Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) Screening at Campus Martius Park

Film lovers, get ready to be captivated! Experience an unforgettable celebration of storytelling, culture, and cross-border connection as the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) brings two acclaimed films to downtown Detroit for the very first time. In partnership with the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), this historic two-night screening at Campus Martius Park offers audiences a rare opportunity to engage with award-winning cinema, discover new voices in filmmaking, and celebrate the vibrant creative exchange between two dynamic border cities. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique cinematic event that bridges communities, sparks conversation, and showcases the power of film to connect us all.

The two-day featured screenings include:

Thursday, October 23 – The Barbarian Invasions!
The first Canadian film to win the Oscar for Best International Feature, Denys Arcand’s follow-up to The Decline of the American Empire continues the story of Remy (Girard), a womanizing professor now terminally ill with cancer. Seventeen years later, divorced and estranged from his son and friends, Remy embarks on a journey of redemption and forgiveness.

Friday, October 24 – Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul
This feature documentary explores how Jamaican music became a surprising yet critical part of Canadian culture. Through the life, music, struggles, and triumphs of Jamaican Canadian singer Jay Douglas (born Clive Pinnock), the film chronicles a social and cultural migration that made Canada a global hub for Jamaican music—an influence little recognized at home. Nearly 60 years into his career, Douglas remains a celebrated figure in the music world.

Films begin at 7 p.m. at Campus Martius Park, ranked the No. 1 public square in the country for three consecutive years. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy this cinematic autumn evening under the stars, right in the heart of Detroit.

This inaugural U.S. screening area at Campus Martius Park is part of a broader Windsor–Detroit binational collaboration initiative, designed to deepen cultural exchange, strengthen regional connectivity, and foster shared economic opportunity between these globally minded border cities. From arts to industry, this cross-border movement is supported by an alliance of public, private, and nonprofit partners, including the Downtown Detroit Partnership, Consulate General of Canada, the City of Detroit, the City of Windsor, Visit Detroit, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, Invest Windsor Essex, Rocket Companies, and Windsor Tunnel. This initiative builds on decades of cooperation and a shared commitment to advance a globally creative, competitive, and inclusive binational region.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, United States