MORE BETTER
Festival Experiences
Detroit, USA. October 5-8, 2023
The films are the heart of the festival, but we take it beyond the screen. Better Cities Film Festival is an opportunity for the community of people who work on making our cities, towns, and neighborhoods better (community workers and activists, placemakers, planners, architects, developers, artists, entrepreneurs, government leaders) to come together to celebrate cities, experience their nooks and crannies, learn from each other, and have a lot of fun. These talks, tours, and social events are the festival experiences we call More Better.
THURSDAY
Opening Night After Party
Where: Checker Bar,124 Cadillac Square
When: 10:00 PM till late
Presented by: First + Main Films
Enjoy a post screening drink, conversation, at a local Detroit watering hole with fellow festival goers.
FRIDAY
Pastry Walk (Like a pub crawl, but for breakfast)
Where: TBA
When: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Presented by: Josh Paget, the director of Better Cities Film Festival
Civic Story Film Workshop
Where: Wayne State University, McGregor Memorial Conference Center (RM FGH) 495 Gilmour Mall
When: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Presented by: First+Main Films
With film excerpts and anecdotes from a career making films about places, John Paget and Chris Elisara present an entertaining and inspiring case for how storytelling can fight apathy, foster pride and change the trajectory of your community. The civic story is not just about the past - it's the story of what your community is becoming. We'll cover topics including:
The vital importance and unexpected impact of the civic story.
The threat of denarration: how our cities and communities are losing their story.
How a community can rediscover and tell its story.
Noodles and New Urbanism
Where: TBA
When: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Presented by: Josh Paget, the director of Better Cities Film Festival
BCFF was born out of a failed book group called “Noodles & New Urbanism.” We’re paying homage to this group with our Friday lunch and learn at a local noodles hot spot. Join festival founder, Josh Paget, to discuss the past and future of the festival.
Public Policy Innovation via I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project Workshop (two part series Fri. & Sat.) Includes SPECIAL SCREENING - The Road Ahead
Films about bicycling, transportation etc. to stimulate discussion.
Where: Wayne State University, McGregor Memorial Conference Center (RM FGH) 495 Gilmour Mall
When: 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Presented by PHINCO & CNU Michigan. Learn more at this link.
While the "Motor City" gains buzz and national accolades regarding the public place investment exemplars of the Detroit Riverfront and Campus Martius; the funded "I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project" remains left to address and to reverse the damage and cultural losses of 1950s urban renewal thinking, that ran highways through the African American neighborhoods of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.
Join us in our urban advocacy via an open system “Digital Design Charrette” facilitated by CNU-MI & PHINCO. How might more voices for the future become informed, engaged, connected, and applied to this project? We’ve just entered “Design Phase Two” of a Three Phase Design Study.
After Party
Where: Motor City Brewing Works, 470 W Cranfield St. #9
When: 10:00 PM till late
Presented by: Emerging New Urbanists
Enjoy a post screening drink, conversation, at a local Detroit watering hole with fellow festival goers
SATURDAY
Mama Ravin’s Herbal Walk & Talk on the Detroit Riverfront
Where: Meeting point at Cullen Plaza, 1340 Atwater St.
When: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Presented by: Mama Raven and PHNICO
People Make Places! The Detroit Riverwalk has won the “Best Riverwalk in America” USA Today Readers’ Choice award for three years in a row. Start your morning right, exploring the “Wild Side” of Detroit Riverfront through its wetlands, edible weeds and herbs with Mama Ravin, Founder of “The Herbal Healing Hut” & a driving force behind the Riverfront’s success via her popular “Herbal Walk & Talk” program and her service with the Detroit Riverfront Volunteers. Just don’t say anything bad about Dandelions!
Unofficial State of the City: Downtown Detroit Walking Tour with Mark Nickita
Where: Tour starts at Siren Hotel,1509 Broadway When: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Presented by: CNU Michigan
It’s a Better Cities Film Festival tradition: Explore Detroit’s extraordinary comeback – and the challenges and opportunites that lie ahead – with one of Detroit’s most passionate urbanists.
Yes In God’s Back Yard (YIGBY)
Where: Wayne State University, McGregor Memorial Conference Center (RM FGH) 495 Gilmour Mall
When: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by the CNU-Christian Caucus , UCC Church building & Loan Fund & Jubliee Impact Fund
This event is for church pastors and Christian leaders interested in redeveloping their church property. Anchored by the film, It Takes a Village, this event will discuss the film’s theme of developing church property with experts from across the US and the Canada.
Public Policy Innovation via I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project Workshop (Part 2)
Where: Wayne State University, McGregor Memorial Conference Center (RM FGH) 495 Gilmour Mall
When: 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Presented by: PHINCO & CNU Michigan. Learn more at this link.
While the "Motor City" gains buzz and national accolades regarding the public place investment exemplars of the Detroit Riverfront and Campus Martius; the funded "I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project" remains left to address and to reverse the damage and cultural losses of 1950s urban renewal thinking, that ran highways through the African American neighborhoods of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.
Join us in our urban advocacy via an open system “Digital Design Charrette” facilitated by CNU-MI & PHINCO. How might more voices for the future become informed, engaged, connected, and applied to this project? We’ve just entered “Design Phase Two” of a Three Phase Design Study.
After Party
Where: Bronx Bar, 4476 2nd Ave
When: 10:00 PM and later
Enjoy a post screening drink, conversation, at a local Detroit watering hole with fellow festival goers.
SUNDAY
SPECIAL SCREENING:
The Future of 3rd Places
Where: The Congregation, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd
When: 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Presented by The Congregation & PHINCO Learn more at this link.
Screening of the short film La Buena Cosecha (The Good Harvest) (17 Min) followed by a conversational workshop/open digital design charrette facilitated by PHINCO, exploring the questions regarding 3rd Places & Small Business as portrayed in the film and through the lens of The Congregation experience, and the challenges faced and lessons gained from opening and operating at the beginning of the Pandemic.
Filmmaker Networking Happy Hour
Where: Jolly Pumpkin. 441 W Canfiled St.
When: 3:00 - 4:30 PM
YIMBY Meet Up Happy Hour
Where: Motor City Brewing Works, 470 W Cranfield St. #9
When: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Presented by: CA YIMBY
Come meet other “Yes In MY Back Yard” advocates from MI and across the country. Everyone is welcome.
After Party
Where: Cobb’s Corner Bar, 4201 Cass Ave.
When: 10:00 PM and later
Enjoy a post screening drink, conversation, at a local Detroit watering hole with fellow festival goers.
MORE BETTER
Festival experiences beyond the screen:
talks, social events & tours
2023 SPONSORS
The Siren Hotel
Michigan Chapter, Congress for the New Urbanism
Congress for the New Urbanism
PlacemakingX
Emerging New Urbanists
PlacemakingUS
Pontiac Holonomy Incubator Network Collaboratory
Woodward Original
UN-Habitat Urban October 2022
Congressional Black Caucus For New Urbanism
