Milwaukee Film

What Milwaukee Film does

Milwaukee Film is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2008 that operates two historic arthouse cinemas — the Oriental Theatre (opened 1927, National Register of Historic Places) and the Downer Theatre (opened 1915, Wisconsin's oldest operating cinema, purchased in February 2026) — across five screens on Milwaukee's East Side. Its programming centers on independent, documentary, and international film, delivered through the flagship annual Milwaukee Film Festival (15.4% attendance growth in 2026 to 36,922), the Dialogues Documentary Festival, and year-round film series including Cinematic Sisterhood, Passport Program, Black Lens, Cream City Cinema, and Staff & Board Picks. Technical capability includes DCP, 35mm, and 70mm projection plus a 1925 Wurlitzer pipe organ at the Oriental Theatre.

The organization sustains itself through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model: a tiered annual Membership Program (5,600+ active members), individual ticket sales across both venues, tax-deductible donations and foundation grants (notably a $500,000 Herzfeld Foundation challenge match and a low-interest Helmerich Trust loan funding the Downer acquisition), multi-tier corporate sponsorships ($2,500 to $50,000+), private theater rentals (Oriental Theatre capacity up to 1,000), on-screen and lobby advertising, and merchandise via a Shopify storefront. Distribution runs through both physical box offices and the Eventive online ticketing platform.

Milwaukee Film serves five primary segments: regional film enthusiasts and cinephiles, the broader Milwaukee community (140+ Wisconsin zip codes represented during festival), local filmmakers via Cream City Cinema, families through educational programming, and corporate/event clients. Reach extends well beyond the region, with 2025 festival visitors from 49 states plus DC, generating $4.785M in festival economic impact and $950K+ in adjacent neighborhood spend. Leadership is led by Executive Director Susan Kerns, with a Development Director (Rachel Vander Weit), Communications/PR Coordinator, and a board including recent additions Chris Novoa and Mark Plichta.

Name

Milwaukee Film

Legal name

Milwaukee Film

Website

https://mkefilm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Milwaukee Film is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates two historic arthouse cinemas (Oriental Theatre, Downer Theatre) across five screens in Milwaukee, running the annual Milwaukee Film Festival and Dialogues Documentary Festival along with year-round independent, documentary, and international film programming for 155,000+ attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent / Arthouse Cinema Operations

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ), Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers) (MPADAKAH)

Keywords

• Independent film exhibition
• Arthouse cinema operations
• Film festival programming
• Historic theater management
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program offering tiered benefits including discounted tickets, early festival access, members-only screenings, and invitations to special events. Basic level fully tax-deductible as Milwaukee Film is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Ticket Sales: Individual ticket sales for regular screenings at Oriental and Downer Theatres, with varying prices for different film formats (standard, 70mm, special events).
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals and foundations supporting the nonprofit mission. Federal Tax ID# 26-3049630.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple levels (Premiere $50,000+, Leading $25,000+, Directing $20,000+, Supporting $15,000+, Providing $10,000+, Sustaining $5,000+, Contributing $2,500+) for festival and program recognition.
5. Theater Rentals and Group Sales: Private theater rentals for birthdays, corporate events, film premieres, fundraisers, educational screenings, and team events at Oriental Theatre (up to 1,000 capacity) and Downer Theatre.
6. Advertising: On-screen advertising through 15 or 30-second spots, lobby displays, street posters, and thematic program placement opportunities.
7. Merchandise Sales: Merch store selling t-shirts, hoodies, onesies, pet apparel, and stickers with Milwaukee Film branding. All proceeds benefit the film nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Milwaukee Film operates two historic arthouse cinemas—the Oriental Theatre (opened 1927) and the Downer Theatre (opened 1915, Wisconsin's oldest operating cinema)—across five screens, screening year-round independent, documentary, international, and classic films with DCP, 35mm, and 70mm projection. The organization curates the annual Milwaukee Film Festival, the Dialogues Documentary Festival, and ongoing film series (Cinematic Sisterhood, Passport Program, Cream City Cinema), and sells memberships, sponsorships, theater rentals, advertising, and merchandise to fund its nonprofit mission.

Product overview

Milwaukee Film is a community-powered nonprofit arts organization operating two historic arthouse cinemas—the Oriental Theatre (opened 1927) and Downer Theatre (opened 1915, Wisconsin's oldest operating cinema)—across five screens. The organization delivers year-round programming through multiple channels: the flagship Milwaukee Film Festival (annual two-week event with 200+ films), the Dialogues Documentary Festival (four-day documentary showcase), and ongoing film series including Cinematic Sisterhood, Passport Program, and Staff & Board Picks. Core revenue and engagement programs include a Membership Program (5,600+ members with free screenings and discounts), Community Partners Program, Sponsorships, and Group Sales/Theater Rentals. The organization runs a capital campaign (Save the Downer) for historic theater restoration, offers an online Merch Store, and operates Volunteer and Internship programs. The theaters provide accessibility features including hearing loop technology, and offer concessions, on-screen advertising, and special event ticketing through third-party platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Milwaukee Film Festival: The organization's flagship annual film festival featuring hundreds of films, panels, Q&As, and special events. The 2026 festival took place April 16-30, 2026.
• Dialogues Documentary Festival
• Cream City Cinema
• Cinematic Sisterhood
• Oriental Theatre
• Downer Theatre
• Black Lens
• Bleak Week

Products and services

• Oriental Theatre World-famous 1927 movie palace at 2230 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Operates multiple screens (Abele Cinema main, Lubar Cinema, Herzfeld Cinema) with DCP, 35mm, and 70mm projection and pre-screening Wurlitzer pipe organ performances.
• Downer Theatre Wisconsin's oldest operating cinema at 2589 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211, opened December 3, 1915. Operated by Milwaukee Film since February 2026, offering neighborhood gathering-space cinema experiences with historic charm.
• Milwaukee Film Festival Annual two-week flagship film festival featuring hundreds of independent, documentary, and international films with filmmaker panels, Q&As, and special events. Targeted at film enthusiasts, families, and cultural tourists.
• Dialogues Documentary Festival Four-day annual documentary film festival featuring timely documentaries fresh from major festivals with Q&As, talkbacks, and panel discussions. Targeted at documentary enthusiasts and community audiences.
• Membership Program Annual subscription program with multiple tiers offering year-round benefits including discounted tickets, early festival access, members-only screenings, free monthly events, concessions discounts, and merch discounts. Basic level is fully tax-deductible.
• Cinematic Sisterhood Film Series Monthly screening series presenting films by women and gender non-binary filmmakers to uplift the work of women in the film industry. Targeted at audiences seeking curated thematic programming.
• Passport Program Film Series Summer film series (June 29 to August 20) presenting masterpieces from international auteurs, featuring international cinema classics for adult film enthusiasts.
• Cream City Cinema Program

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 community organizations including nonprofits, businesses, and cultural groups (Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee Ballet, Hmong American Friendship Association, etc.) that promote Milwaukee Film events to their audiences and receive free vouchers, event invites, and recognition.
• Art House ConvergenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilwaukee Film participates in the Art House Convergence Visiting Members program, allowing members to use their discounts at any participating member theater around the country.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Alamo Drafthouse operates a national chain of dine-in movie theaters with a strong focus on specialty, repertory, and event-based programming (e.g., Terror Tuesdays, Quote-Along events). Comparable to Milwaukee Film in its emphasis on curated, themed programming and event-style cinema experiences, though it operates a for-profit model.
• Landmark Theatres: Landmark Theatres is the largest U.S. arthouse cinema chain, operating independent and foreign-film-focused theaters across multiple cities. Directly comparable to Milwaukee Film in programming philosophy (independent/art-house focus), audience (cinephile members), and exhibition model, though at much larger scale.
• Film Forum: Film Forum is a nonprofit independent movie theater in New York City that screens independent, documentary, foreign, and repertory films and runs curated film series. Highly comparable to Milwaukee Film as a nonprofit arthouse operation with member support, programmed series, and a mission-driven orientation.
• IFC Center: IFC Center is a New York–based independent arthouse cinema operated by IFC Films. Highly comparable to Milwaukee Film in its mix of independent, documentary, and international programming, its curated repertory screenings, and its role as a cultural-film destination in its local market.
• American Cinematheque: American Cinematheque is a nonprofit cultural organization that programs repertory and specialty film screenings at historic Los Angeles venues and co-presents themed series (including Bleak Week with Milwaukee Film). Closely comparable in nonprofit film-programming mission and curated-series approach.
• Angelika Film Center: Angelika Film Center is an arthouse cinema chain primarily in the New York metro area, focused on independent, foreign, and documentary film exhibition. Closely comparable to Milwaukee Film's exhibition format, programming mix, and cinephile target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Institute: Sundance Institute is a large nonprofit organization that runs the Sundance Film Festival and supports independent filmmakers through labs and grants. Comparable to Milwaukee Film in nonprofit mission, independent-film focus, and festival operation, but operates at a national scale with a much larger budget.

Regional players

• Music Box Theatre (Chicago): Music Box Theatre is a historic single-screen independent cinema in Chicago that specializes in independent, foreign, and repertory film, and hosts festivals. Comparable to Milwaukee Film as a Midwest historic-venue arthouse operator with festival programming, but serves a different metro.
• Jacob Burns Film Center: Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit independent film and education center in Pleasantville, New York, offering curated film programming, festivals, and educational programs. Comparable to Milwaukee Film in nonprofit model, programming depth, festival operation, and education/community mission, but in the Northeast.

Others

• Art House Convergence: Art House Convergence is the trade and membership organization for U.S. independent art-house cinemas, of which Milwaukee Film is a member. Comparable as a peer-organization and ecosystem enabler that supports independent exhibitors through shared services, conferences, and the Visiting Members discount program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mkefilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/MilwaukeeFilm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Film