Award – $1,000 –  We Were Here, dir. Pranav Bhasin

  • Special Mentions:
    • Talk Me, dir. Joecar Hanna-Zhang
    • Callback, dir. Matthew Puccini
  • Shorts Jury:
    • Carlo Besasie, filmmaker
    • Alan LaFave, Hell’s Half Mile Film Festival
    • Dominique O’Neil, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

Kids’ Choice Jury Award – $1,000 – The Legend of the Hummingbird, dir. Morgan Devos

  • Special Mentions:
    • Best Characters: The Naughty Seat, dir. David Johnson
    • Best Humor: Forever, dir. Théo Djekou, Pierre Ferrari, Cyrine Jouini, Pauline Philippart, Anissa Terrier
    • Most Inspiring: Mountain Roots,  dir. Carrie McCarthy, Mark Pedri
    • Best Animation: Snow Bear, dir. Aaron Blaise
  • The 2026 Kids’ Choice Jury Award is presented by a jury of 9 local youth ages ranging 9-12.

2026 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Attendees voted to determine the 2026 Audience Awards. This year’s winning feature and short films are: 

  • Audience Award for Best Feature Film – $2,000
    Bright Beautiful World: The Infectious Joy of Pat McCurdy*
    dir. Peter Matsoukas, Benny Kaplan
    * (world premiere)
  • Audience Award for Best Short Film – $1,000
    Oh Whale, dir. Winslow Crane- Murdoch

DIALOGUES DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL
Milwaukee Film’s Dialogues Documentary Festival returns for its third year, bringing thought-provoking documentaries to Milwaukee audiences. Milwaukee Film is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Dialogues Documentary Festival will take place September 24-27, 2026.

2027 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL DATES
We are pleased to announce that the 19th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will take place April 29 through May 13, 2027. Mark these dates on your calendar now!