Detroit, USA | Sept. 18-21, 2025
2025 BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thurs. Sept 18
Thursday, Sept. 18th 5:00-6:30 PM
Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Followed by a bike ride hosted by Detroit Greenways Coalition to Detroit Month of Design’s “Eastern Market After Dark”
RAILROAD REHAB
STORIES REIMAGINING INDUSTRIAL SPACES FOR COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION
66 MINS
Film Lineup:
Short: The Trail We Blaze: Reimagining The Switch - REV Birmingham, Good Sport
Feature Film: From Rails to Trails - Dan Protess
Presented by
The Trail We Blaze: Reimagining The Switch
Duration
0:08:52
Synopsis
In the heart of downtown Birmingham, Alabama, a transformation is underway. The Trail We Blaze invites viewers into The Switch — an emerging district with a rich history and untapped potential — as seen through the eyes of the people shaping its future. With insights from local business owners and community leaders, this short explores what happens when innovative vision meets forgotten space. It’s a call to those who see opportunity where others see vacancy — a portrait of place, possibility, and the trailblazers daring to reimagine what’s next.
Festival Statement - The story reflects both the promise and complexities of urban revitalization, showing how vision and effort can reshape a neighborhood’s identity.
Directed by
REV Birmingham, Good Sport
From Rails to Trails
Duration
0:56:46
Synopsis
Edward Norton narrates the story of one of the most unlikely social movements in American history: the battle to convert thousands of miles of abandoned railroads into trails for cycling and walking. Facing fierce opposition and legal challenges from private property owners, advocates fought to reclaim these corridors for the public, creating a national network of scenic, car-free paths.
From Rails to Trails will premiere at select film festivals in advance of its national public television broadcast.
Festival Statement - Through lush visuals, thoughtful interviews, and carefully woven archival footage, this film immerses us in the transformation of abandoned railways into thriving trails. It’s a hypnotic meditation on activism, community, and the quiet power of persistence—reminding us that reclaiming public space can reconnect people, history, and the land itself.
Directed by
Dan Protess