2026 Cans Film Festival Collected 5,434 Recyclable Bottles and Donated Canned Food to Local Food Bank

2026 Cans Film Festival Collected 5,434 Recyclable Bottles and Donated Canned Food to Flat River Outreach Ministries Food Pantry

Festival United Michigan-based Filmmaker Community and New Audiences

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – July 21, 2026 – The 4th Annual Cans Film Festival delivered a world-class experience in Grand Rapids and had its largest showing to date with festival goers traveling in from across the state and packing two screens to see 26 independent, Michigan-made films screened on July 17-18 at the Wealthy Theatre. The festival provided an opportunity to cultivate the relationship between local filmmakers and new audiences.

$543.40 was raised from donated recyclable cans and bottles and the proceeds were split amongst filmmakers who screened their films. A grocery cart full of canned food was also collected and donated to Flat River Outreach Ministries Food Pantry.

The festival included interactive panel opportunities including a Making It In Michigan workshop and a discussion connected to humanitarian efforts around Wronged: The Maurice Carter Story.

“Amongst the incredible praise from festival goers and filmmakers alike that this was the best-run festival they have ever attended, we heard that this event reminded them of pre-pandemic events in Grand Rapids and gave hope to know people still cared about art and community in West Michigan,” shared Tran Hoang Calvin, director and founder of the Cans Film Festival. “It's notable that the films that won audience choice, best documentary and best narrative were all student-created films. How we prepare students for careers as artists and filmmakers will determine whether they stay here in Michigan or take their incredible talents elsewhere. It's important to us as a festival and organization to ensure they find the community and support they need.”

Best of prizes that were given out included:

• Audience Choice Award: A Boy Named Choo-Choo, directed by Ethan Williams
• Jury Award Best Documentary: Sincerely, Sage Jo, directed by Jacob Wilkins
• Jury Award Best Narrative: Songs From The Sky, directed by Patrice Scott Jr.
• Palm D'or, awarded to the feature that exemplifies the honor and spirit of the festival: Walter, Grace and the Submarine, written, directed, edited and produced by Noah Bashore

ArtPrize and History Fix, a Michigan-based streaming platform for history fans based in Michigan, had a presence at the festival. 2027’s festival will align with ArtPrize for the first time, on September 23-26, 2027. See more about the organization’s mission at 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 is 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.