BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL
The world’s most inspiring stories about making better cities, towns & neighborhoods.
2025 Festival Dates
Sept. 18 - 21
Late summer is the perfect time to visit Detroit for BCFF 2025, where you can experience the city’s vibrant energy and enjoy film screenings at Campus Martius, America’s #1 public square. Over four inspiring days, discover powerful stories of resilience, innovation, and community spirit from citizens, businesses, urban planners, architects, builders, and governments working to create better cities and towns. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable festival of learning, inspiration, and fun!
Inspire your town with a night of ideas!
Inspire your community with a one-night screening of the Better Cities Film Festival. Our unique film festival is a creative way to gather people and engage them in conversation about placemaking and urban planning.
REVIEW:
"Better Cities Film Festival is one of the most successful events we've ever had - extremely well attended and beloved by the audience! In just over an hour, we traveled the world, were inspired by other cities' stories, and began to see our city through a different lens. I would recommend the Better Cities Film Festival to every community!”
-Reif Larsen, Troy, New York, FOCUS Lab
Share your story.
Make a submission to the annual Better Cities Film Festival in Detroit, Michgian.
All genres and lengths are acceptable.
To make submissions easy, we use the industry standard Film Freeway platform.
SCREENINGS & EVENTS
UPCOMING
Windsor, Ontario
Thursday, November 21 | 4 PM - 10 PM
At The Heimat, 1367 Drouillard Road Windsor ON
Presented by the Windsor Region Society of Architects
More Info
Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuesday, December 3 | 7 PM - 9 PM
Curated by CNU Utah
Nancy Tessman Auditorium at the Salt Lake City Main Library
210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City
Des Moines, Iowa
Spring 2025
Best of Fest Screening & Happy Hour
Hosted by festival producers First+Main Films |John Paget
More Info
Cleveland, Ohio
Curated by Bike Cleveland
Details TBA
Petaluma, California
February 2025
Presented by Petaluma Urban Chat
Details TBA
Olympia, Washington
Date & Details TBA
(email for info)
RECENT
Worldwide Virtual Screening: 2024 Best of Fest
Oct 22 - Oct 30, 2024
Special online screening of award-winning short films from the 11th annual Better Cities Film Festival. More Info
Torino, Italy
Oct 18, 2024
Best of Fest Screening at Europe’s must attend event for citymakers produced by Stratosferica.
Featuring live introduction by John Paget (remote via zoom). More Info
Detroit, Michigan
Sept 19-22, 2024
Our 11th annual flagship 4-day film festival
in Detroit, Michigan. More Info
Winston-Salem, NC
March 23, 2024
Screening of the BCFF Best of Fest reel - one night only! Hosted by a/perture cinema
Sponsored by Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership (More info)
San Luis Obispo, CA
March 6, 2024
One night only “Best of Fest” screening
Hosted by Building a Better SLO
Austin, TX
Feb 28, 2024
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
One night only - custom curated for Austin by AIA Austin More info
BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL SOUTH
Durham, NC
Feb 9-10, 2024
Full Frame Theater
Hosted by SOUTHERN URBANISM
More info