Freep Film Festival: Here's how to watch some of the documentaries you missed

The 2024 Freep Film Festival is behind us, but there may still be opportunities to see some of the carefully curated documentaries featured in the annual Detroit event.

We asked each of the filmmakers to tell us what's next for each doc, and where movie buffs may still be able to watch them.

Here's a list of those that have streaming options, upcoming screenings or other plans for the future:

'23 Mile'

An experimental nonfiction film on the events that took place in Michigan during the 2020 presidential race — including the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — "23 Mile" delves into issues of race, class, social status and instability. 

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What's next: The film will make its New York City premiere at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History on May 12. A potential May screening in Ann Arbor is also in the works. More at 23milefilm.com

More:'23 Mile' premiere will bring you back to the start of 2020

'The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit'

The history of jazz can't be told without Detroit. “The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit” explores the story of the city’s extraordinarily influential jazz musicians, from pioneers like Elvin Jones and Ron Carter to modern musicians like Karriem Riggins and Regina Carter. The story is set within Detroit’s rise and fall as an industrial power and the struggles and triumphs of its African American communities.

What's next: After debuting the movie at the Freep Film Fest, the filmmakers are pursuing inclusion in more festivals, with a potential screening in East Lansing this summer. Stay tuned at Jazzfromdetroitfilm.com.

More:Documentary explores Detroit as powerhouse of musical culture

'Rouge'

“Rouge” made its Michigan debut at the Freep Film Fest as a coming-of-age story set in the Downriver community of River Rouge, following the lives of four Black student-athletes at a school with the most state basketball championships in Michigan history, situated in one of the state’s most economically and environmentally challenged communities.

What's next: As the filmmakers pursue a distribution deal, the doc will make its international premiere in Toronto at HOT DOCS, April 28 and 30.

More:'Rouge' documentary on historic high school basketball team kicks off Freep Film Festival

'The Riot Report'

When Black neighborhoods in Detroit and other American cities erupted in violence during the summer of 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission to determine what happened, why it happened and what could be done to prevent it from happening again. The commission’s report, issued in March of 1968, concluded that racism was the clear cause of the unrest, and ultimately got an unfriendly reception from Johnson.

What's next: The film will have its broadcast premiere on PBS's "American Experience," 9 p.m. May 21. It will then be available to stream on the PBS app.

More:Documentary ponders inquiry into events that shook the nation — and Detroit — in 1967

'ATwoHearted Tale'

"A Two Hearted Tale" is a heartfelt look at the history of the iconic trout label adorning the immensely popular, Michigan-born beer Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, and the eccentric artist who created it, Ladislav Hanka.

What's next: Upcoming screenings are being planned in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Keep up on Instagram @atwoheartedtale.

'Frida'

An intimate journey through the life of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, including the time she spent in Detroit. Told through her own words, drawn from her diary, letters, essays and interviews — “Frida” features lyrical animation inspired by her artwork.

What's next: The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.

'Jeanette Lee Vs.'

This ESPN “30 for 30" film chronicles the life of billiards icon Jeanette Lee, known as the Black Widow, one of the most recognizable figures in sports.

What’s next: The documentary can be watched on ESPN+.

'Spotlight Detroit: Short films featuring the current Kresge Artist Fellows and 2024 Eminent Artist'

Thirteen Detroit filmmakers collaborated with the 2023 Kresge Artist Fellows in Literary and Visual Arts to create 19 short films exploring the artists’ creative practices, expressions and journeys. The series culminates with a vignette of 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist, Nora Chapa Mendoza.

What's next: The films will be available to watch on Detroit PBS at 9 p.m. May 6, and online starting May 7 at kresgeartsindetroitpresents.art/artist-films.

'MnM'

A short portrait of chosen sisters Mermaid and Milan, two emerging runway divas in the drag ballroom community. Their unapologetic personas star in the film exploring the power of being nonbinary.

What's next: The film will begin streaming June 1 on Criterion Channel.

'The Little Mexican Village'

This short film explores the simple lives of a group of older residents in a small, rural village: El Encino de La Paz, in Durango, Mexico, highlighting the resilience of hardworking people in a community that's slowly disappearing as nearly all young residents migrate to urban areas or abroad.

What's next: The film is available for free at Vimeo.com/350988912.

'The Feeling of Being Close to You'

A mother and child address intergenerational trauma and abuse with phone conversations juxtaposed with archival VHS footage.

What's next: The short film is available to watch at ashgohhua.com/feeling.

'Claiming Connections'

This short explores the efforts of Detroit-based groups to connect minority families with the outdoors in Michigan.

What's next: The film can be viewed at planetdetroit.org/2023/04/film-claiming-connections.

'Walking on the Moon'

A short film on a young man diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and the grueling months that followed, narrated by a loved one.

What's next: The film can be viewed at youtu.be/ae4y_MSqYkI.

'The Edge'

A short on Detroit-based figure skater Danielle Bakarica, who pursues competition as an adult, training and working toward qualifying for the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships.

What's next: The filmmaker is updating the film to include results of the competition, and plans to make it available to stream at jonpaulbakaric.com.

'Community'

On short on a community of skateboarders and the impact a sport can have on people and friendships.

What's next: The film will be posted in the coming weeks to youtube.com/@kylashaeann.

'Shadowing'

This short experimental film combines performance art and personal documentary to tell the story of a Korean woman who found herself "shadowing" (learning English by imitating a native speaker) and was puzzled by it. She tries to understand the history and power dynamics around the practice.

What's next: The film will be exhibited in both art galleries and film festivals, filmmakers say. It's set to be shown at a two-person art exhibition in Inchon, South Korea this June.

'Well'

After losing a loved one to COVID-19, a Black American family that has endured the Tuskegee Experiment and the Flint water crisis must reckon with the harm and distrust that has affected them for decades amid yet another health crisis.

What's next: The filmmakers are planning community screenings of the short film. Stay tuned at well-movie.com.

'The Safety Net'

A short on a nurse who tends to people living on the streets of Detroit, until his demise and the COVID-19 pandemic force a community to reckon with what’s been lost.

What's next: "The Safety Net" will soon be available to book for group screenings. alivedetroit.org.