Join Us for an Evening of Experimental Film with Julia Yezbick at 27th Letter Books

Filmmaker Julia Yezbick

We’re excited to share that the Ann Arbor Film Festival is teaming up with 27th Letter Books in Detroit for a special evening dedicated to the work of filmmaker, artist, and anthropologist Julia Yezbick. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 29, and join us for a night of thought-provoking cinema, conversation, and community.

What to Expect

The evening kicks off at 7:00 PM, when doors open and guests are invited to browse the shelves at 27th Letter Books—a beloved Detroit bookstore that will open exclusively for this event. The screening begins at 8:00 PM, followed by a filmmaker Q&A.

We’ll be showing a curated selection of Yezbick’s short films, spanning themes of identity, memory, labor, and place. Her work blurs the lines between experimental nonfiction and ethnography, often weaving poetic narratives that reflect the textures of everyday life.

Featured Films (approximately 60 minutes total runtime):

• How to Rust (2016) – 25:20

• Where the Soil Waits (2023) – 3:07

• marratein, marratein (2025) – 25:00

• Roses, Pink and Blue (2023) – 5:26

Each piece invites you into a distinct world—from a sonic meditation on ancestral land (Where the Soil Waits) to a poetic elegy for a changing city (Roses, Pink and Blue). The centerpiece of the program, marratein, marratein, premiered at AAFF 2025 and traces a personal narrative across Detroit and Beirut, exploring heritage, diaspora, and the emotional pull of place.

About Julia Yezbick

Julia Yezbick has long been part of the AAFF family—screening films, winning awards, and curating programs over the years. She’s the founder of Mothlight Microcinema, a Detroit-based platform for experimental film, and serves as an Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Studies at Wayne State University. Her work has screened at venues around the world, including the Berlin International Film Festival, Station Arts Space in Beirut, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Event Details

What: Short Films by Julia Yezbick + Q&A 

Where: 27th Letter Books — 3546 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216 

When: Tuesday, July 29 

Doors Open: 7:00 PM (browse the bookstore) 

Screening: 8:00 PM, followed by a filmmaker discussion 

Admission: Free and open to all

This event is made possible through the collaboration of the Ann Arbor Film Festival and 27th Letter Books—two organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, creativity, and cultural connection through film and literature.

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of bold, boundary-pushing work and lively discussion in one of Detroit’s most welcoming community spaces.