Detroit, USA | Sept. 19-22, 2024
2024 BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Fri. Sept 20
Friday, Sept. 20th 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
LET'S GET GOING
Short Films on Urban Design and Mobility Issues
85 MINS
Film Lineup:
Kids Running Around - Paige Saunders
What is Daylighting? (And How This Intersection Adjustment Saves So Many Lives!) - Clarence Eckerson Jr.
The City Food Commons - Jordan Osmond
The Nag's Head - Jim Stephenson
I Dreamed Of Johnstown - Kevin Huffman
Lockwood Way - Jim Stephenson
Derailed: Inside Chicago's Transit Crisis - Ryan Deitch
Presented by
Kids Running Around
Duration
0:09:35
Synopsis
Millennials with children in North American are having to grapple with their idealism. When do they risk letting their children explore the urban playground?
Directed by
Paige Saunders
What is Daylighting? (And How This Intersection Adjustment Saves So Many Lives!)
Duration
0:06:53
Synopsis
It just makes sense to not have cars parked all the way up to crosswalks (or in some cases right up until the intersection!). By eliminating cars being parked from the first 10 to 15 feet you create a safer environment for drivers to not only see pedestrians and bicyclists, but OTHER drivers.
The creative idea behind the film was to get folks talking about daylighting and the really cool movement from NYC Community Boards now passing resolutions asking the Mayor & NYC DOT for #universaldaylighting! Though it is NYC based, it provides a model for other cities & communities to make daylighting happen.
Directed by
Clarence Eckerson Jr.
The City Food Commons
Duration
0:03:34
Synopsis
ow do you convert an industrial estate in North London into a space for industry and the community? Lockwood Way by We Made That.
Directed by
Jim Stephenson
The Nag’s Head
Duration
0:04:08
Synopsis
How do you develop a much beloved indoor street market that has operated in Holloway since 1975, without displacing the community of traders that use it? This short film looks at the importance of the market place to the city of London, and the role it plays in the local community as it undergoes sensitive reworking by architects Office S&M
Directed by
Jim Stephenson
I Dreamed Of Johnstown
Duration
0:18:44
Synopsis
Johnstown, PA is the third fastest shrinking city in the country, but its plucky citizens (when they are not arguing with each other) hang on for better times.
Directed by
Kevin Huffman
Lockwood Way
Duration
0:03:34
Synopsis
The City Food Commons shares the story of Roimata Food Commons, an urban food forest initiative driven by Ōtautahi Christchurch local Michael Reynolds. The aim of the project is to empower the community to co-create space in a public park, reviving the notion of the Commons, which was once so common in societies around the world.
Directed by
Jordan Osmond
Derailed: Inside Chicago's Transit Crisis
Duration
0:20:25
Synopsis
The Chicago Transit Agency is America’s second largest, and its post-covid decline has affected millions across Chicago. Many riders have abandoned the CTA due to concerns surrounding reliability and safety. Derailed seeks to answer the question of how a city can fail its citizens, and in the case of Chicago, what can be done to address the problems faced by its once proud transit agency.
Directed by
Ryan Deitch
Friday, Sept. 20th 8:00 -10:00 PM
Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
Freak Bikes
Feature Film
1HR 18 MINS
Film Lineup:
Freak Bikes - Ryan Mekenian
"Freak Bikes" explores the intersection of fatherhood and coming-of-age with sustainable transportation, climate change, mobility justice, and bicycles. During Jimmy and J.Q.’s adventure from bike kitchen to bike kitchen, we witness the efforts of activists, writers, and designers working to put transportation back into the hands of the people.
Presented by
Freak Bikes
Duration
1:18:00
Synopsis
Jimmy Lizama, a mobility justice activist and founder of L.A.’s first bicycle co-op, embarks on a European journey with his 12-year-old son, Joaquín (“J.Q.”), who has recently developed a fierce fascination with Northern European history. Despite knowing little about Vikings and medieval Europe, Jimmy’s deep passion for cycling fuels their adventure as they explore the continent together.
In this heartwarming documentary, father and son pedal through Denmark, Germany, Holland, Brussels, and Norway, visiting bike kitchens and engaging with activists, writers, and designers who are revolutionizing transportation. Along the way, Jimmy aims to show J.Q. that being "the bike kid" in L.A. is something to be proud of and that cycling has the power to create a more sustainable future.
"Freak Bikes" captures the unique bond between father and son as they traverse the European countryside on customized, foldable bicycles—a symbol of their unconventional journey and the transformative potential of cycling. Through shared experiences and growing mutual understanding, Jimmy and Joaquín strengthen their relationship and discover the deeper meaning of their passions.
Directed by
Ryan Mekenian