May 4-19
The Downer Theatre
DCP
Horror
When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents' ashes, he is consumed by tales of…
When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents' ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past.
May 4-20
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Discover the story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life…
Discover the story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.
May 4-21
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Comedy
Drama
Miranda Priestly navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She faces off against Emily Charlton, her one-time…
Miranda Priestly navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She faces off against Emily Charlton, her one-time assistant, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group, with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.
May 8-14
The Oriental Theatre
Documentary
Guests In Attendance
DCP
With shrinking newsrooms, media monopolization, weaponized social media, and a president deliberately eroding public trust in truth and reality, STEAL…
With shrinking newsrooms, media monopolization, weaponized social media, and a president deliberately eroding public trust in truth and reality, STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! offers an intimate counterpoint, showing how independent media is essential to a functioning democracy. Set against some of the most consequential stories of our time—from the war in Gaza to the global climate catastrophe—the film follows the intrepid independent journalist Amy Goodman over 30 years. As she becomes a leader in the movement for independent media that amplifies voices excluded from the mainstream, she faces off against forces trying to silence her.Join us on May 10, as Amy Goodman and Academy Award-Nominated directors Carl Deal and Tia Lessin will be in attendance at the noon screening for a Q&A following the film. Additionally, director Carl Deal will offer an extended introduction to the 6:30pm screening on May 10.Community Partners: Riverwest Radio, Cactus Club, Jewish Voice for Peace - Milwaukee, ACLU of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Turners, Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
May 8-21
The Downer Theatre
DCP
Drama
In the late 1990s, a family of six settles into their new home on Vancouver Island, as internal dynamics are…
In the late 1990s, a family of six settles into their new home on Vancouver Island, as internal dynamics are slowly revealed through the experiences of the youngest child, Sasha. Their fresh start is interrupted by the increasingly dangerous behavior of Jeremy, the family's oldest child.Winner of 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival Emerging Fiction Jury Award.
May 9-Jun 13
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Cult
Classic
Musical
After getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, newly engaged couple Brad and Janet encounter the eerie mansion…
After getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, newly engaged couple Brad and Janet encounter the eerie mansion of the flamboyant, seductive Dr. Frank-N-Furter and a variety of eccentric characters. Through elaborate dance and rock music, the mad scientist unveils his latest creation: a perfect, muscular man. Screenings are accompanied by a live, shadowcast performance from Milwaukee's Sensual Daydreams.
May 15
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Cult
Suffering from insomnia, disturbed loner Travis Bickle takes a job as a New York City cabbie, haunting the streets nightly,…
Suffering from insomnia, disturbed loner Travis Bickle takes a job as a New York City cabbie, haunting the streets nightly, growing increasingly detached from reality as he dreams of cleaning up the filthy city.
May 15-17
The Downer Theatre
DCP
Drama
International
While on vacation in Poland, Bethany breaks away from a romantic itinerary planned by her doting boyfriend, Rob, fearing that…
While on vacation in Poland, Bethany breaks away from a romantic itinerary planned by her doting boyfriend, Rob, fearing that a marriage proposal is imminent. Reuniting instead with an old friend, Nel, the two women rekindle a uniquely combustible chemistry over the course of a few days in a chaste but burning trust predicated on sapphic synchronicity and a mutual penchant for poetry.
May 15-21
The Downer Theatre
DCP
Horror
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what…
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
May 15-21
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Family
Animation
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to…
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
May 16-17
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Family
Animation
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately…
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.
May 21-23
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
DUBBEDIn the ruins of a strange city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in…
DUBBEDIn the ruins of a strange city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms. She bonds with a boy who is searching for a bird he saw in a dream.
May 21-24
The Oriental Theatre
Comedy
Adventure
DCP
A crew of professional shoplifters takes aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It's like a community service.
May 22
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
SUBBEDIn the ruins of a strange city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in…
SUBBEDIn the ruins of a strange city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms. She bonds with a boy who is searching for a bird he saw in a dream.
May 22-25
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Documentary
Every year, the Florida government invites the general public to compete in an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades.…
Every year, the Florida government invites the general public to compete in an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades. For ten nights, an eclectic group of hunters confront the dangerous terrain, nocturnal creatures and their own desires.
May 22-26
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Horror
After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana finds herself haunted…
After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she's eating.
May 23-24
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
Family
Happily ever after never seemed so far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into a hilariously…
Happily ever after never seemed so far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into a hilariously twisted adventure for Shrek and Fiona. With the help of his faithful Donkey, Shrek takes on a potion-brewing Fairy Godmother, the pompous Prince Charming, and the ogre-killer, Puss In Boots.
May 28
The Oriental Theatre
35mm
Animation
Sci-Fi
35MM! ENGLISH DUBIn the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by…
35MM! ENGLISH DUBIn the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster' begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster.
May 28-30
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
DUBBEDCyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then…
DUBBEDCyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then self-destructed afterwards. The brains of the gynoids initialize in order to protect their manufacturer's software, but in one gynoid, which Batou himself neutralized, one file remains: a voice speaking the phrase "Help me."
May 29
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
SUBBEDCyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then…
SUBBEDCyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then self-destructed afterwards. The brains of the gynoids initialize in order to protect their manufacturer's software, but in one gynoid, which Batou himself neutralized, one file remains: a voice speaking the phrase "Help me."
May 29-31
The Oriental Theatre
Horror
Sci-Fi
DCP
A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.
May 30-31
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
Family
When a sprite named Crysta shrinks a human boy, Zak, down to her size, he vows to help the magical…
When a sprite named Crysta shrinks a human boy, Zak, down to her size, he vows to help the magical fairy folk stop a greedy logging company from destroying their home: the pristine rainforest known as FernGully. Zak and his new friends fight to defend FernGully from lumberjacks — and the vengeful spirit they accidentally unleash after chopping down a magic tree.
Jun 5
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Comedy
Musical
A struggling female soprano finds work playing a male female impersonator, but it complicates her personal life.
Jun 6
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Western
Drama
On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin'…
On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.
Jun 6
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Classic
Board Pick! Board member Mark T. Plichta chose THE THIRD MAN!In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp…
Board Pick! Board member Mark T. Plichta chose THE THIRD MAN!In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Major Calloway, and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna.
Jun 9
The Oriental Theatre
Documentary
DCP
World champion tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King has had a game-changing impact on culture and sports. Rare archive and candid…
World champion tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King has had a 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.
Jun 12
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Cult
Comedy
Megan is an all-American girl. A cheerleader. She has a boyfriend. But Megan doesn't like kissing her boyfriend very much.…
Megan is an all-American girl. A cheerleader. She has a boyfriend. But Megan doesn't like kissing her boyfriend very much. And she's pretty touchy with her cheerleader friends. Her conservative parents worry that she must be a lesbian and send her off to "sexual redirection" school, where she must, with other lesbians and gays learn how to be straight.
Jun 14
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Two young men attempt to prove they committed the perfect murder by hosting a dinner party for the family of…
Two young men attempt to prove they committed the perfect murder by hosting a dinner party for the family of a classmate they just strangled to death.
Jun 19
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Documentary
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the…
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.
Jun 20
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Comedy
Before graduation, Ethan and Alex pose as trans women in a last ditch effort to quell gay rumors. It's all…
Before graduation, Ethan and Alex pose as trans women in a last ditch effort to quell gay rumors. It's all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. The two must reckon with their changing friendship, coming out, and coming-of-age.
Jun 20
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives…
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.
Jun 20
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Guests In Attendance
Drama
Local
A palliative care doctor meets with a series of dying patients.A Q&A with cast and crew will occur following the…
A palliative care doctor meets with a series of dying patients.A Q&A with cast and crew will occur following the screening. Guests expected to attend include director Nathan Deming and cast members Chiké Johnson, Tara Mallen, and Winter Williams.
Jun 21
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
A monumental windstorm and an abused horse's refusal to work or eat signal the beginning of the end for a…
A monumental windstorm and an abused horse's refusal to work or eat signal the beginning of the end for a poor farmer and his daughter.
Jun 22
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Four men from different parts of the globe, all hiding from their pasts in the same remote South American town,…
Four men from different parts of the globe, all hiding from their pasts in the same remote South American town, agree to risk their lives transporting several cases of dynamite (which is so old that it is dripping unstable nitroglycerin) across dangerous jungle terrain.
Jun 23
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Crime
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly…
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.
Jun 24
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
SUBBEDRising pop star Mima quits singing to pursue a career as an actress. After she takes up a role on…
SUBBEDRising pop star Mima quits singing to pursue a career as an actress. After she takes up a role on a popular detective show, her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima's reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia.
Jun 25
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Accompanied by the short film BOROM SARRET Eager to find a better life abroad, a Senegalese woman becomes a mere governess to…
Accompanied by the short film BOROM SARRET Eager to find a better life abroad, a Senegalese woman becomes a mere governess to a family in southern France, suffering from discrimination and marginalization.
Jun 26
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
American Job is a narrative film about Randy Scott, a youth caught in the dismal confusion of living and working…
American Job is a narrative film about Randy Scott, a youth caught in the dismal confusion of living and working in the world of minimum wage. The film follows Randy through a number of low-paying, menial jobs including fast food dishwasher, custodian, telemarketer, and factory worker. It highlights the sheer boredom of minimum wage work and is a slightly comical and occasionally depressing look at what life is like in the US minimum wage arena.
Jun 27
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Foreign Legion officer Galoup recalls his once glorious life, training troops in the Gulf of Djibouti. His existence there was…
Foreign Legion officer Galoup recalls his once glorious life, training troops in the Gulf of Djibouti. His existence there was happy, strict and regimented, until the arrival of a promising young recruit, Sentain, plants the seeds of jealousy in Galoup's mind.
Jun 27
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Cult
Ali leaves behind a troubled life and follows her dreams to Los Angeles, where she lands a job as a…
Ali leaves behind a troubled life and follows her dreams to Los Angeles, where she lands a job as a cocktail waitress at the Burlesque Lounge, a once-majestic theater that houses an inspired musical revue. Vowing to perform there, she makes the leap from bar to stage, helping restore the club's former glory.
Jun 28
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Romance
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous Major champion. To jolt…
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous Major champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she signs him up for a "Challenger" event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend.
