Apr 21-30
Documentary
Artist David Greenberger's projects, from his early 'zine THE DUPLEX PLANET to his recent work in spoken word shows and…
Artist David Greenberger's projects, from his early 'zine THE DUPLEX PLANET to his recent work in spoken word shows and recordings, have charted a career that honors humor, warmth, and sincerity. Long exploring notions of aging through art and community practice (including here in Milwaukee with our very own Paul Cebar), this documentary offers a metareflection on the life of an artist devoted to documenting the elderly who is himself in his senior years.
Apr 21-30
Documentary
An expansion of the celebrated MFF2023 short of the same name, a polar bear is forced to navigate a human…
An expansion of the celebrated MFF2023 short of the same name, a polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape. Conflict is sparked between human interests and wild nature in this winner of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize Documentary.
Apr 22-30
Drama
Johannesburg, 1968. Khuthala hates his father’s laundromat and doesn’t want to take over the family business, but the apartheid government…
Johannesburg, 1968. Khuthala hates his father’s laundromat and doesn’t want to take over the family business, but the apartheid government is cracking down on Black business ownership. Khuthala is torn between pursuing his own dreams of becoming a musician and fighting against the injustice that threatens the business, his only means of subsistence and the glue that holds their family together.
Apr 22-30
Shorts Program
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Enter this portal into strange worlds, haunting folklore, and uncover a sure fire way to defeat AI in this collection…
Enter this portal into strange worlds, haunting folklore, and uncover a sure fire way to defeat AI in this collection of sci-fi, fantasy, and genre shorts. Brace yourself for adrenaline-pumping stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat.This program includes the following short films:Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting | Alexander ThompsonOvergrown | Nathan GinterSpanked by a Ghost | Katelyn DouglassTaga | Jill Marie SachsTalk Me | Joecar Hanna-ZhangWe Were Here | Pranav Bhasin
Apr 25-30
Documentary
A celebration of the overlapping arts of music, dance, food, and dress packed into the cultural tradition of the powwow,…
A celebration of the overlapping arts of music, dance, food, and dress packed into the cultural tradition of the powwow, vérité-style documentary directed by MFF and UWM alum Sky Hopinka, POWWOW PEOPLE is grounded in the rhythms, relationships, and lived experience of a contemporary Native gathering. Rather than entering as outside observers, the filmmakers organized the powwow itself, inviting dancers, singers, vendors, and community members to participate in the making of this film.
Apr 25-30
Documentary
Journalism has never been as dangerous as it is today, a world where the defense of truth is under attack.…
Journalism has never been as dangerous as it is today, a world where the defense of truth is under attack. The latest documentary from MFF alum Eugene Jacrecki traces the saga of Julian Assange, a contemporary icon of the right to information, whose recent release from prison has reignited the global debate on press freedom. Thanks to privileged access to Wikileaks archives and never-before-seen evidence, this documentary takes the form of a high-tech international thriller.
Apr 26-30
Drama
Closed Captions Available
Twelve-year-old Lil Ant struggles to connect with his father when he begins to see surreal, almost spectral visions of boys…
Twelve-year-old Lil Ant struggles to connect with his father when he begins to see surreal, almost spectral visions of boys drifting around his neighborhood. Their presence reveals a link between father and son, laying bare the threads that bind family, legacy, and place. Featuring stellar performances from Danielle Brooks, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Bodhi Dell as well as from fellow supporting characters, this film illustrates the beauty and turmoil of when myth and reality collide.
Apr 26-30
Drama
In this enthralling story of tradition, ambition, and carving your own destiny, Clara and her adoptive mother Ana are midwives…
In this enthralling story of tradition, ambition, and carving your own destiny, Clara and her adoptive mother Ana are midwives to a remote indigenous community in the Bolivian Andes. Clara dreams of becoming a singer, but remains bound to the confines of her community and duties. Tempted by outside forces, she runs off to the city in pursuit of her aspirations, unwittingly leaving a dark void in her wake.
Apr 27-30
Documentary
Closed Captions Available
The aftermath of China’s one-child policy is a lopsided gender ratio. In a society with more men than women, a…
The aftermath of China’s one-child policy is a lopsided gender ratio. In a society with more men than women, a male loneliness epidemic looms as men struggle to find wives in a cutthroat dating market. Men hire dating coaches who, through their parroting of patriarchal cliches, may just be making things a lot worse. THE DATING GAME is an entertaining, at times absurd, yet always heartfelt story about love and gender roles in modern China.
Apr 28-30
Drama
A virtuous teen in a repressive rural Protestant community in 1943 Switzerland questions her village's morality as they turn away…
A virtuous teen in a repressive rural Protestant community in 1943 Switzerland questions her village's morality as they turn away Jewish refugees. After a personal trauma upends her life, she must find the courage to forge her own path against social expectations. Director Marie-Elsa Sgualdo's feature debut explores the consequences of neutrality in the face of oppression, relevent now as much as it was then.
Apr 30
Cult
Comedy
March is mourning his wife Nat who has recently passed away due to dust pollution. He discovers her spirit has…
March is mourning his wife Nat who has recently passed away due to dust pollution. He discovers her spirit has returned by possessing a vacuum cleaner. Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Critics' Week, this film smartly plays with tones and social comments while revisiting classism and oppression throughout Thailand's history. From ambitious and creative newcomer Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke comes a genre-smashing amalgamation of fantasy, horror, romance, comedy, art house and everything in between.
Apr 30
Drama
Crime
Romance
MFF2020 alum Adam Carter Rehmeier tells the story of Caroline (Samara Weaving) who joins a charming con man (Kyle Gallner)…
MFF2020 alum Adam Carter Rehmeier tells the story of Caroline (Samara Weaving) who joins a charming con man (Kyle Gallner) on the run, leaving a trail of crime and passion as they search for her estranged mother. "With what can at times be a ravishing romance, a clever con comedy, or a taut heist movie from scene to scene, it constantly diverts your attention, you only realize after how it’s run away with your heart." (Stephen Saito, Moveable Feast)
Apr 30
Comedy
Drama
Closed Captions Available
Closed Audio Description Available
When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two…
When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. From writer-director John Carney (SING STREET, ONCE), POWER BALLAD is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.Lionsgate presents, in association with 30WEST + Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, a Likely Story / Distressed Films production, in association with Treasure Entertainment.Community Partner: Boho Luxe Boutique
Apr 30
Documentary
Open Captioned Screening
Live ASL Interpretation
Amber Galloway is a star ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter who specializes in live music interpretations. Amber teaches her art…
Amber Galloway is a star ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter who specializes in live music interpretations. Amber teaches her art to share her life’s mission: making music accessible to the Deaf community. As the film unfolds, we learn about Amber’s painful past and the lives of her students, as they come together and forge life-long bonds. THE WAY WE MOVE is a powerful film about music, Deaf culture, connection, and resilience.Community Partners: Skylight Music Theatre, Independence FirstASL interpreters made possible by the following generous donors: Joanne Doehler David Roberts and Gary Kampe Leslie Hayes Mark Blumenberg and Beth Jaworski Mark and Wanda Staples John and Jean DiMottoPeggy Ann Mary and Tom Avery Pam and Bob Klein
May 1-5
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Documentary
André, a brilliant idiot, is dying because he didn’t get a colonoscopy. His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity,…
André, a brilliant idiot, is dying because he didn’t get a colonoscopy. His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity, send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
May 1-7
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 1-7
The Downer Theatre
DCP
Drama
Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into…
Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into adulthood, finding inspiration in the kindness of others to discover his true purpose in life.
May 1-7
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Drama
Rico’s summer is a mix of chasing girls and hustling homemade cocktails out of a cooler on Orchard Beach, the…
Rico’s summer is a mix of chasing girls and hustling homemade cocktails out of a cooler on Orchard Beach, the Bronx. But when Destiny, his teenage girlfriend, crashes at his place with his family, it’s only a matter of time before his carefree days come spiraling down.
May 1-7
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 1-14
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 2-3
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
Family
ENGLISH DUBTwo sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and…
ENGLISH DUBTwo sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
May 7-9
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
Horror
DUBBEDIn a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji's world,…
DUBBEDIn a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji's world, and he faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.
May 8
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Horror
Animation
SUBBED In a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji's…
SUBBED In a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji's world, and he faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.
May 8-10
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.
May 9
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 9-10
The Oriental Theatre
DCP
Animation
An enterprising producer believes he has hit upon a winning concept: a program of original animated shorts set to classical…
An enterprising producer believes he has hit upon a winning concept: a program of original animated shorts set to classical music. Undeterred by warnings that this has already been done by an American named 'Prisney,' he rallies an orchestra of geriatric women, a bullish conductor, and an animator that he keeps locked in the dungeon. What could go wrong?
May 10
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.Opens May 8, 2026. Screening times to be announced. Join us on May 10, as Amy Goodman and Academy Award-Nominated directors Carl Deal and Tia Lessin will be in attendance at the screening for a Q&A following the film.Community Partners: Riverwest Radio, Cactus Club
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
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 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 22-24
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 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 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.
