2026 Milwaukee Film Festival to Open with World Premiere of Bob Uecker Documentary; Festival Centerpiece and Closing Film Announced

MILWAUKEE – Thursday, March 19 – Milwaukee Film is delighted to announce that the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival (MFF26), presented by Associated Bank, will open on April 16th with the world premiere of Ueck, a brand new documentary about the life and legacy of Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker. Other Spotlight presentations at this year’s Festival will include a Centerpiece screening of The Big Cheese, a documentary set in the high-pressure world of international cheesemongering, and the Closing Night screening of Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, which concludes the Festival on April 30th.

“We’re thrilled to have Ueck open the Milwaukee Film Festival,” said September Club co-founder and Napoleon Dynamite producer Jeremy Coon. “It’s what we believe to be the definitive Bob Uecker documentary. It captures every chapter of his remarkable life—from his sandlot days in Milwaukee, to his unsung Major League career as a backup catcher, to more than half a century behind the microphone calling Milwaukee Brewers baseball. Along the way, he became a national treasure known to millions as ‘Mr. Baseball.’ 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.”

Immediately following the Opening Night screening of Ueck, Milwaukee Film invites folks to celebrate the Festival kickoff by supporting neighborhood East Side businesses for an Opening Night Neighborhood Crawl. After a year of several sudden closures of beloved East Side businesses, Milwaukee Film was inspired to band together with a variety of nearby venues, with a mission to celebrate the start of the 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival by driving audiences to participating local businesses, extending the celebration beyond the Oriental Theatre and across the East Side. Venues such as Vier North, Von Trier, Landmark Lanes, Wayfinder MKE, and Nadi Plates will offer discounts for folks celebrating the start of the Fest throughout the evening.

Milwaukee Film’s Managing Director Kristen Heller enthused, “I am ecstatic about our Opening Night celebration, as it immerses the afterglow of the cinematic experience into our vibrant neighborhood, showcasing the best of Milwaukee’s East Side. It is a special moment of community magic where local staples and film lovers connect, as the Festival experience is just as much about our incredible neighborhood businesses as it is the screen.”

Opening Night, Festival Centerpiece, and Closing Night films announced:

• Ueck (dir. Steve Farr, Michael T. Vollmann, 2026, USA)
  Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker, the former Major League baseball player, Hall of Fame sportscaster, comedian, and actor has seen it all and made us laugh along the way. Though Ueck passed away in January 2025, this documentary from Milwaukee-based filmmakers Michael T. Vollmann and Steve Farr persists as a testament to his legacy, giving audiences intimate access to his life, work, family, and friends, amplifying his humor and heart for future generations. Ueck will have a major theatrical release later this summer with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.
• The Big Cheese (dir. Sarah Joe Wolansky, 2025, USA)
  In the high-pressure world of international cheesemongering, Adam Moskowitz aims to send the first American to claim the top prize at the Mondial du Fromage competition in France. While the European model for this “sommelier of cheese” profession eclipses its stateside counterpart in societal support, Moskowitz—and his alter-ego, Mr. Moo—believe scrappy American ingenuity can take the wheel. Sara Joe Wolansky’s supremely witty and entertaining directorial debut is an instant artisanal classic.
• Power Ballad (dir. John Carney, 2026, USA)
  When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), Power Ballad is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.

Advance ticket packages and passes for the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival are available now at mkefilm.org/mff26. Audiences are invited to join Milwaukee Film for Friends & Family Preview Night on Thursday, April 2, at the Oriental Theatre where printed program books will be available. Doors open at 6 PM, presentation starts at 6:30 PM.

About Milwaukee Film

Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to entertaining, educating, and engaging our community through cinematic experiences, with a vision to make Milwaukee a center for film culture. Milwaukee Film is committed to high-quality and accessible film programming through their operation of the magnificent Oriental Theatre, a historic cinema palace, and the iconic Downer Theatre, Milwaukee’s oldest running cinema. The 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will take place April 16-30, 2026. For more information or to become a Member, visit mkefilm.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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