Each year, the Milwaukee Film Festival ushers in a deluge of movie magic – over 200 features and shorts across 15 days. Deciding what to watch – and when – can be tricky. Two superfans have it figured out: John DiMotto, a retired county judge who’s managed to see 50 films per festival since 2014; and Taylor Dutmer, who’s been hooked since 2013 when she took her then-3-year-old son to see the short-film showcase for kids.
Here’s how they tackle the movie madness:
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
What to See?
Both DiMotto and Dutmer believe in the power of the program guide, which drops in print and digital formats a few weeks before the fest. “Check off films you think you’ll want to see, then look at the times and the dates that they’re playing and work your schedule,” DiMotto says.
How to Plan Ahead?
Dutmer recommends arriving 30 minutes early – time to find parking that can be a challenge on the East Side and get concessions (she likes the chilled candy). And it sounds simple but bears mentioning: “Definitely pay attention to what theater to go to,” says Dutmer.
DiMotto manages his schedule with a precise, Tetris-like timetable. Purchasing an all-access pass to the festival not only allows him to see any movie, it also lets him skip the line and breeze right in.
How to Enjoy Them?
Dutmer turns a trip to the theater into a social event, whether that’s a date night, or going with a buddy or a group of friends. DiMotto attends most screenings by himself, but he shares the experience another way: He reviews every film he sees on the Milwaukee Film Members Facebook page, which is open to the public. His quick takes are popular among festival regulars; even Dutmer says they inform her planning.
Word on the street is valuable, too. “Standing in line, even if I don’t know the people, I’ll say, ‘So what have you seen? What was your favorite film and why?’” DiMotto says. “And they ask me the same thing.”
What Else to Know?
Dutmer advises “going in blind” to films, saying that sometimes not knowing anything about the movie is part of the fun. For first-timers, she suggests documentaries, spotlight features (what she calls “crowd-pleasers”), and the shorts programs, which feature eight to 12 films at a time. She says the festival programmers’ Top 10 lists on social media are also useful.
Kid Tip!
Young cinephiles ages 9-12 can apply to join the festival’s Kids’ Choice Jury and bestow an award to their favorite film. They’ll meet film enthusiasts their age, and their family gets free tickets to the festival.
Three Must-See Films
The Big Cheese
Documentary, 87 min
An American team of rebel cheese mongers battle at the Mondial du Fromage. 2025
The General
Comedy, 75 min.
This silent-era classic with Buster Keaton is set to live accompaniment by Anvil Orchestra. 1926
Misan Harriman: Shoot the People
Documentary, 86 min.
See through the lens of a photographer capturing global protests. 2026
