TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 20, 2011) – The 7th annual Traverse City Film Festival kicks off Tuesday, July 26, and will feature events and parties the likes of which Traverse City has never seen.

Friends of the Film Festival are invited to attend an Ice Cream Social on Saturday July 23, from 7-9 pm at Clinch Park. Exclusively for Friends and their families, enjoy music, dancing, and Moomers ice cream with the festival’s board of directors.

The annual Founders Party, for festival sponsors, will be held on Sunday, July 24. This day of fun will kick off with a sneak preview of one of the festival’s best films at the Bay Theatre. Following the screening, Grandview Catering and Ciccone Vineyards and Winery host a beautiful and delicious gathering of our valued sponsors who support the festival in so many ways. With music by the Neptune Quartet and NorthernMichiganDJ.com

On July 26, Front Street will be closed down for the Opening Night Party from 8:30 pm-12:30 am on the 200 block of Front Street between Park and Cass. This year, TCFF will host an eco-friendly Block Party between Cass and Park streets on opening night, which will be open to the public. Attendees can help to welcome filmmakers from around the world to this year’s festival and be the first to rub shoulders with the people who have brought a bit of Hollywood to northern Michigan. Front Street will turn into a block party with ethnic cuisine provided by local restaurants and fabulous entertainment. K Jones and the Benzie Playboys will perform to get guests jiving to some Zydeco music. Passageways Travel and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines were generous enough to donate a cruise giveaway package that will go to one lucky winner in a prize drawing. Sponsored by Stella Artois and H Cox & So, Inc. Tickets are $50 for the public and free for credentialed media.

“Where else can you have a great time with other film lovers while enjoying great local food, music, and libations?” notes Nancy Belton, TCFF Events Manager. “We’re also going green this year and are trying to make all the parties have zero waste.”

The festival will hold its Filmmaker Party, one of its best-kept secrets, on July 29, from 8:30-11:30 pm. This will be the second party of the week open to the public. The festival will be transforming the Century 21 Northland Parking Lot on the corner of State and Park streets, allowing partygoers to celebrate with visiting filmmakers during the fun filled evening. This colorful party will feature delicious food, libations, and great entertainment from Ron Getz and his band. Sponsored by Kathleen Glynn, Blue Lake Entertainment. Tickets are $25 for the public and free for credentialed media.

New this year is a change to the Awards Ceremony, which will now be held on Saturday July 30, 6 pm at the State Theatre. No longer will the awards be given out during the revelry of the Closing Night Party. They will instead be awarded in the majestic State Theatre, where there will be complimentary food and drink during the exciting show. Jury and Founders awards will be handed out to this year’s winning filmmakers. Attendees will also get to see Awards Ceremony sponsor ArtServe Michigan present TCFF Founder and President Michael Moore with its 2011 Arts Legacy Award for his contributions to the arts and culture in Michigan. Tickets are $25 for the public and free for credentialed media.

Don’t miss the Closing Night Party to attend the first-ever “Stroll in the Park.” From the Top of the Park to the courtyard outside to the sound-treated dome, this year’s Closing Night Party will wind through hot spots full of food and beverages at the Park Place Hotel. Recap the week’s highlights and surprises with festival award-winners and filmmakers on July 31 from 8-11 pm by following a map leading to all the goodies and whereabouts. The Friends of the Film Festival Grand Prize Drawing will be held during the party. The Closing Night Party is sponsored by the Jonathan and Marissa Wege Family. Tickets are $50 for the public and free for credentialed media.

“Barker Creek Nursery will be transforming the Park Place so people can enjoy a stroll in the park,” says Belton. “It will begin in the dome and lead all the way to the Top of the Park , a view unlike any other. We are so grateful for the support of the Park Place, and this is party you won’t want to miss.”

The party keeps rolling at the Closing Night Post-Party at Fire Fly, on the Boardman River, from 11 pm-2 am. Head to 310 Cass Street to continue the fun. Food and drink is for purchase, admission is free. Sponsored by Fire Fly.

Festival volunteers are invited to celebrate their hard work with an American picnic on Monday, August 1 from 6-9 pm in Clinch Park. Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Baker gives a lot of credit to the many festival volunteers. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Traverse City Film Festival. As we all know, the movies are fabulous and the viewers are awesome, but without the volunteers, we could never bring such a spectacular event together.”

The picnic festivities will include a BBQ, hot dogs, coleslaw, corn, chips and more classic picnic fare. The Volunteer Party is sponsored by Northwestern Bank and Northwestern Bank Volunteers. Those interested in volunteering can sign up by visiting the film festival website to sign up.

Tickets to films and parties can be purchased online or at the Box Office at 101 N. Park. For more information regarding festival activities, please visit the website at www.traversecityfilmfest.org or call the main office at 231-392-1134.

The food and beverages at the Traverse City Film Festival events are donated by many generous local vendors. Food and Beverage donors include:

Food and Beverage donors include: Acoustic Brewing Company, Apache Trout Grille, The Bay Leaf Rustic Cuisine, Bare Knuckle Farm, Bel Lago Vineyard & Winery, Big Boy, Black Star Farms, Boone’s Long Lake Inn, Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, Boskydel Vineyards, Bubba’s Restaurant, Catering by Kelly’s, Centre Street Café, Chateau Chantal Winery Bed & Breakfast, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Grand Traverse, Chez Peres/Patisserie Amie, Cherry Republic, The Chocolate Den, Chocolate Exotica, Ciccone Vineyard & Winery, Circa Estate Winery, Cold Stone Creamery, DeKuyper Michigan Cherry, FireFly, Flavours by Sodexo, Folgarelli’s Market and Wine Shop, Food for Thought, Forty-Five North Vineyard & Winery, Fresia Latina, Fustini’s Oil and Vinegar, Good Neighbor Organic Vineyard & Winery, GrandView Catering, Grand Traverse Distillery, Grand Traverse Pie Company, Great Lakes Tea and Spice, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, H. Cox & Son, Hanna Bistro, Happy Hog Café, Higher Grounds Trading Co., House of Doggs, It’s the Icing on Top, JP’s Hard Luck Diner, L. Mawby Vineyards, La Bécasse, Leelanau Cheese Co., Leelanau Wine Cellars, Left Foot Charley, Light of Day Organic Teas, Lil’ Bo Pub and Grille, Mackinaw Brewing Company, Mana at the Mercado, Mancino’s of Traverse City, Michelle’s Miracle, Mode’s Bum Steer, Moomers Homemade Ice Cream, Morsels Bite-Sized Bakery & Espresso Bar, Nature’s Treats, LLC., New Holland Brewing Co., Northern Natural Organics, The Old Mission Tavern, Oleson’s Foods, Oryana Natural Foods Market, Outback Steak House, Phil’s on Front, The Pi Biz, Poppycocks, Pure Water Works, Qdoba Mexican Grille, Raftshol Vineyards, Schelde’s Grille and Spirits, Shetler Family Dairy, Short’s Brewing Co., Slabtown Burger, Soul Hole, Spaghetti Jim’s Grand Traverse Past Works Market and Café, Stella Artois, Stone House Bread, TraVino Traverse Wine and Grille, Tuscan Bistro, Underground Cheesecake, U & I Lounge, Wishbones, The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theatre, Willow Vineyard, Xylo Bistro Café, Zakey’s Middle Eastern Cuisine.