How to Fest

How can we help?

For additional questions, please email us at contact@cansfilmfestival.org

Tickets

The Cans Film Festival is essentially ticket-free because the price of admission is an any-amount donation of your recyclable cans and bottles. Bring your donation with you into the Wealthy Theatre where you will check in at the front table. Volunteers will handle the cans and bottles from there.

Please make sure whatever bags/containers you bring the cans in are in good enough condition to handle so that cans and bottles do not spill out.

Venue

Please silence your phone and other electronic devices when you arrive at the venue.

Before heading out:

  • Bring your cans and bottles in a suitable bag or container.

  • Check the weather

Getting There:

  • Check the traffic before leaving

  • Plan to arrive 20 minutes before the start of the film screening.

  • Both the Wege Auditorium and Koning Micro-Cinema are in the Wealthy Theatre located at 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

  • See the following map and guide for more information on how to get to the venue, made by our friends at Strong Towns Grand Rapids: ___

On Site:

  • Purchase snacks and beverages at the concession stand.

  • Members of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center (the organization that owns the Wealthy Theatre) may purchase alcoholic beverages. Become a member at https://grcmc.org/membership

  • We do not have content ratings for each film. Be advised some materials may not be suitable for all audiences.

Some Cans Film Festival Traditions:

  • Tip your filmmakers: After every screening, we project the QR codes for the Venmos of the filmmakers represented. Please consider tipping your filmmakers to show them your appreciation.

  • How our voting system works: Audiences will receive a ballot for each film block they attend. On the ballot, we ask that you rate each film independently of each other along the rubric of “Loved it!” “Liked it” and “Not my thing.” -- We use these ratings for our audience choice awards.

  • Spontaneously, many film watchers gave personal thoughts, critiques, and words of encouragement in the margins of the ballots, so we’ve made the space for writing larger on the ballots. The Cans Film Festival will distill those thoughts and pass them along to the filmmakers after the festival.

  • Get your T-Shirt and programs signed by the filmmakers: T-shirts are available for purchase and are free for volunteers.

  • Filmmakers receive guests in the lobby: We strongly encourage film-goers to speak directly with the filmmakers themselves, so we have the filmmakers receive guests in the lobby. Please go up and talk to them!

 FAQs

  • We suggest arriving 20 minutes before the start of the film.

  • You will be directed to the back rows of seating in the venue if seats are available.

  • Yes, you can purchase snacks and beverages at the concession stand including popcorn, candy, soda, coffee/tea and filtered water. Members of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center (the organization that owns the Wealthy Theatre) may purchase alcoholic beverages. Become a member at https://grcmc.org/membership

  • The main auditorium (Peter Wege Auditorium) has a maximum capacity of 400. The Koning MicroCinema holds a max of 60.

  • Unfortunately no. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.