As the Fresh Coast Film Festival arrives in Traverse City from April 30 through May 3, our community is invited into a collection of documentary films that celebrate stories of resilience and life in and around the Great Lakes.
We wanted to take a moment to share a couple of films that feel especially meaningful to us and to the communities we hold close. Among them are two powerful films that center the lived experiences, resilience, and contributions of migrants and immigrants in the United States. During these complex and often uncertain times, these stories feel especially meaningful, offering deeply human reflections on identity, belonging, and justice.
One featured short film, Sueños De Una Monarca, tells the story of Claudia Galeno-Sánchez, a Mexican immigrant and environmental activist who founded a monarch butterfly sanctuary in Chicago. Through her work, the film gently weaves together themes of migration, environmental stewardship, and cultural connection. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles, it is both intimate and affirming, highlighting the beauty, care, and contributions that immigrants bring to community life.
The film will be shown as part of the Power of Identity block at The Alluvion on:
Claudia Galeno-Sánchez will attend the screening alongside the film’s director for an audience Q&A, offering an opportunity to connect more deeply with her story and work.
Also featured is Citizen: The Jilmar Ramos Gomez Story, a documentary that follows the experience of Jilmar Ramos Gomez, a Grand Rapids combat veteran who was wrongfully detained during ICE raids and nearly deported. The film offers a powerful lens into systemic injustice while also raising important questions about identity, citizenship, and what it means to belong in America.
This film is part of the You Belong block and will be screened at:
Director José Guadalupe Jiménez Jr. will be present for a Q&A following the screenings.
Individual tickets are $10 per screening, with day passes and weekend passes also available through the festival.
These films hold space for reflection, conversation, and deeper community connection. We invite you to come as you are, to witness, to feel, and to be part of a shared dialogue that honors the many stories shaping our communities. We hope to see you there!
