The 29 Challenge Detroit Fellows celebrated a romantic Valentine’s Day together at this year’s “Detroit Loves Cinema” event. Detroit Passport to the Arts rolled out the red carpet for nearly 300 young professionals and we strolled down in our Hollywood finest.

The event, which took place at the historic Detroit Institute of Arts, featured a walk down the red carpet, a viewing of the 2013 Oscar-nominated shorts and an after party at the Detroit Historical Museum.

After dodging the paparazzi, mingling with fellow Detroit young professionals and enjoying some drinks and appetizers, we took our seats in the glamorous Detroit Film Theater and watched the Oscar-nominated shorts. The pieces ranged from 2 to 30 minutes and showcased talent from around the world.

I’m a sucker for Disney (and apparently the Academy is too), so my favorite short was Paperman. The piece took home the Oscar for Best Animated Short at this year’s ceremony and is definitely worth the watch:

After the event, we went to the recently-renovated Detroit Historical Museum for an after-party and enjoyed a sampling of food from restaurants across Detroit, as well as drinks and live entertainment–a wonderful way to cap off a great evening!

Thank you to Detroit Passport to the Arts for sponsoring this memorable evening and many others. Detroit has a thriving arts scene and Detroit Passport to the Arts has allowed the Challenge Detroit Fellows to experience the wealth of culture. We’re looking forward to many more events!

Contributed by Fellow Betsy Berens