Milwaukee Film’s Cultures & Communities Festival runs Oct. 5-12 this year. The organization announced its lineup of films and events on Monday, and a public preview night will be held Sept. 14 at the Oriental Theatre. The eight-day festival, established by Milwaukee film in 2019, will feature 13 films, along with exhibitions, national and local performing artists, speakers and more, with the goal of embracing cultural inclusivity, sparking dialogue and inspiring attendees to celebrate their heritage.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Oriental with a screening of The League, directed by Milwaukee Film alum Sam Pollard. The documentary covers the “Negro League” baseball of the early 20th century, including interviews with legends like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday, Oct. 9, the festival will screen Fancy Dance, a film about an Indigenous woman fighting for custody of her niece after her sister’s disappearance. The 2023 directorial debut of Erica Tremblay, the film has received critical acclaim.
Another festival highlight is the documentary Lady Buds, screening on Wednesday, Oct. 11, which follows six women navigating Cannabis legislation in California.
“This film lineup is small but mighty,” Milwaukee Film Artistic Director Cara Ogburn said in a press release. “Within it are several of our faves from festivals earlier in the year, films from new voices we’ve recently fallen in love with – Hummingbirds, as a standout for me – and new films from filmmakers our audiences already know well, like Sam Pollard and Lisa Cortés who will be back after just having visited in April with new docs.”
In addition to films, the festival will also present more than 40 events throughout Milwaukee, starting with an opening night party on Oct. 5, hosted by DJ Spinderella from the iconic trio Salt-N-Pepa in celebration of more than 50 years of hip-hop. Actress and comedian Janelle James of “Abbott Elementary” will perform at the Pabst Theater on Oct. 8, and you can see comedian Aida Rodriguez at Milwaukee Improv on Oct. 10.
Other community events include Poetry Unplugged, which will celebrate two decades of Milwaukee’s longest-running open mic experience and spoken word collective; the seventh annual Battle of the Chefs, a competitive tasting event featuring local chefs; and Culture By Design: A Sneaker & Streetwear Summit, a multifaceted expo with prominent designers from around the nation.
The week ends with a closing night party featuring the genre-blending band Gangstagrass and local music legends Shonn Hinton & Shotgun on Oct. 12.
“I have been trying to book a premier comedy show since we started this festival, and this year we’ve got two,” Milwaukee Film Chief Innovation Officer Geraud Blanks said. “We’ve got a legendary hip-hop DJ, multiple culinary events and one of the largest sneaker expos in the Midwest.”
Find the full schedule of films and events here.
