Festival Schedule Overview
Five Days of Revolutionary Cinema | April 12-16, 2026
Thursday, April 12 — Opening Day
Inaugural Ceremonies & International Spotlight
Festival Registration Opens
Detroit Film Theatre Lobby
Welcome reception with local musicians and community organizations
Jury Press Conference
Media Room
International jury members discuss evaluation criteria and political framework
Opening Ceremony
Main Theatre
Festival Director Marla Henderson presents theme introduction; recognition of community partners
Opening Film: "Invisible Hands"
Main Theatre
North American premiere | Director: Chen Wei-Ming (Taiwan/China) | 127 minutes
Post-Screening Discussion
Main Theatre
Chen Wei-Ming (via satellite), Maria Gonzalez (Restaurant Opportunities Center), Dr. Sarah Kim (Wayne State)
Opening Night Reception
Detroit Center for Independent Media
Networking with filmmakers, jury members, and community supporters
Friday, April 13 — Labor & Economic Justice
Documentary as Organizing Tool
Morning Coffee & Networking
Theatre Lobby
Continental breakfast provided by local cooperative businesses
Labor Documentary Block: Session 1
Main Theatre
"Detroit Stamping Plant" (World Premiere) | "Factory Without Bosses" | "Digital Picket Lines"
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Lunch Break
Various Detroit Restaurants
Catered options available; restaurant map provided for local exploration
Workshop: Community-Controlled Media Production
Workshop Room A
Led by Detroit Media Collective; hands-on equipment training
Labor Documentary Block: Session 2
Main Theatre
"Chemical Valley" | "App Drivers United" | "Captive Labor"
Coffee Break
Theatre Lobby
Fair-trade coffee and local pastries
Panel: "Documentary as Organizing Tool"
Main Theatre
UAW's Marcus Williams, Dr. Elizabeth Faue, filmmaker Sarah Kim-Patel
Evening Screening: "Mutual Aid Networks"
Main Theatre
Feature documentary exploring community economic alternatives
Filmmaker Lounge
Detroit Center for Independent Media
Informal networking with directors and production teams
Saturday, April 14 — International Competition
Global Perspectives on Social Justice
Jury Private Screening Session
Private Screening Room
Closed deliberation session for international jury
International Competition Block 1
Main Theatre
"Solidarity Harvest" (Brazil) | "Mapping Exile" (Egypt/Germany) | "After the Wall" (Russia/Czech Republic)
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Community Lunch
Detroit Center Courtyard
Shared meal prepared by local organizations; opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue
Youth Jury Screening Session
Secondary Theatre
"Student Debt Crisis" | "Climate Anxiety" | "Digital Natives"
International Competition Block 2
Main Theatre
"Invisible Borders" (Senegal) | "Defenders of the Forest" (Brazil) | "Imperial Decay" (Russia/Czech Republic)
Keynote Address: "Documentary in the Age of Information War"
Main Theatre
Dr. Amina Khalil, Jury President, delivered via satellite from Berlin
Short Film Competition Showcase
Main Theatre
Selected international short documentaries, 15 films, 90 minutes total
Evening Reception
Local Community Center
Cultural celebration with Detroit musicians and artists
Sunday, April 15 — Skills & Development
Building Documentary Infrastructure
Continental Breakfast
Theatre Lobby
Light breakfast with festival program review
Masterclass: "Clandestine Documentation Techniques"
Workshop Room A
Security protocols for filming in hostile environments | Limited to 20 participants
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Workshop: "Community Archive Development"
Workshop Room B
Building local media collections for historical preservation
Networking Lunch
Detroit Center Dining Room
Facilitated connections between filmmakers, funders, and distributors
Panel: "Alternative Distribution Networks"
Main Theatre
Strategies for reaching audiences outside commercial systems
Youth Jury Awards Presentation
Main Theatre
Detroit high school students present their selections and analysis
Coffee & Pastries
Theatre Lobby
Afternoon refreshments with local vendors
Workshop: "Ethical Filmmaking in Crisis Contexts"
Workshop Room A
Consent, safety, and solidarity in documentary production
Special Screening: "Letters from the Inside"
Main Theatre
Isaiah Washington's prison documentary trilogy | Director in attendance
Filmmakers' Dinner
Local Restaurant
Intimate gathering for visiting directors and local collaborators
Monday, April 16 — Awards & Closing
Recognition & Future Organizing
Final Jury Deliberations
Private Conference Room
International jury finalizes award selections
Community Screening: "Voices from the Hood"
Main Theatre
Detroit Youth Media Collective's collaborative documentary
Festival Evaluation Lunch
Detroit Center Dining Room
Participants share feedback and suggestions for future programming
Panel: "Building Regional Documentary Infrastructure"
Main Theatre
Long-term vision for Midwest documentary production and distribution
Closing Film: "Detroit Renaissance"
Main Theatre
Community Media Collective's collaborative neighborhood documentation
Awards Ceremony
Main Theatre
Recognition of outstanding documentaries and community contributors
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Closing Reception
Detroit Center Courtyard
Final networking opportunity with commitment ceremony for ongoing collaboration
Festival Conclusion
Throughout Venue
Thank you addresses and 2027 planning preview
Important Information
Accessibility
All screenings include closed captioning. Audio description available upon request. Wheelchair accessible venues. ASL interpretation provided for panel discussions and Q&A sessions.
Registration
Festival passes available at registration desk. Day passes and individual screening tickets available. Sliding scale pricing available for community members and students.
Food & Beverages
Concessions available featuring local vendors and cooperative businesses. Outside food welcome. Water stations throughout venue.
Digital Access
Selected films available for online viewing for participants unable to attend in person. Digital access requires festival registration.
Primary Venue
Detroit Film Theatre
5200 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202
Public transit: QLINE to Grand Boulevard Station
Parking: Validated parking available at neighboring lots