The Traverse City Film Festival is seeking Volunteer Assistant Managers and Interns for the 2013 festival! Please join our Open House on Wed, June 5 at 6pm in Festival Office, 232 E. Front St, Traverse City, MI.

For more information call 231-392-1134.

Why Be a Manager?

TCFF Managers play a pivotal role on an amazingly talented, incredibly devoted and super fun Festival Team. The Festival couldn’t run without the many Managers that spend a part of their summer in the most beautiful place on earth working with the best Team on earth. It’s a great way to make new friends or spend time with your friends and family – lots of venues are run by teams of families and friends who love the Festival and love to volunteer together. Help us put on the best Festival in the world and have tons of fun along the way!

Why Be an Intern?

TCFF Interns gain invaluable work experience in a variety of fields and interests. This is not your typical go-and-get-me-coffee internship. Spend your summer working with an amazing group of people, take part in intern-only activities, and enjoy all that Traverse City has to offer. Work hard while having more fun than you can imagine. For information, application and requirements, please visit the TCFF Internship Program.

Open Positions:

Transportation Manager: Oversee shuttle operations and our helpful information ambassadors. Travel to all parts of the Festival.

Venue and Assistant Venue Managers: Ever wanted to be one of the people rocking the Festival polo shirts at the Venues? This is your chance. Work with volunteers, fellow managers, and patrons to create the best possible festival experience. Go behind-the-scenes of the operations for this highly anticipated event. Managerial areas include: house, line, sales, hospitality, volunteers and stage.

Concessions Manager: Order and distribute concession products and materials. Work with local vendors to arrange orders and delivery of specialty items to Festival venues including sandwiches, treats and more! Get a different “taste” of the Festival.

Videography Assistant Managers and Videographers: Document Festival history and get a front row seat to our fantastic panels, Q&As, and events.

Volunteer Manager: Be the point person for the heart of the Festival, our wonderful volunteers. Recruit, monitor shift needs and outreach, assist volunteers and manage credentialing.

Photography Manager and Photographers: Schedule photographers to ensure comprehensive coverage of Festival happenings. Tell the story of the Festival through your lens and attend a variety of Festival events.

Festival Office Volunteers: Be at the center of the action in our own Festival “Command Center.” Assistance is needed both before and during the Festival. Duties will vary in this fast-paced environment, but administrative skill is key.

Graphic Design Intern: Lead
Positions Available: 1
The Graphic Design Lead intern fulfills a management role for other department interns. You’ll be responsible for maintaining all projects that come through the department, ensuring proper use of brand standards, assigning new projects, and keeping projects to spec and on schedule. You’ll be solely responsible for maintaining all tasks and works as part of the Graphic Design team. You will be a liaison to vendors. Must have strong organization and communication skills. Must also pay attention to detail and work well under pressure. Essential computer skills include Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Knowledge of print and web production is a must and a minimum of three years experience is preferred.

Graphic Design Intern: Support
Positions Available: 2
As a member of the Design team, the Graphic Design Support interns are responsible for fulfillment of print signage / creative requests. You must maintain Festival identity and brand guidelines at all times. A minimum of two years in print design and production is preferred. Crucial computer skills include Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Must have a working knowledge of print and web production.

Music Intern
Positions Available: 3
Music interns work closely with the Music Manager. Tasks include booking volunteer artists to play before each film showing, at each party, and other festival events. You will also work with volunteer artists to produce the festival CD. You’ll work together to prepare materials and promote the festival musicians. During the festival, music interns provide festival-wide on-site help for musicians. Previous experience with booking and managing musicians is preferred.

During an amazing week of Just Great Movies at the 2012 Traverse City Film Festival, The Treefort Collective talked to several filmmakers about how they fell in love with the cinema, how it captured their imaginations and why watching a film on the big screen is such a special experience.

Featuring Academy Award Winner Michael Moore, 2 time Academy Award Nominee Wim Wenders, Academy Award Winner Terry George, 3 time Academy Award Nominee Julia Reichert, Mark Cousins, Ira Deutchman and Brian Knappenberger. Watch below or click for HD viewing on YouTube.

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Also see more videos & interviews from TCFF 2012 and a short piece by the Interlochen Documentary Film Camp.

In just a week the 7 person documentary camp class taught by Andrea Maio put together this profile on Josh Koury. Josh was at TCFF with his film Journey to Planet X. They learned the ins and outs of run and gun shooting, interviewing and putting together a non-fiction story in its multiple phases of production.

Watch their work below and visit the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp Motion Picture Arts Program and Josh Koury & Journey to Planet X.

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Michael Moore & Rodriguez of Searching for Sugar Man (photo by Brian Harwood)

Howard Lovy has a nice feature on the Traverse City Film Festival in Crains Detroit that explores the brand of capitalism that has turned the State Theatre and Traverse City Film Festival into huge economic drivers for our region.

According to the festival’s own estimate, the annual event brings in between $5 million and $10 million — based on number of attendees and how much money those customers say they spend when surveyed. The film festival, a nonprofit that owns the State Theatre, reported total revenue of about $2.23 million in 2010.

Deb Lake, executive director of the film festival, described the two Michael Moores.

“There is a fictional Michael Moore — and that’s the Michael Moore that you read about in the newspapers and in the national media and on Fox News,” Lake said. “And then there’s the real Michael Moore. And they are two very different people.”

…”He really does care about trying to build economic prosperity because that’s good for people and good for families and community, so he doesn’t just pay lip service to these things,” she said.

In the eighth year of the festival, admissions to the films totaled 91,000, up 15 percent in paid ticket sales over last year. Local sponsorships were up 20 percent. Another theater will need to be added to keep up with ticket demand next year.

Opening Party (photo by Brian Harwood)

Doug Luciani, president and CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce adds:

“It is no exaggeration to credit Michael with spearheading efforts that have resulted in the infusion of millions of dollars to the Grand Traverse region and tens of thousands of dollars of earned media on the region’s behalf,” Luciani said.

And now lessons of Traverse City are beginning to benefit other communities.

The Lake Michigan community of Manistee — about 90 miles southwest of Traverse City in a county that currently has no movie theater at all — asked Moore to do for its Vogue Theatre what he did for the State. So far, Moore has helped raise $1 million to fix the Vogue.

His formula goes something like this: Take an old downtown movie theater that has fallen on hard times because it cannot compete with the multiplex at the mall, then ask the community whether it would like to rebuild it to run it as a nonprofit that not only shows good films but also serves as a place for “all kinds of community gatherings.”

Then get the community involved in fundraising, making them stakeholders. Staff it with all volunteers and charge only $2 for popcorn. Show kids’ movies on Saturdays for only a quarter. The quarter is necessary, Moore said, to let kids know they are participating in a transaction.

Click here to read the whole article.

Traverse City, Mich. (August 7, 2012) — The 2012 Traverse City Film Festival has wrapped up another groundbreaking year with more movies, more tickets, and more screenings than ever.

The six-day cinema celebration founded and run by filmmaker Michael Moore logged 91,000 admissions this year and a 15% increase in paid tickets sales. Local sponsorships were up 20%.

“We’re at a point now,” said Moore, “where we are going to have to add a new theater next year to accommodate the demand.” It will become the festival’s 8th venue where films are screened.

“This has most certainly been the best year yet,” Moore added. “Everything I’m hearing from people on the street is how smooth and exciting the festival was. It’s hard to find any complaints so I may have to come up with one just to keep things in balance.”

This year’s festival featured appearances by Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, the acclaimed German auteur Wim Wenders, one of Hollywood’s largest grossing comedy directors Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “Meet the Parents”) and Michigan native, actress Kristen Bell with a sneak preview of her new movie “Hit & Run.” One of the biggest hits of the festival was Roach’s upcoming Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis political comedy, “The Campaign.”

Over 100 filmmakers attended with their films. They participated in free daily panel discussions and the festival’s week long “film school.” Also new this year was the Young Filmmakers Workshop for kids, ages 8-12.

Festival films from every continent except Antarctica were shown. In all, there were 93 features and 117 short films.

This year’s Life Achievement Award went to Academy Award-winner and five time Oscar nominee Susan Sarandon for her incredible achievements in film (she redubbed it the “Mid-Life” Achievement Award, and Michael Moore announced that this is what the award will be called from now on).

World-renowned German filmmaker Wim Wenders was presented with the Visionary Award, as the festival paid tribute to him by screening some of his greatest works. Animation pioneer Winsor McCay was honored with this year’s Michigan Filmmaker Award, which is given to Michigan natives for their contributions to the art of cinema. McCay’s grandson and legendary animator Bill Plympton were present to celebrate his legacy.

Festival board member Larry Charles presented a packed special screening of his latest film “The Dictator,” and another board member, Academy Award-winner Terry George, screened his new comedy “Whole Lotta Sole,” which sold out all three shows.

AWARDS

The top prize this year for Best Picture went to “5 Broken Cameras,” a personal and haunting look at life in a West Bank village as Palestinians attempt to use nonviolence against the violence being inflicted on them over the course of years by the Israeli army. The filmmaker, Emad Burnat, was in attendance. This is his first film. He is a farmer by trade.

Other awards included:

Special Founders Prize: “Margaret” – Kenneth Lonergan
The Kubrick Prize: “The Story of Film: An Odyssey” – Mark Cousins
Jury Prize for Best Foreign Film: “The World Before Her” – Nisha Pahuja
Special Jury Prize for Foreign Film: “The Flat” – Arnon Goldfinger
Jury Prize for Best American Film: “Bidder 70″ – Beth and George Gage
Special Jury Prize for American Film: “Detropia” – Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
Jury Prize for Best Film by a First Time Director: “Sexy Baby” – Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus
Special Jury Prize for a First Time Director: “Missed Connections” – Eric Kissack
Jury Prize for Best Short Film: “43,000 Feet” – Campbell Hooper
Special Jury Prize for Short Film: “Asad” – Bryan Buckley

The Audience Awards winners were:

Top Prize:
“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey”

1st Runner Up:
“Ethel”

2nd First Runner Up:
“Big Boys Gone Bananas*”

The filmmakers visiting the festival included:

Special Sections
Susan Sarandon, Jake Schreier, and Cody Ryder (“Robot & Frank”)
Wim Wenders (“Wings of Desire”)
Jay Roach (“The Campaign”)
Kristen Bell (“Hit & Run”)
Larry Charles (“The Dictator”)
Terry George (“Whole Lotta Sole”)
Danny Bennett, Unjoo Moon, and Jennifer Lebeau (“The Zen of Bennett”)
Julia Reichert (“Growing Up Female”)
Bill Plympton (Winsor McCay Tribute)
Malik Bendjelloul and Sixto Rodriguez (“Searching for Sugar Man”)
Kevin Corrigan (“Supporting Characters,” “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “The Dictator”)
Michael Raisler (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”)

Feature Films
Emad Burnat and family (“5 Broken Cameras”)
Alison Klayman ( “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry”)
Michael McSweeney (“Ashes of America”)
Beth and George Gage (“Bidder 70”)
Fredrik Gertten and Lincoln Bandlow (“Big Boys Gone Bananas!*”)
Alloy Orchestra (“Blackmail”)
Brenna Sanchez, Tom Putnam, and firefighters from Detroit’s Engine Company 50 (“BURN”)
Rebecca Richman Cohen (“Code of the West”)
Pat Healy (“Compliance”)
Craig Atkinson, Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, and Crystal Starr (“Detropia”)
Erik Nelson (“Dinotasia”)
Ramona S. Diaz and Capella Fahoome Brogden (“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey”)
Benjamin Dickinson and Lindsay Burdge (“First Winter”)
Arnon Goldfinger (“The Flat”)
Ron Morales and Rebecca Lundgren (“Graceland”)
David France (“How To Survive a Plague”)
Josh Koury, Myles Kane, Troy Bernier, and Eric Swain (“Journey to Planet X”)
Tony D’Annunzio and Karl Rausch (“Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story”)
Eric Kissack, Lisa Rudin, Kenny Stevenson, Dorien Davies, and Shane Elliott (“Missed Connections”)
Alex Karpovsky (“Red Flag,” “Supporting Characters”)
Sean McAllister (“The Reluctant Revolutionary”)
Scott Thurman (“The Revisionaries”)
Grover Babcock and Blue Hadaegh (“Scenes of a Crime”)
Ronna Gradus, Jill Bauer, Winnifred Bonjean-Alpart and Jennifer Bonjean (“Sexy Baby”)
Chris Kenneally (“Side by Side”)
Bob Byington (“Somebody Up There Likes Me”)
Mark Cousins (“The Story of Film: An Odyssey”)
Craig Juntunen (“Stuck”)
Daniel Schechter (“Supporting Characters”)
Tamara Hardy, Thomas Martinez, and Gabrielle Nakai (“Up Heartbreak Hill”)
Brian Knappenberger (“We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists”)
Amie Williams, Brian Austin, and Melissa Austin (“We Are Wisconsin”)
Amy Berg (“West of Memphis”)
Nisha Pahuja (“The World Before Her”)

Short Films
Bryn Mooser (“Baseball in the Time of Cholera”)
Catherine Murphy (“Maestra”)
Joanna Arnow (“Month One”)
Julia Bacha (“My Neighborhood”)
U of M student filmmakers (U of M Student Films)
Kevin Breslin (“#whilewewatch”)
Philip Lauri (“After the Factory”)
Sandi Bachom “My Occupy”

For more information on this year’s festival, please call 231-392-1134 or visit traversecityfilmfest.org.

Below you’ll find a festival recap featuring footage from the TCFF Videography Team edited by Dan Kelly and a number of interviews with some of the directors at TCFF 2012 edited by Caleb Haydock & Morgan Burke-Beyers.

Festival Recap

Catherine Murphy, Director of Maestra

Josh Koury, co-Director of Journey to Planet X

Ronna Gradus & Jill Bauer, co-directors of Sexy Baby

Pat Healy, actor in Compliance

Bob Byington, Director of Somebody Up There Likes Me

Tony D’Annunzio, Director of Louder Than Love

 Chris Kenneally, Director of Side By Side

Craig “Spike” Decker of Spike & Mike’s Animation Festival

Once again, the TCFF Photography Team has captured some amazing shots of the festival. Click the pictures below to view our photosets and slideshows from each day of the festival and please feel welcome to share YOUR photos on our Facebook!

Tuesday, July 31st	Wednesday, August 1st
Thursday, August 2nd	Friday, August 3rd
Saturday, August 4th	Sunday, August 5th

The 2012 Traverse City Film Festival Audience Awards were extremely close, but in the final tabulations, three clear winners emerged:

Audience Award Winner
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey

First Runner Up
Ethel

Second Runner Up
Big Boys Gone Bananas!*

Hope you were lucky enough to catch one of these films!

The winners of the 2012 Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival are:

Third Place Winner
FREE POPCORN AND BEVERAGES AT THE 2013 TCFF
Will Poland

Second Place Winner
DAY PASS TO THE 2013 TCFF
Sheila Kovalchik

First Place Winner
ALL ACCESS PASS TO THE 2013 TCFF
Tony Barnard

Congratulations to our loyal Friends!

“Each year the Traverse City Film Festival brings some of the world’s greatest films and filmmakers to join our audiences in a six-day celebration of cinema, and this year was bigger and better than ever. Our awards decisions this year were incredibly difficult given the level of talent across the board from filmmakers who have shared their works with us — I commend our juries for selecting some of the bravest films we showed this year.”

~Michael Moore

Click here for the list of awards from the 2012 Traverse City Film Festival. 

It may be the last day of the festival but why not make the most of it? Still have gaps in your TCFF schedule? Here are a few ways to fill them.

MOVIES WITH TICKETS

• West of Memphis, 3 pm, City Opera House
• London River, 6:30 pm, City Opera House
• Turn Me On, Dammit!, 9 pm, City Opera House
• Coriolanus, 9 am, Old Town Playhouse
• Shorts – Winsor McCay, MI Filmmaker Award Winner, 12 noon, Old Town Playhouse
• A Better Life, 9 pm, Old Town Playhouse
• Supporting Characters, 6 pm, Lars Hockstad
• Headhunters, 9 pm, Lars Hockstad
• Shorts – Documentaries 2, 9 am, Milliken Auditorium
• The Reluctant Revolutionary, 6 pm, Milliken Auditorium
• The Revisionaries, 9 pm, Milliken Auditorium

CLINCH PARK MUSIC STAGE

Stop by theClinch Park Music Stage to hear full sets from just a few of TCFF’s wonderful musicians. You’veheard some before your films but there’s nothing like sitting, feeling the breeze off East Bay while listening to these great bands.

• 12 noon – Song of the Lakes
• 1 pm – Don Julin and Billy Strings
• 2 pm – Ron Getz
• 3 pm – Matt Smith
• 4 pm – Jake Allen
• 5 pm – Ruby John
• 6 pm – M-23 Strings

For a full list of musical acts with bios and photos, visit our Music page.

EXTRA KERNELS

A recap of yesterday’s events can be found in the Daily Ticker. If you love all things Traverse City and want to be “in the know,” be sure to get The Ticker, a FREE daily news email packed with local stories, tips, breaking news, events and more.

Check out all of the TCFF 2012 photos on our Flickr and be sure to share your photos on the TCFF Facebook and at #TCFF on Twitter!

Traverse City, MI — The Traverse City Film Festival announced the Jury and special awards of the 2012 festival at the Filmmaker Party on August 4, 2012.

“Each year the Traverse City Film Festival brings some of the world’s greatest films and filmmakers to join our audiences in a six-day celebration of cinema, and this year was bigger and better than ever,” said TCFF Founder and President Michael Moore. “Our awards decisions this year were incredibly difficult given the level of talent across the board from filmmakers who have shared their works with us — I commend our juries for selecting some of the bravest films we showed this year.”

The 2012 Traverse City Film Festival Awards presented this evening were:

FOUNDERS PRIZES

Best Picture
“5 Broken Cameras” | Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi

The Kubrick Prize
“The Story of Film: An Odyssey” | Mark Cousins

Special Founders Prize
“Margaret” | Kenneth Lonergan

WORLD JURY STATEMENT

Best Foreign Film
“The World Before Her” | Nisha Pahuja
The World Jury Grand Prize is given to a film that deftly portrays the search for identity by women who live in a culture that is constantly suppressing them. The plight of women in Indian society is hardly unique in that women are treated as second class citizens or worse in many countries around the world. The women portrayed in this film are yearning to find a path to some kind of self-determination, but their choices are horrifying to the western eye, further underling the limited choices they have available to them.  The filmmaker had amazing access to the subjects, clearly earning their trust and getting them to open up to her and therefore to us. The result is an intimacy that forces us to pay attention, no matter how shocking the images.

Special Jury Prize – Foreign Film
“The Flat” | Arnon Goldfinger
The jury has voted to give a special jury prize to a film that revisits the holocaust in a simple, intimate family story.  Structured as a mystery with unexpected twists and turns, this sophisticated documentary makes us ponder the complexity of human relationships and the desire for closure, and does so with honesty and an ambivalence that avoids easy answers.

US FILM JURY STATEMENT

Best American Film
“Bidder 70″ | Beth and George Gage
“Bidder 70”, a well-made and affecting documentary about one man’s decision to side track imprudent environmental deeds by the US Government, is the Jury’s choice for Best US Film at the 8th Traverse City Film Festival. “Bidder 70” is about this man’s political action and the movement that it grew. The main subject of the film, Tim DeChristopher, made this statement as he faced possible jail time for his environmental  activism; “At this point of unimaginable threats on the horizon, this is what hope looks, …[civil disobedience] is what patriotism looks like.  With countless lives on the line, this is what love looks like, and it will only grow.”  In an excellent field of non-fiction (documentary) and feature length fiction films, “Bidder 70” distinguished itself as a beautifully told story of a hero’s journey filled with passion and sacrifice that tugs at the head and heart to the final scene.

Special Jury Prize – American Film
“Detropia” | Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
“Detropia” is awarded the Special Jury Prize for applying high aesthetic standards of cinema craft in service to its socially relevant and insightful subject matter. “Detropia” is a cinematic “Howl,” a beautiful poem-like documentary that tells a troubling tale of the desperate condition of Michigan’s First City. But hope lives in the city and it is communicated in the beauty of the cinematography, the use of music and by capturing the grit and creativity of Detroit’s people. “Detropia” reflects the tenacious spirit of this once great city; the city that fostered the automobile industry, served as the “Arsenal of Democracy,” created the Motown sound, generated the most important technology and business innovations of early 20th century and,  most importantly, invented and established a viable middle class.  “Detropia” for high artistic achievement is the Special Jury Prize for US Films at the 8th Traverse City Film Festival.

1ST TIME DIRECTORS JURY STATEMENT

Best Film by a First Time Director
“Sexy Baby” | Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus
In a talent-packed field of nine 1st Time Directors, Ronna Gradus and Jill Bauer take the prize with “Sexy Baby.” Great storytelling and great casting of the three featured women makes “Sexy Baby” a must-see, critical conversation starter about the hyper-sexualization of women in American culture. Gradus and Bauer started this critical conversation with TCFF audience members, who are still buzzing about this important and often scary film.

Special Jury Prize – First Time Director
“Missed Connections” | Eric Kissack
At the annual TCFF Humor Panels at the City Opera House, the message is always: comedy is hard. However, in the hands or 1st Time Director Eric Kissack, comedy is easy — or at least it looks easy. Kissack’s “Missed Connections” is a rom-com with heart, featuring a fresh, tight ensemble cast. To make his comedy about friends and connections, Kissack used his own friends and connections. And he pulled it off on a shoe string budget, proving once again, on screen and off, that’s what friends are for.

SHORT FILM JURY STATEMENT

Best Short Film
“43,000 Feet” | Campbell Hooper
Exquisite visuals and style, an inventive script, and unpredictable narrative structure make this film an entertaining and evocative rumination on time, fate, life and death.

Special Jury Prize – Short Films
“Asad” | Bryan Buckley
A taut script, an ebullient spirit, and amazing performances from its non-actor cast make this a touching coming-of-age narrative.

Special Jury Mention – Short Films
“Grandmothers (Abuelas)” | Afarin Eghbal
In its integration of creative and inventive technique and inspirational content, this short documentary film embodies the spirit of the Traverse City film festival in its “enrichment of the human spirit and the art of filmmaking.”

Special Jury Mention – Short Films
“CatCam” | Seth Keal
Spot-on structural choices, witty visuals, and “cats-eye view” of the world make this an engrossing and heartwarming short.

Special Jury Mention – Funniest Short Film
“Zoltan: The Hungarian Gangster of Love” | Justin Reardon
With a black and white cinematic style that highlights its quirky “Felliniesque” cast of characters, this short film is highly original, utterly unpredictable, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Additional Jury Mention – Short Films
The shorts jurors want to recognize and applaud the activist spirit, the spirit of citizen journalism, and the collective spirit of ALL four of the inspired occupy shorts.
“#whilewewatch” – Kevin Bresslin
“Gravity Hill Newsreels”- Jem Cohen
“Month One” –  Joanna Arnow, Suki Hawley, Michael Galinsky
“My Occupy” – Sandi Bachom

The Downtown Traverse City Association and Traverse City Film Festival have chosen winners for the 2012 TCFF Window Display Contest!

Judging was based on: (1) presentation based on film & the film festival, (2) originality and creativity, and (3) use of the retailer’s merchandise in the presentation.

And the winners are…

Honorable Mention: Wilson Antiques

The first-place winner, Toy Harbor, for their amazing “Thelma and Louise” puppets edition receives two State Theatre all-access passes good for one year and two tickets to tonight’s Filmmaker Party.

Second place, Cherry Republic for their awesome use of Cherry movie puns receives a $25 gift card and twelve tickets to the State Theatre.

Third place, Becky Thatcher with the beautiful movie jewelry display will receive a gift basket of TCFF merchandise.

An honorable mention goes to Wilson Antiques who had the misfortune of someone breaking their window during their display setup.

We want to thank the following additional downtown shops for their enthusiasm and participation:

• Boyne Country Sports
• Brilliant Books
• Federico’s
• Kidz Art
• Miner’s North
• Robert Frost Shoes

Thanks to all of the downtown shops offering discounts and TCFF themed promotions and items this week – we LOVE your spirit!

Go behind the scenes with one of the jurors of this year’s Traverse City Film Festival to see how he balances home, work, and play.

By Aubrey Ann Parker

Aaron Olson and his daughter

“I’m hardcore,” said Aaron Olson. “There was a time when the average number of films I’d see was about 25 in five days. Then it got up to 32. This year it’s close to 50.”

Though the 8th annual Traverse City Film Festival only started on Tuesday evening at 6pm, by noon on Thursday, Olson had already seen 18 movies this week, including eight straight in a row … lasting a total of only 75 minutes, or just shy of 10 minutes each.

Olson is one of four of this year’s Shorts judges. Since its inception in 2007 (there were no awards given the first two years of the TCFF), Olson has served on the juror panel, typically for the documentary films. But this year, the festival changed things up a bit by integrating documentary films with fiction films for judging, meaning double the movies. This meant Olson needed to change things up a bit, too.

As a full-time father of a rambunctious toddler and the head of the Audio Visual department at the Traverse City Public Library, adding a week of film after film after film is a delicate balance — or a clever juggling act, as Olson likes to put it — but one that he certainly didn’t want to give up on.

Though he’s seeing close to 50 films this year, a personal record, they are broken down into just seven sessions, which is a lot more manageable. There are two sets of Short Documentaries in this year’s Shorts grouping, which also includes Kids Shorts, Occupy Shorts, Midnight Shorts, and two sets of Fiction Shorts.

Judging

Audience at the Shorts for Kids Screening

Craft. Emotional impact. Technical expertise. Good storytelling. These are what make a good film, Olson said.

Though he couldn’t (and wouldn’t) say which films he’s leaning toward — the official results will be announced during the Filmmakers Party on Saturday — Olson would give his take on each of films in the Shorts Documentaries (2), which he had seen on Wednesday evening.*

He had no clear favorite to pick out, but Olson would go on the record as saying that it was “a pretty knock-out set.”

• Aaron Burr, Part 2 was “funny as hell.” It was the “historically interesting” story of a man who would found the New York Post, then go on to be president, mixing modern landscapes and period-piece landscapes in the background, giving the film a “little urban under-toe.”
• “Baseball in the Time of Cholera really kicked my ass,” Olson said. “It was such an inconceivably terrible account of the trials and tribulations of the post-hurricane era for a young Haitian boy. The storytelling was really good, and the emotional impact was pretty huge.” (For those who are unfamiliar with the cholera outbreak in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010, the United Nations appointed a Nepalese battalion, which was set up next to a river, to help. But Nepal had experienced their own cholera outbreak just a year before, and it is believed that these UN workers infected the only fresh water in the area, which led to a total of 30,000 people sickened and 7,000 who died.)
• “There was this charming little film called Cat Cam,” Olson said, of a film in which an electronic specialist rigs up tiny cameras to document what his cat’s life is like while he’s away from the house. “It was really well done. It wasn’t technically perfect and it didn’t have an emotional connection, per se, but for some reason, there’s something very magical about a crafty European looking at America through a fresh pair of eyes.”
• Abuelas (Spanish for “Grandmothers”), a 9-minute documentary that tells the heart-wrenching tale of child abductions, really struck a chord with Olson, who himself has a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. “That was a strong little film. Very well done. Very good storytelling and stop-animation graphics.”
• I’m Never Afraid was one of the longer films in the set, lasting 20 minutes total, and juxtaposes the story of an eight-year-old thrill seeker performing death-defying acts while watching death all around him.
• Meanwhile, Little Team, about a group of Spaniard kids playing soccer, was “a good root-for-the-underdog movie that was really cute and done really well,” Olson said.
• Paradise, about Chicago window-washers, was fresh, Olson said, in that it told the unknown story of “what they go through, up in the skies washing our windows.”

Missing Out?

“Docs can be draining,” Olson said of his five years experience on the documentary panel, given that the typical subject matter runs deeply into intellectual and emotional territory. “But I, personally, want to be exposed to all of that information, because I feel a lot richer and more aware for it.”

Olson isn’t worried, however that he is missing the feature-length documentaries this year. He knows that he won’t be missing out.

Every year, all of the films shown during the TCFF become available at the library for people who couldn’t get tickets or who had to work or who have toddlers — or whatever the reason may be. And, Olson added, the Traverse Area District Library has all the titles from past film festivals, as well, so you can easily catch up on everything that you’ve missed the past seven years.

“When you type in TCFF to our new Web site, you’re able to see a complete list of all the TCFF titles and put them on hold,” Olson advised.

Last year, Olson also introduced streaming video to the Traverse City online library community. Users can find E-books, audio books, language classes, and even investment tips. Olson said that right now he’s crazy about the educational videos, called Access Video, with more than 12,000 titles.

He’s hoping that the new site, assisted by an increasing interplay with Up North media outlets, is also going to be a place to find information on community-based events that are going on, as well as a way to facilitate more community forums to further discussions — like those started by the TCFF.

Community Enhancement

Just as Olson is the curator of everything film and music at the library, he sees the TCFF, and Michael Moore, as a curator of information for the community. “Which is such an awareness-tightening experience,” Olson said. “Because it’s pretty easy to get into a normal rhythm with life, where you don’t have to challenge yourself and look outside of your microcosm.

“It’s pretty amazing just to have this thing that catapults us into an international and beyond kind of awareness of our world,” he went on. “And I think our community is way richer for it, and everybody should recognize that and follow up on it.”

One way that Olson suggests doing that is by coming into the library to check out the films you weren’t able to see this week. Because “it’s just not physically possible” to see them all, Olson said. And he knows — he’s basically tried.

In the past, when he was judging the full-length documentaries, it wasn’t outside the norm for Olson to go from 9am to 11 at night. Two hours of films, he said, with a half hour break randomly here or there — more than 50 hours of sitting in a seat, spread out over four or five days.

“Though it’s the highest number I’ve seen at the film festival,” Olson said of the 50 or so films he’ll see by Friday night, “it’s a lot different than having to pack so many full-length doc films into such a short time. I live a very full life. But there are no juggling chainsaws this year, just the occasional broken bottle, which isn’t usually life threatening.”

Aubrey Ann Parker, a Traverse City native, returned to Northern Michigan after obtaining degrees in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Spanish from Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan. In addition to dabbling in freelance writing and photography, she is the assistant editor for Circle of Blue, a journalism organization reporting the global water crisis.

***NOTE: The author of this article had seen Shorts Documentaries (1), which is why she asked Olson to describe the films she hadn’t seen in Shorts Documentaries (2). This is not to give any assumptions that Olson gave preference to the documentary sets in general, or to Shorts Documentaries (2) in particular, but rather just to give readers insight into what Olson had to say about one particular set of short films he saw.

Yesterday’s free Comedy Panel!

Good morning filmgoers!

We’ve reached the weekend but don’t write the festival off yet! Click here for photos from Friday, August 3 that include the first ever Filmmakers vs Volunteers Softball Classic!

The temps are supposed to climb into the mid-90′s today. And while that may be great news for beachgoers, it will probably be uncomfortable for most moviegoers. Prepare for the weather – bring water and an umbrella to stay out of sun.

We don’t want you to lose your place in line searching for hydration so the TCFF staff will also walk along the queues selling water to anyone who needs to cool down.

MOVIES WITH TICKETS

Filmmaker vs Volunteer Softball Game

We say it every day but there are still plenty of tickets available.

• West of Memphis – 9 am, Old Town Playhouse
• Tahrir: Liberation Square – 9 am, Milliken Auditorium
• Shorts – Fiction 1 – 12 Noon, City Opera House
• Dinotasia – 12 Noon, Lars Hockstad
• Shorts – Fiction 2 – 3 pm, Old Town Playhouse
• Red Flag – 9 pm, City Opera House
• Journey to Planet X - 9 pm, Lars Hockstad
• Code of the West – 9 pm, Milliken Auditorium
• The Raid: Redemption – 12 Midnight, State Theatre
• Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame – 12 Midnight, Old Town Playhouse

Fun Times at Kid’s Fest!

KIDS FEST

Today is the last day of Kids Fest. It’s been so much fun so far so if you haven’t taken your kids yet, don’t miss out on the last day of this great event. Today’s $1 film is Legends of Valhalla: Thor. Every kid who goes to the film gets a Kids Fest passport stamped with After the film, check out the lawn party, “Movie Style: Make Up, Costumes and Set Design.” For a full rundown on today’s activities, click here.

OPEN SPACE

The Open Space movie tonight is yet another great thing to bring the kids to: WALL-E. As always, the film starts at dusk so bring a blanket or a lawn chair to see this great film about a robot that embarks on an adventure that will change the fat of mankind.

FILM SCHOOL

There are still tickets available to today’s two film school events for just $5 each.

• 12 Noon – Horror, Roger Corman, and Me, Instructor Larry Brand (“Halloween: Resurrection”)
• 3 pm – The TCFF Filmmaker Roundtable Answers Your Questions, With moderator Michael Webber and a panel of TCFF filmmakers including Bob Byington (“Somebody Up There Likes Me”); Beth and George Gage (“Bidder 70″); Sean McAllister (“The Reluctant Revolutionary”); and Michael McSweeney (“Ashes of America”)

Old Town Playhouse

EXTRA KERNELS

A recap of yesterday’s events can be found in the Daily Ticker. If you love all things Traverse City and want to be “in the know,” be sure to get The Ticker, a FREE daily news email packed with local stories, tips, breaking news, events and more. Click here for today’s ticker.

Check out all of the TCFF 2012 photos on our Flickr and be sure to share your photos on the TCFF Facebook and at #TCFF on Twitter!

As if the Traverse City Film Festival didn’t offer up enough cool activities with movies, parties, music and more, 2012 saw the first-ever TCFF Volunteer vs Filmmaker softball game! The Filmmakers prevailed 9-5, led by Sam Skolnik’s 3 run homer in the top of the 6th inning, but you can bet that Miguel Cabrera & Prince Fielder will be getting an invite to volunteer in 2013!

Here’s a slideshow of photos from the game!

The temps are supposed to climb into the mid-90′s Saturday. And while that may be great news for beachgoers, it will probably be uncomfortable for most moviegoers. Prepare for the weather – bring water and an umbrella to stay out of sun.

We don’t want you to lose your place in line searching for hydration so the TCFF staff will also walk along the queues selling water to anyone who needs to cool down.

The early returns from our Audience Award ballots are in! Here are the top ten films of the festival through Friday night, as chosen by the YOU, the TCFF audience (in alphabetical order):

• 5 Broken Cameras
• Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
• Bernie
• Bidder 70
• Big Boys Gone Bananas!*
• Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey
• Ethel
• Hysteria
• Liberal Arts
• Monsieur Lazhar

See what your fellow festival-goers have been raving about! Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s screening Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.

The final results will be tallied and the winners will be announced on Sunday. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the festival. Who do you think will take home the prize?

Kristen Bell of Hit & Run making her handprints

This morning at 9:30 AM don’t miss the first ever TCFF Filmmaker vs Volunteer Softball Game!!! It’s at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center (enter off of Garfield Drive)!

Can you believe it’s already Day 4? We hope you’ve enjoyed your time so far but there’s still plenty of fun things to do the rest of the week. Click here for photos from Thursday, August 2 (more on the way!)

MOVIES WITH TICKETS

There are still plenty of tickets available to some really great movies:

• “Journey to Planet X” – State Theatre, 12 noon
• “Shorts: Occupy Wall Street” – City Opera House, 12 noon
• “The Story of Film: An Odyssey” – Old Town Playhouse, 12 noon
• “Payback” – City Opera House, 3 pm
• “Side by Side” – Old Town Playhouse, 6 pm
• “Sleepless Night” – Lars Hockstad, 9 pm

KIDS FEST

Today’s $1 Kids Fest film is “The Crocodiles” at Lars Hockstad at 9:30 am. After the film, head out to the lawn in front of Lars Hockstad “The Power of Imagination” Day at Kids Fest. For a full rundown on today’s activities, click here.

OPEN SPACE

Tonight at the Open Space we honor the memory of Nora Ephron with a showing of her film “When Harry Met Sally.” The film starts at dusk so bring a blanket or a lawn chair to see the classic starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal and directed by Rob Reiner (“The Princess Bride,” TCFF ’05) that asks the question: can men and women ever just be friends?

FILM SCHOOL

“It’s like having NYU Film School in Traverse City,” says Festival Founder Michael Moore. Tickets are still available for $5 to both of the Film School sessions today at Scholars Hall at NMC.

• 12 noon – Music Docs Rock, Instructor Tony D’Annunzio (“Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story”)
• 3 pm – Best Acting Class Ever, Instructors Robert Rayher and Pamela Guest

EXTRA KERNELS

A recap of yesterday’s events can be found in the Daily Ticker. If you love all things Traverse City and want to be “in the know,” be sure to get The Ticker, a FREE daily news email packed with local stories, tips, breaking news, events and more. Click here for today’s Ticker.

Check out all of the TCFF 2012 photos on our Flickr and be sure to share your photos on the TCFF Facebook and at #TCFF on Twitter!

Searching for Sugar Man

The Detroit Free Press has a feature that looks at how movies about Detroit are taking center stage at Traverse City Film Festival. Michael Moore says that Detroit’s growing presence as a topic of interest in the film world is an organic thing:

“Nobody got together in a big meeting to decide to do all this about Detroit and in Detroit or whatever,” he said. “Things in society and culture happen in this sort of serendipitous way.”

The showcase Moore is giving Detroit at the Traverse City festival is helping to spread the word about how and why artists are being drawn to the Motor City.

“Where the artists go, where the creative people go, the people who are marching to a different drummer — change occurs when they show up,” Moore said. “Filmmakers now are inspired by the Detroit story, to weave it into their story, not just come here for a tax incentive or to get the backdrop of some smokestacks, but because there’s something about the heart.”

Detropia

Heidi Ewing, who grew up in Farmington Hills, is half of the Oscar-nominated filmmaking team (along with Rachel Grady) behind “Detropia.” She thinks Detroit is having a moment in the cultural zeitgeist.

“Detroit has always been — fairly or not — a representation of how much we can achieve as well as how far we can fall. The city looms large in the American imagination and is a touchstone for conversations about our economic prowess, persistent issues of racial inequality and the future of our cities,” she said via e-mail Wednesday.

It’s a testament to the timeliness of these films that all are sold out. Our opening film, Searching for Sugar Man, is already slated for national distribution. Here’s hoping that more will be coming to a big screen near you!

The Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) and sustaining sponsor FIM Group have announced the winners of the 2012 TCFF Bumper Contest. The winners will be presented with their awards at the Filmmaker Party on Saturday, August 4.

Congratulations go to Lesley Alicia Tye, Colin Campbell, Ellyn Church and Anthony Penta for their bumper “2012 A TC Odyssey.” The team will receive a $1,000 prize for their winning entry.

Bud Solem and Karl Bastian took the second prize of $350 with “Diversity.”

The third prize winner of $150 was Caroline Schaefer-Hills with “Lake Michigan.”

Other entries include Todd Gillissie with “Inquisitive,” Mardi Link with “Two Kinds of TCFF Cool,” Jonathon Rudolph with “The Tour,” Marilyn Dresser with “50 Shades of Cool,” Tom Mair with “The Making Of…“, and Jake Wallach with “High Five.”

The contest challenge was to create bumpers that tackled the subject Why TC is Cool. The contest winners were selected by a group of judges from FIM Group and the film festival.

In addition to the cash prize, the winning film bumpers are being shown on the big screen before feature films during the festival. All three winners premiered at the Opening Night film.

Good morning filmgoers!

We hope you enjoyed the first full day of the festival – click for some photos from Wednesday, August 1st! There are still plenty of tickets available to today’s movies so if you’ve got space in your schedule be sure to check out one or two of these great movies:

• The Story of Film: An Odyssey – Old Town Playhouse, 12 noon
• Films from the Early Women’s Health Movement – Milliken Auditorium, 3 pm
• Graceland – City Opera House, 9 pm
• Jackpot – State Theatre, Midnight
• …and check out the TCFF Ticket Swap page!

KIDS FEST

Parents, have you taken your kids to Kids Fest yet? Today, Friday and Saturday, kids and their parents are invited to join us first for a $1 movie in Lars Hockstad Auditorium at 9:30 am and then on the beautiful lawn outside Lars Hockstad Auditorium from 11 am to 2 pm for games, arts and crafts, performances, sports, and much, much more!

Today’s Kids Fest film is “Magic Piano” & Other Kids’ Shorts and today’s Lawn Party is Performance Day with performances from Healthy Performers and Safe Stunts.

OPEN SPACE

All day at the Clinch Park Music Stage, just a few of the great TCFF musicians will be playing hour-long sets. The musicians featured today are:

• 12 noon – Sears-Chown Student Jazz Combo
• 1 pm – Dan Jacobs and Friends
• 2:30 pm – Miriam Pico
• 4 pm – Bo Bossa
• 5:30 pm – Front Street Big Band

If you have some time in between films, go sit in the sun and feel the cool breeze off Grand Traverse East Bay while listening to some just great music.

Tonight’s Open Space film is “Rebel Without a Cause,” the 1955 classic film that made James Dean famous.

FILM SCHOOL

Tickets are still available for today’s Film Schools.

• 12 Noon – Audio Tech: Field Recorders, Instructor Frank George
• 3 pm – Film School Confessions, Instructor Jim Burnstein

Everyone is welcome, not just film students. Don’t miss the chance to learn from some of the best in the industry. For all information about instructors and sessions, click here.

EXTRA KERNELS

A recap of yesterday’s events can be found in the Daily Ticker. If you love all things Traverse City and want to be “in the know,” be sure to get The Ticker, a FREE daily news email packed with local stories, tips, breaking news, events and more. Subscribe free here and click here to read today’s Ticker!

Check out all of the TCFF 2012 photos on our Flickr and be sure to share your photos on the TCFF Facebook and at #TCFF on Twitter!

Click the photo below for a slideshow of photos from Day 1 of the 2012 Traverse City Film Festival from our festival photogs and share your own on the TCFF Facebook or by Twitter to #TCFF!

Michael Moore and Sixto Rodriguez of Searching for Sugar Man, photo by Brian Harwood

“You’re going to need a bigger box.”

By Aubrey Ann Parker

Michael Moore and Luke Herberger, a young supporter of the Vogue Theater in Manistee by Alan Newton

Eight-year-old Luke Herberger got up on stage last night, seemingly without a speck of intimidation, despite the full house he faced. In his hands he held an old cigar box.

“I’ve got 20 bucks for you here, Luke,” came a friendly female voice from the front row of the State Theater.

Michael Moore took some time before the opening film of the 8th annual Traverse City Film Festival to remind the anticipatory audience that from sea to shining sea, beautiful American theaters are sitting boarded up and unused on Main Streets across the country. Dust in their windowsills. Cobwebs in their seats. Their roofs about to collapse upon themselves.

One such example is the 74-year-old Vogue Theater on River Street in downtown Manistee, Michigan.

Past, Present, Future. Photos courtesy of The Vogue Theater on Facebook.

“There are no working movie theaters in Manistee County,” Moore said. On a given Saturday evening, moviegoers have the option of driving a half hour south to Ludington, a half hour north to Frankfort, or an hour northwest to Traverse City if they want to see a film.

But the community of Manistee is rallying and has raised more than $1 million to reopen the Vogue. Renovations have already begun on the movie emporium, with hopes of opening by Christmas. Only $200,000 shy of their goal  — perhaps through word of mouth and the goodwill of their neighbors to the northwest — Manistee might reach their goal.

At least, that’s what one young Manistee resident is hoping.

Luke’s Licious Lemonade for sale via his mobile unit at a block party last Friday. Funds to help renovate the Vogue Theater in Manistee. Photos courtesy of The Vogue Theater on Facebook.

As a fundraiser for the Vogue, Luke has spent his summer away from the classroom selling lemonade, “with real lemon slices in it.” Luke told the audience how the collection of coins in the box that he carried with him on stage last night began as a lemonade stand at a garage sale. It then expanded as a “mobile” unit that could be moved to downtown Manistee, to the farmers’ market, and finally to a block party last Friday, where Luke’s mix of entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropical dedication caught the attention of Michael Moore, who invited the young boy to pitch the TCFF opening night audience.

The young boy explained that he lives just down the street from the Vogue Theater, and he’s excited for it to re-open. “I could ask my mom if I could go to the movies, and she would say, ‘Sure, Luke.’ And then I’d go.”

Luke added that he’ll be attending adventure movies, “not big, scary movies.”

Tim Ervin, interim executive director of Manistee’s Alliance for Economic Success, says that the Vogue has already received an outpouring of calls, emails, inquiries, and donations just in the past 18 hours since Luke took the stage last night.

To donate time or money and for more information, visit voguetheatremanistee.org.

The Traverse City Film Festival 2012 is pleased to announce the return of the Kids Festival and Lawn Party. This fun venue will feature a family friendly party and oasis on the lawn outside of Lars Hockstad Auditorium Wednesday, August 1 – Saturday, August 4, from 11 am to 2 pm.  Rain or shine, we are offering many free or low-cost activities!

FUN AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES CENTERED AROUND FILM 
Wednesday – Saturday, we will feature a $1 movie for kids, Cardboard “Movie Set Castle” fort,  live performances, lawn games,  a children’s talent exhibition as well as several themed activities each day:

• Wednesday- The Importance of Sound: Soundtracks and Sound Effects
• Thursday- Healthy Performers and Safe Stunts
• Friday- The Power of Imagination: Stories and Screenplays
• Saturday- Behind the scenes: Make-up, Costumes and Set Design

FANTASTIC FAMILY FILMS FROM THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD 

To add to the fun, every child will receive a “passport” which will get stamped at every movie they attend, along with a flag of the movie’s country of origin at the finish of the film.  Don’t miss these great movies; even parents will be glad they attended!

“Circus Dreams” (2011, USA, NR, 83 min)
WED 9:30 AM LARS

Some kids are natural-born entertainers, and for the American youngsters who discover a passion for the circus arts, Circus Smirkus is a natural home. Each year, the only traveling youth circus in the US assembles the finest young performers for a summer tour of 70 shows. This great documentary captures it all, from the grueling auditions to the inspiring success of a standing ovation. Meet clowns, trapeze artists and jugglers as they experience the highs and lows of collaborative performance, polish their acts and nervously await the audience’s reaction. “Circus Dreams” perfectly balances the fun of the circus with behind-the-scenes drama in a moving demonstration of what dedication, passion, talent and ambition make possible—no matter what your demographic. This film is appropriate for all ages; the little ones will watch the performances in awe, but thematically the film is better suited for slightly older kids (ages 8-11)

“Shorts for Kids” (75 min)
THU 9:30 AM LARS

A perennial favorite of Kids Fest programming, our collection of short films from all over the world this year features the 25-minute masterwork “Magic Piano,” about a young girl named Anna whose father is forced to leave her in Warsaw with her aunt so he can go to London in search of work. While trying to hide from her annoying cousin Chip-Chip, she discovers a magic piano in a garbage pile that transports them over the ocean through stormy weather to a safe harbor. Shortlisted for an Oscar, “Magic Piano” is one in a series of shorts set to Chopin’s études. This year’s shorts also introduce us to a frenetic beaver, a life-saving fox, Martians having a picnic, a mouse who wants a friend, and everyone’s favorite Android, Floyd. Appropriate for all ages.

• Damned Richard Phelan | 2011 | UK | 8 min.
• Ernesto Corinne Ladeinde | 2011 | UK | 7 min.
• Floyd the Android Jonathan Lyons | 2011 | USA | 4 min.
• The Girl and the Fox Tyler J. Kupferer | 2011 | USA | 6 min.
• Kahanikar – The Storyteller Nandita Jain | 2011 | UK | 11 min.
• Magic Piano Martin Clapp | 2011 | China, Norway, Poland | 30 min.
• A Martian Picnic Patrick Neary | 2012 | USA | 6 min.
• Mouse for Sale Wouter Bongaerts | 2010 | Belgium | 5 min.

“The Crocodiles” (2009, Germany, NR, 98 min)
FRI 9:30 AM LARS

Bring your tweens to meet the German equivalent of “The Goonies” in this blockbuster hit from across the ocean. The Crocodiles are a close-knit group of 11-year-old friends who build forts, issue dares to one another, and generally horse around. Then a resourceful newcomer to town wants in on the gang, and his wheelchair becomes an issue. Part “The Outsiders,” part Hardy Boys, part “Stand By Me,” this fast-paced, mystery-driven film breaks down stereotypes and celebrates the bonds of friendship. Warning: dialogue in this German film is stronger than an American audience may be used to. Slurs and stereotypes are expressed not for shock value, but rather as part of a larger and more important narrative about kids learning how hurtful their exclusionary actions and hateful words can be… and then how we learn to make amends. (ages11-14)

“Legends of Valhalla: Thor” (2011, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, NR, 85 min)

SAT 9:30 AM LARS (ages 4-7)

Pack up your young superheroes and come see the story of Thor’s beginnings, created by animators from Iceland over the course of seven years. It’s a delightful, beautifully animated and original take on the story of young Thor, who lives in a peaceful village with his human mother, and doesn’t have much to do with his father Odin, King of the Gods. But when an army of giants and Hel, the Queen of the Underworld, attack the village, Thor must foil an evil plot that endangers the world of both men and the Gods. Fortunately for Thor, a talking hammer named Crusher falls from the sky, claiming to be an all-powerful weapon. If your kids like Disney and Dreamworks films, this one is for them, with great characters who spring off the screen, and comedy that plays for the young and old alike.

So come inside and enjoy a $1 film, then  join us outside on the beautiful Lars Hockstad lawn for games, arts and crafts, performances, sports, bubbles, music, tiny tots area, family comfort station, food, give aways, misting tents courtesy of Team Bobs, and much more!

At each of our film screenings, we offer everyone a little pre-movie entertainment in the form of musical acts from the Northern Michigan area and beyond. With over 70 acts and 200 musicians performing, TCFF is the now the second-largest music festival in Michigan. The music is diverse and for all ages with multiple genres for everyone’s listening pleasure.

CLINCH PARK MUSTIC STAGE

Have a little time between your movies? Just want a break from work? Head down to the Clinch Park Music Stage and listen to some of our Traverse City Film Festival 2012 musicians right on Grand Traverse Bay. Musicians will play full sets starting at noon and running until 7 pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Wednesday, August 1- Americana Day

12-1 — Tone Soup

1-2:30 – The True Falsettos

2:30-4 – Jennifer Westwood and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys

4-5:30 – Adler and Hearne

5:30-7 – Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys

Thursday, August 2 – Jazz and Beyond

12-1 – Sears – Chown Student Jazz Combo

1-2:30 – Dan Jacobs and Friends

2:30 -4 – TBD

4-5:30 – Bo Bossa

5:30-7 – Front Street Big Band

Saturday, August 4 – The Originals

12-1:00 – Suzanne and Jim

1-2:00 – Kaiser Cartel

2 – 3:00 – Blake Elliott and the Robinson Affair

3 – 4:00 – Lena Maude

4 – 5:00 – THUNDERCLAP!

5:00-6:00 – Saldaje

6:00-7:00 – Ratone
Sunday, August 5 – The Legends

12-1:00 – Song of the Lakes

1-2:00 – Don Julin and Billy Strings

2:00-3:00 – Matt Smith

3-4:00 – Jake Allen

4-5:00 – Ruby John

5-6:00 – M-23 Strings

OPEN SPACE MUSICIAN SCHEDULE 2012

Before you see one our wonderful classic Open Space movies, sit by the glorious Grand Traverse Bay and listen to some great music! The performances start at 7pm and go until the movie starts.

Tuesday, July 31 – Footloose

7:00pm – Magdalen Fossum

8:00pm – Jennifer Westwood and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys

9:00pm – Kevin Reeves

Wednesday, August 1 – Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan

7:00pm – Motus Mixtus

8:00pm – Jake Allen Band

9:00pm – Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys

Thursday, August 2 – Rebel Without a Cause

7:00pm – The Accidentals

8:00pm – Billy Strings and Don Julin

9:00pm – Medicinal Groove

Saturday, August 4 – Wall-E

7:00pm – David Jake

8:00pm – The Bergamot

9:00pm – Midnight Cattle Callers

View all performer bios here!

The TCFF is for everyone, no pocket book required! Using the tips below, you can enjoy world class movie fun and excitement from morning to night for FREE, or low cost, every day at the film fest.

FREE Movies in Open Space Park 

What could be better than a free movie by the bay, under the Big Dipper? Come out to the Open Space and enjoy a showing of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” the James Dean classic “Rebel without a Cause,” Nora Ephron’s “When Harry Met Sally,” and Pixar’s “Wall-E.” There’s also a special “People’s Choice” showing of the original “Footloose” on Tuesday. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for an evening out with the whole family as you watch some of Hollywood’s most beloved classics on a ginormous screen right on the Bay at dusk. Arrive early at 7 pm for FREE music and entertainment.

FREE Panels at the City Opera House 

Running Wednesday to Sunday each morning at 9:30 am, our FREE filmmaker panels bring together movie luminaries for lively, no-holds-barred conversations you won’t see anywhere else. Pull up a seat and listen in while filmmakers from all over the world discuss “Women Women Women,” “Film is Dead! Long Live Floppy Disks!” and “Who’s Laughing Now?”  The Michigan Film Commission will also hold a public meeting during the Friday panel, and on Sunday, don’t miss a one on one conversation between MIchael Moore and the great filmmaker Wim Wenders. What happens in Traverse City stays in Traverse City!

FREE Discussions at the Cinema Salon

Following certain 12 pm and 3 pm screenings, you can join fellow movie lovers at the Cinema Salon in Lay Park for informal discussions in the round.  Connect with other passionate filmgoers, voice your opinion, and gain new insight.

FREE Music in Clinch Park 

Relax by one of Traverse City’s most popular beaches while enjoying the musical talents of some of our area’s leading artists.

FREE Kids Fest and $1 Films

Bring your kids to the Wednesday-Saturday 9:30 am kids films at Lars Hockstad Auditorium for a cultural and educational adventure, and then walk outside onto the beautiful lawn for our FREE lawn party that is simply brimming with fun. Your kids won’t want to leave — especially when they see the misting tents we have this year!

Film School Classes 

For the low low price of just $5, you can learn about filmmaking from world-class experts, U of M professors and visiting filmmakers— a truly invaluable experience for any budding filmmaker or film fan. Talk about a return on investment! And this year, we’ve even added a special “Young Filmmakers Workshop: for kids ages 8-12!

After Glows at Fire Fly 

Can’t afford a party ticket? Get a taste of the festival revelry by heading to Fire Fly for late night gatherings on Saturday and Sunday.

FREE Movies for Volunteers 

If you can volunteer for three shifts or more, you will receive a FREE volunteer tshirt and attend the FREE pre-fest volunteer screening and post-fest volunteer party, all while making an important contribution to the festival you love. Plus, at the volunteer screening, we hand out free festival tickets to volunteers! Sign up on our web site today at traversecityfilmfest. org, or call the festival office at 231-392-1134.

Don’t miss your chance to see some fantastic films this summer.  Tickets for the Traverse City Film Festival 2012 go on sale for Friends of the Film Festival on Sunday, July 15, and to the general public Saturday, July 21.  Ticket prices are the same as last year!

Three Simple Ways to Get Tickets

Purchasing your tickets is easy. Just:

• order online at www.traversecityfilmfest.org
• call our box office at 231-929-FILM (phone will be activated on July 15), or
• visit the box office at its new location: ­­­­­­­125 Park Street across from the Park Place Hotel

Box Office Hours
Pre-festival:  July 15-30 – 11 am to 7 pm Monday-Saturday.  11 am-5 pm Sunday
During festival: July 31-Aug 5 – 9 am to 9 pm Tuesday-Saturday. 9 am-5 pm Sunday
Opening Sales for Friends of the Film Festival: Sunday, July 15
Opening Sales for general public: Saturday, July 21
On both opening days, walk up and phone hours begin at 11 am. Online sales begin at 6 pm.

New Location, Same Convenience, Great Service

We’ve moved our box office this year just ½ block off of Front Street, to the corner of State and Park Streets. And we’ve got a great volunteer team standing by, ready to assist you with merchandise and ticket sales.

“We’re excited about improvements at the box office this year,” reports Linda Koebert, TCFF manager. “Our computer system is easier than ever to use, our phones inform callers when lines are busy, and our staff has even more training than before.  We want everyone’s festival experience –starting with ticket purchases– to be easy.”

“The new box office will also feature a comfortable, air-conditioned lounge where folks can view continuously running movie trailers and make final ticketing decisions with the help of our friendly staff, who have a lot of great information about every film.  I like to think of the Box Office as the Welcome Wagon for the entire festival, “ Koebert says.

Don’t Worry; There Are More Movies Than Ever!

It’s a common misperception that the festival sells out. Not true! And with more films featured than in any previous year, it’s easy to attend movies that fit your interest and schedule. Sure, a few of the more well-known films might fill up quickly, but don’t despair;  you still have an excellent chance of getting a ticket by visiting the “stand by” line shortly before the movie. Or, you can just close your eyes and point to any movie in the Film Guide. Whether it’s a cool short, an edgy documentary, a moving tribute,  a foreign flick, a Hollywood classic, or a new narrative… for TCFF 2012, as for every year, we promise nothing but “just (infinitely) great movies.”

The 2012 Traverse City Film Festival gives you plenty of opportunities to celebrate our week of “Just Great Movies.”

NEW!  Friends Only Screening Party (It’s not too late to become a Friend of the Film Festival and attend this celebration)

• Saturday, July 28, 1 pm & 4 pm
• Lars Hockstad Auditorium
• Admission:  Friend of the Film Festival enrollment

This year we’ve switched things up; instead of the ice cream social, Friends get the chance to see two amazing movies FREE, movies that won’t be shown anywhere else at the Festival.  As our special thanks, “BURN” and “The Intouchables” will be shown in Friends Only screenings.  Click here for more information.

Founders Party (It’s not too late to sponsor a film and attend this celebration)

• Sunday, July 29, 1 pm Rain or Shine
• The State Theatre and Ciccone Vineyards & Winery
• Admission: Festival Sponsorship

This annual extravaganza is exclusively for festival sponsors. It features a sneak preview of one of the festival’s best films, “The Queen of Versailles.” Sponsors attend a screening at the State Theatre, followed by a party at Ciccone Vineyards & Winery.  It’s a great time in one of the area’s most beautiful locations.

Opening Night Party

• Tuesday, July 31, 8:30 pm Rain or Shine
• Front Street (200 Block) between Park and Cass Streets
• Admission: $50

Kick off the TCFF with a celebration of “Just Great Movies” on Tuesday night. Local cuisine, libations, music, dancing and more!  Meet up with Friends, and join the board of directors to welcome filmmakers and festival goers to Traverse City.

Check out the NEW Filmmaker Party

• Saturday, August 4, 8:30 pm-Midnight Rain or Shine
• Century 21 Northland Parking Lot, corner of State and Park streets
• Admission: $50

This year, we’re combining the Sunday Closing Night Party and the Friday Night Filmmaker Party into one BIG Saturday Night soiree.  Rub elbows with filmmakers. Be one of the few to see the 2012 festival juries present their awards. Incredible food, libations and entertainment.  Don’t miss it!

Afterglow Parties

• Saturday, August 4 & Sunday, August 5, Late Night
• Fire Fly Restaurant, 310 Cass Street
• Admission: FREE

Keep the party going on Saturday and Sunday nights at Fire Fly, the festival’s official after-hours hot spot.

Volunteer Party (Sign up NOW to volunteer at any one of our fun venues, then attend this celebration later)

• Monday, August 6, 6 pm-9 pm Rain or Shine
• Clinch Park on Grand Traverse Bay
• Admission: FREE for all volunteers with credentials

SIGN UP to be one of the hard-working, amazing, generous and talented volunteers who help make the festival happen — THEN, celebrate with other awesome volunteers at this post-festival, bay-side picnic. This party features some of the best food and beverages TC has to offer. Be sure to bring your SWAG (specialty wear and gifts) coupons to trade for some awesome festival gear!

Free, green, and easy: that just about sums up the Traverse City Film Festival’s official transportation system: the Festival Loop.

 It Means Free Parking!

No matter where your movie is playing, park at NMC’s Cherry lot or Thirlby Field and let the Festival Shuttle deliver you to the doorstop of your theater in just minutes.

Quick and Reliable

The shuttles leave every 5-15 minutes from each Festival venue (except Open Space). We have also included stops at the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck and Old Town Parking Deck downtown for added convenience. The shuttle will run from 8 am until filmgoers return to their cars after the last movie of the night.

Friendly Festival Helpers

At every Festival Shuttle stop located in front of a movie venue, you will find our specially trained Information Ambassadors, who can help with any questions you might have about the Festival. When will the next shuttle arrive? What time is the Box Office open? Who directed the movie you’re about to see?  Our Information Ambassadors have all the answers.

“The BATA Festival Shuttle is the easiest, most efficient way to get around throughout the Film Festival. Why hassle with parking downtown? It’s the ultimate carpool and we’re happy to offer it for all Festival goers!”  comments Joel Secrist, TCFF’s volunteer Transportation Co-Manager.

Need to swap a ticket? No worries! Use the comments section at the bottom of this blog post as a forum to talk with other movie-goers about swapping tickets. This forum is meant for communication between individuals only and has no association with the official TCFF box office.

Please do not call the box office or the TCFF office regarding ticket swapping.

All you need to do post tickets that you want/have and a telephone number or email where you can be reached.

Thank you, and see you at the movies!

Friends, click here to buy tickets online!

The Traverse City Film Festival presents an amazing blend of fantastic film AND live stage performance! We are excited to announce that the cast of Four Cornered Productions’ LIVE stage version of “Richard O’Brian’s Rocky Horror Show” will “participate” during the midnight festival screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This monstrously fun mix is part of the TCFF’s tribute to Susan Sarandon’s awesome and diverse career (Sarandon played the role of Janet in the 1975 cult classic film).

See the Stage Show
Four Cornered Productions’ stage show is currently running:
Wednesday, July 18 – Saturday, July 21 at 8 pm
Midnight shows Friday and Saturday.
City Opera House

Then See the Film at TCFF!
The film version with live performers enhancing the movie experience will show:
Friday, Aug 3, Midnight
Old Town Playhouse
There will be all sorts of surprises that will make the experience memorable for first-time viewers (commonly known by the other V-word) and longtime Rocky Horror fans alike.

About the Stage Performance

“Richard O’Brian’s Rock Horror Show” is a sexy, wild, funny, tongue-in-cheek interactive time warp through a kaleidoscope of camp with an iconic musical score. Strange things happen when newly-engaged Brad (Christopher Peterson) and Janet (Ashleigh Hanchett) get caught with a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. After an incredible night at the “Frankenstein place,” where they meet the “interesting” Dr Frank-n-Furter (Brett Nichols), they learn a little bit about themselves and the world.

Four Cornered Productions LLC is a new theatrical production company based right here in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. Co-owned and operated by Traverse City residents with vast experience in theater production, presentation and administration, its goal is to bring quality theatrical presentations to Traverse City and its surrounding communities, while working closely and in partnership with other local entertainment venues to foster great relationships in the arts.

Our Very Special Guest: Susan Sarandon

The TCFF showing of the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is one of three films being screened in honor of Sarandon, who will attend the first two days of the festival: Tuesday, July 31 and Wednesday, Aug 1. Sarandon will attend the opening night screening of “Searching for Sugarman” and the Opening Night Party on Front St afterwards. On Wednesday, you will not want to miss the first morning panel at 9:30 am at the City Opera House: a one-on-one conversation between Sarandon and Festival Founder Michael Moore. Sarandon will also attend the screening of “Thelma and Louise,” Wednesday at noon at the City Opera House, and the 3 pm showing of her brand new film, “Robot and Frank” at the State Theatre. Sarandon will not be at the screening of “Rocky Horror” on Friday, but Four Cornered Productions will make sure the event is not to be missed.

Let’s all do the time warp this Thursday at 8 pm, Friday or Saturday at 8 pm and midnight on the beautiful Opera House stage and then again on the screen at the Old Town Playhouse Friday, August 3 at midnight. Wherever you see it, Four Cornered Productions will be there to holler… “It’s just a jump to the left…”

The 8th Annual Traverse City Film Festival Offers More Variety Than Ever

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (June 29, 2012) — Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) founder Michael Moore has announced the line-up for the 2012 edition of thefestival, now in its eighth year, to be held July 31 to August 5. This year’s festival will feature more movie choices than ever before. Over 100 films have been hand-selected by Michael Moore.

“I’ll stake my name that these are all fantastic movies. I’ve been very, very careful to pick really good movies…not all out on the fringe or for niche audiences, but really, every movie is worth taking a leap of faith to go and see,” says Academy-Award-winning director Michael Moore.

Held in downtown Traverse City, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan’s GrandTraverse Bay, the Traverse City Film Festival is quickly becoming one of the most renowned independent film festivals in the country, earning a reputation for attracting the best in independent world cinema.

The Traverse City Film Festival is also recognized for featuring prominent and emerging filmmakers. This year’s festival will bring together filmmakers from across the United States, as well as Israel, Palestine, Germany, Scotland, England, Sweden and more.

“I wanted to create a filmmaker-friendly festival, one that celebrates our art and inspires audiences in any number of exhilarating ways,” says Moore.

Early tickets will go on sale to the 3,600-strong Friends of the Traverse City FilmFestival Sunday, July 15, and then to the general public on Saturday, July 21.

In addition to 167 film screenings and events including 88 features and 109 shorts, this year’s festival includes a full film school schedule, daily free panel discussions, an array of parties, and many free events including nightly family films on a 60’ outdoor screen set against beautiful Grand Traverse Bay, Tuesday through Saturday nights.

Returning to the festival this year: an experimental film venue in the Dutmers Theatre at the Dennos Museum Center, and a Kids Fest with $1 daily films followed by a free family lawn party outside Lars Hockstad Auditorium from 11 am to 2 pm Wednesday-Saturday.

2012 Festival Highlights:

OPENING NIGHT: The festival kicks-off with two showings of “Searching for Sugar Man.” Destined to be one of the most-remembered TCFF opening night films, this is the true story of a singer-songwriter from Detroit who was once certain to become a superstar—only to end up out on the street before his career even began. Years later, a bootleg copy of his album wound up at a radio station in South Africa, spread like wildfire, and helped fuel an anti-apartheid movement.

BY WOMEN, ABOUT WOMEN, FOR EVERYONE: TCFF continues an eight-year tradition of featuring numerous movies written and directed by women. In the programs “Growing up Female” and “Films from the Early Women’s Health Movement,” filmmaker Julia Reichert will show audiences how it looked and how it felt when women captured on film the battle that was waged over women’s reproductive rights in the early 1970s.

MICHIGAN FILMMAKERS BRING THEIR TALENT HOME:  Written and directed by Michigan native Dax Shephard (“Idiocracy”) and starring his real-life fiancé and fellow Michigander Kristen Bell (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), “Hit and Run” follows a group of misfits on a hectic, hilarious and high-stakes road trip.  In “Detropia,” the stories of a half dozen stalwart Motor City natives, including artists, business owners and laid off autoworkers, are given a voice by Oscar-nominated, Michigan-born filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. “Louder Than Love” is an all-access pass to the legendary gritty rock scene in 1960s Detroit that tells the story of the hallowed halls of the Grande Ballroom, a venue that started it all, featuring footage never before seen and interviews with BB King, Alice Cooper and Roger Daltrey. Directors and Detroit natives Tony D’Annunzio and Karl Rausch have crafted a celebratory tribute to a place that embodied the raw energy of the Motor City.

LEGENDARY DIRECTOR WIM WENDERS IN ATTENDANCE: Germany’s world-renowned filmmaker Wim Wenders brings two of his classic films, “Wings of Desire” and “Buena Vista Social Club,” plus four of his short films, to this year’s festival. Thefestival is proud and honored to have Wim Wenders in attendance in Traverse City.

STATE THEATRE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: TCFF is celebrating the upcoming 100th birthday of the State Theatre, the festival’s anchor venue, by showing the oldest surviving American feature film in existence, “Richard III,” made 100 years ago. And the festival is proud to welcome filmmaker and scholar Mark Cousins with his epic film, “The Story of Film: An Odyssey,” an amazing journey through the history of cinema.

FREE OPEN SPACE MOVIES ON GRAND TRAVERSE BAY: Voting is underway now for Tuesday’s People’s Choice Open Space film. The choices are “Across the Universe,” “Beetlejuice,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Footloose (1984),” “From Russia with Love,” and “Sixteen Candles.” Visit traversecityfilmfest.org to vote now before voting closes Friday, July 6. The other films are: Wednesday – “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan;” Thursday – “Rebel Without a Cause;” Friday – “When Harry Met Sally;” Saturday – “WALL-E.”

Admission prices to regular movies are $10. Opening and closing night films are $50 or $25, with opening night and filmmaker parties ticketed separately at $50. Friends of the Film Festival benefits include discounts on party tickets. Family filmsare $1. Film school tickets are $5 and daily industry panels are free.

The entire festival schedule can be viewed at traversecityfilmfest.org.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable, educational, nonprofit organization committed to showing “Just Great Movies” and helping to save one of America’s few indigenous art forms — the cinema. The festival brings films and filmmakers from around the world to northern Michigan for the annual film festival in late July to early August.

It was instrumental in renovating a shuttered historical downtown movie house, the State Theatre, which it continues to own and operate as a year-round, community-based, mission-driven and volunteer-staffed art house movie theater.

The festival was founded by Academy Award-winning Director Michael Moore who makes his home here, runs the festival and serves as president of the board of directors. Other board members are filmmakers Rod Birleson (producer, “Capitalism: A Love Story”), Larry Charles (director, “Borat”), Terry George (director, “Hotel Rwanda”), Sabina Guzzanti (director, “Viva Zapatero!”), and Christine Lahti (actor, “Running on Empty”), as well as Traverse City resident and photographer John Robert Williams.

With great success and fun last year, we decided that the People’s Choice contest will return this year as the Tuesday night film in Open Space – chosen by YOU! Please click the link below to launch our survey and vote on your favorite film, (please do not vote in the comments section of this site) and we will put the winner up on the gi-mungo screen that sits at the edge of the Bay.

VOTING HAS ENDED AND “FOOTLOOSE” WAS THE WINNER!

Here is this year’s list of nominees:
“Across the Universe”
“Beetlejuice”
“Fantasic Mr.Fox”
“Footloose (1984)”
“From Russia with Love”
“Sixteen Candles”

Don’t like any of those options? You can also write in your own suggestion!

The voting ends Friday, July 6, so cast your vote now!

We are all very busy putting together another great TCFF. Don’t forget to mark your calendars: July 31-Aug 5!

Movies about Michigan, made in Michigan, slated for this year’s Traverse City Film Festival

Returning to her home state, Hollywood superstar Kristen Bell will visit Traverse City to present a special sneak preview of her new film “Hit and Run.” The festival opens on July 31 with “Searching for Sugar Man,” a powerful documentary about a Detroit singer-songwriter whose music fueled an anti-apartheid movement a continent away. Detroit is beautifully showcased in the sweet “The Giant Mechanical Man” starring Jenna Fisher, and many other Michigan movies are scheduled for this year’s festival.

“What better place to showcase the drama and talent of Michigan than at the Traverse City Film Festival?” asks Michael Moore, Oscar-winning director and festival founder and programmer. “The festival’s mission is to entertain and enlighten, and this year, thanks to the best years of the film incentive program, we’ve got a lot of great Michigan-based movies that do just that.”

Directors and Detroit Natives Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady return to the TCFF for the second time after a very popular run with their documentary “Jesus Camp” at TCFF 2006. This time, they bring their film, “Detropia,” a poetic look at their hometown’s decline from thriving pillar of industry to embodiment of the nation’s recent economic decline. Detroit again takes center stage in “BURN,” a documentary about those who continue to fight for it: Detroit’s Engine Company 50 Firefighters.

Each year the film festival honors a Michigan filmmaker for their contributions to the art of cinema. This year the festival highlights the fact that two important genres of cinema were invented and pioneered by Michiganders: documentary (by the U.P.’s Robert “Nanook of the North” Flaherty), and animation — this year the festival pays posthumous tribute to Spring Lake-born Winsor McCay, the man who made the world’s first animated feature film and created “Little Nemo.” Animator Bill Plympton will present McCay’s work at the festival. Past recipients of the Michigan Filmmaker Award have included Jeff Daniels, Christine Lahti and John Hughes.

Filmmakers and industry professionals head to the City Opera House each morning to participate in our Film Industry Panels, always free and open to the public. Sharing their stories and taking questions from the audience, panelists participate in lively conversations you won’t see anywhere else. On Friday, the panel will focus on Michigan as the members of the Michigan Film Commission meet and hold a public meeting about the state of film in Michigan.

The 8th annual Traverse City Film Festival will take place July 31-August 5, 2012. Tickets are available by phone (231-929-3456) and walk up to our box office (at 125 Park Street) and online at traversecityfilmfest.org.

The full Festival Guide is available to view and download at traversecityfilmfest.org.

“Footloose” (the Kevin Bacon one) is this year’s People’s Choice Open Space film! On Tuesday, July 31 “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” and the folks of Traverse City as we watch the People’s Choice selection under the stars.  It’s a foot-stomping, hand-clapping piece of 1980s pop-cheese nostalgia that will have you singing along. And like all Open Space films, it’s free.

“Footloose” joins the list of already-announced Open Space films – “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Rebel without a Cause,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “WALL-E” – showing for FREE on a 65-foot screen by the bay. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for an evening out with the whole family as you watch some of Hollywood’s most beloved classics on a ginormous screen.

The films start at dusk (around 9:30 pm). Arrive early at 7 pm for FREE music and entertainment.

This year, our Friends get a cool new perk:  Friends Only Movies on Saturday before the festival! We’re changing the ice cream social into a movie party so our Friends can have their cake and eat it, too. It’s our special thank you for your Friendship.

Two Friends Only screenings on Saturday, July 28 at Lars Hockstad

• 1 pm: “BURN”

Get a close-up view of those tasked with keeping Detroit safe from fire, including the thankless job of rescuing abandoned buildings in Detroit. Fire fighters from Detroit’s Engine Company 50 will be in attendance for the screening of this riveting and inspiring documentary, which shows a year in the lives of this brave company that refuses to give up on the city they call home.

• 4 pm: “The Intouchables”

The second-most successful French film of all time, this heart-warming crowd pleaser tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a stuffy, wheelchair-bound millionaire and his newly hired, street-wise Senegalese caretaker. These two men from opposite ends of the social spectrum grow close as they begin to see the world through each other’s eyes. This feel-good comedy is sure to start out your festival experience on a high note.

For more information about the two films, please visit traversecityfilmfest.org to see photos, trailers and further summaries.

These films won’t be shown anywhere else at the festival. The tickets are free, but you do need to reserve your place. You will receive an email with instructions on how to reserve your tickets beginning Tuesday, July 10 at 12 noon. You can get 1 or 2 tickets to either or both of the screenings.

NOTE: Reserving these free Friends Only tickets is the perfect chance to test out your log in information before you purchase tickets for the regular festival showings (starting July 15 for Friends).  Call the festival office if you have any questions:  231-392-1134.

Remember, no matter what films you schedule this year, they are all “Just Great Movies.”

The 2012 Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) welcomes over 80 filmmakers and industry professionals as guests to the 8th annual festival held July 31-August 5. 

Academy Award-winning actor Susan Sarandon will be a special 2012 festival guest according to Michael Moore, Academy Award-winning director and festival founder.

“It’s a privilege to welcome Ms. Sarandon to our festival. I’m a great admirer of her political and artistic work, and I’m so pleased to introduce her to the hospitality, vitality and beauty of Northern Michigan.”

Direct from Hollywood, director Jay Roach will bring a special preview of his latest comedy “The Campaign.” Funnymen Will Ferrell and Zach Galifinakis star in this side-splitting political satire, and Roach is giving Traverse City the chance to see it first.

Roach’s previous credits include “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” and its sequels “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” He directed and produced the wildly popular “Meet the Parents” and “Meet the Fockers,” as well HBO’s “Game Change.”

Roach joins an amazing team of guests and filmmakers that is sure to be a 2012 highlight. Director Wim Wenders, another legend of cinema, will have two of his greatest features and a collection of four short films showcased as part of the Tribute to Wim Wenders program. Moore will host Wenders as he participates in an intimate discussion on the Sunday Film Industry Panel.

“Nothing can replace the experience of seeing a filmmaker live, and discussing the amazing film you just watched. We want to give the audience the chance to personally engage with the magic of cinema,” says Moore.

Hollywood A-lister Kristen Bell will return to her home state to host a sneak preview of her new film, “Hit and Run.” She will join other Michigan natives such as Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (“Detropia”) who enhance the festival with moviegoer Q&A sessions and other appearances.

This year’s Michigan Filmmaker award will be presented posthumously to Animation pioneer Winsor McCay, as contemporary animator Bill Plympton joins the celebration to honor his legacy. Another prolific animator, Craig “Spike” Decker, of the venerable Spike & Mike team, will present their touring Festival of Animation, bringing the audience a brilliant and bizarre collection of shorts.

The Closing Night film, “The Zen of Bennett,” presents one of music’s greatest talents from a view so intimate it could only be captured by family. Producer Jennifer Lebeau and Tony Bennett’s son, producer Danny Bennett, will be on hand to talk about documenting the powerful, talented, and passionate artist.

Julia Reichert will discuss her landmark documentary “Growing Up Female,” presented alongside other powerful shorts from the women’s rights era of the early1970s. The film is part of the celebration of Women, in film and in history. “Sexy Baby,” exploring the toll our culture has taken on our nation’s women, will be presented by first-time directors Ronna Gradus and Jill Bauer, and subjects Winnifred Bonjean-Alpart and Jennifer Bonjean.

Filmmakers from Israel (Arnon Goldfinger, “The Flat”) to Sweden (Fredrik Gertten, “Big Boys Gone Bananas!*”) come to tell their stories and experience how the Michigan community expresses their love of great cinema. Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul will address the audience after two sold-out Opening Night screenings of “Searching for Sugar Man.” The Traverse City Film Festival is proud to host the US premier of the UK and Ireland film “The Reluctant Revolutionary,” directed by attending filmmaker Sean McAllister.

Returning to the festival with brand-new films are Bob Byington (“RSO” and “Harmony and Me,” TCFF ’09) with “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” and Amy Berg (“Deliver Us from Evil,” TCFF ’07) presenting “West of Memphis.” The Alloy Orchestra performances are masterful fan-favorites that TCFF are glad to call regulars. This year, they will accompany Alfred Hitchcock’s silent thriller “Blackmail.”

Also returning are Traverse City Film Festival board members Sabina Guzzanti, Larry Charles and Terry George. Charles, one of the original writers for  “Seinfeld” and director of hit comedies “Borat” and “Bruno,” brings a special screening of his latest film “The Dictator,” with actor Kevin Corrigan. Academy Award-winner and two-time nominee Terry George will be presenting his new comedy, “Whole Lotta Sole.”

Other guests and filmmakers include:
Becca Keating (AAFF Community Development Manager)
Michael Raisler (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”)
Brenna Sanchez, Tom Putnam, and firefighters from Detroit’s Engine Company 50
(“BURN”)
Jake Schreier (“Robot & Frank”)
Mark Cousins (“Story of Film: An Odyssey”)
Michael McSweeney (“Ashes of America”)
Brian Knappenberger (“We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists”)
Amie Williams, Brian Austin, and Melissa Austin (“We Are Wisconsin”)
Kevin Breslin (“#whilewewatch”)
Joanna Arnow (“Month One”)
Pat Healy (“Compliance”)
Benjamin Dickinson and Lindsay Burdge (“First Winter”)
Eric Kissack, Lisa Rudin, Kenny Stevenson, and Dorien Davies (“Missed Connections”)
Daniel Schechter (“Supporting Characters”)
Ron Morales and Rebecca Lundgren (“Graceland”)
Catherine Murphy (“Maestra”)
Julia Bacha (“My Neighborhood”)
David Darg and Bryn Mooser (“Baseball in the Time of Cholera”)
U of M student filmmakers (U of M Student Films)
Emad Burnat (“5 Broken Cameras”) and family
Beth and George Gage (“Bidder 70”)
Alison Klayman ( “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry”)
Rebecca Richman Cohen (“Code of the West”)
Craig Atkinson (“Detropia”)
Erik Nelson (“Dinotasia)
Ramona S. Diaz and Capella Fahoome Brogden (“Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s
Journey”)
Josh Koury, Myles Kane, Troy Bernier, and Eric Swain (“Journey to Planet X”)
Tony D’Annunzio and Karl Rausch (“Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story”)
Scott Thurman (“The Revisionaries”)
Grover Babcock and Blue Hadaegh (“Scenes of a Crime”)
Chris Kenneally (“Side by Side”)
Craig Juntunen (“Stuck”)
Nisha Pahuja (“The World Before Her”)

We are excited to announce an additional showing of our Opening Night film, Searching for Sugar Man at the State Theatre at 10 PM tonight (Tuesday, July 31). Tickets are $25 - click here to order!

Destined to be one of the most-remembered TCFF opening night films, “Searching for Sugar Man” is the true story of a singer-songwriter from Detroit who was once certain to become a superstar—only to end up out on the street before his career ever began, recording contract voided, never to be heard from again. Years later, in the 1970s, a bootleg of one of his albums wound up at a radio station in South Africa. There, it spread like wildfire among the anti-apartheid youth. And thus this man’s music, never having been really played in his own country (the USA), was suddenly, in South Africa, as famous as The Beatles! Be ready to be uplifted by this very Michigan story about a man long forgotten whose musical legacy will live on forever, and experience the magic of great cinema right here in Traverse City.

We have some good news to announce! We just found out that the Traverse City Film Festival will premiere the upcoming blockbuster comedy “The Campaign” starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. And coming in person with the film will be its director, the great Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “Meet the Parents”). “The Campaign” will be presented on Saturday night, August 4, at 6:15 pm at the State Theatre. Tickets for this special event will be $15 and they are on sale now!

Sponsored by

FIM Group, in conjunction with the Traverse City Film Festival, is sponsoring a 2013 Bumper Contest. (Bumpers are short films that play before feature films.) Here’s an opportunity for filmmakers of all ages do strut their movie-making mojo by creating a short film on a topic of your choice, made to play before films at the festival.

Top prize is $1,000! Plus, all winning bumpers will be shown before feature films during the 2013 Traverse City Film Festival.

So for all you aspiring filmmakers who love Traverse City, here’s your chance to shine. Dust off the steady cam, oil up the boom stands and get that casting couch ready because the deadline for submissions is July 1, 2013.

Submissions should meet the following criteria:

• Themed around a topic of your choice, appropriate for pre-TCFF film viewing
• Length of 20 to 60 seconds
• Submitted on DVD or online link (higher resolutions are required if your trailer is selected)
• Above-average production values

Entries should be submitted by email or on DVD by July 1, 2013. Preview versions may be submitted by email to bumpers@traversecityfilmfest.org. Submissions on DVD should be mailed to TCFF Bumpers, PO Box 4064, Traverse City MI 49685.

The Traverse City Film Festival may request changes by entrants to chosen bumpers before their final approval.

Some tips:

• The film festival audience is diverse, so humor and references should be very accessible
• Keep the pacing fast
• Think about lighting and sound clarity
• Have fun and be entertaining!

The fine print:

All trailers must be in English or contain English subtitles.

TCFF reserves the right to reject any trailer, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Please note that if your trailer is selected, you will be required to provide us with a copy of your trailer in a minimum of standard definition television (NTSC 720×480) format, such as DVD. You may also be required to provide us with Clearance Paperwork for your trailer in forms acceptable to TCFF in order to be declared a winner.

An eligible minor (as applicable in states where the age of majority is older than 18) should have his/her parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to submit a trailer. The contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

You (or, if an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian) understand and agree that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is established by your submitting a trailer to us hereunder.

Discharge/Payment of Obligations: By submitting your film, you (or, if an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian) represent(s) and warrant(s) that you have discharged or paid (or will discharge or pay) all of the following: (i) Copyright: All claims and rights of the copyright holders, if any, in literary, dramatic, musical or other material, including stories, plays, scripts, scenarios, themes, incidents, plots, photos, clips, characteristics, dialogue, music, words appearing, used or recorded in your film; (ii) Contracts: All obligations, of any kind, including, without limitation, those with artists and personnel, relating to purchases, licenses, laboratory contracts, distribution, exhibition, performance or use of your film; and (iii) Guild/Union/Performing Rights Society/Participation Payments: Any payments required to be made by any performing rights society or to any body or group representing authors, composers, musicians, artists, and other participants in the production of your film, publishers or other persons having legal or contractual rights of any kind to participate in the receipts of your film or to payments of any kind as a result of the distribution or exhibition of your film and any taxes thereon or on the payment thereof.

Additional Representations: You (or, if an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian) warrant and represent that (a) you are the sole and exclusive owner of the film and all rights therein; (b) you have the full and exclusive right, power and authority to submit the film and to grant us the rights to the film herein granted upon the terms and conditions set forth herein; (c) no part of the film has been published; (d) no rights in the film have been previously granted to any person, firm, corporation or other entity or otherwise exercised or made use of or encumbered in any way; (e) your film does not defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or property rights or any other third party rights; and (f) if any film contains persons other than yourself or third party elements not owned by you, that you have obtained express written consent to submit such film and, if requested to do so, can produce such written consent in a form and manner acceptable to us.

Conditions of TCFF Use of Film: If your film is selected by us to be used in any way by TCFF, we will contact you by email, telephone and/or mail and you will be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release as well as a fully-executed release in a form and manner acceptable to TCFF for each (i) person other than yourself who appears in your short film and/or (ii) owner of any third party element not owned by you appearing in your short film. Failure to return any of these documents within the time period specified by us, the return of any notification as undeliverable, or your noncompliance with these Terms and Conditions will result in the disqualification of your film. If you are an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian will be required to fulfill all obligations imposed on you set forth herein.

About FIM Group

FIM Group has been assisting clients in achieving financial success for more than 25 years. As a pioneer in the fee-only wealth advisory industry, FIM Group currently manages in excess of $500 million in client assets. With a team of more than 30 professionals dedicated to making the client experience as rewarding and fulfilling as possible, FIM Group is one of the largest independent investment managers in Northern Michigan. Additional information is available at fimg.net.

And now a letter from our Founder:

Friends,

I am thrilled to announce that Susan Sarandon has accepted our invitation to come to this year’s Traverse City Film Festival! She will receive our TCFF Lifetime Achievement Award and she’ll screen her brand new film for us.

We just found out yesterday that she can take a break in her busy filming schedule to join us for our eighth annual celebration of cinema. In fact, she will join us as our honorary chair of this year’s fest and accept her award from the stage of our Opening Night Movie on Tuesday, July 31. She will also be at our Opening Night Party in the middle of Front Street.

On Wednesday, August 1, she has a full day of appearances:

Susan Sarandon: One on One with Michael Moore (me)
City Opera House, Wednesday 8/1 at 9:30 am
Susan interviewed me on the stage of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Now it’s my chance to turn the tables on her! Don’t miss this provocative discussion — we hold nothing back. Come hear the true tales of how Hollywood works. We might also discuss some politics during our first free morning panel of the festival.

“Thelma & Louise”
City Opera House, Wednesday 8/1 at 12 noon
Susan Sarandon will introduce and take questions after the screening of this modern-day classic.

“Robot & Frank” — Midwestern Premiere
State Theatre, Wednesday 8/1 at 3 pm
Susan Sarandon will present her latest work, a charming crowd pleaser that also stars Frank Langella, Liv Tyler and Peter Sarsgaard.

Private Dinner to Honor Susan Sarandon
Wednesday 8/1 at 6 pm
Limited seating – email us for details.

And no Susan Sarandon Tribute would be complete without:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Old Town Playhouse, Friday 8/3 at Midnight
THE cult film of all cult films — and an early starring role for Susan Sarandon. Four Cornered Productions players will “participate.” TC will never be the same!

As you can see, we are announcing these new additions after already having printed the program guide. So please take a look at these scheduling moves:

• Short Fiction 1 is moving to the City Opera House on Saturday, 8/4 at 12 noon.

• This shorts program will take the spot of Jeff Garlin’s Gem: “Soldier in the Rain,” which has been rescheduled for the next TCFF. Jeff sends his regrets that he can’t come to TC this summer as planned, but we’ll have an announcement soon about his next visit to Traverse City — in February!

• “The Kid with a Bike“ at the State Theatre on Wednesday, 8/1 at 3 pm has been cancelled so that we can see Susan Sarandon’s new film, “Robot & Frank.” But we still have lots of tickets to “The Kid with a Bike” — it’s playing Sunday at 9 am at Lars Hockstad Auditorium.

• My film school session on Wednesday, 8/1 at 12 noon, Secrets of Making a Blockbuster Documentary, will instead be taught by Jeff Gibbs, who has worked with me on many of my films. I look forward to teaching a session next year – couldn’t find another open slot this year!

If you can, don’t miss the outstanding movies in the Susan Sarandon Tribute — and don’t miss the chance to meet one our greatest American actresses. Your first chance to get tickets is tomorrow, the big day, when tickets for all of the festival’s movies go on sale to the Friends of the festival at 11 am. And don’t worry – I can highly recommend event single film on the schedule, so you absolutely can’t go wrong.

If the film you want is sold out, try something else in the same slot, you won’t be disappointed. Throw ten darts at the schedule and, no matter where they land, you will have just programmed yourself one of the best weeks you’ve ever had in northern Michigan!

Tickets for Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival go on sale Sunday, July 15. The box office opens at 11 am and online ticketing opens at 6 pm. (We also have a small number of phone lines that open at 11 am for sales — call 231-929-FILM (3456), and prepare to be patient.)

There is still time to sign up to be a Friend and get early access to tickets! You can join online at www.traversecityfilmfest.org.

Tickets for the general public go on sale on Saturday, July 21 — the box office will open at 11 am and online ticketing begins at 6 pm. We’ve got a great box office this year — at 125 Park Street, across from the Park Place Hotel and Century 21 Northland, location of the Filmmaker Party.

Thanks again, everybody, for your support of this festival. There’s something for everyone at this year’s fest, so invite your friends and relatives up to TC for the greatest week of movies anywhere this side of Hollywood.

Yours,
Michael Moore

Sign up to be a friend now, before the first day of public ticket sales (July 21) and get these great benefits for this year’s festival!

• Purchase up to 4 tickets per show on July 15 – a week before the general public
• ½ off one ticket to the Opening or Filmmaker Party
• 1 or 2 tickets to either or both of our brand new Friends Only Screenings. All the information about these new screenings that are replacing the Friends Party can be found here.

If You Need a Friend…

If you are unsure if you have an active membership, remember, you’re our Friend and we’re here to help! Give us a call: 231-392-1134.

The Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) and sustaining sponsor FIM Group have announced the winners of the 2011 TCFF Bumper Contest. The winners were presented with their prize money at the Awards Ceremony on July 30, during the seventh annual TCFF.

Congratulations go to John Paul Morris with “Big Light” as the $1,000 first prize winner.

Jake Wallach took the second prize of $500 with “The Film Festival Network.”

The third prize winner of $250 goes to Alton Bud Solem with “In a World.”

Three honorable mentions were awarded to Todd Gillissie for “Restated,” Lesley Tye and Ellyn Church for “Traverse City,” and Joe Carter for “Green Acres.” They received $100 each.

The  contest challenge was to create movie trailer parodies set in Traverse City or highlighting the Traverse City Film Festival. The contest winners were selected by a group of judges from FIM Group and the film festival.

In addition to the cash prize, the winning film bumpers were shown on the big screen before feature films during the festival. The top prize winner premiered at the Opening Night films.

Winners:
1st Prize: John Paul Morris “Big Light”
2nd Prize: Jake Wallach “The Film Festival Network”
3rd Prize: Alton Bud Solem, Karl Bastian “In a World”

Honorable Mentions:
Todd Gillissie “Restated”
Lesley Tye and Ellyn Church “Traverse City”
Joe Carter “Green Acres“

Friends,
The seventh annual Traverse City Film Festival is now one for the books — and boy, this was one great book!

We had over 20,000 more admissions recorded this year! 128,000 tickets sold (including free attendance to the Open Space films, panels, kids fest and other free events). We set a new attendance record at the Open Space on Wednesday night (“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”) and then promptly broke it on Friday night when nearly 20,000 people showed up to watch “The Dark Knight.”

We showed more films this year (147 films – 27 more) at more screenings (156 screenings – 21 more) and brought more filmmakers and industry guests (130 guests – 60 more). And yet we kept the small, hometown feel of this festival that continues to be lauded as one of the best film festivals in North America.

The nicest part of our August has been the virtual unanimity of your feedback: This was our best-run film fest yet! And we agree! We thank you for your role in it. We have a few ideas for making it even better next year (easier online ticket buying, don’t cut off the star of “To Kill a Mockingbird” after only three questions), and more exciting (next year the head of the Cannes Film Festival will join us in person and will bring with him a few surprises from France!).

The dates for next year’s festival are July 31-August 5. (It’s a few days later in 2012 because the National Cherry Festival is opening too late in July. We’re working on that for future years.)

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this festival possible. And thanks to our sponsors who help fund all of the things that we do. We couldn’t do this without any of you.

We also rely heavily on our Friends of the Film Festival; we’re grateful for their crucial support. Many of you have asked how you can become a Friend or renew your annual Friends membership at the original 2006 Friends rates. We’ve extended the deadline until September 15 — after September 15, Friends rates double until the Friendship year ends. You can click to join or renew online, or you can print/mail/fax or phone (231-392-1134) in your Friendship. As always, Friends will get to order their 2012 tickets in advance of the general public, and there are lots of other great benefits, too.

In the coming months, I will be sending you a detailed letter about where we stand as we enter our eighth year. There are some serious issues we need to deal with regarding our long-term sustainability and I want to share them with you. The fact that our state’s economy has not recovered has had serious repercussions for everything, including our festival. This must be addressed — and I will be asking your help in addressing it.

Thank you again for all of your help, but mostly for your love of the cinema. It is an art form that is experienced best with others and it is incredible how for one week in northern Michigan we all come together and sit in the dark to laugh, to cry, to rebel, to reflect, to be moved in profound ways. All of this moves us, hopefully forward — and together we are inspired by this art to do better, be better.

On to 2012!

Yours,

Michael Moore

P.S. Just an FYI — someone is calling our sponsors saying that they represent something they call the “Traverse City Shorts Film Festival.” By adding the word “short” it may sound like TCFF without my long introductions, but it is not. We have nothing to do with this festival and have asked them to choose a different name so as to not confuse people. Regardless, we’re happy that more movies are coming to TC!

The closing night trailer features highlights from TCFF 2011 featuring the filmmakers and fun that are at the heart of the Traverse City Film Festival!

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Kudos to Rebecca L Kinnee for giving us such a fun look at some of the people who make the Traverse City Film Festival happen – our amazing volunteers!

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Video from the 2011 Traverse City Film Festival featuring TCFF “Fun” Manager Will Riley, Food Manager Mary Fisher, Scott Tompkins from the Film School and more!

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Thank you, friends, for renewing or registering for the 2012 Friends of the Film Festival season! Remember, you still have until September 1 to renew or register at the original 2005 prices. Click here for more information.

Congratulations to our friends who have won this year’s drawing!

Lifetime Pass: Ross Totten
TCFF 2012 Pass: Constance Barrow
TCFF 2012 Day Pass: Nancy Kapolnek
Free Popcorn for a Year: Patricia Light

Thank you for your membership! Without our friends, we wouldn’t be able to share “Just Great Movies” with all of you.