A group focused on revitalizing areas around the Minneapolis stretch of the Mississippi River will share its latest progress report Monday at an event that also includes the debut of a river-themed film festival.

This is the third year the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership will host its Riverfront Summit and the second time the nonprofit organization has put together a riverfront "vitality report." Kathleen Boe, the group's executive director, said this year's report shows significant progress in transforming sections of the northern part of the Minneapolis stretch, above St. Anthony Falls. The amount of green space in that area has increased by 6 percent over the past year and by 35 percent over the past decade.

"Everybody knows about the central riverfront and what's happened there, but we are seeing real signs of progress in the northern part of Minneapolis," she said.

Boe said the Mississippi Minute Film Festival was developed in an effort to get more people thinking and talking about the history and possibilities of the riverfront. Seventeen groups submitted short films, which are posted on the Riverfront Partnership's website.

The films are all one minute long, and Boe said topics range from the river's history to a group of young immigrants learning to spell Mississippi. Mayor Betsy Hodges will hand out film awards at the Riverfront Summit, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at Mill City Museum.

The event is free and open to the public, although organizers request that people register at www.minneapolisriverfrontpartnership.org.

Erin Golden • 612-673-4790