Festival season may just be starting, but if you're anything like me (and my sincerest thoughts and prayers if you are), your eyes are already eagerly skipping ahead to one of the last ones in the lineup: the Milwaukee Film Festival. And while we're still likely months away from sneaking a peak at any of this year's selections – and even further away from the event itself, running Oct. 17-31 – at least you can start claiming your tickets this week. 

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 31 – or 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, if you're smartly a Milwaukee Film member – ticket packages, in both six- and brand new 10-pack varieties, as well as festival passes, will go on sale at Milwaukee Film's website.

The ticket packages include electronic vouchers that can be turned into admission for non-premium screenings when the 2019 festival box office officially opens in October, while festival passes offer entry to just about every festival screening – plus the opening night party. (The one showing not included is the Super Secret Screening for Milwaukee Film members only – all the more reason to become a member.)

"Our annual festival presents hundreds of films from around the globe, truly the best of contemporary cinema, and we want our attendees to explore as many titles as they can during the 15-day celebration," said Jonathan Jackson, CEO and artistic director of Milwaukee Film, in a press release.

"The introduction of 10-packs this year gives festival goers more opportunities to see great cinema at the most affordable price point for tickets."

The cost of packages and passes adjusts as the festival draws closer, so here is a guide to the pricing:

Act 1 pricing (May 31-July 31)

• 6-packs: $66 ($51 for MKE Film members)
• 10-packs: $90 ($80 for MKE Film members)
• Festival passes: $390 ($300 for MKE Film members)

Act 2 pricing (Aug. 1-Sept. 30)

• 6-packs: $72 ($57 for MKE Film members)
• 10-packs: $100 ($90 for MKE Film members)
• Festival passes: $460 ($385 for MKE Film members)

Festival box office pricing (Oct. 3-31; begins Oct. 1 for MKE Film members)

• Single tickets: $13 ($11 for MKE Film members and $12 for seniors, students and military)
• Festival passes: $475 ($425 for MKE Film members)

For more information on tickets or the Milwaukee Film Festival, visit the organization's website. For more information on the rest of the summer festival slate, check out OnMilwaukee's festival guide. And for a taste of the kind of great cinema you can check out at the film festival, see "Rafiki" at the Oriental Theatre this week.