MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Film on Wednesday unveiled its 2024 Milwaukee Film Festival lineup.
It’s the 16th year of the festival, which runs from April 11-25. This year’s festival features 300 films from 61 different countries. About 55% of the 2024 feature films were directed by women or non-binary directors, according to Milwaukee Film.
“Our sweet sixteen Festival is shaping up to be as strong as ever,” said Cara Ogburn, Milwaukee Film’s artistic director, in a press release. “We can say with confidence that the creativity and resilience of filmmakers and artists has not been slowed by the pandemic nor the dual strikes of 2023. Indeed, we have more films that we would like to bring to Milwaukee than we have room for!”
The festival has become a popular event for film enthusiasts in the region, showcasing local, national and international filmmakers.
New this year is the addition of the historic Downer Theatre venue; Milwaukee Film announced in early March it would take over the shuttered venue.
Ticket sales for the festival begin on April 1 for Milwaukee Film Members. General sales begin on April 3 and in-person sales at the Oriental Theatre begin on April 5.
Here are some highlights of this year’s festival:
'Shari & Lamb Chop'
April 11 | 6 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
April 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
The latest from MFF alum Lisa D’Apolito examines Shari Lewis’ impact on children’s television through the lens of her decades-long relationship with Lamb Chop and, like Lewis herself, brims with warmth and spunky charm.
'Dig! XX'
April 13 | 6 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
April 21 | 7:45 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Originally seven years in the making, and culled from 2,500 hours of footage, Ondi Timoner’s Dig! gets a 20th-anniversary refresh, featuring 35 minutes of previously unseen footage. This film tracks the tumultuous rise of two talented musicians and dissecting their star-crossed friendship and bitter rivalry.
'Smoking Tigers'
April 13 | 6:45 p.m. | Avalon Theater
April 18 | 6 p.m. | Times Cinema
April 24 | 1:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (South Cinema)
Set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, “Smoking Tigers” is a portrait of a lonely 16-year-old Korean American girl named Hayoung who is taken under the wings of three wealthy students she meets at an elite academic boot-camp.
'Thelma'
April 14 | 4 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
April 15 | 12 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Herzfeld Cinema)
April 18 | 7 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. Inspired by a real-life experience of writer-director Josh Margolin’s own centenarian grandmother.
'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' Feat. Anvil Orchestra
April 18 | 5:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
Widely considered the first horror film, Robert Wiene’s 1920 silent German expressionist tale of the mysterious eponymous doctor and his sleepwalking companion, Cesare. With live accompaniment by our friends from the Anvil Orchestra, this screening is not to be missed if you consider yourself a fan of the genre, of cinema history, of innovative music, or if you’re looking for an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
'Garland Jefreys: The King of In Between'
April 18 | 4:45 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Lubar Cinema)
April 20 | 6:30 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
Garland Jeffreys, the mixed-race Brooklyn native whose music defied industry norms, receives long-overdue recognition in this powerful documentary. His unique fusion of folk, soul and rock earned him accolades abroad, yet left him underrated at home. Jeffreys’ story, narrated from his NYC home and featuring interviews with artists such as Laurie Anderson, Vernon Reid and Bruce Springsteen, sheds light on the life and artistry of an unclassifiable talent.
'The Queen of My Dreams'
April 19 | 6 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
April 21 | 12:15 p.m. | Downer Theatre (North Cinema)
From MFF alum Fawzia Mirza, this film follows the story of Arza. Arza is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined, from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada.
'Robot Dreams'
April 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Oriental Theatre (Abele Cinema)
From director Pablo Berger, this film follows the story of Dog, who is tired of being alone in Manhattan. One day he decides to build himself a robot and they become inseparable friends. One summer night, Dog, with great sadness, is forced to abandon Robot at the beach. Will they ever meet again?
See the full festival lineup here.