For four unforgettable days this September, Detroit became the stage for bold ideas and moving stories as the Better Cities Film Festival came to life in the city’s public spaces. Screenings took place under the lights of Campus Martius Park—Detroit’s central gathering place—and within the historic walls of Christ Church Detroit. Together they embodied the spirit of the festival: open, welcoming, inquiring, and rooted in community. Filmmakers, advocates, activists, planners, engineers, designers, and neighbors from across the country joined Detroiters to watch films that were more than entertainment—they were sparks for conversation, inspiration, and change. The energy was palpable, and many left transformed by what they had seen. . .

From Screen to Street: Detroit Celebrates Films That Spark Change

Detroit, MI — October 6, 2025 — Better Cities Film Festival has announced the winners of its 2025 flagship event in Detroit, honoring films that inspired audiences and sparked conversations about how we build better neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Screenings took place at Campus Martius Park and Christ Church Detroit, drawing filmmakers, advocates, and community leaders from across the country.

At the heart of this year’s celebration were five standout films that captured the spirit of the festival. The Best of Fest Award and Best Short Film went to Your Rose Garden by Josh Peterson with music by Alexis Harte, a joyful short that had audiences humming along while reflecting on the extraordinary value of beloved public spaces. The Best Feature Award was presented to Dan Protess for From Rails to Trails, a sweeping documentary narrated by Edward Norton that chronicles the movement to transform abandoned railroads into a national network of public trails. The Spirit of the Fest Award went to Glen Janssens for Your Last Best: A Memphis Rox Story, which tells the inspiring story of a South Memphis climbing gym that has become a sanctuary of hope and unity. The Better Communities Award was given to The Spirit of Aloha: Rebuilding Community with West Maui’s Bike Park by Shae James, which shows how a grassroots effort to build a bike park became a vital place of healing and connection in the wake of the Lahaina wildfires. Finally, the Best Civic Story Award went to Twisted Braid by Ricky-Thomas Serikawa, a short film that blends poetry and place to show how lives and cultures intertwine. It captured the essence of the festival’s mission: demonstrating that creativity and connection are the foundations of stronger cities.

For the complete list of winners, see below, or read the press release.

Top Honors 

• Best of Fest – Your Rose Garden by Josh Peterson (music by Alexis Harte)

• Best Short Film – Your Rose Garden by Josh Peterson (music by Alexis Harte)

• Best Feature Film – From Rails to Trails by Dan Protess

Classic Categories

• Better Communities Award – The Spirit of Aloha: Rebuilding Community with West Maui’s Bike Park by Shae James

• Better Environment Award – Alabama Roots by Kaleb Manske & Hannah Schoettmer

• Better Planning & Urban Design Award – Streets Make Cities by Daniel Lovering

• Better Transportation Award – I Went to America’s Road Trip Hell by Phil Edwards

Special Awards

• Audience Award – Stoop Chat with Maani & Mr. Sweat by Marj Kleinman & Christine Thomas Yoon

• Best Bike Film – Ride the Veins by Dave Weich

• Best Student Film – Where the Water Goes by Grace Sullivan

• Best Civic Story – Twisted Braid by Ricky-Thomas Serikawa

• Best Human Story– Stoop Chat with Maani & Mr. Sweat by Marj Kleinman & Christine Thomas Yoon

• Hero Award – Broken Flight by Erika Valenciana & Mitchell Wenkus

• Impact Award – Camp2Home by Casey Hogue

• Spirit of the Fest Award – Your Last Best: A Memphis Rox Story by Glen Janssens

• Voice of Detroit Award – Freshwater by dream Hampton

Sept 17, 2025

The countdown is on! Each day of the Better Cities Film Festival is packed with unforgettable films and experiences. Thursday night we open with the world premiere of From Rails to Trails—narrated by Edward Norton and directed by Dan Protess—followed by a guided bike tour with Detroit Greenways Coalition, ending at Eastern Market After Dark, the city’s biggest nighttime celebration of design and the arts. Friday dives into connections, first with “third places,” those unexpected spots where community thrives, with an evening block on bicycles, transit, and pedestrian life. Saturday turns green with short films at 3pm, a feature on the ecology of urban spaces at 5pm, and our Greener Cities Mixer at Cabana 313. And on Sunday evening we gather at Christ Church Detroit for films exploring community and housing. There’s so much to experience! Dive into the detailed printed program to see all the details and RSVP now to join us!

Sept 3, 2025

“Hosting the Better Cities Film Festival in Detroit is always an exchange,” said David Cowan, chief public spaces officer, Downtown Detroit Partnership. “We learn from the stories and innovations shared by filmmakers around the world, and at the same time, those films reflect the lessons cities everywhere are learning from Detroit. That exchange of ideas makes the festival both energizing and deeply meaningful.” . . . Read the full press release.

Thursday’s Film Schedule