Bob Uecker documentary will open 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival

The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival will take over the screens of the Oriental and Downer theaters April 16-30. You already know the Cinema Hooligante films. You already know the Cream City Cinema films. You already know the Rated K: For Kids films. You already know 10 other random films. And now you know the Opening Night film: Ueck, a brand new documentary about Milwaukee/baseball/universe legend Bob Uecker.

YES.

“We’re thrilled to have Ueck open the Milwaukee Film Festival,” says September Club co-founder and Napoleon Dynamite producer Jeremy Coon. “It’s what we believe to be the definitive Bob Uecker documentary. It captures every chapter of his remarkable life—from his sandlot days in Milwaukee, to his unsung Major League career as a backup catcher, to more than half a century behind the microphone calling Milwaukee Brewers baseball. Along the way, he became a national treasure known to millions as ‘Mr. Baseball.’ For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the film offers a chance to discover even more about the wit, heart, and humanity of a man we all loved.”

The Brewers previously announced that they will screen a sneak peek of Ueck following their Opening Day game on March 26.

And there’s more! The MFF26 Opening Night screening of Ueck at the Oriental Theatre will be followed by an Opening Night Neighborhood Crawl. Participating East Side venues include Vier North, Von Trier, Landmark Lanes, Wayfinder MKE, and Nadi Plates.

“I am ecstatic about our Opening Night celebration, as it immerses the afterglow of the cinematic experience into our vibrant neighborhood, showcasing the best of Milwaukee’s East Side,” says Milwaukee Film’s Managing Director Kristen Heller. “It is a special moment of community magic where local staples and film lovers connect, as the Festival experience is just as much about our incredible neighborhood businesses as it is the screen.”

AND THERE’S EVEN MORE! MFF26’s Centerpiece screening will be The Big Cheese, “a documentary set in the high-pressure world of international cheesemongering,” and its Closing Night screening will be Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas.

MFF26 advance ticket packages and passes are available NOW. Print copies of the full program will be available beginning April 2, following a free Friends & Family Preview Night at the Oriental Theatre at 6:30 p.m.

Here are blurbs for the just-announced films, courtesy of Milwaukee Film:

Ueck (dir. Steve Farr, Michael T. Vollmann, 2026, USA)
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. Ueck will have a major theatrical release later this summer with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Big Cheese (dir. Sarah Joe Wolansky, 2025, USA)
In the high-pressure world of international cheesemongering, Adam Moskowitz aims to send the first American to claim the top prize at the Mondial du Fromage competition in France. While the European model for this “sommelier of cheese” profession eclipses its stateside counterpart in societal support, Moskowitz—and his alter-ego, Mr. Moo—believe scrappy American ingenuity can take the wheel. Sara Joe Wolansky’s supremely witty and entertaining directorial debut is an instant artisanal classic.

Power Ballad (dir. John Carney, 2026, USA)
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.