The Kresge Arts in Detroit film series is a unique professional development offering for Kresge Artist Fellows. During their fellowship year, participating fellows are paired with local filmmakers to create a short film highlighting their work.

To further elevate and promote this creative collaboration, Kresge Arts in Detroit worked with 7 Cylinders Studio to submit recent fellows’ films to local and national festivals. The results have been incredible.

As of October 2023, the 12 films submitted have received a combined 53 acceptances into local, national and international film festivals—and the acceptances and awards continue to roll in. The films created by Kresge Artists Fellows and Detroit filmmakers have been screened in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Atlanta, Scotland, Belgium, and India. Film-lovers around the world are being exposed to the collective creative power in Detroit!

Film festivals receive a massive number of submissions for a limited number of screening opportunities. Acceptance into festivals speaks to the quality, creativity and excellence of the Kresge Artist Fellows and filmmakers.

Spotlight Detroit: Short Films Featuring Kresge Artist Fellows is a creative collaboration between the 2022 Kresge Artist Fellows and 11 Detroit filmmakers. Participating fellows worked with a filmmaker to create a unique short film showcasing their art or documenting their artistic practice. Each of the 16 films in the series runs between two to four minutes each. The series premiered March 27, 2023 on Detroit Public Television.

Featured 2022 Kresge Artist Fellows: Kaleigh Wilder, Michael Ibrahim, Ali Allan Colding, Demario Dotson, KESSWA, Carl George, De’Sean Jones, Marc Brewer, Akhnek Kenneth Green, Leith Campbell, Tammy Lakkis, Jaribu Shahid, Queen Gabby, Thank You So Much For Coming, Deidre D.S.SENSE Smith, Summer Like The Season

Filmmakers: John Azoni, Tim Blackman, Ghostlight Productions, Desmond Love, Danielle Eliska Lyle, Oksana Mirzoyan, Reel Clever Films, James C. McGovern, Moussa El Moussa, Toko Shiiki, Julia Yezbick

The film series is produced by Kresge Arts in Detroit and 7 Cylinders Studio.

Nine Detroit filmmakers worked with the 2021 Kresge Artist Fellows in literary and visual arts to co-create 20 films spanning a dynamic spectrum of filmmaking styles.

Featured 2021 Kresge Artist Fellows: Emell Derra Adolphus, Danielle Aubert, Jeni De La O, Ann Eskridge, Tariq Luthun, MARS Marshall, Jassmine Parks, B. Van Randall, Casey Rocheteau, Zig Zag Claybourne, Peter Daniel Bernal, Judy Bowman, Brian Day, Darcel Deneau, Solomon Johnson, Gisela McDaniel, Sabrina Nelson, Rachel Reid, Andrew “AndyT” Thompson, Graem Whyte

Filmmakers: John Azoni, Danielle Eliska Lyle, Na Frenette, GhostLight Productions, Gold House Media, Desmond Love, Oksana Mirzoyan, Reel Clever Films, and Toko Shiiki.

Spotlight Detroit, produced by Kresge Arts in Detroit and 7 Cylinders Studio, premiered on Detroit Public Television on March 21, 2022.

In 2021, Detroit filmmakers were invited to work directly with Kresge Artist Fellows to create a short film of any style. The results range from traditional documentary to experimental and narrative style short films.

Featured 2020 Kresge Artist Fellows: Ajara Alghali, Kia ix Arriaga, Shawntai Brown, Vincent Chandler, Marcus Elliot, Karilú Alarcón Forshee, bree gant, Debra J. White-Hunt, Chris Jakob, Mike Khoury, Rafael Leafar, Melanie Manos, Michael Manson, Andrew Morton, Joo Won Park, Salakastar, Naima Shamborguer, Brandon Walley, and Paige Wood.

Filmmakers: Jeremy Brockman, Ben Corona (2018 Kresge Artist Fellow), Zachary Cunningham, Na Frenette, Desmond Love, Oksana Mirzoyan (2016 Kresge Artist Fellow), Reel Clever Films, SPCMNKY Productions, and Julia Yezbick (2018 Kresge Artist Fellow).

The series was produced by Kresge Arts in Detroit and Lara Sfire.

Films created to celebrate Kresge Artist Fellows and Kresge Eminent Artists from 2009-2019 are available to watch on Vimeo.