I’m thinking juuust a bit outside the box, so hear me out: Each movie at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival should end with a post-credits stinger where Bob Uecker notices the remaining viewers and shouts, “Get up, get up, get outta here!”
Mr. Baseball might be gone, but his hometown-boy-makes-good legacy continues to be enshrined by a community still mourning the loss of a former Milwaukee Braves catcher who struggled to hit above the Mendoza Line but then spent the next 54 summers as the beloved radio voice of the Brewers. His unwavering loyalty to one city has now been reciprocated with widespread tributes, including the festival’s decision to open this year with the world premiere of “Ueck,” a feature documentary that aims to be the definitive portrait of the Hall of Fame broadcaster who, as a mischievous player, was once told by a manager that the game has no room for a clown.
“There was, and is, a place for Bob Uecker, it pleases me to report,” he wrote in his memoir. “I enjoy my job. It’s a lot safer up there, and I don’t get booed as much as I did when I was catching.”
Uecker’s spot in Brewers lore is so secure—American Family Field features not one but two statues, a Wall of Honor plaque, a medallion overlooking right field and a press box recently renamed in his memory—that it begs a question: What could we possibly glean from a new documentary about this long-lionized figure?
For one thing, Uecker and his family invited the film crew, including Milwaukee-based directors Steve Farr and Michael T. Vollmann, into their lives for nearly two years, which promises an intimate glimpse into Uecker’s battle with small cell lung cancer before he passed away in January 2025.
“It captures every chapter of his remarkable life,” producer Jeremy Coon said. “For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the film offers a chance to discover even more about the wit, heart and humanity of a man we all loved.”
“Ueck” will lead off the festival at 7 p.m. April 16 inside the majestic Oriental Theatre on North Farwell Avenue. What’s being billed as the Opening Night Neighborhood Crawl will immediately follow. Nearby venues such as Landmark Lanes, Nadi Plates, Vier North, Von Trier and Wayfinder MKE will offer discounts for film lovers excited about MFF reaching its 18th year.
“The festival experience is just as much about our incredible neighborhood businesses as it is the screen,” Kristen Heller, Milwaukee Film’s managing director, said.
It’s better to own than rent
One of those East Side cornerstones is the Downer Theatre, which opened in 1915 and stands as Wisconsin’s oldest still-operating movie theater. While Milwaukee Film assumed daily stewardship in 2024 via a rental agreement with Bridge33 Capital, the nonprofit announced in March the further step of purchasing the property, thanks to a low-interest loan from the Helmerich Trust and a series of private donations.
“Buying the building is just the beginning,” Milwaukee Film Executive Director Susan Kerns said. “We have ambitious plans to restore this historic cinema in a way that honors its legacy while ensuring it serves today’s audiences. Our vision includes upgraded seating, expanded accessibility features, upgraded audio and projection systems and the addition of 35mm film capabilities to reconnect the theater with its rich tradition of cinema exhibition. We are also planning significant improvements to restrooms and an expanded lobby that will create a more welcoming and inclusive gathering space for our community.”
Those updates won’t be in place for this month’s 15-day festival, but the Downer’s two auditoriums will, like last year, join the flagship Oriental Theatre to give MFF a total of five screens on which to present a mixture of 106 features and 138 shorts from national, international and local filmmakers.
Spotlight presentations
Surely the cheesiest film to ever serve as the fest’s centerpiece pick, “The Big Cheese” tells the nonfiction story of an underdog group of Americans preparing for the Mondial du Fromage (World Cheese Tour) in France. Will the grueling biennial competition for refined “cheesemongers” earn American cheese some global respect? Forget the Milk Duds. You might want to instead sneak in some Lactaid.
Ear protection, though, probably won’t be needed for the closing-night selection “Power Ballad,” the latest music-will-save-us crowdpleaser from Irish director John Carney (“Once,” “Sing Street”). Paul Rudd stars as Rick, an unfulfilled wedding singer who befriends Danny, a former boy-band idol played by Nick Jonas. What’s unusual is that Carney’s subject this time isn’t how music brings people together; when Danny steals one of Rick’s songs, and Rick can’t prove it, Carney finds a different groove.
Theft is also central to the plot of “The General,” which follows a Civil War engineer after his train is swiped by enemy soldiers. Buster Keaton’s 1926 chase comedy, ingeniously set on railroad tracks, is close to my heart—I’ve taught this silent landmark for a quarter of a century—but I’ve never seen it on the big screen with live musical accompaniment. On April 20, the renowned Anvil Orchestra will be in town to mark the film’s centennial, and I wouldn’t miss it for Lincoln’s stovepipe hat.
For the eleventh time since 2013 (including two virtual screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic), the festival will show Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” (1984). Is it a documentary, an art project or Milwaukee’s favorite dance party tradition? It’s all three! Other retro events include Jim Henson’s cult classic fantasy “Labyrinth” (1986) and Richard Linklater’s “School of Rock” (2003), which can barely contain Jack Black’s exuberance as a musician posing as a substitute teacher.
Among new works from distinguished filmmakers are Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex,” Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36,” Eugene Jarecki’s “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” Hong Sang-soo’s “What Does That Nature Say to You,” Nadav Lapid’s “Yes” and Kirk Jones’ “I Swear,” which earned Best Actor at the 2026 British Academy Film Awards.
The festival runs April 16-30. The full lineup is online at mkefilm.org/mff, with the caveat that the listed screenings for “Cookie Queens” have been canceled.
Most tickets are $16, but discounts are available for seniors, students, educators, children and military members. Tickets can be purchased online now, in person at the Oriental Theatre and Downer Theatre box offices starting April 10 or by phone starting April 16. Be advised: Many events sell out. Arrive early or your seat might be in the front rowwww.