2026 Cans Film Festival Reveals Michigan-made Films Lineup

2026 Cans Film Festival Reveals Michigan-made Films Lineup

4th Annual Festival to Showcase Filmmaking Community at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre

• Panel discussion to be held on Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story with filmmaker Nate Roels, Humanity For Prisoners Founder Doug Tjapkes, Executive Director Mark Hartman and featured subject Duane Williams
• Workshop on how to grow local filmmaking careers offered during festival
• Recyclable cans collected as admission for the nonprofit to give back to filmmakers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – July 7, 2026 – The 4th annual Cans Film Festival (CFF), will take place on July 17-18 at the historic Wealthy Theatre, for its most impactful festival to date to showcase independent, Michigan-made films and bring together filmmakers from across the state.

Michigan’s film and entertainment ecosystem, from creative producers to writers to cinematographers, is reinventing itself and building the community from the ground up. The Cans Film Festival is a pinnacle opportunity built for this community of established filmmakers and newcomers to spark collaboration of their talents and expose their productions to new audiences.

“The mission of the Cans Film Festival is to support local, independent film by cultivating the relationship between filmmakers and their audience,” shared Tran Hoang Calvin, director and founder of the CFF. “We want to give filmmakers a unique and different opportunity to show their work, breathe life into their films and introduce them to new audiences. 2026’s selection of films we will be showcasing and the panel we are hosting are truly inspiring. We are also offering a workshop where the audience can glean insights from filmmakers. We hope to see hundreds of Michiganders ‘bring a can’ and come out to support indie filmmaking during these exciting two days.”

The entry fee is to give a donation of what attendees can give in the form of recyclable cans and bottles. Proceeds will be split amongst the filmmakers whose films will be shown.

“Many Michigan-based filmmakers have significantly contributed to visual arts and productions across the country and around the world,” said Kelley Wolf Griffith, producer and secretary of the CFF. “It is completely possible to have a successful career as a producer, assistant director or grip tech and hone skills right here in our home state. The Cans Film Festival demonstrates the strength and comradery of Michigan’s growing film community. The festival lineup is our community’s celebration to share masterful stories with a larger audience.”

The 2026 Cans Film Festival two-day lineup includes:

Friday, July 17

5:30 - 7:30 p.m - Koning Micro-Cinema - Short Film Block 1

• Single Use, Dir. Jonney Zomberg
• Move With Purpose: Maria’s Story, Dir. Joseph Ramos
• Magnet Brain, Dir. Kurt St. Thomas
• Ana Sees Her Dad, Dir. Mark Broe
• Songs From the Sky, Dir. Patrice Scott Jr.
• Tomato Soup, Dir. Brendan Michael Conant
• Sincerely, Sage Jo, Dir. Jacob Wilkins

6 - 8 p.m. - Wege Auditorium - Opening Night Feature: The Daughters of the Domino, Dir. Jesse McAnally

Saturday, July 18

12:30 - 2:00 p.m. - Koning Micro-Cinema - Making It In Michigan - Building Local Filmmaking Careers Workshop

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Wege Auditorium - Matinee Feature: Walker, Grace and the Submarine, Dir. Noah Bashore

3 - 4:30 p.m. - Koning Micro-Cinema - Short Film Block 2

• End of the Line, Dir. Ian Gilbert
• Left on Read, Dir. Chandler Rang
• Odds, Dir. Nathaniel Ford
• Hyperburn, Dir. Travis DuBridge
• Invaluable, Dir. Faith Hutson
• Shoot, Shovel & Shut Up, Dir. Tran Hoang Calvin
• The Rink, Dir. Kenny Acker

4 - 5:30 p.m - Wege Auditorium - Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story + Panel Discussion, Dir. Nate Roels, Humanity For Prisoners Founder Doug Tjapkes, Executive Director Mark Hartman and featured subject Duane Williams

5:30 - 7 p.m. - Koning Micro-Cinema - Short Film Block 3

• Shift: The Lisa Clark Story, Dir. Jake Cross & Chandler Rang
• Acronymity, Dir. Andrew Imai
• Oddfish, Dir. Abbie Alterman
• Les Amateurs, Dir. DT Kofoed
• DIY, Dir. Heather Turman
• A Boy Named Choo Choo, Dir. Ethan Williams
• Justice For Katherine Gomez, Dir. Jazmine Broe
• Me, My Dad and the Thing in the Shed, Dir. Tanner Hamilton

6 - 8 p.m. - Wege Auditorium - Closing Night Feature: Runner, Dir. Marian Mathias

To get further immersed with filmmakers, attendees are welcome to gather after each night of the showings for a happy hour starting at 8 p.m. at Brewery Vivant.

For additional details about each film and the 2026 Cans Film Festival, please visit CansFilmFestival.org.

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About the Cans Film Festival

Originally launched in 2023 with a public screening block where the price of admission was a donation of recyclable cans, the proceeds of which were directly sent to the audience favorites, the Cans Film Festival is focused on building the relationship between local audiences and the independent filmmakers who live among them. Follow Cans Film Festival on Facebook and Instagram. See more at cansfilmfestival.org.