Magic Pixel Guild: a new resource for filmmakers, digital artists (and more) in Madison
"Second Sunday Meetups" will begin Sunday, July 12, 3:00pm, at Imaginary Factory
Scroll down for Now Showing in Madison, July 8–July 13, 2026
Weekly posts include short notes on various cinematic topics, followed by the Now Showing in Madison guide to commercial theaters and alternative venues.
I should probably do more research about something before I write about it here, and maybe talk to the people involved with it. But no time, no time! I’ve been intrigued enough by the new Magic Pixel Guild Discord to bring it to your attention this week, before the first “Second Sunday Meetups” begin this Sunday, July 12, 3:00pm, at Imaginary Factory (1401 Northern Court).
What is the Magic Pixel Guild? Well, it is a new online community with a Madison chapter for people interested in digital and traditional arts. The key resource will be their Discord channel, which can be found at https://discord.gg/kbJewTrvj.
My main contact with the Magic Pixel Guild has been through Michael Doyle Olson. (Did you happen to see Michael’s cover for Isthmus this month?) Michael does video, photography, design, illustration, and you see his name at the bottom of each Now Playing section of Moving Image Madison because I link to his ongoing collaborative public calendar of alternative film screenings at www.mdo.me/film.
Here are two pieces of information that I have already gleaned from combing though the posts at Magic Pixel Guild. First, I didn’t realize that John Early’s Maddie’s Secret was finally getting a theatrical run in Madison, at AMC Fitchburg, starting Thursday, July 9. And second, I learned that the new film edited by Alex Jacobs, Night Nurse, is also opening in town this week! (More on that below.)
Members can also post events to the Magic Pixel Guild calendar, so I have posted an event listing for the upcoming Project Projection screening on July 29, hoping that we’ll get some new interest in screening local work.
So join me (and about 60 members) over on the Discord, and some of us at the meetup this Sunday at Imaginary Factory, and let’s see how this evolves!
Night Nurse, edited by Alex Jacobs, opens at AMC Fitchburg this week
Madison’s Alex Jacobs has had his abstract experimental glitch video work screened at the Wisconsin Film Festival and Mills Folly Microcinema, and well beyond. As a professional film editor, he has worked on features such as In a Violent Nature, which was distributed by IFC Films and Shudder. (It is currently streaming for free on Kanopy, but be warned, it is not for the squeamish).
Alex’s most recent project as editor, the thriller Night Nurse, directed by Georgia Bernstein, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The Independent Film Company (formerly IFC Films) picked it up for North American distribution. Now, Madison audiences will be able to see the film when it opens at AMC Fitchburg on Thursday, July 9. This looks like quite the trip. Congrats, Alex!
Now Playing In Madison: July 8–July 13, 2026
Please confirm showtimes with the venues (follow venue links where provided). The commercial theaters update their weekend listings on Wednesdays. Another valuable source that posts on Wednesdays with now playing lists is The Horizon Line Madison. When possible, I will provide links to reviews by Rob Thomas at Not That Rob Thomas, who gets around to far more proper reviews than I do.
Comments here are not reviews of the films, they are usually a response to the trailer, a summary of the buzz I have heard, or just snark. They are not always particularly accurate, according to reader feedback. I add trailers to new films of interest that you might not know about (American indies, international features, etc.).
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
WUD Film Lakeside Cinema
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004), The Terrace @ Memorial Union, Monday, 7/13, 9:00 P.M.
Lakeside Cinema, Monday nights at the Memorial Union Terrace returns with monthly themes: “Sports” (June), “Under the Lake,” (July), “Back to the 80’s” (August).
Side Room Cinematheque
MIRANDA JULY TRIPLE FEATURE, Thursday, July 9, 8:00pm
DM @sideroomcinematic (Instagram) for screening details.
Commercial Theaters:
AMC Theatres
Flix Brewhouse
Marcus Theatres (Palace and Point)
Please confirm showtimes with the venues (follow venue links where provided). The commercial theaters update their weekend listings on Wednesdays. Another valuable source that posts on Wednesdays with now playing lists is The Horizon Line Madison. When possible, I will provide links to reviews by Rob Thomas at Not That Rob Thomas, who gets around to far more proper reviews than I do.
Comments here are not reviews of the films, they are usually a response to the trailer, a summary of the buzz I have heard, or just snark. They are not always particularly accurate, according to reader feedback. I add trailers to new films of interest that you might not know about (American indies, international features, etc.).
ALPHA (2026) at AMC.
Indian Hindi-language action film, the latest installment in the YRF Spy Universe from Yash Raj Studios. So that always means a cameo by a star from another film in the series, in this case Hrithik Rashan.
BACKROOMS: EVERYTHING MUST GO EDITION W/ BONUS FOOTAGE (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
If you want that little bit more of the recent box office hit, this is for you. I like the film quite a bit, but I have a feeling that less is better in this instance.
BLEACH: THOUSAND-YEAR BLOOD WAR - THE CALAMITY (2026) at AMC.
Anime feature, taken from the popular television series.
CITIZEN KANE 85TH ANNIVERSARY at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
I’ve heard good things.
DEEP SKY (2023) at AMC.
DISCLOSURE DAY (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
EVIL DEAD BURN (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS (2026) at AMC, Point.
Latest comedy from director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer). Read Rob Thomas’s review.
GATTA KUSTHI 2 (2026) at AMC.
Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy / sports drama, a sequel to a 2022 film. Title roughly translates as “Tied wrestling.”
GIRLS LIKE GIRLS (2026) at AMC.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) at AMC.
INVITE, THE (2026) at AMC, Flix.
Directed by Olivia Wilde, this remake of the 2020 Spanish comedy The People Upstairs stars Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton.
JACKASS: BEST AND LAST (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
I never was a fan when Jackass was on television, but I have to admit I have enjoyed some of the films. I might go see this.
LEGO MOVIE, THE (2014) at AMC.
LENIN (2026) at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language action drama. I was hoping for a splashy Tollywood production of the life of Vladmir Lenin, but that is not what this is.
LEVITICUS (2026) at Point.
Supernatural horror spiced with some social commentary.
LOCKBOX (2026) at AMC.
Supernatural horror film starring Carla Gugino.
LUCKY STRIKE (2026) at AMC, Point.
World War II action drama starring Scott Eastwood. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
MADDIE’S SECRET (2026) at AMC.
This has some buzz on the Magic Pixel Guild Discord. Comedy directed by John Early, starring Early, Kate Berlant, Claudia O’Doherty, and Vanessa Bayer.
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
MINIONS & MONSTERS (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
This latest entry in the Minions franchise apparently has a lot of film buff jokes, if that sways you. Read Rob Thomas’s review.
MOANA (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Live action adaptation of Disney’s animated feature, Moana (2016).
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO - STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2026 at AMC, Palace, Point.
NIGHT NURSE at AMC.
Edited by Madison’s own Alex Jacobs! See above.
OBSESSION (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
PADDINGTON (2015) at Palace.
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (2022) at Flix.
RAO BAHADUR (2026) at AMC.
Indian Telugu-language psychological drama starring Satyadev.
SCARY MOVIE (2026) at AMC, Palace, Point.
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY at AMC, Flix.
SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS, THE (2025) at Palace, Point.
STAR IS BORN, A (1954) at AMC.
This is Mrs. Norman Maine.
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU (2026) at Palace, Point.
SUPERGIRL (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Read Rob Thomas’s review.
TOY STORY 5 (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
TUNER (2026) at AMC.
YOUNG WASHINGTON (2026) at AMC, Flix, Palace, Point.
Have you used the Now Showing in Madison listings at least once to find something interesting to see? Have you discovered a film that you didn’t realize was playing in town? Please consider supporting these efforts directly by clicking the “Buy Me a Popcorn” button and making a modest donation on those occasions when you find this resource valuable to your moviegoing in Madison.
Looking Ahead:
Local filmmaker Michael Doyle Olson has started what he hopes to be a comprehensive, collaborative public calendar of alternative film screenings in Madison. It is still a work in progress, but check it out at www.mdo.me/film.
MMoCA Cinema, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Screenings begin about 20 minutes after posted sunset.
GIRL INTERNET SHOW: A KATI KELLI MIXTAPE (2013-2019), Thursday, July 30.
AMERICA: EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF (1971-1973), Thursday, August 6
GANGSTERISM (2025), Thursday, August 13
KIN DZA-DZA!, Thursday, August 20
Highway 18 Outdoor Theater, Jefferson, Wisconsin
SUPERGIRL and MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, July 16-19.
Cinesthesia at Madison Public Library Central Branch
FULL METAL JACKET (Stanley Kubrick, 1987), Tuesday, July 14, 6:30pm.
Mills Folly Microcinema at Arts + Literature Laboratory
PROJECT PROJECTION, local film and video showcase, Wednesday, July 29, 7:00pm
Now taking submissions of experimental film/video art, short docs, animation, and music videos (10 minute limit). Submit your work at artlitlab.org, deadline Friday, July 17.
Commonwealth Gallery, 1501 Williamson Street
THROUGH THE KEYHOLE AND THE STORM, July 30–August 1
It is not often performance and film allow for such a full immersion of the audience, and it is something Liz Sexe Dance enjoys crafting and sharing with the community. Through the Keyhole and the Storm will bring together dance and film through an immersive gallery performance taking place at the Commonwealth Gallery. Each night from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday, August 1, the gallery will be open from 6:30-9:00 p.m. for people to explore the environments of a room filled with keyholes and the room of plastic. At 7:30 p.m. each night a performance will erupt with a storm.