Milwaukee Film
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Entertainment Culture & Entertainment Arts Non-profit Organizations Arts, Culture & Entertainment
About
Founded in 2008, Milwaukee Film is a community-powered arts nonprofit organization in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to creating world-class cinematic experiences that entertain, educate, and engage curious audiences. 365 days a year, Milwaukee Film maintains and operates two historic arthouse cinemas, programming the best in cinema across five screens.
Through the Milwaukee Film Festival, Dialogues Documentary Festival, and our year-round programming, last year we attracted visitors from 49 states and the District of Columbia. During the two-week Milwaukee Film Festival alone, visitors from 140 Wisconsin zip codes came to Milwaukee to experience cinema in our theaters.
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GenreQueer
Spotlighting the best in documentary and fiction filmmaking that explores LGBTQ+ lives, GenreQueer amplifies both new and established voices from cinema’s rich queer tradition. From the Milwaukee Film Festival to June Pride programming and beyond, these screenings foreground visibility, memory, possibility, and pure joy.
Milwaukee Film Festival
The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival took place from April 16-30 and featured hundreds of films, engaging panels, Q+As with special guests, and plenty of surprises. The 2027 Milwaukee Film Festival will run April 29 - May 13 at the Historic Oriental Theatre and the Historic Downer Theatre.
Historic Theaters
In 2018, Milwaukee Film expanded its mission and impact on our city by taking over operation of the historic Oriental Theatre. This stunning movie palace first opened on July 2, 1927, has received countless accolades over the years, and is celebrated as a treasured landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.
Six years later, we added the Downer Theatre to our cinema footprint, offering the ability to show even more films year-round. The Downer Theatre opened its doors on December 3, 1915, and is Wisconsin’s oldest still-operating movie theater.
Milwaukee Film is dedicated to keeping both cinemas alive and thriving for generations of moviegoers to come.
Dialogues Documentary Festival
Documentary films open conversations and expand minds. Mark your calendar for September 24-27 in 2026 and plan to join us for four days of films and discussions that will fill your heart and mind with timely, relevant, and true stories.
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