Capital City Film Festival Screening
Presented as part of the Capital City Film Festival, Desire: The Carl Craig Story offers an intimate portrait of legendary Detroit techno producer, DJ, and record label founder Carl Craig, while serving as an ode to his hometown of Detroit.
Raised in a middle-class African American family, Craig was encouraged by his parents to pursue his artistic ambitions—even as his path diverged from family expectations of higher education. Set against the backdrop of Detroit’s decline and resurgence, the film traces the evolution of a genre-defying artist whose work draws from a wide range of musical influences. His music has reached audiences around the world, from jazz listeners at the Montreux Jazz Festival to performances in premier venues such as Carnegie Hall.
More than 35 years into his career, Craig—one of the leading figures of the second generation of Detroit techno—has expanded his practice into the visual arts, with recent exhibitions at major institutions including MOCA Los Angeles and Dia Beacon. Yet at the height of his creative success, he faces personal and professional challenges that may reshape his relationship to music and performance.
Director and Carl Craig will be in attendance.
In Spring 2026, Carl Craig is serving as an MSUFCU Arts Power Up Artist-in-Residence at Michigan State University. Hosted by the MSU Museum, his residency explores the intersections of music, science, and technology through collaborations with researchers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. Through public programs and interdisciplinary engagement, Craig is translating complex scientific ideas into new creative forms. His residency will culminate in a new exhibition at the MSU Museum in early 2027.
This screening is presented in partnership with the MSU Department of English and the Digital Humanities and Literary Cognition Lab.