MILWAUKEE  — Milwaukee Film revealed their full lineup Friday for the 17th annual Milwaukee Film Festival.

The 15-day festival features about 200 documentaries and fiction films from around the world and from Milwaukee.

What You Need To Know

  • The Milwaukee Film Festival has released their 2025 lineup

  • The lineup features about 200 films from around the world and from Milwaukee

  • The festival runs 15 days from April 24 through May 8

  • Ticket sales open to the general public April 16. A full list of the films can be seen here

“We are thrilled to bring another year of bold storytelling, community events, and cinematic magic to audiences at the 17th annual Milwaukee Film Festival,” said Milwaukee Film Executive Director Susan Kerns. “This year’s lineup celebrates the power of film to inspire, challenge, and connect us.”

The festival runs from April 24 through May 8 at the Downer and Oriental theatres.

Some highlighted films include:

Sally (2025, United States)

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.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985, United States)

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!

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror with live accompaniment by Anvil Orchestra (1922, Germany)

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.

The Librarians (2025, United States)

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.

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2024, France)

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.

A full list of the films can be seen here.

Milwaukee Film will also preview some of the films April 10 at the Oriental Theatre. In addition to showing films, the festival will also feature a series of panel discussions and Q&As with filmmakers.

Tickets can be purchased online or by phone starting April 16 (April 14 for Milwaukee Film members). The box office will open April 18 at the Oriental Theatre to buy tickets in person. Same-day tickets are also available, although Milwaukee Film recommends buying tickets early before films sell out.

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