Better Cities Film Festival

CNU Utah and Urban Design Utah are pleased to host the 2024 Better Cities Film Festival!

Schedule

Urbanizing the Suburbs – Ohio - 04:20 

In the 21st century, many people want dense urban walk - able spaces which are generally not found in the suburbs. See how city leaders, developers, and architects work together to make suburbs relevant again.

Before | After - 01:44

Showcasing public space transformations worldwide from car - oriented to people friendly, as seen from Google Streetview

Neighbors - 05:34

Homelessness in Los Angeles is rampant. Over 45,000 people sleep on the street each night in LA.

How can one person make a difference?

Tiny Victories 2.0 - A Tale of Empathy - 08:20

The story of Chioco Design's team journey when building a micro home for an individual who has struggled with chronic and sustained homelessness. How organizations like AIA Design Voice and Mobile Loaves & Fishes works timely to offer hope for the communit y. The word "empathy" serves as a prompt in the development, and execution, but mostly the idea of leaving behind preconceptions of what it is like to live without a home.

Segregated By Design - 17:42

Richard Rothstein, author of 'The Color of Law', narrates a fast paced motion design film that illustrates the forgotten history of how all of the nation’s metropolitan areas became segregated by “de jure” segregation, racially explicit policy on the part of the federal, state and local governments. 

'Segregated By Design' explores different subjects pertaining to residential segregation like many New Deal policies, racial zoning techniques like Redlining, the creation of slums, blockbusting, slum clearance, state - sponsored violence, the immense wealth gap between white families and African - American families, the effects of segregation and the constitutional remedy for the unconstitutional segregation.

The Investment - 07:41

A short film that explores making use of livable spaces in backyards and small lot communities.

Investment expert Linda Hayes shares how to make money renting out garden suites.

Linda recognized the income potential from small 600 sqft loft apartments.

CNU 25 - Seattle: Pocket Neighborhoods Tour - 07:33

Ross Chapin and Karen DeLucas of Ross Chapin Architects conduct a tour of two Seattle area Pocket Neighborhoods, which are small clusters of houses or apartments arranged around garden courtyards, pedestrian streets and indoor atriums.

Grandma in the Backyard - 07:33

A short film that explores making use of livable spaces in backyards and small lot communities.

Carillon Cameron shares how her backyard dream home lets her stay closer to her beloved grandchildren as she ages.

I'd Rather Stay - 19:04

The intimate stories of five older adults, living in different Greater Vancouver neighborhoods. From dense urban centers to car dependent suburbs, the film delves into their day - to - day lives and explores personal issues of mobility, vulnerability, and resilience. We begin to understand the love that these older people feel for their homes and neighborhoods, and their real fear should they lose their independence.

Big Kids, Little City: Transit Oriented Development - 01:21

Short animations with kid - friendly explanations of urban planning terms, narrated by kids.

Parking Craters: Scourge of American Downtowns - 05:54

A "Parking Crater" is a big surface parking lot in the middle of a downtown urban center. Streetsblog has hosted a sweet sixteen bracket competition of cities for the worst parking crater. Features interview with Norman Garrick.

A Conservative state builds progressive transit  - 05:58

Since the late 1990s, Salt Lake City has embarked on a very ambitious program of transit construction. 

In 2006, residents voted to invest more and expedite the implementation of a regional transit system.

This film provides a look back at the bold steps undertaken to deliver transit in a state that is well known for being politically conservative.

White Elephants - 19:31

Sport has the power to inspire and unite people. Cities all over the world compete to host international mega - sporting events, with the promise that it will catalyze urban development and social change. White Elephants is a short documentary that investigates the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa through a series of exclusive interviews and footage. What is left behind after the celebration is over and the memory has faded? Was it worth it?

Transform Your City with Tactical Urbanism - 08:22

If you're a public space aficionado or transportation maven, one only needs to sign on to one of the various social media feeds to see the daily movement that is sweeping across the world: groups of people are literally taking back their streets by impleme nting low - cost, temporary solutions to what they see as simple ways of making their streets safer or more livable.

Total Run Time: 2:00:37

The film festival is free but please Register here.