Every week, Kristopher Pollard from Milwaukee Film and Radio Milwaukee’s Dori Zori talk about movies — because that’s what you do when you’re Cinebuds.
The Milwaukee Film Festival is back April 16-30, and on this episode we give you the ultimate guide to week one of the 2026 event with the ultimate guest: Milwaukee Film programming director Kerstin Larson.
We kick things off with the world premiere of Ueck, a documentary celebrating the life and career of Milwaukee icon Bob Uecker, and keep things going with late-night thrills (restored slasher A Bay of Blood) and the "best damn" midnight shorts program. Plus, we preview the magical experience of seeing Buster Keaton’s silent classic The General accompanied by live music from the Anvil Orchestra.
For even more on this year's festival, we welcome filmmaker Max Hey and local legend TW Hansen to go behind the scenes of their documentary, Now! More! Yes! From buying an ambulance on a whim to navigating the "TW cinematic universe," their story is a charming look at Milwaukee's unique creative scene.
Milwaukee Film Festival 2026: week one
Ueck
April 16 | 7 & 8 p.m.
Oriental Theatre
Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker 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 is a testament to his legacy, giving audiences intimate access to his life, work, family and friends, amplifying his humor and heart for future generations.
A Bay of Blood
April 17 | 11:59 p.m.
Oriental Theatre
A wealthy countess is murdered for her bayfront real estate, leading to the systematic slaughter of ruthless developers, greedy heirs and bad neighbors. After he established the giallo genre with Blood and Black Lace, Mario Bava once again forever altered the horror landscape with A Bay of Blood, bursting onto the scene as the first slasher film. Arrive early for the Severin Films Blu-ray booth and get a free branded barf bag for the screening (while supplies last).
Kids Shorts Programs
Size Small (ages 3+) | Size Medium (6+) | Size Large (10+)
Various days and times
Downer and Oriental Theatres
These collections of shorts allow young filmgoers to experience the awe of cinema — from early life lessons to stories that help them see how others step into tween-dom with wisdom, bravery and laughter.
The Best Damn F**** Midnight Short Program Ever. Period.
Various days and times
Downer and Oriental Theatres
Enter a f*#@ed up world of chaos, creeps and gallonsssss of pus. From twisted intimacy to surreal transformations, wild late-night humor to gnarly nightmares, these eight films push boundaries, dare discomfort and guarantee you’ll leave the theater wide awake. It's an after-hours party for festival-goers 18+.
The General
April 20 | 6 p.m.
Oriental Theatre
A beloved MFF tradition, Anvil Orchestra returns to the Oriental Theatre to celebrate the 100th birthday of Buster Keaton's The General with live orchestra accompaniment. One of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this one-night-only musical screening is not to be missed.
The Milwaukee Show I
April 21 | 6:30 p.m.
Oriental Theatre
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.
Now! More! Yes!
April 18 (noon) & 22 (10:30 p.m.)
Oriental Theatre
Milwaukee-based artist Max Hey started recording TW Hansen, a blind picture car wrangler who also happened to be his landlord, after witnessing him purchase an ambulance with no keys on an auction website. When a sudden job loss leads TW into a spiral of despair, his resilience is tested in ways that push him to the edge. Now! More! Yes! is a celebration of the human spirit, the power of relationships and the unexpected ways life can turn around.
