We’re mere weeks away from the 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival. The 17th annual fest will take over the Oriental and Downer theatres—along with other swaths of the East Side—April 24 through May 8. It’s gonna be great.

Need proof? Well, the full lineup and program guide is available online NOW. Check it out HERE. (Physical copies are scheduled to arrive at various locations April 11.)

The MFF25 lineup includes 96 feature films, plus 112 short films in 13 shorts programs. That’s 35 fewer features and 57 fewer shorts than MFF24—but, to our eyes at least, the MFF25 lineup is the stronger of the two. There’s a LOT to see here. Some random personal highlights:

An Opening Night documentary on Sally Ride. A live-scored screening of 1922’s Nosferatu. A retro screening of Desperately Seeking Susan. Documentaries on Brady Street, Wisconsin Dells, the Green Bay punk rock scene, Pavement, Blur, Janis Ian, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Art Spiegelman, Gallagher (!), Venus Xtravaganza, Linda Perry, Marlee Matlin, Peaches, The Black Keys, house music, and converted Pizza Hut locations (!) New films from David Cronenberg and Errol Morris. The Milwaukee Record-sponsored Cinema Hooligante program. (We’ll have more about that, and a super-secret thing we’re cooking up to go along with it, in the upcoming days.) The midnight shorts program. The Opening Night block party outside the Oriental. A LOT more.

Passes and ticket packages are available online NOW. Individual film tickets for Milwaukee Film members will be available online starting April 14. General audiences tickets will be available online starting April 16. In-person tickets will be available at the Oriental Theatre starting April 18.

So yeah, check out the program book! Or browse an alphabetical list of all the features and shorts below! WE CAN’T WAIT.

MFF25 Feature Films

25 Cats From Qatar
(United States | 2024 | 95 min | English)

When Katy McHugh, owner of Milwaukee’s Sip and Purr Cat Café, learns of the feral cat crisis in Doha, Qatar, she creates a brave and unsanctioned plan to fly 25 cats from Doha back to Wisconsin for adoption. From MFF alum Mye Hoang (CAT DADDIES, MFF22), this film offers a heartwarming, urgent look at strangers overcoming barriers to save lives, highlighting the global struggle for animal welfare. DIR. Mye Hoang

40 Acres
(Canada | 2024 | 113 min | English, Cree)

In a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, the last descendants of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War must protect their homestead from an organized militia hell-bent on taking their land. Structured like a typical apocalypse film, 40 ACRES subverts expectations in ways that will leave you breathless. With a terrific ensemble cast led by Danielle Deadwyler (STATION ELEVEN, TILL), this action/thriller captivates and surprises. DIR. R.T. Thorne

A Mother Apart
(Canada | 2024 | 89 min | English, German)

Poet, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chinn reminisces on her journey as a poet while attempting to break the generational curse of abandonment with her own daughter, Zuri. When she discovers unopened childhood letters addressed to her mother, Hazel, Chin begins an emotionally intense investigation into the past of a woman whose absence has shaped her poetry, politics, and motherhood. DIR. Laurie Townshend

AJ Goes to the Dog Park
(United States | 2024 | 79 min | English)

A surreal and gag-driven comedy about an ordinary man named AJ, who enjoys a simple life in the midwest haven of Fargo, ND. When his favorite dog park is taken away, it begins a chain reaction that completely upends his existence and sends him on an unforgettable odyssey to fight, fish, scrap, scrape, and slap things back into place. DIR. Toby Jones

All Shall Be Well
(Hong Kong, China | 2024 | 93 min | Cantonese)

Winner of LGBT film festival awards across the globe, ALL SHALL BE WELL follows Hong Kong couple Angie and Pat as they enter their late 60s. After an unexpected turn of events, Angie finds herself at the mercy of Pat’s family, struggling to retain her dignity and the home she has shared with her partner for over thirty years. A moving depiction of loss and the true meaning of chosen family that is not to be missed. DIR. Ray Yeung

All That Glitters
(United States | 2024 | 75 min | English)

In his feature debut, Milwaukee filmmaker Noah Meister presents ALL THAT GLITTERS, a thrilling coming-of-age story about Christopher, a high schooler frustrated with his suburban life who accidentally ends up with thousands of dollars’ worth of cocaine after a drug deal goes wrong. With dealers hunting him down, he plans to sell the drugs at a party for the richest kids in his grade, but must quickly face the dangerous consequences of his reckless actions. DIR. Noah Meister

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story
(Canada | 2024 | 99 min | English)

Blending music, unreleased phone conversations, and soulful animated re-enactments, ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY provides a powerful account of Jackie Shane’s life in her own words. A compelling tribute to a groundbreaking artist and trailblazer in music and LGBTQ+ rights, this documentary not only gives her the recognition she deserves but also introduces her to a new generation fighting for their right to be their true selves. DIR. Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee

Art Spiegelman: Disaster is my Muse
(United States | 2024 | 98 min | English, Polish)

Dive into the life and work of venerated comix artist Art Spiegelman, from his early days inspired by the irreverence of MAD Magazine to his seminal MAUS, a personal exploration of generational trauma during and after the Holocaust. Now in his late 70s, his work has turned to anti-fascist and anti-censorship activism, no less strident about the truths and values of art and life. DIR. Molly Bernstein, Philip Dolin

Baby
(Brazil, France, Netherlands | 2024 | 107 min | Portuguese)

After his release from a juvenile center, Wellington finds himself homeless in São Paulo. At an after-hours cruising spot, he meets Ronaldo, a slick and sexy escort who mentors him in street survival. Their bond evolves into a steamy and (apparent to everyone but Wellington) turbulent affair. DIR. Marcelo Caetano

Baby Doe
(United States | 2025 | 100 min | English)

30 years ago, Gail Ritchey, a young woman from a conservative Ohio community, gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Now a mother of three, her suburban life unravels when she is arrested for murder, despite claiming the baby was stillborn. This documentary explores Gail’s journey as she faces the possibility of a life sentence, forcing her to confront the denial and shame surrounding her past. DIR. Jessica Earnshaw

Balomania
(Denmark, Spain | 2024 | 93 min | Portuguese)

The culture and work of Brazilian baloeiros—secret groups of men who craft and launch intricate hot-air balloon art—deserve a place on the big screen. This epic portrayal captures the free-spirited artistry and subculture, showcasing a raw, authentic exploration of Brazilian masculinity. Through the filmmaker’s earned trust and intimate lens, the film reveals both the beauty and complexities of this unique community, exposing deep, sometimes turbulent truths about identity, pride, and tradition. DIR. Sissel Morell Dargis

Bar
(United States | 2024 | 88 min | English)

MFF alum Don Hardy’s (PICK OF THE LITTER, MFF18) latest goes behind the BAR 5-Day course—the world’s premiere educational program on distilled spirits and mixology. Two parts competition, one part the camraderie of teachers and learners served over ice with a dash of spiritous history, this film will whet your interest in and appreciation for what goes into serving a great drink well. DIR. Don Hardy

Black Dog
(China | 2024 | 106 min | Mandarin Chinese)

On the edge of the Gobi desert in Northwest China, Lang returns to his hometown after being released from jail. While working for the local dog patrol team to clear the town of stray dogs before the Olympic Games, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog. Together, these two lonely souls embark on a poetic journey of redemption in this mesmerizing drama. DIR. Guan Hu

Blur: To the End
(United Kingdom | 2024 | 104 min | English)

Filmed over a decade, but also drawing in a wealth of footage from throughout their entire career, Toby L’s documentary portrait explores Blur’s trajectory, from a group of friends jamming to becoming one of the most acclaimed British bands of the last 35 years. It captures them as they come together to record their first record in eight years ahead of their sold-out, first ever shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2023. DIR. Toby L.

Boys Go To Jupiter
(United States | 2024 | 88 min | English)

Set in the construction sites and abandoned pools of suburban Florida, Grubster delivery boy Billy 5000 and his ragtag friends hoverboard around town trying to save an alien named Donut from the evil schemes of the Dolphin Groves Juice Company. A surefire cult classic, BOYS GO TO JUPITER is a surreal coming-of-age story packed with 2000s gummy animation, deadpan jokes, musical numbers, the who’s-who of awkward comedy (Joe Pera, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman), and lots of grub. AGES 13+ DIR. Julian Glander

Brady Street: Portrait of a Neighborhood
(United States | 2024 | 86 min | English)

In the 1960s and ’70s, Brady Street became a thriving hub of counterculture—a legacy that persists in Milwaukee today. Like many neighborhoods, Brady Street has faced its share of decline. But by the end of the 20th century, determined community efforts sparked a renaissance, revitalizing the area and transforming it into a diverse urban haven. Longtime resident Julilly Kohler puts it best: “It’s people that make the street. It’s really about people and getting people involved.” DIR. Sean Kafer

Can I Get A Witness?
(Canada | 2024 | 110 min | English)

Eight years since her last feature, filmmaker, writer, and visual artist Ann Marie Fleming brings her gentle, introspective touch to the timely genre of environmental science fiction. It’s the future and we’ve solved all the world’s problems: mitigated climate change, eradicated poverty, achieved trans-species equality. There’s just one catch… humans have to end their lives at 50 and teenage artists have to document it. It’s Kiah’s first day on the job. DIR. Ann Marie Fleming

Cloud
(Japan | 2024 | 123 min | Japanese)

CLOUD is a Kiyoshi Kurosawa neo-noir thriller that centers on Yoshii, a factory worker in Tokyo who makes extra money reselling goods online under a pseudonym. After a particularly successful stint, he quits his job and relocates to the countryside with his girlfriend, hiring a local young man to help with his reselling business. However, Yoshii’s seemingly idyllic life is shattered by mysterious attacks from unknown assailants, dismantling his peace as he discovers multiple enemies targeting him. DIR. Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Coexistence, My Ass!
(United States, France | 2025 | 95 min | English, Hebrew, Arabic, Farsi)

After a brief stint at the United Nations, comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi goes to Harvard Divinity School on a fellowship to create a personal and political one-woman comedy show about the struggle for equality in Israel/Palestine. But when the elusive coexistence she’s spent her life working toward starts sounding like a bad joke, she challenges her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter. DIR. Amber Fares

Color Book
(United States | 2024 | 115 min | English)

COLOR BOOK highlights the strength and resilience that emerge from the bond of Lucky and Mason, a father and son grieving the loss of Mason’s mother, while exploring the myriad of experiences that can accompany raising a child with Down syndrome. Stellar performances from William Catlett and Jeremiah Alexander Daniels, along with phenomenal directing and writing from David Fortune, make this critically acclaimed directorial debut a film worth seeing. DIR. David Fortune

Creede U.S.A.
(United States | 2025 | 96 min | English)

Creede, CO—population 257—is a historic mining town that happens to have an acclaimed summer repertory theatre (opened in 1966 and boasting amongst its alumni, Mandy Patinkin), as well as “the world’s largest fork.” Almost 60 years since the theatre’s founding, traditional values and progressive ideas from “arts people” live side by side, and, as this hopeful and urgent documentary depicts, Creede is a taut microcosm of currently forking national divisions in thought, values, and ideology. DIR. Kahane Corn Cooperman

CYCLE
(United States | 2025 | 95 min | English)

The narrative of police violence in the United States is shaped by viral videos, hashtags, and a cycle of profiling and abuse, followed by law enforcement immunity. The killing of Racine’s Ty’rese West pushes this narrative forward, exposing the truth behind unchecked police reports when incidents aren’t captured for the world to see. CYCLE investigates this systemic whitewashing and gives a voice to the countless victims whose names have yet to be heard. DIR. Laura Dyan Kezman, William Howell

Dead Lover
(Canada | 2025 | 82 min | English)

A lonely gravedigger who stinks of corpses finally meets her dream man, but their whirlwind affair is cut short when he tragically drowns at sea. Grief-stricken, she goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap scientific experiments. “With its blend of lurid camp and twisted romanticism, its embrace of gleefully lo-fi special effects and a twangy electro-retro score, Grace Glowicki’s DEAD LOVER, a singular spin on the Frankenstein story, sets its sights firmly on cult status.” (Screen International) DIR. Grace Glowicki

Death & Taxes
(United States | 2024 | 86 min | English)

Director Justin Schein turns the camera on his father: Harvey Schein, a successful record company CEO who was a bit obsessed with passing on his wealth to his heirs while avoiding taxes. A case study in America’s history of tax benefits for the wealthy, this timely film deftly interweaves charming and complex family dynamics with equally complex American economic policy, illustrating to even the layperson how our tax structure works for some and not for all. DIR. Justin Schein

Desert Angel
(United States | 2024 | 87 min | Spanish)

For 25 years, Rafael Larraenza has tirelessly searched the border deserts to rescue lost immigrants and recover remains, becoming a hero of the Latinx community. Despite needing a double hip replacement, Rafa continues his mission, knowing every moment counts for those lost. This urgent documentary follows Rafa as he risks his life to search for the missing son of a woman from El Salvador, driven by sheer determination, even as the years and terrain take their toll. DIR. Vincent Michael DeLuca

Desperately Seeking Susan
(United States | 1985 | 104 min | English)

After hitting her head, Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette), a bored New Jersey suburban housewife, goes from being just fascinated with Susan (Madonna), a free-spirited woman she has read about in the personal columns, to being mistaken for her! Susan Seidelman’s acclaimed 1985 screwball dramedy is a chaotic adventure of amnesia and self-discovery. Celebrate its 40th anniversary with this screening and book signing event that will take you back to the 1980s! DIR. Susan Seidelman

DJ Ahmet
(North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia | 2025 | 99 min | Turkish, Macedonian)

Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, finds refuge in music while navigating his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and his first experience with love—a girl already promised to someone else. Winner of the World Dramatic Audience Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, DJ AHMET is “a quiet little underdog story, but with enough charm to engage any audience. Plus, there’s a pink sheep who is frankly iconic.” (Consequence) DIR. Georgi M. Unkovski

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found
(France | 2024 | 105 min | English)

This documentary from Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck chronicles the life and work of South African photographer Ernest Cole, who was the first to expose the horrors of apartheid to a world audience. In 2017, more than 60,000 of his 35mm film negatives were discovered in the safe of a Swedish bank. Through a collection of archival writings and the lens of his uncompromising work, this film reintroduces a pivotal Black artist to a new generation. DIR. Raoul Peck

Familiar Touch
(United States | 2024 | 91 min | English)

FAMILIAR TOUCH is an affecting coming of (old) age film. It follows an octogenarian woman’s transition to life in assisted living as she contends with her conflicting relationship to herself and her caregivers amidst her shifting memory, age identity, and desires. Inspired by writer/director Sarah Friedland’s work as a memory care worker and teaching artist to older adults, FAMILIAR TOUCH is an intergenerational production made in collaboration with the residents and care workers at a Los Angeles retirement community. DIR. Sarah Friedland

Fine Young Men
(Mexico, Spain, France | 2024 | 89 min | Spanish)

17-year-old Alf returns to his Catholic boy’s school after a year abroad. He no longer relates to his friends; it seems they just want to get drunk and party. He meets Oliver, a tender and kind musician. The two quickly become friends and may become something more. To dispel the rumors of his sexuality, Alf reconnects with his old friends and ends up committing a crime to prove that he is still one of them. DIR. Alejandro Andrade

Four Mothers
(Ireland | 2024 | 89 min | English)

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2024 London Film Festival, this cheerful Irish comedy follows a shy, commitment-phobic novelist living with his elderly mother. When his friends take off for an impromptu Pride weekend, he finds each of their eccentric and combative mothers at his doorstep, all in need of home care—the same weekend his agent finally secures a life-changing book tour miles and miles away. Buckle up for one of the sweetest adventures of the year. DIR. Darren Thornton

Free Leonard Peltier
(United States | 2025 | 120 min | English)

MFF alum directors Jesse Short Bull (LAKOTA NATION VS. UNITED STATES, MFF23) and David France (HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, MFF12) excavate the life of Indian rights activist Leonard Peltier and his oft-protested imprisonment for the 1975 murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota. Making this film extra timely, just before its premiere, Peltier’s conviction was pardoned in January 2025. DIR. Jesse Short Bull, David France

Front Row
(Netherlands, United States, Ukraine, United Kingdom | 2024 | 75 min | Ukrainian, English)

In the throes of war, the United Ukrainian Ballet Company defiantly insists on dancing through the dark times. Though flung far from the land they call home, these young dancers take quiet comfort from art. For a while, their work feels like the old days, until they are joined by an unexpected new member of the corps—a soldier learning to dance with new prosthetic legs. DIR. Miriam Guttmann

Gallagher
(United States | 2024 | 102 min | English)

With his witty wordplay and wacky props, Leo Gallagher became one of the biggest comedy acts of the 1980s. The comedian’s most famous bit: smashing a watermelon with a giant mallet to the messy delight of audiences. But as tastes change, the aging Gallagher seeks the respect he deserves as an innovator in this documentary from our friends at September Club. DIR. Josh Forbes

Glimmers (Los Destellos)
(Spain | 2024 | 101 min | Spanish)

Isabel’s life takes an unexpected turn the day her daughter asks her to visit Ramón, her ailing ex-husband. They’ve grown apart, despite having been married for years. Feelings of resentment come back; but by accompanying Ramón she gains new perspective, allowing her to concentrate on her own life as it stands today. GLIMMERS is a moving, devastating and beautiful film, about the end of life and its continuity. A human story told with sensitivity and honesty. DIR. Pilar Palomero

Green Blah the History of Green Bay Punk Rock
(United States | 2024 | 119 min | English)

GREEN BLAH! THE HISTORY OF GREEN BAY PUNK ROCK dives into the surprising punk rock scene of Green Bay, WI, a town known for the Packers, paper mills, and cheese curds. Beyond the cheese, this documentary uncovers how the small town birthed a hardcore punk scene with fierce local bands and a loyal community of concertgoers. From humble beginnings to a lasting legacy, it’s a wild ride through Green Bay’s rebellious musical history. DIR. Christopher Pretti, James J Baker

Harvest
(United Kingdom | 2024 | 131 min | English)

Over seven hallucinatory days, a village with no name, in an undefined time and place, disappears. Tsangari’s follow up to 2015’s CHEVALIER, this tragicomic take on a Western follows townsman-turned-farmer Walter Thirsk (Caleb Landry Jones) and befuddled lord of the manor Charles Kent (Harry Melling), childhood friends who are about to face an invasion from the outside world: the trauma of modernity. This visionary period piece is a haunting allegory about xenophobic anxiety and unchecked capitalism. DIR. Athina Rachel Tsangari

Heightened Scrutiny
(United States | 2025 | 85 min | English)

Amid the surge in anti-trans legislation that ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio battles in the courtroom, he must also fight against media bias, exposing how the narratives in the press influence public perception and the fight for transgender rights. Director Sam Feder (DISCLOSURE: TRANS LIVES ON SCREEN) delivers an urgent new documentary that Variety champions, “despite its slim 85-minute runtime, [HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY] feels entirely rigorous in its unraveling of personal and practical information.” DIR. Sam Feder

Holy Cow
(France | 2024 | 92 min | French)

After the tragic death of his father, 18-year-old Totone has to look after his younger sister and their failing family farm in the Jura section of France. He assumes even more responsibility when he enters a cash competition for the best Comté cheese, a regional delicacy. A vérité-style look at the hardscrabble life of French agriculture, it is simultaneously a moving love story and above all an ode to the love of cheese. DIR. Louise Courvoisier

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
(Thailand | 2024 | 125 min | Thai)

After his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, a scheming young man moves in to care for her, motivated by a desire to secure her fortune for himself. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat. Currently in the top 250 highest rated films on Letterboxd, HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES is a comedy of generational manners that blossoms into a sweet tearjerker. DIR. Pat Boonnitipat

I’m Your Venus
(United States | 2024 | 85 min | English)

This moving and timely documentary sets the stage for the investigation of the unsolved murder of Venus Xtravaganza, one of the iconic stars of the legendary documentary PARIS IS BURNING. Thirty-five years later, the spotlight is back on Venus as her two families—from birth and ballroom—stand united to discover the truth, challenge the system, and honor the legacy of their sister. DIR. Kimberly Reed

In Waves and War
(United States | 2024 | 108 min | English)

Alongside intimate interviews, captivating animation, and first-of-its-kind research at Stanford’s Brain Stimulation Lab, IN WAVES AND WAR, from Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen (ATHLETE A, AUDRIE & DAISY), is the emotional, inspiring odyssey of three former Navy SEALs as they overcome the aftereffects of war on their bodies and minds, and rediscover their humanity through their own journeys with more and less conventional therapies. DIR. Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
(France | 2024 | 94 min | English, French)

CLOSING NIGHT! Agathe is a hopelessly clumsy yet charming young woman who dreams of experiencing love akin to a Jane Austen novel and to be a successful writer. When Agathe’s best friend gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England, she finally has her Jane Austen moment…and is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. In her utterly charming debut, writer-director Laura Piani draws from Austen’s works while crafting a wholly contemporary romantic comedy that stands on its own merits. DIR. Laura Piani

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
(United States | 2024 | 114 min | English)

Janis Ian had one of the most remarkable debuts in modern music history. At the age of 13, she began performing her original songs at New York City gigs alongside future legends. From there, the precocious teenager turned fearless singer-songwriter built a career with many chapters—winning Grammys while navigating personal and professional highs and lows—in a remarkable trajectory now entering its fifth decade. DIR. Varda Bar-Kar

Jazzy
(United States | 2024 | 86 min | English)

Morrisa Maltz (THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, MFF23—also starring Lily Gladstone) paints a poignant portrait of friendship and girlhood through the eyes of Jazzy, a young Oglala Lakota girl growing up off-reservation in South Dakota. Filmed over six years, the story follows Jazzy and her best friend as they navigate their ever-changing relationship, capturing their unique perspective with a dreamlike, doc/fiction hybrid approach. AGES 8+ DIR. Morrisa Maltz

Ka Whawhai Tonu (Struggle Without End)
(New Zealand | 2024 | 114 min | Māori)

A teenage boy born of two cultures must navigate a brutal war between the Māori and colonial British forces in this powerful retelling of one of New Zealand’s most pivotal historical battles. With a cast and crew composed of many descendants of the actual battle of Ōrākau, director Mike Jonathan and writer Tim Worrall draw a direct and potent connection between the legacy of the strength of one’s ancestors and the power that’s inherent in cultural perseverance. DIR. Michael Jonathan

Kensuke’s Kingdom
(United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France | 2023 | 85 min | English)

Shipwrecked on a remote island, Michael discovers he and his dog are not alone—a mysterious man in the forest is trying to help them. As he learns more about looming threats to the jungle, he knows he must help the man in return. With breathtaking 2D animation and an all-star voice cast (Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe), KENSUKE’S KINGDOM shares the value of teamwork across cultural divides. AGES 8+ DIR. Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry

Life After
(United States | 2024 | 100 min | English)

In 1983, a disabled woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the “right to die,” kicking off a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of trials, Bouvia mysteriously fell from public consciousness, prompting filmmaker Reid Davenport (I DIDN’T SEE YOU THERE) to wonder how she could have disappeared from the headlines so swiftly. LIFE AFTER investigates what happened to Bouvia and her story’s disturbing relevance today. DIR. Reid Davenport

Linda Perry: Let It Die Here
(United States | 2024 | 93 min | English)

Linda Perry became an icon with her signature hat, bold attitude, and chart-topping hit “What’s Up” with her band 4 Non Blondes. She has gone on to make a name for herself as a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer, creating hits for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Brandi Carlisle, Dolly Parton, and Pink. In his film, award-winning director Don Hardy takes viewers on an intimate and revealing journey, exploring the life of this pioneering and talented artist. DIR. Don Hardy

Loveable
(Norway | 2024 | 101 min | Norwegian)

Sigmund and Maria’s relationship was also all about love and harmony in the early stages, but after years of married life, the cracks started to appear. Sigmund is ultimately the one to ask for a divorce, and Maria is forced to confront her greatest fears. LOVEABLE isn’t a story about the quest for true love; on the contrary, it takes a fresh approach to examine contemporary ideas of romance, equality within the relationship, and the power of womanhood. DIR. Lilja Ingolfsdottir

Magic Farm
(Argentina, United States | 2025 | 93 min | English, Spanish)

A film crew working for an edgy media company travels to Argentina to profile a local musician, but their ineptitude leads them into the wrong country. As the crew collaborates with locals to fabricate a trend, unexpected connections blossom while a pervasive health crisis looms unacknowledged in the background. Chloë Sevigny and Alex Wolff’s screen presences are matched scene for scene by the charismatic Argentine cast in this biting satire of our media landscape. DIR. Amalia Ulman

Marcella (United States | 2024 | 97 min | English, Italian)

Marcella Hazan changed how we cook Italian. Trained as a scientist, she never set foot in a kitchen until she married Victor Hazan, a Jewish Italian, and moved to America in the 1950s. Before long she was not only preparing the Italian dishes she remembered from home, but writing the definitive cookbooks that introduced millions of Americans to the glories of authentic Italian cuisine. Leave this one ready to make some pasta! DIR. Peter Miller

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
(United States | 2025 | 94 min | English, American Sign Language)

In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, Matlin explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer. Stern’s directorial debut is an intimate, honest, and loving conversation between two profoundly connected people that weaves together this first-person account with interviews from those who know her best. DIR. Shoshannah Stern

Memories of a Burning Body
(Costa Rica, Spain | 2024 | 90 min | Spanish)

Raised in Costa Rica during a repressive era where sexuality was taboo, Ana, Patricia, and Mayela were forced to find the meaning of femininity and their roles as women through unspoken rules and implicit impositions. This Audience Award Winner in the Panorama Section at Berlinale showcases their brave voices embodied in a single 65-year-old woman, played masterfully by actress Sol Carballo, who inhabits their kaleidoscopic lives and intertwines their memories, secrets, and hidden desires. DIR. Antonella Sudasassi Furniss

Memory Lane
(Belgium, Netherlands | 2024 | 98 min | Dutch)

Jaap and Maartje have been together almost 50 years. Grumpy old Jaap is no longer terribly interested in doing much, but Maartje, despite her occasional confusion, is still keen to embrace everything life has to offer. When the couple receive a letter from an old holiday friend, Maartje manages to convince her reluctant husband to visit him in Southern Europe. What results is a road movie that is funny and poignant in equal measure. DIR. Jelle de Jonge

Middletown
(United States | 2025 | 113 min | English)

Inspired by their “Electronic English” (what we now might call digital journalism) teacher, a group of teenagers in upstate New York in the early 1990s made a student film that went beyond their campus borders to uncover a vast conspiracy involving toxic waste that was poisoning their community. Thirty years later, these students revisit their film and confront the legacy of this transformative experience on each of them as individuals and for the entirety of Middletown, NY. DIR. Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
(United States | 2024 | 87 min | English)

MOVE YA BODY explores resistance through the life of the first person to record a House song, Vince Lawrence. Experience the story of house music and how queer black, brown, and femme dance culture survived the backlash of its existence and grew into something beloved by many. Through archival recreation and interviews with the founders of house music, the events of Vince’s creative life are set against the backdrop of Chicago’s volatile contemporary history of segregation. DIR. Elegance Bratton

Nikah
(France | 2024 | 56 min | Uyghur)

Dilber is 27, and her mother wants to quickly find a husband for her—especially now that her younger sister Rena is settling into newly married life. But it’s 2017, a time when Uyghur people are arrested without knowing why. Subtle and carefully observed, NIKAH is a powerful story that captures the uncertainty of a young woman at a personal crossroads, while an immense tragedy of internment unfolds. DIR. Bastien Ehouzan, Mukaddas Mijit

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror with live accompaniment by Anvil Orchestra
(Germany | 1922 | 94 min | No Dialogue)

Our annual visit from the Anvil Orchestra turns back the clock on Robert Eggers’ 2024 hit to revisit the original 1922 F.W. Murnau silent-era classic with a performance featuring Anvil’s own original score. Discover for yourself why Count Orlok continues to haunt our cinemas with this one-night-only live musical experience. DIR. F.W. Murnau

One Minute Remaining
(United States | 2024 | 74 min | English)

ONE MINUTE REMAINING follows three families with incarcerated loved ones from across the US, intimately capturing the emotional journey of each family leading up to and through their release, and highlighting the chaotic impact of incarceration on families and, in particular, on women. Central to the story is Julie Magers, who fought for her ex-husband’s Multiple Sclerosis treatment throughout his 20-year sentence. Together, these families reveal the consequences of incarceration on millions of American families. DIR. Colin Sytsma

One to One: John and Yoko
(United Kingdom | 2024 | 100 min | English)

On August 30, 1972, John Lennon played his only full-length show after leaving The Beatles—the One to One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, a rollicking, dazzling performance from him and Yoko Ono. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald’s riveting documentary is a revelatory inside look at the 18 months John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent living in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s, and the year of love, transformation, and protest that led to the legendary musical event. DIR. Kevin Macdonald, Sam Rice-Edwards

Outerlands
(United States | 2025 | 100 min | English)

When Cass (Asia Kate Dillon) is asked by an alluring woman they’ve hooked up with to watch her 11-year-old daughter while she goes out of town, Cass is eager to impress their new crush. But when the woman disappears, Cass is forced to improvise and confront the truth of their own tumultuous childhood. Fresh off a World Premiere at SXSW, OUTERLANDS showcases a beautiful lead performance from Dillon and a moving exploration of the self. DIR. Elena Oxman

Pavements
(United States | 2024 | 128 min | English)

Alex Ross Perry’s PAVEMENTS is a genre-bending fever dream that honors the alt-rock band’s legacy. A chaotic mix of narrative, documentary, musical, and metatextual forms, it follows the band prepping for their 2022 reunion tour while a musical, museum, and biopic about their rise unfold in parallel. With offbeat performances from Joe Keery and Jason Schwartzman, PAVEMENTS is both a wild love letter to the band and a surreal deconstruction of music films themselves. DIR. Alex Ross Perry

Peacock
(Austria, Germany | 2024 | 102 min | German)

Matthias is a master of his profession. Do you need a “cultured boyfriend” to impress your friends? A “perfect son” to influence your business partners’ opinion of you? Or maybe just a sparring partner to rehearse an argument? Whatever it is, just rent Matthias! While he excels at pretending to be someone else every day, just being himself is the real challenge. A corrosive comedy, PEACOCK captures with biting humor the essence of human relationships. DIR. Bernhard Wenger

Remaining Native
(United States | 2025 | 85 min | English)

Living on the Yerington Paiute reservation in Northwest Nevada, Ku Stevens is the sole distance runner in his school, yet longs to be seen by his dream school, the University of Oregon. As Ku trains, he is reminded of his great-grandfather, who, as a child, ran 50 miles across the desert to escape an Indian boarding school. As generational traumas endured by his ancestors layer over his training, will he be able to push past them to victory? DIR. Paige Bethmann

Rent Free
(United States | 2024 | 93 min | English)

After completely blowing up their lives, childhood besties Ben and Jordan come up with a scheme to couch surf and live “rent free” for a year. What could possibly go wrong?! Stacked with hilarious performances from MFF alums Neal Mulani (this year’s RAT! and TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW, MFF24) and Jacob Roberts (KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU, MFF23 and HALF, MFF22). RENT FREE is the Gen Z, bisexual answer to the indie buddy comedy. DIR. Fernando Andrés

Row of Life
(United States | 2024 | 85 min | English)

Irrepressible ambition led Angela Madsen to the Marines, multiple Paralympics, and fourteen world records. Continuing to inspire, she embarks on the most improbable and unlikely journey of all—to row across the impossibly vast Pacific Ocean alone. A pulse-pounding, refreshing take on the sports doc, ROW OF LIFE offers a vibrant and unexpected portrait of a queer woman determined to defy the odds. DIR. Soraya Simi

Sally
(United States | 2025 | 103 min | English)

OPENING NIGHT! Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure were secrets. Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, reveals their hidden romance, deepens our understanding of what motivated this heroine, and gives heft to the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together, in the latest from Milwaukee native Cristina Costantini (SCIENCE FAIR, MFF18). DIR. Cristina Costantini

Samia
(Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden | 2024 | 102 min | Arabic, English)

Raised in a Mogadishu, Somalia torn asunder by civil war, all young Samia wants to do is run. Training in a deserted stadium, on a track pockmarked by mortars, she is determined to go to the Olympics like her hero, Mo Farah. Based on the true story of Samia Yusuf Omar, director Yasemin Samdereli brings Samia’s life to the screen with a beautiful visual flair and a warm, empathetic approach. DIR. Yasemin Samdereli, Deka Mohamed

Secret Mall Apartment
(United States | 2024 | 91 min | English)

In 2003, eight Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment replete with furniture, electricity, and even a new cinderblock wall, all inside the Providence Place Mall and lived in it for four years. Far more than a prank, the secret apartment became a sort of happening, an expression of defiance against local gentrification, an arts community, and a 750 square foot “F you” to The Man. DIR. Jeremy Workman

Separated
(United States, Mexico | 2024 | 93 min | English, Spanish)

Errol Morris confronts one of the darkest chapters in recent American history: family separations. Based on NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s book, Morris merges explosive interviews with whistleblowing officials and artful narrative vignettes tracing one migrant family’s plight. Together, they reveal that the cruelty at the heart of this policy was its very purpose. Years later hundreds of families are still separated, an unthinkable horror that the new administration is all the more willing to repeat. DIR. Errol Morris

Sister Midnight
(India, Sweden, United Kingdom | 2024 | 107 min | Hindi)

Winner of Best Film in the Next Wave section at Fantastic Fest, genre-bending comedy SISTER MIDNIGHT follows rebellious small-town misfit Uma, who arrives in Mumbai to find herself totally unsuited to life as a housewife. At odds with her prying neighbors and under the constant oppressive noise and heat of the city, she decides to break free from the shackles of domesticity and embrace her feral impulses. DIR. Karan Kandhari

Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts.
(United States | 2024 | 82 min | English)

A contemporary portrait of America, SLICE OF LIFE tells the origin story of Pizza Hut and its iconic architecture interwoven with a collection of stories from new businesses thriving inside the walls of former Pizza Huts. From an LGBTQ+ church, to a karaoke bar, to a cannabis dispensary, these spaces hold memories of a bygone era, while also offering something new to the communities that continue to flow through them. DIR. Matthew Salleh

Souleymane’s Story
(France | 2024 | 92 min | French)

As he pedals through the streets of Paris to deliver meals, Souleymane repeats his story. In two days, he has to go through his asylum application interview, the key to obtaining papers. But Souleymane is not ready. Director Boris Lojkine crafts a topical and emotionally immersive portrait of a young man whose story is simultaneously singular yet shared by the many undocumented laborers who urban centers rely on, yet constantly seek to restrict. DIR. Boris Lojkine

Speak.
(United States | 2025 | 104 min | English)

MFF alum Jennifer Tiexiera (director, SUBJECT, MFF23; editor, 17 BLOCKS, MFF19) teams up with Guy Mossman for this high energy doc following five top-ranked high school oratory students from around the country as they spend a year crafting spellbinding spoken word performances. All dream of winning one of the world’s largest and most intense public speaking competitions, but there can be only one champion in this inspiring film about the powers of youth and language. DIR. Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman

Stand Together as One
(United States | 2024 | 60 min | English)

When drought hit Ethiopia in 1983, millions of people in the war-ravaged nation were denied food relief by a ruthless dictatorship. The treacherous war zone didn’t stop Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin or his colleagues. Inspired by their historic global report, musicians chose to stand together as one. 40 years after the recording of “We Are The World”, this film reveals what’s possible when creatives come together in a common cause. DIR. Chip Duncan

Takin’ Care of Business
(United States | 2024 | 80 min | English, Japanese)

Multi MFF alum Tyler Measom (I WANT MY MTV, MFF19, AN HONEST LIAR, MFF14) tells the captivating story of Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman. Known for his chart-topping hits with The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bachman reflects on his unexpected marriage to a Mormon and his wild, obsessive quest to recover his lost Gretsch guitar. This colorful journey is filled with humor, passion, and adventure, offering a fascinating glimpse into the life of a true rock icon. DIR. Tyler Measom

Teaches of Peaches
(Germany | 2024 | 102 min | English, German)

Seamlessly weaving together exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage, this film brings us up close to the transformative journey of Canadian Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse that is Peaches. Her fearless originality has called social norms into question, dismantled stereotypes and confronted patriarchal power structures. Through biting wit, she advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights and tackles issues of sexual and gender and identity,leaving an indelible mark on popular culture. DIR. Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer

The Dells
(United States | 2023 | 72 min | English, Spanish, Turkish)

THE DELLS observes the clash between fantasy and reality faced by international student workers newly arrived in Wisconsin Dells, WI—the self-described “Waterpark Capital of the World.” Coming from globally disparate countries, these students and their temporary J-1 visas are the true labor force for an American summer, especially in the Dells. We see their hopes for a summer of American luck and prosperity rub up against their actual experiences, which are by turns disappointing, funny, and transcendent. DIR. Nellie Kluz

The Diamond King
(United States | 2025 | 89 min | English)

Dick Perez has painted the history of the game of baseball. Perhaps best known for painting the Donruss Diamond King cards (1982-1996) or for being the official artist of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Puerto Rico native and now octogenarian will help you see the game anew through his eyes and work in this documentary from MFF alum Marq Evans (THE GLAMOUR AND THE SQUALOR, MFF15; CLAYDREAM, MFF22). DIR. Marq Evans

The Home
(Estonia, Iceland, Sweden | 2025 | 87 min | Swedish)

Joel reluctantly returns to his childhood home to help his mother Monika, who has suffered a severe stroke and was clinically dead for minutes. Joel begins to believe that something malevolent and supernatural has taken control of his mother. But with his own history of substance abuse and mental instability, can he trust his own perceptions? As Monika’s memories fade, Joel must confront his own demons, all while a horrific entity is spreading amongst the residents. DIR. Mattias Johansson Skoglund

The Kids Are Not Alright
(United States | 2024 | 93 min | English)

Despite decades of documented abuse and hundreds of deaths, thousands of teenagers across the United States are held in cult-like reform programs that generate multibillion-dollar profits with little to no government oversight. Told through the personal lens of three families’ journeys through what’s come to be known as the “troubled teen industry,” THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT is an intimate portrait of trauma and what it means to survive that asks if healing is possible in the absence of justice. DIR. Mikaela Shwer

The Librarians
(United States | 2025 | 94 min | English)

CENTERPIECE! As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom. MFF20 Audience Award winner Kim A Snyder (US KIDS) returns with an illuminating documentary that introduces viewers to the everyday and increasingly vital heroes on the front lines of democracy: the librarians who sound the alarm to both legislative and grassroots attempts to pull books from school and public libraries. DIR. Kim A Snyder

The Marching Band
(France | 2024 | 103 min | French)

Thibaut is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns he was adopted, he discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy, who works in a school cafeteria and plays the trombone in a small marching band. Everything seems to set them apart, except their love of music. THE MARCHING BAND is bound to have you cheering while brushing a tear from your eye as you witness the uniting power of music. DIR. Emmanuel Courcol

The Shrouds
(Canada, France | 2024 | 119 min | English)

A techno-entrepreneur named Karsh (Vincent Cassel) has developed software that allows the bereaved to bear witness to the gradual decay of loved ones dead and buried in the earth. While Karsh is still reeling from losing his wife (Diane Kruger) to cancer, a spate of vandalized “shroud” graves puts his enterprise at risk. Written following the death of his wife, David Cronenberg’s new film is both a profoundly personal reckoning with grief and a descent into noir-tinged dystopia. DIR. David Cronenberg

The Ugly Stepsister
(Norway, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Romania | 2025 | 105 min | Norwegian)

In a twisted take on the classic Cinderella story, THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows Elvira as she battles to compete with her insanely beautiful stepsister. In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will go to any lengths to catch the Prince’s eye. THE UGLY STEPSISTER is the gory tale of the blood, sweat, grit, and gold that goes into making Elvira the belle of the ball. DIR. Emilie Blichfeldt

Third Act
(United States | 2024 | 93 min | English)

Generations of artists call Robert A. Nakamura “the godfather of Asian American media,” but filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura just calls him Dad. A delicately told family history and portrait of an artist turns urgent with Robert’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and transforms to be an elegy for fatherhood, art, activism, grief, and the Asian American experience past and present. DIR. Tadashi Nakamura

This is a Film About The Black Keys
(United States | 2024 | 90 min | English)

This music-filled documentary follows The Black Keys, from their parents’ garages in Ohio to global fame. Geeky Pat and popular Dan develop a unique musical chemistry and style influenced by Mississippi blues, and embark on tour in a minivan. During their rise, they gain fans, wives, and acclaim. When rockstar status and the pressures of fame strain their creative partnership, the duo reckon with the hidden costs of success. DIR. Jeff Dupre

Two Women
(Canada | 2025 | 100 min | French)

Violette is having a difficult maternity leave. Florence is dealing with depression. Despite their careers and families, they feel like failures. Florence’s first infidelity is a revelation. When having fun is far down the list of priorities, sleeping with a delivery guy could be revolutionary. “Director Chloé Robichaud’s fourth feature film is a fun and sexy romp that discusses infidelity, marriage, and being a mother in our modern age.” (Collider) DIR. Chloé Robichaud

Undercover
(Spain | 2024 | 100 min | Spanish, Basque)

UNDERCOVER tells the harrowing true story of the only police officer to infiltrate the Spanish far-left separatist group known as ETA. “Aranzazu” was the pseudonym of the woman who risked her life to go undercover to join the group that terrorized citizens for nearly 50 years in Spain. This thriller has been called “provocative” and “claustrophobic” and was nominated for 13 Goya’s (Spain’s version of the Oscar®) and won two, including Best Actress and Best Picture. DIR. Arantxa Echevarría

Vulcanizadora
(United States | 2024 | 85 min | English)

Two friends trudge through a Michigan forest with the intention of following through on a disturbing pact. It’s only after things go shockingly awry that the surreal and unsettling consequences of their actions are revealed. “A grimly comedic story that could just as easily have been titled ‘National Lampoon’s Faces of Death’. It’s a comedy so black that even light can’t escape it!” (Nightmare on Film Street) DIR. Joel Potrykus

Waves
(Czech Republic, Slovakia | 2024 | 131 min | Czech)

Set in 1968, a pivotal moment in modern Czech history, this dynamic and suspenseful drama follows the international office at Czechoslovak Radio led by editor Milan Weiner, whose commitment to honest journalism and the truth puts the organization in the crosshairs of the secret police. Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards®, WAVES is a gripping ode to press freedom and a timely reminder of the dangers of censorship. DIR. Jiří Mádl

What Happened to Dorothy Bell?
(United States | 2024 | 80 min | English)

After uncovering disturbing revelations from her early childhood involving her late grandmother, Ozzie Gray sets out to investigate her past. Desperate for answers, she attempts to communicate with Dorothy’s spirit but unwittingly awakens something malevolent. Following his role as The Candyman in Nia DaCosta’s CANDYMAN (2021), Michael Hargrove joins iconic final girl actor Lisa Wilcox (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4&5), and Asya Meadows in WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL? DIR. Danny Villanueva Jr.

Woolly
(Norway | 2024 | 86 min | Norwegian)

WOOLLY follows the director’s sister and her wife as they return to far Northern rural Norway to take over the family sheep farm—something neither of them really knows how to do. We follow their seasons of learning by doing, laughter, exhaustion, and a myriad of challenges in this intimate vérité documentary featuring more adorable lambs than you are probably prepared for! DIR. Rebekka Nystabakk

WTO/99
(United States | 2024 | 95 min | English)

An immersive archival documentary that reanimates the 1999 “Battle of Seattle”—a clash heard round the world between the then-emerging World Trade Organization (WTO) and the more than 40,000 people who took to the streets of Seattle in protest. As timely as ever, this meditation on the past remains essential viewing for those who care about the environment, human rights, and labor 25+ years on in a new moment for activism. DIR. Ian Bell

Young Hearts
(Belgium, Netherlands | 2024 | 97 min | Dutch, French)

Fourteen-year-old Elias increasingly feels like an outsider in his town. When he meets Alexander, his new neighbor of the same age, Elias is confronted with his burgeoning sexuality and the universal experience of a first real crush. Bursting with warmth, YOUNG HEARTS is a joy to behold and “a balm to LGBTQ kids wrestling with their sexuality as well as to parents struggling with acceptance” (The Hollywood Reporter). DIR. Anthony Schatteman

MFF25 Shorts Programs

Black Lens Shorts | (95 min)

Real stories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. playing basketball, a conversation with a ghost, and an intimate look at the reconciliation of a broken up couple. These are just a few of the heart racing shorts exhibited in this year’s Black Lens Shorts program—a collection of expressive work that proves that sometimes the shortest films can pack the largest punch.

About Time – Donald Conley
Entre le Feu et le Clair de Lune – Dominic Yarabe
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams – Glenn Kaino
Mondele – Daniel Kayamba
Songbird – Jonathan Horton
Thomasville – Alex Woodruff

Kids Shorts: Size Large | (75 min)

These short films will have our tween cinephiles seeing others their age organizing to preserve skateable spaces, accepting their cultural styles, and bravely standing up as the only Black ballerina in the room. They’re sure to walk away empowered to do good in their community. AGES 10+

Dynasty and Destiny – Travis Lee Ratcliff
Eclipse – Mina Chacko
Monster – Piers Goffart, Eric Geissmann
On a Sunday at Eleven – Alicia K. Harris
Scrumpy – Dan Holmwood
Skate in the City – Lies van der Auwera
The Sun is Bad – Rachel Mow
The Tornado Outside – Maria Tomazou
Unibrow – Nedda Sarshar

Kids Shorts: Size Medium | (77 min)

Meant to guide those little ones growing into their childhood, these shorts dive a little deeper and spark imagination about the world that kids see. Pigs ice skating, friends moving apart, a portal that connects the world, a disastrous family vacation—with plenty of laughs along the way. AGES 6+

As the Sun Goes Down – Laurine Bocquet, Ilona Caucal, Inès Fechner, Jahnice Laurent, Sarah Robert, Emma Roussel, Kevin Vandenbeuck
Happy Snaps – Tyro Heath
Hello Summer – Martin Smatana, Veronika Zacharová
Hoofs on Skates – Ignas Meilūnas
Princess Aubergine – Dina Velikovskaya
Stuck – Matthias De Clercq
The Night Tunnel – Annechien Strouven
The Queen’s Flowers – Ciara Leinaala Lacy

Kids Shorts: Size Small | (59 min)

Shorts for our shortest shorties. This collection of animated films taps into the wonder of a first-time cinematic experience and the early lessons of life: from facing the fear of a new sibling, to finding your passion, to getting off that iPad and noticing the friends around you. AGES 3+

Baking With Boris – Masa Avramovic
Coot – Marlies van der Wel
Fly By – Filip Dobeš
Homework – Nacho Arjona
Lulina and the Moon – Marcus Vinicius Vasconcelos, Alois Di Leo
The Carp and the Child – Morgane Simon, Arnaud Demuynck
The Girl with the Occupied Eyes – André Carrilho
The Sound Collector: Float Your Boat – Andy Burns, Barry Purves, Chris Tichborne, Lisa Arioli

Shorts: Date Night | (91 min)

There’s no doubt about it: what the world needs now is love—and this collection of seven heartwarming short films. Explore love in all of its glory: from heartracing meet-cutes, hilarious misunderstandings, crushing (locally made!) heartbreak, and steamy declarations of devotion. Your 2025 MFF isn’t complete without a Date Night.

A Bear in the Woods – Andrew Laurich
AN ALMOST SUCCESSFUL DATING APP LOVE STORY – Winter Coleman
Halfway – Kumar Chheda
Hiawatha – Rachel B. Joyce
I’m The Most Racist Person I Know – Leela Varghese
Jane Austen’s Period Drama – Julia Aks
Ripe! – Tusk

Shorts: Grab Bag 2025 | (88 min)

What do a solo trip to Chapultepec, a tense family dinner, an epic coming of age drama, and one last kiss before the end of the world have in common? They make up the captivating, award-winning stories in this year’s collection of “anything goes” shorts so bold that they needed a program of their own.

After What Happened at the Library – Kyle Casey Chu
Au Revoir Mon Monde – Estelle Bonnardel, Quentin Devred, Baptiste Duchamps, Maxime Foltzer, Florian Maurice, Astrid Novais
Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites – Chheangkea
One Day This Kid – Alexander Farah
Susana – Gerardo Coello Escalante, Amandine Thomas
Unholy – Daisy Friedman

Shorts: Let’s Get Animated | (78 min)

Whether they’re computer animated, stop-motion, or hand-drawn on toilet paper (?!), the dynamic characters in these shorts are always three-dimensional. Dive into ten thrilling new worlds where imagination reigns supreme and experience how animation can convey heartache, humor, and wonder in the span of just a few moments.

Dragfox – Lisa Ott
It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow – Maria Trigo Teixeira
LUKi & the Lights – Toby Cochran
Next? – Christel Guibert
Octopus Banana Hotchpotch – Milanka Fabjancic
Retirement Plan – John Kelly
The Miracle – Nienke Deutz
The Refusers – Wiep Teeuwisse
The Wild-Tempered Clavier – Anna Samo

Shorts: Stranger Than Fiction | (84 min)

He was arrested for taking a picture of a donkey. They met online and crossed oceans to save each other’s lives. She created one of the most enduring ad campaigns of all-time. You can learn all about them when you secure your ticket for this documentary short program, because you’re worth it.

Hello Stranger – Amélie Hardy
Looking for a Donkey – Juan Vicente Manrique
The Final Copy of Ilon Specht – Ben Proudfoot
The Reality of Hope – Joe Hunting
View From the Floor – Megan Griffiths, Mindie Lind

Shorts: Surprise, Surprise | (92 min)

It’s no surprise that this wacky, witty, and fast-paced shorts program has become an annual tradition for festivalgoers. Get ready for a rollercoaster of laughs, twist reveals, and—that’s it! We’ve said enough!

ILY, BYE – Taylor James
Out for Delivery – Chelsea Christer
Shut Up, Jack – Alec Bewkes
The Eighth Day – Jonah Weinstein
The Move – Eric Kissack
The Sentry – Jake Wachtel
The Singers – Sam Davis

Shorts: The Best Damn F*#@ing Midnight Program Ever. Shit. | (84 min)

Who doesn’t love a little mayhem? Your inner monster will thank you for this night of kooky comedies, hair-raising horror, and cRuNCHy sqUISHYyy battles between flesh and…is that f*#@ing Cate Blanchett?! It’s a late-night party so unhinged you can only see it after midnight (or fine, twice at 10 PM).

Be Right Back – Lucas Paulino, Gabe Ibáñez
Bozo Over Roses – Matty Sidle
Earwax – Jasper Martin
Kombucha! – Jake Myers
Lurk – Mairin Hart, Josh Wallace Kerrigan
Playing God – Burani Matteo
RAT! – Neal Mulani
Steak Dinner – Nathan Ginter
Whitch – Hoku Uchiyama

The Milwaukee Show I | (82 min)

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.

American Teenager – Mira Santo Tomas
DAG Camera Repair – Atesh Atici
Heart Shaped – Grace Mitchell, Sofia Theodore-Pierce
Home-land: Hmong American Women – Pader Xiong
Legacy in Motion – Brandon Stearns, Brema Brema
MINE! – Lou Morton
Red Dog – Lenora Hill
The Farm: A BMX Film – Nicholas Kohnhorst
Zastava Brothers – Pep Stojanovic

The Milwaukee Show II | (82 min)

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.

25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee – José Alberto Castillo
Calling – Immortal Girlfriend – James Tindell
Fresh Values – Drew Durepos, Isaac Brooks
hidden note – Tyshun Wardlaw
Loaded – Trapper Schoepp – Trapper Schoepp, Nels Lindquist
Mandatory Bathroom Break – Alyssa Sue Borkowski
Something in the Water – Nateya Taylor
The Orange – Mackenzie Endlich
The Phalanx – Ben Balcom

The Milwaukee Youth Show | (66 min)

In a time of uncertainty, it’s reassuring to know that the kids are definitely alright. With works exploring topics like mental health, finding purpose, and how window-unit fans relate to humanity, the next wave of Milwaukee’s visionaries are ready to share their work—and perspective—with our city.

A 2 Week Art Journey – Jorge Guifarro
Confessions – Josh Willenson
Cooking – Lucas Lovo
Doom Scroll – Joe Tzougros
eventide. – Liana Lima, Joey Drouin
Hang – Sam Slowik
I AM – Joshua Peter Borg
Office Cats – Cole Russel Bruce
No Humanity In efficiency – Hugh Hancock
Talking to the Past – Lola Milanovic
The Faces of Ukraine – Diana Zaiats

MFF25 Pre-Feature Shorts

AJ Goes to the Dog Park will be preceded by the short film The Notorious Network: A Devilish Dish by Sam Aria

Baby will be preceded by the short film The Rentals by Nick Thompson

Baby Doe will be preceded by the short film Full Out by Sarah Ballard

Color Book will be preceded by the short film Bookend by Justin Goodrum

Free Leonard Peltier will be preceded by the short film Language Back by Dusan V Harminc

Heightened Scrutiny will be preceded by the short film Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr by Kimberly Reed

I’m Your Venus will be preceded by the short film Sweet Talkin’ Guy by Spencer Wardwell

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? will be preceded by the short film Fine Valentine by Vincent Maslowski

WTO/99 will be preceded by the short film The Thin Blue Wave by Jonathan Klett

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