My 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival Weekend Tickets

I'm probably going to fall short of my traditional "Five Film Saturday" (for a good reason), but I ended up buying more advance tickets than in recent years.

Mar 10, 2025

It’s that time of year again, when we all sit at our computers as noon approaches on a false-spring Saturday, hitting refresh on our browsers until tickets go on sale for the Wisconsin Film Festival. Tickets for the 2025 Festival went on sale this past Saturday for screenings taking place April 3 through April 10 at various venues on campus/downtown, near east side, and Flix Brewhouse.

I’m not going to preview all of the films worthy of attention. A good resource for that kind of preview, from multiple perspectives, is Tone Madison’s preview posted on Sunday. Instead I’m going to walk you through some of my ticket purchasing decisions for different blocks during the Festival’s opening weekend, April 3 through 6. As April approaches, I will follow up with a brief overview of films I selected for the weekday screenings, April 7 through 10.

I don’t push my film-going limits like some friends and colleagues who rack up 25-or-so tickets each year. But I do always shoot for a “Five Film Saturday.” The past few Festivals I have purchased 10-ticket packages during the December holiday season, which is usually sufficient for the opening weekend. Then I purchase various one-offs here and there as I can as the Festival approaches.

This year, I have a sufficient amount of tickets to achieve a Five Film Saturday, but circumstances may prevent me from seeing all five.

Thursday and Friday

Thursday is easy to summarize: I’m not attending the opening night screening. Nothing against Paul Rudd or Tim Robinson, but I’m pretty confident that if I decide to catch up with Friendship, I will have opportunities to do so. But if you, dear reader, had aspirations to attend Friendship on opening night at the Barrymore, I regret to inform you that the Festival posted on its social media that the screening has reached “rush tickets only” status.

The first Friday evening block presents my first dilemma, right off the bat, pun intended. My friend from UW-Madison undergrad days Sean Hanish will present his documentary Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (with producer Kelly Kahl). I missed ample opportunities to see the film when had its run at Marcus Theaters. I’m going to have to miss this screening too. Sorry Sean! I hope to see you later Friday night!

Instead I’m seeing Wisconsin’s Own Experimental Shorts, which will be harder to catch up with elsewhere than Just a Bit Outside will be. This program is my chance to catch up with the latest from Bill Bedford (who has two shorts in the program) and films coming out of the strong experimental scene in and around UW-Milwaukee.

I’m hoping that the Mills Folly Microcinema Project Projection screenings will continue to build a community of experimental filmmakers in Madison, and that local experimental filmmakers will have an equally strong presence in future festivals. I’m happy to see Alex Jacobs represented once again this year with fall light, which screened at the October 2024 Project Projection screening.

Side note to filmmakers in Madison: the next Project Projection screening, showcasing local experimental film, short docs, animation, and music videos, is Wednesday, April 30, 7pm. The early submission deadline is Friday, April 4, coincidentally, the same day as the Wisconsin’s Own Experimental Shorts Program. No submission fee!

For the late Friday block, it would be great fun to watch Godard’s A Woman is A Woman with a receptive Festival crowd. The film has wonderful moments of pure full-color whimsy that will please film nerds as well as general audiences unfamiliar with Godard’s work. But I decided to go with Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round. I’m a little worried that MMMGR (as no one calls it) will try to be too clever for its own good, but there should be a fun crowd if students turn out for the screening at Union South.

With Thursday and Friday out of the way, we can now look at how I decided to attempt another Film Film Saturday, time block by time block.

Saturday Block One

I chose One Hour with You (1932) because pre-code Lubitsch seems like a fun way to start off a power-viewing Saturday. You can’t beat a 78-minute musical from the 1930s if you know you have a long day ahead of you. One Hour with You reunites Lubitsch with Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald after their success in The Love Parade (1929). I used to almost always favor new or hard-to-see films over classic titles, but I’ve started going to a higher percentage of older films since WFF 2018, when the W.C. Fields vehicle You’re Telling Me! (1934) was one of my favorites.

The other temptation first thing Saturday morning is Hong Sang-soo’s By the Stream at the Bartell, but I didn’t want to start my day with a tight transition. The 111-minute length of By the Stream would make it difficult to transition to most of the Block Two films at 1:00pm or 1:15pm on campus, and I wasn’t interested in staying at the Bartell for Zodiac Killer Project. Still, By the Stream would also be a good way to start off the day. (I programmed Hong’s A Traveller’s Needs (2024) at MMoCA Cinema last month.) If you do end up going to By the Stream, be sure to say hello to Four Star Video owner and Tone Madison contributor Lewis Peterson, who is attempting to see every film made by the very prolific Hong. (Update: Lewis will attend the Wednesday, April 9, 2:30pm screening at Flix.)

Saturday Block Two

It seems like the popular pick (from asking around, unscientifically) is Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), to pay tribute to the late great David Lynch. If you haven’t seen Fire Walk with Me since it came out, it is interesting now to see how Lynch continued (and leaned in on) its tone and style in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017). I decided against this screening. Maybe I’ll pay my respects by wandering over to Tandem Press sometime soon.

Instead, I’m going to The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973), directed by Ivan Dixon (known to many as “Kinch” on Hogan’s Heroes). The film sits somewhere between blaxploitation and the politically engaged American independent films of the early 1970s. Despite being added to the National Film Registry in 2012, it has not been easy to see until recently. The Festival will present a restored 35mm print from the Library of Congress. Its running time, shorter than Fire Walk with Me, makes a transition off campus easier for the next block. On social media Sunday night, the Festival included The Spook Who Sat by the Door in its low ticket alert.

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Saturday Block Three

I should be able to get from Vilas Hall to the Bartell in sufficient time to see Dead Lover. Simply put, this seems to be the most fun film in the block. Its 86-minute length also maximizes options to return to campus for Block Four.

The other option is Tex at the Cinematheque, with a visit from director Tim Hunter. This is Hunter’s feature directorial debut, and he later directed River’s Edge and episodes of Twin Peaks, making this a potentially interesting follow up to Twin Peaks: Walk With Me.

Hovering between blocks three and four (?!) is Art Spigelman: Disaster is My Muse at Union South. This would be a good pick if you’re fine with missing everything in block three (except Greetings from Mars) and four of the five films after 6pm in block four (if you’re quick on your feet, you could make the McAdams/Ligon program).

Saturday Block Four

A VHS press screener copy of Erik Gunneson’s indie feature *Milk Punch*. I was probably supposed to return this circa the year 2000.

My friend Erik Gunneson will screen his indie feature film Milk Punch for its 25 anniversary. The film premiered at the 2000 (second annual) Wisconsin Film Festival, in what used to be the Stage Door Theater at the Orpheum. I plan to write more about Milk Punch as this screening approaches. It is my only IMDb crew credit! So it is my obvious choice for Saturday block four. Milk Punch was also included in the Festival’s low ticket alert, so Music Hall will clearly be the place to be. It will be a great celebration and reunion, and I look forward to catching up with a lot of people.

If you don’t end up at Milk Punch, I’d recommend “Chris and Heather’s 16mm Big Screen Blow Out” at the Cinematheque, a program of short films by Heather McAdams and musician Chris Ligon. At first I was miffed that this was programmed opposite of Milk Punch, but I’ll have another opportunity for a Heather McAdams program on Sunday. The Julian Castronovo feature, Debut, or, Objects of the Field of Debris as Currently Catalogued at the Chazen also looks interesting. But again, why is a feature described as an experimental narrative programmed opposite an experimental shorts program?

Saturday Block Five: Yes or No to Cocksucker Blues?

There are a few interesting choices for the late night Saturday block. Friends seem interested in Gazer, and I’m going to catch Afternoons of Solitude later in the week. But there’s only one real choice here: the very hard to see (in better than unauthorized bootleg quality) Robert Frank documentary Cocksucker Blues, which has been more or less restricted from general release by the Rolling Stones since 1972. My understanding, through the grapevine, is that Mike King has been working a long time to make this screening happen.

My dilemma, of course, is that many people I haven’t seen in a long time will be gathered together to see Milk Punch, and we will likely wander somewhere to continue the reunion. The schedule does permit plenty of time to get from Music Hall to the Barrymore Theater in time for the Cocksucker Blues screening, so in theory I can achieve a Five Film Saturday. I have a ticket just in case I decide to go. We’ll see.

Sunday

As promised, I’m going to keep the Sunday summary short and sweet. I selected the Heather McAdams programs at Cinematheque; Doug Rosenberg’s new film, The Sea, in the shorts program at Music Hall; The Village Next to Paradise, also at Music Hall; and Two Women at the Union South Marquee.

Overall I used up my 10-pack and bought one additional ticket to cover the weekend. Then I bought more than I usually do for the weeknights! Stay tuned for those details.

Updates: On social media, filmmaker John Roach reminded me that another strong Sunday option is A Road at Night, his documentary about the tragedy that struck Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball assistant coach Howard Moore and his family. I hope that the screening will provide some degree of healing for Moore’s family, colleagues, and the UW Athletics community. (And since there are David Lynch references throughout post, I should remind readers that Roach co-wrote The Straight Story). My current Sunday block three film makes it difficult to get from campus to the Barrymore on time. But there should be plenty of time to get there after any of the other Sunday block three films.

Also, I have been encouraged by friends who have Substack newsletters to open comments. I have now opened comments on this post, and we’ll see how it goes.

Now Playing In Madison: User’s Guide

Check the venue’s website, especially after Wednesday for weekend openings.
Brief notes under titles of interest to me are not endorsements unless noted.
At least one title each week is completely made up.

Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star in *Black Bag*, the new spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh.

UW-Cinematheque

THEATER OF THOUGHT (2022)
- Let’s find out what Werner Herzog thinks about thinking.
THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966)
THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE (1970)

WUD Film

DROP
UNION

AMC Fitchburg

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: MARCH 10
- Don’t know what it is (that’s the fun of it), but I know it is rated R.
ANORA
AXCN GUNDAM FEST 2025: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: CHAR'S COUNTERATTACK
- It appears to be a good time to be a Gundam fan (see another title as well at AMC below).
BLACK BAG
- The new spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh, starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. This even features some Bond veterans, Pierce Brosnan and Naomie Harris.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
DOG MAN
FLOW
- I should try to finally catch up with this, especially after it won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
I'M STILL HERE
- Won Best International Feature at Oscars. We’ll see how long the Madison theatrical run lasts.
IN THE LOST LANDS
LAST BREATH
MICKEY 17
- See my mixed review from last Thursday.
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE
NE ZHA 2
- I enjoyed this. I’m pleasantly surprised that its run in Madison has continued this long.
NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE
NOVOCAINE
- Had recent campus sneak preview. We’ll see if the kids pay money for it.
OPUS
- Horror with interesting cast: John Malkovich, Ayo Edebiri, Juliette Lewis.
PADDINGTON IN PERU
QUEEN OF THE RING
RULE BREAKERS
SEVEN VEILS (2023)
- New (or new to us, from 2023) Atom Agoyan film starring Amanda Seyfried. Hope to catch this early in the week, not likely to stay long.
THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE
- Probably going to pass on this Daffy Duck / Porky Pig buddy movie. It looks like it is trying to go for the manic energy of Looney Tunes, but will it have any charm?
THE MONKEY
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
THERE'S STILL TOMORROW
- Second week for this Italian drama. I would think that a third is unlikely.
THE UNBREAKABLE BOY

Marcus Point Cinema or Marcus Palace Cinema

ANORA
AXCN GUNDAM FEST 2025: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: CHAR'S COUNTERATTACK
BLACK BAG
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
DOG MAN
I AM LIVING PROOF
I'M STILL HERE
IN THE LOST LANDS
LAST BREATH
LAST SUPPER
MICKEY 17
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM GQUUUUUUX -BEGINNING-
- As mentioned above, this is the second Gundam title this week.
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE
NATIONAL THEATRE: THE MOTIVE AND THE CUE
NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE
NOVOCAINE
ONE OF THEM DAYS
- Keke Palmer and SZA buddy movie.
OPUS
PADDINGTON IN PERU
PUNCH AU LAIT
QUEEN OF THE RING
RIFF RAFF
RULE BREAKERS
SMALLFOOT
- This week’s pick for sketchy B-grade animated feature for kids.
THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE
THE LAST SUPPER
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: FIDELIO
THE MONKEY
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
THE UNBREAKABLE BOY
TOP GUN
- First title in the Fan Faves Passport lineup. Next few titles include The Godfather, Grease, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Flix Brewhouse

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN
ANORA
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
COMPANION
DOG MAN
LAST BREATH
MICKEY 17
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
- Classic Miyazaki film. See it if you haven’t seen it. But maybe Studio Ghibli films now play too frequently in Madison? Let’s mix it up, theater chains!
PADDINGTON IN PERU
RIFF RAFF
RULE BREAKERS
THE MONKEY