No matter what you're into, there's almost guaranteed to be something for you at this year's wide-ranging Cultures & Communities Festival, hosted today through Oct. 12 at locations all around Milwaukee. 

Though it comes from the phenomenal folks behind the Milwaukee Film Festival, the Cultures & Communities Festival goes far beyond merely the big screen, showcasing several terrific cinematic stories but also hosting concerts, comedy sets, discussions, panels and parties at venues all over the city. From big-name performances to intimate community-centric chats, the eight-day epic event all works together to celebrate diverse voices and stories, move forward essential conversations, educate audiences and gather the city together over art, entertainment, health and joy.

To make the most of this sprawling social spectacular, here's a guide to the full lineup of events – from film screenings to stand-up tours to live music and much more.

Thursday, Oct. 5

Films

• "The League," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – This year's opening night film is a home run (*pause for uproarious laughter at such a clever and unique bit of wordplay*). But really, the C&C Festival picked an ace to lead off its lineup, the latest doc from Oscar-nominee Sam Pollard ("MLK/FBI," "Sammy Davis: I've Gotta Be Me") about the ground-breaking Negro League and the players who truly changed the game.

Events

• Cultures & Communities Festival Opening Night Party, 8 p.m. at the Cooperage – Celebrate both the start of the C&C Festival as well as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at the opening night party, featuring '80s and '90s dance grooves, local rap artists and the evening's showcase host DJ Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa fame.

Friday, Oct. 6

Films

• "Every Body," 4 p.m. at the Oriental – Coming from Oscar-nominated director Julie Cohen ("RBG," "My Name is Pauli Murray"), this documentary shines a spotlight on the I in LGBTQIA – intersex – and talks to real people about their experiences trying to live their fullest selves in the face of binary cultural and medical misconceptions. 
• "The Space Race," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – Hot off the centerpiece screening of her documentary "Little Richard: I Am Everything" at the Milwaukee Film Festival, documentarian Lisa Cortes comes back with a co-directed new feature about the first Black astronauts in space and what NASA as well as the space race decades ago represented to the nation – both positive and negative. 

Events

• Ancestral Wisdom: Afro-Latino Memory and Cultural Practices Panel, 5:30 p.m. at Radio Milwaukee – In this wide-ranging panel, arts practitioners discuss the legacy of Afro-Latinx lineage and history, and discuss how memory and tradition evolves over generations. 
• Pop-Up Cinema, 6 p.m. at Epikos Church - Sherman Park – The screenings go beyond the Oriental during the C&C Festival, as this pop-up cinema event – a collaboration between MKE Film, Safe & Sound and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin – will show short films about violence prevention, followed by a conversation about making change in  our communities.
• Spinn MKE Cycle Classes, 6:30 p.m. at Spinn MKE – The Cultures & Communities isn't just about sitting down at a movie; it's about getting moving as well! During the festival's run, residents can sign up for special introductory classes and get a taste of Spinn MKE's energetic take on fitness. 
• Battle of the Chefs, 7 p.m. at Pritzlaff Events – Feast on friendly competition as chefs go dish-to-dish, showcasing the city's local culinary scene as well as supporting local youth culinary and hospitality programs. 
• Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, 7 p.m. at Radio Milwaukee – It's not just the C&C Festival right now; it's also Hispanic Heritage Month! To celebrate the both, head to Radio Milwaukee for this musical evening, featuring vibrant performances from La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon, Bomberx de Cora and De La Buena.
• Festival Late-Night, 9:30 p.m. at Company Brewing – The festival-ing doesn't call it quits until late this year! To keep the party going, Company Brewing in Riverwest will host this special "The Turn Up" set featuring DJ Bizzon spinning a genre-spanning extravaganza that'll keep you up and grooving until day three. 

Saturday, Oct. 7

Films

• "Fremont," 2:30 p.m. at the Oriental – Shot in gorgeous black and white, this droll indie dramedy follows a former Afghan war translator trying to find herself and find her place in San Francisco working at a fortune cookie factory and running into fellow loner Jeremy Allen White from "The Bear."
• "Uncharted," 5:30 p.m. at the Oriental – No, not the video game adventure movie. This "Uncharted" is a documentary diving into the lively world of Alicia Keys' songwriting camp, guiding students toward their artistic visions as well as through the oft-difficult and guarded world of the music industry.
• "Rotting in the Sun," 8:30 p.m. at the Oriental – There are no movies at the C&C Festival (or just about any festival) like "Rotting in the Sun," a rowdy and raunchy meta dark comedy about a drugged-out filmmaker on the hunt for the influencer he met one fine day on a nude beach, then disappeared without a trace. Perhaps not one for the whole family – but certainly one for those interested in a wild time.

Events

• La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon Workshops, 10:30 a.m. (percussion) and 12:30 p.m. (dance) at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center – Bomberxs De'Cora isn't just performing during the C&C Festival; they're teaching you, educating attendees on Puerto Rican bomba music and dance in an immersive workshop for all ages. 
• Finding Light in Death: A Uniquely Milwaukee Exhibition, 5:15 p.m. at Radio Milwaukee – Death isn't typically the most light topic – but this special conversation, hosted by Radio Milwaukee's Salam Fatayer, attempts to reframe death as an opportunity to appreciate life, think about those we've lost, and find the joy in the journey as opposed to sadness in the finality.
• Culture By Design: A Sneaker & Streetwear Summit, noon to 7 p.m. at the Baird Center – Easily the most fashionable event of the C&C Festival, "Culture By Design" is an exhibition gathering sneakerheads and streetwear enthusiasts for a day of cool clothes, national creators, immersive art and pop-up showcases. 
• Festival Late-Night, 10 p.m. at Company Brewing – The festival-ing doesn't call it quits until late this year! To keep the party going, Company Brewing in Riverwest will host another outstanding music display: a mash-up of soul and hip-hop with Adi Armour and Klassik taking the stage. 

Sunday, Oct. 8

Films

• "Kids Shorts: Stay Gold," noon at the Oriental – Some of the most delightful and thoughtful movies at the Cultures & Communities Festival are also some of the shortest. This complilation of all-ages shorts travels across the globe and across multiple characters, telling stories about true-to-themself heroes of all kinds. 
• "Golden Delicious," 2:30 p.m. at the Oriental – "Golden Delicious": not just a good apple but a good movie as well. This swooning coming-of-age saga follows a young man trying to discover himself and his future path – which perhaps may or may not involve the new basketball player and student in his class he's fallen for, the basketball court, or his parents' beloved restaurant. 
• "Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project," 6 p.m. at the Oriental – A documentary unlike many others chronicling an artist unlike many others, "Going to Mars" traces the life and works of poet Nikki Giovanni through the eras they were created. 

Events

• Motorcycle Diaries: The Legacy of Motorcycle Music, Fashion and Community, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pilot Project Brewing – Rev up your engines for this special conversational event about the history and iconography of motorcycles in America, complete with vendors, presentations, installations and snacks.
• Tangled Roots, 5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum – At this conversation, attendees and guests discuss the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, race-based hair discrimination and how it ties into mental health in several common societal spaces. 
• Janelle James: Newly Famous Comedy Tour, 8 p.m. at The Pabst Theater – It's Principal Ava in person! Comedian and "Abbott Elementary" actress Janelle James will bring loads of laughs to The Pabst Theater for this special stand-up show, featuring jokes as well as a crowd Q&A session. 

Monday, Oct. 9

Films

• "Fancy Dance," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – Before she pops in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," check out another stellar turn from Lily Gladstone in this drama about a Native American woman attempting to find her niece's mother before her father attempts to take custody. 

Events

• Psychohairapy Workshop, 9 a.m. at Milwaukee Film – Are hair and mental health that tied together? Actually, yes – according to Dr. Afiya, who will lead this special workship about psychohairapy, discussing the history of hair and mental health before leading exercises in mindfulness and listening. 
• Sound Bath Healing, 6:30 p.m. at Honeybee Sage Wellness – Join Melissa Blue Muhammad at this special meditative sound therapy session. 
• The Art of Storytelling: Exploring Narrative Craft and The Ripple Effects of Representation, 6:30 p.m. at Sam's Place Jazz Cafe – At this free panel conversation, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter James Causey will lead a group discussion (including TMJ4's Shannon Sims, Milwaukee NNS' Ron Smith, Radio Milwaukee's Salam Fatayer and Milwaukee PBS' Everett Marshburn) about the art of telling diverse stories and representation in the stories we tell. 

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Films

• "Coldwater Kitchen," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – For those hungry for a story of inspiration, redemption and new starts (and also food), check out this documentary about a culinary program in a Michigan prison offering incarcerated men a path to purpose and a place outside the cell's walls. The C&C Festival screening will feature multiple guests from the film – including Chef Jimmy Hill, the man behind the cooking program.

Events

• Engage & Activate Community Schools Program, 5 p.m. at Lincoln Avenue School – This free and open event will feature screenings of short films "The Heartland" and "The Stigma of the Durag," guiding students in post-film discussion about the films' thoughts and themes – oh, and also providing pizza and snacks. 
• Spinn MKE Cycle Classes, 5:30 p.m. at Spinn MKE – The Cultures & Communities isn't just about sitting down at a movie; it's about getting moving as well! During the festival's run, residents can sign up for special introductory classes and get a taste of Spinn MKE's energetic take on fitness. 
• Every Bottle Has A Story, 6 p.m. at Bavette La Boucherie – A night of good food and wine is never a bad thing! This special C&C Festival event combined California-based Bodega de Edgar wines with delicious Bavette dishes in an evening telling stories using your culinary senses. 
• Hey, High, Hello: A Conversation on Cannabis, 6:30 p.m. at Company Brewing – Say hi to this special conversation about cannabis in America, decriminalization and weed's place in pop culture, featuring discussion about the intersection of weed and wellness followed by a enlighening trivia session. 
• Aida Rodriguez, 7:30 p.m. at Improv Milwaukee – The C&C Festival brings even more funny to Milwaukee with this special night of comedy, bringing comedian Aida Rodriguez's "Don't @ Me" tour to the Improv Milwaukee along with fellow funnyperson Gwen La Roka. 
• Speaking of Legacy: A Postpanel Conversation About Hip-Hop's Past, Present and Future, 7:30 p.m. at the Milwaukee Rep – Hip-hop turns 50 this year – but what has the past half-century meant for the art and the culture? And what's next. This conversation, following "Parental Advisory: A Breakbeat Play" at the Rep, will ask questions and debate the answers about the past, present and future of this musical artform.

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Films

• "Lady Buds," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – The business of weed isn't all fun and munchies, as this documentary lays out, following several women trying to navigate this new corporate world of legalized cannibis in California – plus trying to deal with nature's own plans for their plants. 

Events

• Engage & Activate Community Schools Program, 5 p.m. at Browning Elementary School – This free and open event will feature screenings of short films "The Heartland" and "The Stigma of the Durag," guiding students in post-film discussion about the films' thoughts and themes – oh, and also providing pizza and snacks. 
• The History of Polarization in American Music, 5:30 p.m. at Radio Milwaukee – Join the genre-defying band Gangstagrass in this lively discussion encompassing music and history, conversing about the history of American music, the segregation of music marketing and the changing, disappearing borders between types of music. 
• A Sense of Belonging: How Do You Say Your Last Name, 5:30 p.m. at MARN Art + Culture Hub – At this free event, author and illustrator Vanessa Nguyen and a panel of fellow artists bring her coloring book "How Do You Say Your Last Name" to in-person life, discussing what it means to be Asian-American and other existential questions. 
• Pop-Up Cinema: Latino Arts, 6 p.m. at Latino Arts, Inc. – In yet another special pop-up screening, the C&C Festival will screen the 1953 Mexican cinema classic "Dos Tipos de Cuidado" starring Pedro Infante, complete with food and vendors on hand to accompany this special showing.
• Queer Trivia Night, 6 p.m. at Promises – Celebrate the C&C Festival and National Coming Out Day with this night of games and good times, with teams of 4-6 people duking it out over queer icons, culture, history and beyond – plus partying in between all the quizzing. 
• Spinn MKE Cycle Classes, 6:30 p.m. at Spinn MKE – The Cultures & Communities isn't just about sitting down at a movie; it's about getting moving as well! During the festival's run, residents can sign up for special introductory classes and get a taste of Spinn MKE's energetic take on fitness. 
• Poetry Unplugged 20th Anniversary Reunion Showcase, 7 p.m. at The Cooperage – For two decades, Poetry Unplugged has brought passionate voices to the mic – and now the C&C Festival celebrates its years of spoken word with a special lineup of poets and performances from across the country, curated by founder and host Kwabena Nixon. 

Thursday, Oct. 12

Films

• "Hummingbirds," 7 p.m. at the Oriental – The last – but certainly not least – film of the C&C Festival, "Hummingbirds" is an energetic and intimate documentary following two young friends as they come of age the summer before college during this unique time in American history, both harrowing and hopeful for the next generation.

Events

• The Collaborative Connection: A STEM Education Mentorship Match, 9 a.m. at Lubar Entrepreneurship Center – A terrific learning experience, high school students can join in this special mentorship session, featuring rapid 20-minute networking meetings and mentorship discussions to help forward students' futures in STEM careers. 
• The State of Modern Conservatism, 3:30 p.m. at Marquette University - Weasler Auditorium – Featuring national news commentator Charlie Sykes, this conversation will discuss the state of the modern conservative party both near and far in the lead-up to next summer's 2024 RNC hosted in Milwaukee. 
• Elevation Without Intoxication Workshop, 6:30 p.m. at Honeybee Sage Wellness – Have a night of tasty cocktails without the hangover with this free special workship, teaching attendees how to use herbs and tinctures to craft delicious N/A cocktails and spirits. 
• Closing Night Party, 7 p.m. at The Cooperage – Celebrate the C&C Festival with one final blast of a party, smashing together genres with musical performances from Gangstagrass and local band Shonn Hinton & Shotgun, a perfect finale to a festival to remember. 

Tickets and information on the Cultures & Communities Festival and all of the various events scattered throughout the week-long spectacular can be found at Milwaukee Film's website. And to further aid Milwaukee Film's goals both within the organization and beyond, donate to the festival's match fundraiser. Led by Laurie and Byron Vielehr, this year's campaign will match $50,000 to Milwaukee Film if supporters and attendees can raise $50,000 throughout the run of the festival – so donate here! 

And we'll see you at the movies ... and the concerts ... and the comedy shows ... and the panel discussions ... and everything else the 2023 Cultures & Communities Festival is bringing to Milwaukee this next week!