The Misconceived
UW Cinematheque 821 University Ave., UW Vilas Hall, Room 4070, Madison, Wisconsin
media release: USA | 35mm | 2026 | 88 min.
Director: James N. Kienitz Wilkins
Cast: Jesse Wakeman, Jess Barbagallo, John Magary
A fortysomething failed filmmaker reluctantly takes a carpentry job renovating the second home of his former college friend in this wry satire of the current gig economy. One of the more unique-looking and destabilizing American indies in recent memory, The Misconceived was created with an uncanny-valley combination of motion capture and 3D animation, rendered within a video game engine. Preceded by Justin Dean’s far-out computer animation A Beautiful Day (2024, 6 min.), presented on 16mm.
Admission is free, seating limited. No admission 15 minutes after scheduled start times.
The Premieres series continues with more early and exclusive looks at the very best in current arthouse cinema—on the big screen where they belong! This spring kicks off with the anticipated return of a leading light of 21st century independent cinema—director Joe Swanberg, who will join us in person for his new film, The Sun Never Sets. In October, director J.M. Harper and journalist Jesse Lewis will appear to discuss the fascinating new documentary Soul Patrol. Additional highlights include the winner of the2026 Palme d’Or (Fjord), a documentary 50 years in the making (Once Upon a Time in Harlem), and two daring new indies screening on 35mm film (Rose of Nevada and The Misconceived). This series was made possible by a generous donation from an anonymous cinephile.
