Sum Sum Summertime: Some Series and Special Screenings
A Photographic Memory tonight at ArtLitLab; UW-Cinematheque resumes; Matt Farley double-feature at Bartell; Local author book launch at Marcus.
Click here for Now Showing in Madison, June 23–30, 2025
A Photographic Memory, tonight!
I have discovered that it is not easy to balance being a Madison film culture influencer on Substack with a normal daily life and work schedule. I missed a deadline for a Paid Subscription post last week, and I had hoped to provide a last minute push for the screening of A Photographic Memory at Arts + Literature Laboratory tonight, Monday, June 23, at 7:00pm. Now it is a really last minute push, just a few hours away, in fact.
If you read this Moving Image Madison post in time, please join Andy Adams from FlakPhoto News and myself for A Photographic Memory, with filmmaker Rachel Seed in-person Rachel is making a special trip to Madison just before Chicago appearance at the Gene Siskel Film Center tomorrow night. The film is a portrait of Seed’s mother, journalist, photographer, and filmmaker Shelia Turner Seed.
I’ll have to depend on already published local coverage of A Photographic Memory to persuade you that it is worth going outside in this heat to see the film (we’ll have air conditioning, of course). At The Capital Times, Ashley Rodriguez posted an insightful interview with Seed late last week. Seed discusses the many things she learned about her late mother, who died shortly after Rachel was born, in the process of making A Photographic Memory.
“I learned about her on so many different levels and from so many angles, and I think it’s only helped me. I feel like I’ve been able to move on with my life after having made the film. I feel complete in the search. I don’t have the longing anymore. I still have the sadness of missing her — and I think that will never go away, but I don’t have the longing anymore.”—Rachel Elizabeth Seed, interviewed in The Capital Times
Rob Thomas previewed A Photographic Memory at his Substack, and the screening made Isthmus Picks and Madison Minutes daily events. And, of course, Andy Adams provided an overview at his FlakPhoto Substack. Did I mention tonight’s screening is free? I hope to see some of you there!
Ctek Summer: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
My main negligence this week has been not providing adequate coverage of the UW Cinematheque Summer Series 2025, which begins on Wednesday with David Lynch’s The Elephant Man (1980). I’ve had the first week’s films in the “Looking Ahead” listings of course, but there’s certainly more to talk about. I have invited Tone Madison film coverage editor Grant Phipps to join me in a video discussion about the lineup, and then I had to delay recording it due to my schedule. We’ll get to that soon!
Highlights (among several) will be the visits with producer and editor Mary Sweeney, who will discuss the short films of David Lynch on Wednesday, July 7 and Mulholland Dr. (2001) on Wednesday, July 23 (both screenings 7:00pm.) And I’m personally hoping to make it to the Hong Kong action films later in the season: The Mystery of Chess Boxing (1979, see a fan-edited version of the trailer below) on Friday, July 18 and The Beach of the War Gods (1973) on Friday, August 1 (again, screenings at 7:00pm).
Two special locally sponsored events this weekend: Tick Town book launch (Marcus Point, Saturday) and Matt Farley double feature (Bartell, Sunday)
Again, I wish I had more time to preview two special events that some local folks have been working very hard to make happen. But I hope you might consider attending these if you’d like to support people who want to broaden the range of films and film-related events in Madison.
A screening of the classic creature feature, Them! (1954) will be followed by a book signing event celebrating the release of Tick Town, the debut novel by local author Christopher A. Micklos. The screening will be introduced by Rob Thomas from City Cast Madison and Not That Rob Thomas. The book signing will take place in the Palace’s Take Five Lounge, approximately 6:15pm.
Four Star Video Rental presents a double feature of films by director and prolific songwriter Matt Farley: Local Legends (2013) and Local Legends: Bloodbath (2024). Farley will be on hand to sing a few of the 25,000 songs that he has written during his career.
“Free from pretension, Farley has become something of a filmmaking genius. He produces work that isn’t trying to be anything grander or more ambitious than he and his friends collaborating on something they love. Now, a devoted audience loves what they do just as much as they love making it; it’s an ideal symbiosis between creator and fan. By writing about Farley, I’m not attempting to push Motern Media into the mainstream. Rather, I only want to shine a spotlight on the profound, inane beauty that can be created in a place as accessible as one’s own backyard.” - Brianna Zigler, Paste Magazine
Now, will I be able to attend any of these screening opportunities while also finding time to continue the coverage you’ve come to expect from Moving Image Madison? Tune in next week and find out!
Now Playing In Madison: June 23 to June 30, 2025
The Monday listings are now updates of the listings assembled on Thursdays for the Paid Subscription posts. The Monday listings still provide the best information available at the time of publication, but will not include many Thursday/Friday openings. Always confirm screening times with the venues.
Wisconsin Union Directorate Film
THE BIRDCAGE 6/23
BOTTOMS 6/30
Bottoms is way better than I expected to be, and definitely worth seeing with a crowd (especially a young crowd) if you have not seen it yet. Possibly the best performance of Marshawn Lynch’s career.
Arts + Literature Laboratory
A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, filmmaker Rachel Seed in person, 6/23, 7:00PM
See details and trailer above. Then we’ll see you in a few hours?
UW-Cinematheque
Cinematheque programming will resume on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays June 25 through August 1. A more detailed preview is forthcoming.
THE ELEPHANT MAN 6/25, 7:00pm
One of several David Lynch films at the Ctek this summer.
A MAN AND A WOMAN 6/26, 7:00pm
THE CAT 6/27, 7:00pm
Book Launch Event & Screening: Marcus Palace Theater
THEM! (1954), Saturday, June 28, 4:30pm
See details about Tick Town book launch, above.
Bartell Theatre
MATT FARLEY DOUBLE FEATURE Sunday, June 29, 4pm
See details above, and Local Legends: Bloodbath trailer below.
AMC Theatres, Flix Brewhouse, Marcus Theatres
28 YEARS LATER (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
AMC SCREEN UNSEEN: JUNE 23 at AMC.
BAD GUYS, THE (2022) at AMC.
For a moment, I thought this was the Gosling/Crowe vehicle from 2016. Nope, it’s just the 2022 animated feature, playing this week in anticipation of its sequel to be released on August 1.
BALLERINA (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
BORN TO BE WILD IMAX 3D at AMC.
Educational IMAX film, about “orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them.”
BRIDE HARD (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace.
BRING HER BACK (2025) at AMC.
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN: 20TH ANNIVERSARY (2025) at AMC, Point, Palace.
CLUELESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY at Point, Palace.
Fathom Entertainment screening . . . as if.
CRITICAL ROLE LIVE: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA at Point, Palace.
DRAGON, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
ELIO (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
F1 THE MOVIE (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
HOT MILK (2025) at AMC.
Adaptation of the 2016 novel by Deborah Levy, starring Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread, Bergman Island). Screenings currently listed through July 2.
KANNAPPA at Point, Palace.
Indian Telugu-language mythological action film. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar makes his Telugu film debut in a brief role as Lord Shiva.
KARATE KID: LEGENDS at Point, Palace.
KUBERAA (2025) at AMC.
Indian crime drama, simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil. Looks like AMC Fitchburg 18 will have screenings of both versions.
LAND BEFORE TIME, THE at Flix.
Flix Faves series.
LIFE OF CHUCK, THE (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace
LILO & STITCH (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING, THE (2003) at Flix.
Flix Faves series
M3GAN 2.0 (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
The first M3gan was way better than I thought it would be, with a fun mix of dark and campy humor. The trailers make this one look like that they know that the first one was better than it should have been, and they’re just coasting on that success. But maybe I’ll be wrong (I was wrong about the first one).
MARCUS MYSTERY MOVIE (6/23) at Point, Palace.
MATERIALISTS (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (2022) at AMC.
As far as I can tell, three days for this re-release: June 30, July 1 & 2.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
PHOENICIAN SCHEME, THE (2025) at AMC, Flix, Point, Palace.
PURPLE RAIN (1984) at Flix.
Flix Faves. Return with me to the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Oh, wait…
SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY 15TH ANNIVERSARY - STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2025, THE at AMC, Point, Palace.
SINNERS (2025) at AMC.
SITAARE ZAMEEN PAR (2025) at AMC.
Indian Hindi-language sports comedy drama which is a “spiritual successor” to the 2007 Aamir Khan vehicle which famously tackled dyslexia, Taare Zameen Par, but it is also a remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions.
SLOTH STORY, A. at Point, Palace.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 at Point, Palace.
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE at Flix.
Flix Faves series.
THUNDERBOLTS* (2025) at AMC.
Looking Ahead:
Arts + Literature Laboratory
PATIENT, with filmmaker Lori Felker in person 7/15, 7pm
Patient crosses between fiction and observational documentary as it captures a day in the life of Standardized Patients (aka Medical Actors or Simulated Patients) who help Medical Students practice empathy, bedside manner, and procedure. Filmed entirely in Wisconsin at UW's Wichman Clinical Teaching and Assessment Center. Patient was the result of research for a feature film of the same name that Felker will film in Chicago in August 2025. Engage with the short film, discuss healthcare and empathy, and learn more about upcoming feature's plot, cast, and fundraising efforts.
Cinesthesia, Madison Public Library Central Branch
DOUBLE INDEMNITY 7/16
Rooftop Cinema, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
THE CATHEDRAL OF NEW EMOTIONS 7/31, 9pm (after sunset)
I should really push my own projects more on here. Look, I’ve buried this at the end. The complete 2025 Rooftop Cinema schedule will be posted soon, with several evenings devoted to thematic synergy with the ongoing Wisconsin Triennial at MMoCA. This first Rooftop Cinema screening will be free, taking place after an installment of MUSE, social mixer happy hour event series at MMoCA. More to come on the film itself, I promise.
Thanks for the shout, Jim — see you tonight!