2025 FESTIVAL REVIEW

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. . . .

Oct. 6, 2025

2025 Award Winners Announced

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.

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

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