If you think Milwaukee Film is just about the annual Milwaukee Film Festival (and, um, running the Oriental and Downer theaters all year round), think again!
Milwaukee Film’s second annual Dialogues Documentary Festival, presented by Potawatomi Casino Hotel, is set to light up the Oriental and Downer September 18-21. More than 30 docs will be included in the four-day fest. Advance passes and ticket packages are available NOW.
“Our programming team has spent the last few months carefully selecting documentaries that will matter to our engaged, excited audiences, and this preview of six film selections represents the depth and breadth of the stories and issues that can be explored at this year’s Dialogues Documentary Festival—from personal health care journeys to accidental animal sanctuaries to celebrations of cultural icons you may already (or will soon) love!” said Cara Ogburn, Milwaukee Film’s Artistic Director, in a press release. “And, like many of the programs in Dialogues, we expect that each of these programs announced today will have special guests in attendance and be extended by talkbacks and such, taking the dialogues one step further without leaving your cinema seat.”
Want a taste of the sweet, sweet documentary action? On Tuesday, Milwaukee Film unveiled six films that will screen at the fest. Here they are, with blurbs from Milwaukee Film. (The full schedule will be revealed on September 3. Milwaukee Film members will be able to buy individual tickets that day; general public tickets will go on sale September 4.)
Arrest the Midwife (dir. Elaine Epstein, 2025, USA)
With rare access to an intensely private community, ARREST THE MIDWIFE exposes the rural healthcare desert created by New York state’s approach to maternal health regulation, sharing the story of criminalized midwives, and the Amish and Mennonite women who break from their traditions to stand up, speak out, and join the fight for women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive justice. Relevant across cultures, this documentary inspires coalitions that advocate for healthcare choice and access for all. This screening is part of Milwaukee Film’s Cinematic Sisterhood, a monthly series funded by a special grant from the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee, and will feature a post-film discussion exploring women’s health access, as well as a masterclass on ethics in documentary storytelling with special guests.
Cat Town, USA (dir. Jonathan Napolitano, 2025, USA)
Meet Terry and Bruce Jenkins, founders of Cats Cradle Foundation, a sanctuary and hospice for senior cats with nowhere else to go, but still a lot of love, if not life, left in them. In this feel-good doc, director Jonathan Napolitano captures the emotional bonds between the couple and their feline residents, highlighting the joys, challenges, and inevitable goodbyes that come with caring for cats in their final chapter. A panel is expected following this screening to explore cat rescue in Milwaukee in more depth.
It’s Dorothy! (dir. Jeffrey McHale, 2025, USA)
IT’S DOROTHY! fabulously pulls back the emerald curtain on 125 years of Dorothy Gale, from L. Frank Baum’s original literary Kansas dreamer to queer icon across stage and screen adaptations like WICKED, THE WIZ, and the beloved 1939 film. Director Jeffrey McHale (YOU DON’T NOMI, MFF19) assembles a twister of interviews, archival gems, and glittering pop culture moments to explore how Dorothy clicked her heels into the heart of LGBTQ+ identity and an undeniable cultural touchstone.
Malignant Practice (dir. Kristin E. Catalano, 2025, USA)
MALIGNANT PRACTICE is an animated short film based on the medical misfortune of a young woman whose breast cancer was missed by a doctor and a mammogram. This Milwaukee-made, deeply personal yet true story from MFF alum Kristin Catalano (CLARENCE, MFF15) emphasizes the flaws within our healthcare system and the importance of being one’s own healthcare advocate.A panel will follow the screening and include the filmmakers, the participants whose stories are featured in the film, and local breast cancer patient advocacy practitioners.
Shorts: Silver Linings
Wrinkles? We call that wisdom. Slower pace? We say better storytelling. These short films celebrate the people who are living proof that life doesn’t stop at 60, 70, or 90—it just gets more interesting. From typewriting legends to late-in-life reinventions, this shorts program reminds us that growing older might just be the best-kept secret to living well.
Wicket (dir. Lily Plotkin, 2025, USA)
After 41 years in the closet, breakdancing legend Bboy Wicket navigates the clash between his offstage persona and his public self. This high‑energy coming of age again documentary follows Wicket’s reconciliation of his Filipino, queer, and hip-hop identities into a hip-hop icon finally living in his truth. Winner of Frameline’s Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, WICKET reveals how falling in love with an artistic pursuit, a person, and yourself can change your life forever.
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