Milwaukee Film to Screen Entirety of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return as Part of January ‘In Memoriam’ Film Series

Milwaukee Film is ringing in the new year with a wide array of events and screenings this January at the historic Oriental Theatre. From brand new 4k restorations of Todd Hayne’s psychological drama Safe and the Luis Buñuel masterpiece Viridiana, to a powerful screening of the 2020 documentary MLK/FBI in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and a live movie-concert set to the films of Georges Mélièss—plus a mystery cult film screening, and the return of our Cinematic Sisterhood series with Wisdom of Happiness—this month of cinema has something for everyone! Not to mention, folks will have the unique opportunity to see David Lynch’s episodic magnum opus Twin Peaks: The Return on the big screen. The 18-part limited event series will be screened in its entirety as part of Milwaukee Film’s In Memoriam series, which features works from beloved members of the film industry whom we lost in 2025.

The In Memoriam Series – Begins January 9, 2026
Starting this January, Milwaukee Film invites audiences to honor and pay tribute to those we lost in 2025. Throughout the month and into February, this In Memoriam series will present films such as ‘Annie Hall’ in remembrance of Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts, ’17 Again’ in remembrance of Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Ordinary People’ in remembrance of Robert Redford, and ‘This is Spinal Tap’ in remembrance of Rob Reiner—just to name a few.

“As we reflect on the year in film, we take a moment to remember luminaries we lost in 2025 and to honor them through viewing films where their creativity is on display,” expressed Milwaukee Film’s Artistic Director Cara Ogburn. “Think of this as an awards montage where you get a bit longer to reflect and honor those we’ve lost in the past year through revisiting or discovering exemplary work from their careers,” she concluded.

The full lineup for Milwaukee Film’s In Memoriam series:
● TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN (In Memoriam: David Lynch) – 1/9-1/14
● ANNIE HALL (In Memoriam: Diane Keaton & Tony Roberts) – 1/17
● 8 1⁄2 (In Memoriam: Claudia Cardinale) – 1/18
● THE STING (In Memoriam: Robert Redford) – 1/20
● 17 AGAIN (In Memoriam: Michelle Trachtenberg) – 1/22
● THE HARDER THEY COME (In Memoriam: Jimmy Cliff) – 1/23
● TASTE OF CHERRY (In Memoriam: Homayoun Ershadi) – 1/24
● THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (In Memoriam: Terence Stamp) – 1/25
● THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (In Memoriam: Diane Keaton & Rob Reiner) – 1/29
● CLEARCUT (In Memoriam: Graham Greene) – 1/30
● KRAMER VS KRAMER (In Memoriam: Robert Benton & Stanley Jaffe) – 2/3
● ORDINARY PEOPLE (In Memoriam: Robert Redford) – 2/4
● MAJOR LEAGUE (In Memoriam: Bob Uecker) – 2/6
● BACURAU (In Memoriam: Udo Kier) – 2/8
● THIS IS SPINAL TAP (In Memoriam: Rob Reiner) – 2/10
● COOL HAND LUKE (In Memoriam: Lalo Schifrin) – 2/17
● THE ELEPHANT MAN (In Memoriam: David Lynch) – 2/18
● TOP SECRET (In Memoriam: Val Kilmer) – 2/22
● BRAZIL – Directors Cut (In Memoriam: Tom Stoppard) – 2/24

‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ – Begins January 9
Milwaukee Film’s In Memoriam series begins on January 9th with David Lynch’s surrealist masterpiece ‘Twin Peaks: The Return‘, which has rarely screened theatrically. Often described as a film by its creators, this 18-episode arc will screen in its entirety, in order, from January 9th through 14th.

Milwaukee Film’s Programming Director Kerstin Larson expressed, “We’re filling in what we missed in our 2025 David Lynch Retrospective; the Twin Peaks universe’s cinematic final season is available to us for the first time in cinemas.” She continued, “Immerse yourself in Lynch’s carefully crafted universe and extended meditation on death and aging, good and evil, power and presence; purchase a pass or individual tickets for screening blocks of 2-3 episodes each.”

See the full schedule for Milwaukee Film’s screenings of Twin Peaks: The Return here:
● PARTS 1-3 – 1/9
● PARTS 4-6 – 1/10
● PARTS 7-8 – 1/10
● PARTS 9-11 – 1/11
● PARTS 12-14 – 1/11
● PARTS 15-16 – 1/11
● PARTS 17-18 – 1/14

Special 4K Restorations – Begins January 2
Starting on January 2nd, new 4k restorations of two critically acclaimed films will be shown in a limited run at the Oriental Theatre. Todd Haynes’ 1995 psychological drama ‘Safe‘ stars Julianne Moore as an affluent and unexceptional homemaker in the suburbs who develops multiple chemical sensitivity. ‘Viridiana‘, Luis Buñuel’s irreverent vision of life as a beggar’s banquet, is regarded by many as his masterpiece—though it was banned in Francisco Franco’s Spain and denounced by the Vatican upon its premiere. In it, novice nun Viridiana (Silvia Pinal) does her utmost to maintain her Catholic principles, but her lecherous uncle (Fernando Rey) and a motley assemblage of paupers force her to confront the limits of her idealism. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, ‘Viridiana’ is as audacious today as ever.

Dalai Lama Documentary Screens as Part of Year-Round Cinematic Sisterhood Series – January 7
On January 7th at 6 PM, the Cinematic Sisterhood series, curated by Milwaukee Film and funded by a special grant from the ‘Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee‘, continues with a special screening of ‘Wisdom of Happiness‘. This documentary explores a timeless truth: happiness is still possible, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. This powerful message of hope is delivered as a personal audience with one of the greatest living thinkers, Nobel Peace Prize winner Tenzin Gyatso, known to billions around the world as the Dalai Lama. There will be a brief networking opportunity at 5:30 PM before the screening begins at 6 PM. Following the screening, stay for a discussion featuring experts working in our region to extend the Dalai Lama’s teachings in neuroscience, psychology, and other fields.

Secret Cult Film Screening – January 13
For folks who enjoy a good surprise, Milwaukee Film is hosting a mystery screening of a cult film on January 13th at 7 PM. ‘Tell No One: It’s a Secret Cult Film Screening‘ (Subtitled) has never before screened at the Oriental Theatre, and is unlikely ever to screen again. This crime drama is likely to offend your sensibilities. Words used to describe this film include violent, surreal, degenerate, moody, enigmatic, blurry, and mad. Parents: do NOT bring your kids. Kids: do NOT bring your parents. (Actually, kids, you can’t see this anyway, because it’s rated NC-17.) Content warnings: sexual assault, sex and nudity, violence, guns, profanity.

The Testament of Ann Lee on 70mm – Opens January 16
‘The Testament of Ann Lee‘, the eagerly anticipated film from award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) opens at the Oriental Theatre on January 16th, presented on 70mm film. Folks who value the tradition of celluloid will want to experience the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers, in this exclusive 70mm presentation. Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker’s irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers.

“Having the projection equipment—and trained staff—to show this film as intended is an important part of what it means to us to be a modern film exhibitor. Keeping the practice of celluloid projection alive at the Oriental Theatre connects us to the history of film and allows us to activate our cinema the way movies have been shown here for the majority of the theatre’s lifetime,” enthused Kelsey Parks, Milwaukee Film’s Technical Manager. “Striving for the highest standard in film projection, including introducing the capability to project large format 70mm film to the Oriental Theatre, is an integral part of what we do at Milwaukee Film and we look forward to showing films on film to our audiences any time the opportunity allows,” she concluded.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Screening – January 19
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, round out your day of reflection with ‘MLK/FBI‘, the first film to uncover the extent of the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Directed by multi-MFF alum, Emmy® Award-winner, and Oscar®-nominee Sam Pollard and written by MFF alums Benjamin Hedin and Laura Tomaselli, this 2020 documentary remains timely, urgent, and relevant. Based on newly discovered and declassified files, utilizing a trove of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and unsealed by the National Archives, as well as revelatory restored footage, the documentary explores the government’s history of targeting Black activists, and the contested meaning behind some of our most cherished ideals.

Special Georges Méliès Screening with Live Score! – January 31
On January 31st, finish this month of extraordinary programming with Right in the Eye: Live Movie Concert of Georges Méliès Films, a live performance set to 12 films by Georges Méliès, a pioneer of cinema and a wizard of special effects. Created by Jean-François Alcoléa and praised by the Great-Great-Granddaughter of legendary filmmaker and cinematographer

Georges Méliès, ‘Right in the Eye’ features a captivating, multi-layered score performed by three virtuoso musicians, offering an amazing emotional voyage. Using an unusually wide range of instruments including piano, percussion, guitar, and unique oddities like the aquaphone, theremin, and even plastic take-out lids—the musicians bring new life to Méliès’ films. Their mesmerizing music evokes the technical wizardry and playful creativity that defined his work.

All Tickets and showtimes can be found online at mkefilm.org/comingsoon.

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