Everyone is welcome! The Traverse City Film Festival provides free or low-cost entertainment, every day, all day during the festival. Enjoy our world-class events, specially designed not to break the bank.
Movies at The Buzz
It’s one our best ideas ever: free movies all day every day in The Buzz! Free tickets to Buzz screenings will be available online, at all festival box offices, and at the door. And even if you’re unable to secure a seat in advance, standby lines will form before each show. We’ve moved to plush new digs in Central Grade School, just steps away from Lars Hockstad Auditorium. Look for The Buzz icon throughout the guide to find films with free screenings.
Movies in Open Space
Bring a lawn chair or blanket for an evening out with friends and family as you watch some of Hollywood’s biggest most beloved classics on a gigantic screen right on the Bay, at dusk. And this year, all of the films are written or directed by women! Arrive early at 8 pm for FREE music, entertainment, an interactive photo booth, and movie-themed surprises. We even throw a Closing Night Bash for the community on Sunday.
The Woz @ Hotel Indigo
Explore the future of storytelling this year at the brand new Hotel Indigo in the Warehouse District downtown. Walk on in Wednesday through Saturday 12-9 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm to experience games and media projects that go beyond traditional screens. Be among the first to check out the latest in virtual reality technology and innovations in interactive storytelling. Presented by Michigan State University and the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office.
Kids Fest Lawn Party & $1 Movies
Bring your future cinephiles to the $1 kids film screenings Wednesday-Saturday at 9:30 am in Lars Hockstad Auditorium at Central Grade School. Take in a great film, eat FREE popcorn, and then walk outside onto the beautiful lawn for our FREE party, brimming with film-related fun, activities, crafts, and games for kids from tiny tots to young tweens. FREE flip books every day! Your kids won’t want to leave.
Filmmaker Panels
Running Wednesday to Sunday each morning at 9:30 am at the City Opera House, our FREE filmmaker panels bring together film luminaries for lively, no-holds-barred conversations you won’t see anywhere else. From the worlds of comedy and documentary, to special one-on-one conversations, our panels are a great way to experience the best the festival has to offer.
Movies & Perks for Volunteers
Volunteer for three shifts or more, and you will receive a snazzy FREE volunteer tshirt and get to attend both the FREE pre-fest volunteer screening and post-fest volunteer party, all while making an important contribution to the festival and the community. Plus, at the volunteer screening, we hand out FREE festival tickets reserved just for volunteers. Learn more!
Park and Ride Shuttle
We make it easy to get around the festival for FREE with our BATA shuttle buses. Just store your car or bike on the west side of town in the Thirlby Field parking lot, or on the east side in the Cherry Lot at Northwestern Michigan College, and leave the driving (and the parking!) to us. Using the shuttle at the Traverse City Film Festival is Free, Green & Easy!
Bike Valet
Avoid the traffic and park like a movie star with our NEW bike valet! Hosted by Norte! Youth Cycling and sponsored by Higher Grounds, the TART Trail-adjacent bike valet runs 8 am to 11 pm Wednesday-Sunday outside the Bijou. Easy, fast, and secure, the bike valet offers a lovely “bike and stroll” experience for anyone headed downtown to enjoy the festival’s venues and activities. #biketcff
