Milwaukee Film Festival Panels and Events Revealed

21 Apr 2026

Milwaukee Film is delighted to announce a series of free non-film events to occur during the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by Associated Bank (April 16 – 30, 2026). Ranging from Happy Hours hosted by various local organizations, to a slate of panel discussions intended to enrich and educate the minds of creatives and audiences alike, these events offer a variety of experiences that will enhance the many films offered during the annual Festival.

“Film festivals are about more than just films,” explained Cara Ogburn, Milwaukee Film’s Artistic Director. “In addition to Q&As with filmmakers, we like to offer a few opportunities to take those discussions further through panels and other formal discussions in better-lit rooms. We’ll also have a number of parties and mixers that will give folks the chance to socialize throughout these 15 days, which is always an important part of any festival experience!” she added.

OPENING NIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD CRAWL

The first such event will occur right after the Festival’s Opening Night Film, UECK with the Opening Night Neighborhood Crawl. While tickets for the film may sell out, everyone is welcome to celebrate the start of the Festival at various East Side establishments. Festival passholders and Opening Night Ticketholders will receive discounts starting at 9pm at Vier North (1832 E North Ave), Von Trier (2235 N Farwell Ave), Landmark Lanes (2220 N Farwell Ave), Wayfinder MKE (2108 N Farwell Ave), and Nadi Plates Food Truck (parked where Farwell meets Ivanhoe Plaza), but venues will be available to the general public as well.

2026 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL HAPPY HOURS

Throughout the Festival, head over to the Festival Lounge at Vier North (1832 E North Ave), sponsored by The Yabuki Family Foundation, for a series of free happy hours to celebrate the Festival and socialize with filmmakers and other guests. See below for details on dates and co-hosts.

FRIDAY APRIL 17 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Hosted by Kartemquin Films and American Documentary

SATURDAY APRIL 18 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by Eventive

MONDAY, APRIL 20 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by Awen

TUESDAY APRIL 21 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by Imagine MKE, Action! Wisconsin, and Film Wisconsin

FRIDAY APRIL 24 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by Untitled Filmmaker

SATURDAY APRIL 25 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Hosted by Motion Makers

MONDAY APRIL 27 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by North American Cinema

TUESDAY APRIL 28 | 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Hosted by Washington Park Media Center, Place Base Media, and Medical College of Wisconsin

2026 MILWAUKEE FILM FESTIVAL PANELS
Panels will occur both weekends of the Festival. All panels are free and open to the public—no ticket or pass is required to attend. Seating is on an as-available basis. Many thanks to Eventive for their sponsorship of our MFF26 Panels series.

Midwest Documentary Summit

Friday, April 17, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | East Library

In partnership with American Documentary and Kartemquin Films, this summit, which is free to attend and suitable for documentary and fiction filmmakers of all levels, will include discussions of filmmaking ethics, festival and distribution strategies, and the contemporary landscape of nonfiction media.

SESSION ONE | Artist Development: Minding the Steps | NOON – 1:30 PM
This session will serve as both an “Ask Me Anything” and structured conversation from MFF filmmakers to share thoughts and insights on the role of the artist & documentary film in these times, and how to maintain creative & personal integrity in the pursuit of social change from project development to festival premiere.

MODERATOR
haydée souffrant, Director of Programs | Kartemquin Films

ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS
- Colette Ghunim, director | TRACES OF HOME
- Allison Walsh, director & Lily Qi, producer | ALL OF THE ABOVE
- Vianca Fuster, director | WHERE IT STARTED

SESSION TWO | Public Media and Documentary Film | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
This interactive discussion will explore how public media and documentary filmmaking are meeting this moment and the various ways that the institutional infrastructure and individual creators are adapting and evolving.

MODERATOR
Stacy Robinson, Artistic Director | Kartemquin Films

ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS
- Colin Crowley, director | WELCOME POETS
- Laura Dyan Kezman, director & William Howell, co-director | CYCLE (MFF25 alum and Cream City Cinema Jury Award winner)

Panel: Appropriated Media

Saturday, April 18, 2026| 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM | East Library

A discussion about the use of appropriated media in film, ranging from legal and logistical considerations to techniques and technologies.

PARTICIPANTS

David Shadrack Smith, director (PUBLIC ACCESS)
Jesse McLean, local filmmaker (PLACEHOLDER, screening in MFF2026’s THE MILWAUKEE SHOW II) and UWM educator
Sarah Ballard, local filmmaker (MFF25’s FULL OUT) and UWM educator

Panel: Why Festivals Matter

Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM East Library

Join Eventive’s co-founder and CEO, Iddo Patt, for a discussion about the role of film festivals in the independent media ecosystem.

Panel: Reclaiming Attention: Youth, Tech, and Reclaiming Humanity

Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Wayfinder MKE

This timely fireside conversation brings together MFF26 documentary YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE key creators and local experts for a discussion on how social media and attention-driven technologies are shaping youth, families, and learning environments. The conversation offers audiences a grounded and hopeful look at how we can collectively build a healthier, more human-centered digital future.

PARTICIPANTS

Sara Robin, director
Jack LeMay, producer
Kristin Bride, documentary participant

MODERATOR

Audrey Nowakowski, WUWM 89.7 – Milwaukee’s NPR

Panel: On Music Journalism and Documentary Storytelling

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | East Library

Join this collection of music journalists, musicians, and documentarians for a discussion about their work.

MODERATOR

Sid McCain, WMSE

PANELISTS

Dan Didier, producer (DON’T BREAK DOWN: A FILM ABOUT JAWBREAKER); founder/drummer, Maritime and The Promise Ring
Joe Gross, director (WE ARE FUGAZI FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.); author (33+1/3: FUGAZI – IN ON THE KILL TAKER)
Sahan Jayasuriya, author (DON’T SAY PLEASE: THE ORAL HISTORY OF DIE KRUEZEN)

Passes and individual screening tickets for the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival are now on sale at mkefilm.org/mff.

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