Cream City Cinema Program – MFF26
Show some hometown pride and local support at our annual showcase of the best new work from Milwaukee-area filmmakers.
Presented by: Susan and Robert Mikulay
Sponsored by: OnMilwaukee; Urban Milwaukee; VISIT Milwaukee
The Films
Beyond
Documentary
Local
Guests in Attendance
A group of incarcerated men prepare for a TED-style event at Sing Sing prison that showcases their personal narratives along…
A group of incarcerated men prepare for a TED-style event at Sing Sing prison that showcases their personal narratives along with ideas for changing the prison system and healing their communities. With unprecedented access, the film follows the speakers’ journeys from audition to their climactic moment on stage, highlighting themes of vulnerability, healing, and redemption, while showcasing the power of performance and storytelling in and outside of the carceral justice system.Community Partner: America's Black Holocaust Museum
Bright Beautiful World: The Infectious Joy of Pat McCurdy
Documentary
Local
Guests in Attendance
Over more than 50 years and 12,000 performances in Milwaukee and beyond, Pat McCurdy has cultivated a fiercely loyal fan…
Over more than 50 years and 12,000 performances in Milwaukee and beyond, Pat McCurdy has cultivated a fiercely loyal fan base and a reputation for spreading infectious joy. He may not be a household name, but to those who know him, Pat is unforgettable. BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL WORLD is an uplifting portrait of an artist who found success on his own terms—and of the deep, decades-long love affair between a musician and the fans who keep showing up.Community Partner: Milwaukee Theater District
Flytrapper
Local
Comedy
Guests in Attendance
Crystal's life of extremely aggressive rap music, jet-skiing, and nefarious activities in the lush Northwoods is upended by a visit…
Crystal's life of extremely aggressive rap music, jet-skiing, and nefarious activities in the lush Northwoods is upended by a visit from her estranged best friend, Melonie, who is digging into the past. But even as the situation becomes increasingly unstable, she can’t help but stay as the two rekindle their friendship. Featuring a crew of MFF alums, this world premiere showcases writer/star Georgia Lee King as one to watch.
Intoxicated Rain
Local
Drama
Guests in Attendance
Along the Western shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Milwaukee, lies the small town of Port Washington, WI. When…
Along the Western shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Milwaukee, lies the small town of Port Washington, WI. When two old fishermen recover the curious isolated remains of a human face, the town is unsettled but carries on. Against this backdrop we meet Jaden Sobczak, a biracial young man coming of age while feeling caught between places, cultures, and family members in this heartfelt film, produced by talented local cast and crew.Community Partner: Wicked Hop
Ixonia's Mild Kingdom
Comedy
Local
Guests in Attendance
Meet self-proclaimed "wildlife expert" Merlin Porkins. The latest from BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD writer Kristofor Brown, this pilot for a new…
Meet self-proclaimed "wildlife expert" Merlin Porkins. The latest from BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD writer Kristofor Brown, this pilot for a new episodic project follows Porkins and his sidekicks (co-starring Nathan Barnatt) as they encounter local wildlife in the small town of Ixonia, WI. Using Monty Python-esque storytelling, unforgettable characters, and a local touch, this show is truly like no other.This screening will be followed by an extended Q&A with Brown featuring career highlights and some surprises.
Makin' Cake
Documentary
Local
Guests in Attendance
MAKIN' CAKE is a story of access and privilege in America told through the histories of baking and cake. Join…
MAKIN' CAKE is a story of access and privilege in America told through the histories of baking and cake. Join multi-hyphenate artist and Milwaukeean, Dasha Kelly, as she travels the country talking to bakers, scientists, and historians, witness her nationally touring stage show of the same name, and maybe learn a few things about baking along the way. This doc is one part Food Network, one part history lesson, and 100% Dasha.Community Partners: America's Black Holocaust Museum, Greige Pâtisserie
Now! More! Yes!
Documentary
Local
Guests in Attendance
Milwaukee-based artist Max Hey started recording his landlord, TW Hansen, a blind picture car wrangler, after witnessing him purchase an…
Milwaukee-based artist Max Hey started recording his landlord, TW Hansen, a blind picture car wrangler, after witnessing him purchase an ambulance with no keys on an auction website. When a sudden job loss leads TW into a spiral of despair, his resilience is tested in ways that push him to the edge. NOW! MORE! YES! is a celebration of the human spirit, the power of relationships, and the unexpected ways life can turn around.Community Partners: Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, Redemann Creative
The Milwaukee Music Video Show
Shorts Program
Local
Guests in Attendance
Back for 2026, our showcase of locally-made music videos runs the gamut of musical genres while also showcasing the exquisite…
Back for 2026, our showcase of locally-made music videos runs the gamut of musical genres while also showcasing the exquisite diversity allowed within the music video format, a series of short, sonic bursts of creative excitement. Artists include Fuzzysurf, Jondo Jordan, Creature Weather, Caley Conway, and more.This program includes the following music videos:Autumn Maria Reed - “Little Heart Warrior” Alex BoyesCaley Conway - “Singing Never” | Josh EvertCreature Weather - “Phantom Face” | Nels LindquistFuzzysurf - “Don’t Go Overboard” | Tommy SimmsHealth Club - “Banjo Song” | Ryan Nels PontilloHughes Family Band - “I Don’t Mind” | Ryan Thomas ReeveJondo Jordan - “Delusions” | Jonathan TurnerMie - “Freakshow” | MieMol Sullivan - “Dog” | Mol SullivanNoah David Eckstein - “Cladosporium Coke Dial” | Noah David Ecksteinoak you - “pangea pt. 3 (hibernation)” | Cole QuammeSeances - “Forgiveness” | Eric ArsnowSex Scenes - “Want & Need / Nothing” | Victor Buell, Harrison ColbyThe Taxmen - “Without You” | Peter BorowskiTraore - “Africa Enough is Enough” | English Absolute, Tate Bunker
The Milwaukee Show I
Shorts Program
Local
Guests in Attendance
Each year THE MILWAUKEE SHOW is one of the hottest tickets of the festival—a rare chance to see work from…
Each year THE MILWAUKEE SHOW is one of the hottest tickets of the festival—a rare chance to see work from our local best and brightest in the gloriously opulent setting of our beloved Oriental Theatre's Abele Cinema. This collection of stunning shorts allows you to watch locally, yet think globally.This program includes the following short films:Frayed Flags | Khaula Kai MahmoodFred’s Basement Bijou | Michael T. VollmannLas Animas | Matt FeldmanLearning from Learning from Las Vegas | Gillian Waldo, Sam TaffelRomeo’s Burden | Adam MorrisSherman Park | Paulina Lule Bugembe-KuwaharaSometimes They Knock | Matt BinettiCommunity Partners: Imagine MKE, Creative Mornings, The Local Makery
The Milwaukee Show II
Shorts Program
Local
Guests in Attendance
The shorts program is so nice, we have to do it twice! THE MILWAUKEE SHOW II brings you EVEN MORE…
The shorts program is so nice, we have to do it twice! THE MILWAUKEE SHOW II brings you EVEN MORE fantastic films courtesy of our thriving local artistic community. There's simply too much quality to be contained by a single screening, so settle in for another collection of shorts with a diversity of styles and perspectives.This program includes the following short films:Aroma-Vision | Shun Powell甜腻腻 Thick & Sweet | Yinan WangFloodgates | Eric EngelbartIn Shelter of Birds | Lajwanti Pershad WaghrayNever Lost (결코 잃지 않았다) | Li Chiao-PingPlaceholder | Jesse McLeanWhere It Started | Vianca FusterCommunity Partners: Second Hand Purrs Cat Shelter, OCA-WI (Organization of Chinese Americans-Wisconsin Chapter)
The Milwaukee Youth Show
Shorts Program
Local
Family
Guests in Attendance
With every turn, the next generation of artists in our community are showing that they have the stuff to tell…
With every turn, the next generation of artists in our community are showing that they have the stuff to tell their stories, make people laugh, and enact change. This showcase of Milwaukee's young filmmakers proves that they are carrying the torch (with tons of talent) to bring light to our city. AGES 12+This program includes the following short films:Alive and Fine | Diego VillafuerteFacade | Sam SlowikGRAVEDIGGER | Joseph Tzougros, Anika Oakland, Zoe OaklandHold Close | Milwaukee Visionaries Project participantsNannerl’s Kügel | Lola MilanovicThe Web | Erin BrowningToo Many Anikas | Zoe OaklandWho Are You | Katie Hyde
Ueck
Documentary
Local
Guests in Attendance
Milwaukee legend, Bob Uecker, the former Major League baseball player, Hall of Fame sportscaster, comedian, and actor has seen it…
Milwaukee legend, Bob Uecker, the former Major League baseball player, Hall of Fame sportscaster, comedian, and actor has seen it all and made us laugh along the way. Though UECK passed away in January 2025, this documentary from Milwaukee-based filmmakers Michael T. Vollmann and Steve Farr persists as a testament to his legacy, giving audiences intimate access to his life, work, family, and friends, amplifying his humor and heart for future generations.
Welcome Poets
Documentary
Local
Closed Captions Available
A poetically structured documentary that follows 2023-24 Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Nicholas Gulig, as he returns to his home state of…
A poetically structured documentary that follows 2023-24 Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Nicholas Gulig, as he returns to his home state of Wisconsin after nearly two decades away, following five years teaching in Thailand, joins UW-Whitewater as a poetry professor, and moves to Fort Atkinson. Feeling estranged from the state, and in a divided political climate, Gulig finds a steadying presence in the region's ties to lauded 20th century Wisconsin poet Lorine Niedecker.Community Partners: Woodland Pattern, Friends of Lorine Niedecker
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