Classic Films Fete 100th Anniversary of State Theatre

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Gold Diggers of 1933

Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Aline MacMahon of “Gold Diggers of 1933” | Warner Bros.

In 2016, the Traverse City Film Festival‘s anchor venue and movie palace, the gorgeous State Theatre, will celebrate 100 years of showing movies in downtown Traverse City. To mark the anniversary, we’re continuing our five-year pre-party with great films from the early days of cinema.

I was born in Traverse City (to cherry farmers, no less) and saw a lot of films at the State Theatre in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the Michigan Theater in the next block down Front Street. “The Love Bug,” “Pete’s Dragon,” and “Jaws” (the first movie where I remember actually jumping out of my seat) are just a few of the movies I saw at the State Theatre. During my high school years, some friends and I saw “Gone With the Wind” there. All 238 minutes of it.

The balcony was always closed during those years, which is no doubt why I always head straight to the balcony these days. Such a pleasure and a privilege.

During this year’s 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival, we’re showing a couple of 100-year-old films from 1933, as well as films from 1913 and 1925. Even if you’ve seen these films before, nothing compares to seeing them on the big screen the way they’re meant to be seen. Be sure to work them into your film festival schedule. Here’s the rundown:

GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933)

Thurs., Aug. 1, 9 a.m., State Theatre; Sun., Aug. 4, 12 noon, Dutmers Theater (*Free screening at Dutmers)

This Oscar-nominated classic film is based on the play “The Gold Diggers” by Avery Hopwood, which ran for 282 performances on Broadway in 1919 and 1920. The story follows three chorus girls – fast-talking comedienne Trixie (Aline MacMahon), soulful songstress Carol (Joan Blondell), and perky ingenue Polly (Ruby Keeler) – who are searching for work during the Depression. Producer Barney Hopkins (Ned Sparks) stops by and says he’s preparing for a new show as soon as he gets the money to finance it. He hears the girls’ neighbor Brad (Dick Powell) playing the piano and invites him over.

Turns out Brad is a skilled singer/songwriter from a wealthy Boston family, and he and Polly end up engaged. Hijinks ensue as Brad’s brother (Warren William) and a lawyer named Peabody (Guy Kibbee) try to discourage him from marrying a common showgirl. Trixie and Carol turn their “gold digger” charm on these two elitist gentlemen who gradually begin to fall for them. The result is a rollicking fun film with an awesome soundtrack that includes “We’re in the Money,” “Shadow Waltz” and “Pettin’ in the Park.”

TRIVIA: Various people, including director Mervyn LeRoy and choreographer Busby Berkeley, have claimed credit for Ginger Rogers’ pig-Latin rendition of “We’re in the Money.” In her autobiography, Rogers gives the credit to then Warner Bros executive Darryl F. Zanuck.

SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933)

She Done Him Wrong

Cary Grant and Mae West in “She Done Him Wrong” | Paramount

Thurs., Aug. 1, 12 noon, Dutmers Theater, *Free

This musical romance directed by Lowell Sherman stars Mae West (who also wrote the film, along with Harvey Thew and John Bright) as a New York singer and nightclub owner named Lady Lou.

She’s got more suitors than you can imagine, but unfortunately, one of them is a vicious criminal who’s escaped and is headed to see his girl, not realizing she hasn’t exactly been faithful in his absence. Help comes in the form of local temperance league leader Captain Cummings (a young Cary Grant).

TRIVIA: The movie’s line “Why don’t you come up some time and see me?” was voted as the #26 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1913)

Wed., July 31, 12 noon; Dutmers Theater, *Free

This big-budget disaster film was made in 1913. Think about that for a moment. 1913 – 100 years ago. It’s astounding to think about how the film industry has evolved in the past 100 years, and here’s your chance to see one of the first films on a big screen.

The sweeping Italian saga chronicles the final hours in the lives of a prominent statesman, a gorgeous woman, a pagan priest, a jealous witch, and a blind beggar before Mount Vesuvius unleashes her wrath on unsuspecting people below.

TRIVIA: Extras who are “killed” by falling debris during the explosion scene, either get back up or adjust themselves so they won’t be trampled by other extras.

Phantom of the Opera

Lon Chaney in “The Phantom of the Opera” | Universal

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (with Alloy Orchestra) (1925)

Sun., Aug. 4, 3:30 p.m., State Theatre

I’m begging you, DO NOT MISS this classic film, accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra, a group Roger Ebert called “the best in the world at accompanying silent films.” There really is nothing like experiencing it first-hand, and we’re happy Alloy comes back year after year to the Traverse City Film Festival.

An early classic of the horror genre, Rupert Julian’s silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” has been fascinating audiences for almost 90 years. We’re happy to present “Phantom,” starring the great Lon Chaney as a mad, disfigured composer seeking love with a young opera singer, on a lovingly restored and hand-tinted 35mm print.

TRIVIA: Lon Chaney reportedly put egg membrane on his eyeballs to give them a cloudy look.

*Free Screenings: This year, we’re making select movie screenings at the Bijou by the Bay and Dutmers Theater free for the public. Free tickets to these select screenings will be available at the Main Box Office at 128 S. Union Street, by phone or walk-up. Tickets to free screenings are not available online.

ELAINE STRICH, PAUL FEIG, MICHAEL STUHLBARG, BRIT MARLING, MICHAEL APTED, ROB EPSTEIN, LIANA LIBERATO TO HEADLINE 2013 TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL

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Ninth Annual Traverse City Film Festival Brings Hollywood to Northern Michigan

Michael Moore to Host a Special Screening of “The Spectacular Now” at the Grand Opening of Bijou by the Bay

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (July 22, 2013) — The ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF), founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, will welcome over 100 filmmakers and industry professionals as guests of the film festival this coming week, July 30 through August 4.

Paul Feig will be bringing his latest film “The Heat,” while accepting the TCFF Michigan Filmmaker Award. Elaine Stritch will be in person at the TCFF Centerpiece screening of “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me,” and host an exclusive reception to follow. Michael Stuhlbarg, Brit Marling, Rob Epstein and Michael Apted will join TCFF in person to introduce special screenings of festival favorites. Liana Liberato will be in person to accept the TCFF Discovery Award and introduce TCFF films “Trust” and “Erased.”

According to Michael Moore, “Our final screening has been announced! I’m very excited to be showing ‘The Spectacular Now.’ It’s the best romantic coming-of-age movie I’ve seen in years, and will easily go down as the “Say Anything” (John Cusak’s 1989 breakout hit) of this decade. Yes, it’s that good, and I’m so proud that we’ve been given the chance to host this premiere at OUR premiere!”

Moore will host the special screening of the film, starring Shailene Woodley and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, at the opening of TCFF’s new year-round movie theater, Bijou by the Bay. Directly following the screening Moore and sponsor, Chef Mario Batali, will host the fundraiser of the year with food, drinks and special guests, right on Grand Traverse Bay. Tickets to this event are still available. Announced this morning, a lottery drawing of 50 tickets at just $25 apiece will take place tomorrow. To sign up for the drawing, patrons can email bijougranddebut@traversecityfilmfest.org.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning Broadway legend, actress and comedienne Elaine Stritch, will be presenting TCFF’s Centerpiece screening, “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me,” alongside the film’s director, Chiemi Karasawa. The documentary follows the brash and brassy Stritch as she prepares for her latest club tour.

“I’m so excited to welcome the prolific and talented Elaine Stritch to Traverse City. She has had a truly remarkable life and, as you’ll see in the film, has been everywhere and done just about everything. It will be an honor to welcome her back to her home state of Michigan,” says Moore.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the TCFF Centerpiece Film, TCFF has added a reception to honor Ms. Stritch. Stritch, accompanied by her personal piano player, will entertain special invited guests and 80 lucky TCFF patrons into the night. Gourmet cuisine and drinks will be provided by premiere Asian restaurant Red Ginger. Tickets to this event are still available.

This year’s Michigan Filmmaker Award will be presented to Director of hit films “Bridesmaids,” and cult series “Freaks and Geeks,” Mount Clemens-native Paul Feig, who will be in person to accept and introduce a special screening of summer hit “The Heat,” starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

Actor Michael Stuhlbarg, whose credits include “Boardwalk Empire,” “Lincoln,” and the Cohen brothers’ “A Serious Man,” will be introducing both the dark comedy “Seven Psychopaths,” and the Opening Night film, Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” Additional screenings of both films have been announced due to overwhelming popularity.

Stuhlbarg joins a long list of talented and renowned filmmakers including Rob Epstein, who will be bringing both “Lovelace,” and “Battle for Amfar,” up-and-coming actress Liana Liberato, starring in two TCFF films and accepting the TCFF Discovery Award, Director Zal Batmangli and star Brit Marling (who recently appeared in “The Company You Keep,” currently playing at the number one rated State Theatre) to introduce their hit thriller “The East.”

Renowned British director Michael Aped will be in person with his groundbreaking “Up” documentary series. Beginning with “Seven Up!” each of the films will be screened for free at the Dutmers theatre. The latest installment, “56 Up,” will screen at the festival’s anchor venue, the State Theatre.

“We’ve never had a better list of filmmakers,” said Michael Moore, “So many filmmakers are eager to join us here in beautiful Northern Michigan, whether it’s because they’ve heard about our festival, our number one rated movie theater or the amazing audience of film lovers – everyone wants to come to TCFF!”

With more hidden gems this year than any before, TCFF is proud to host a number of World and North American premieres, as well as share smaller, unknown films that will surely go one to be this year’s “Waiting for Sugarman.”

Filmmaker Thomas Morgan’s film “Waiting for Mamu,” about 2102 CNN Hero of the Year award-winner Pushpa Basnet, who will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening, and Ky Dicken’s film, “Sole Survivors,” about the survivors of horrific plane crashes, recently acquired by CNN Films, will both have World Premieres at TCFF.

The smuggled North Korean film “Propaganda” will have its North American premiere at TCFF, with the Director in person to discuss this shocking and mesmerizing look at the impact the West on the rest of the world.

Many filmmakers will be returning to the festival for a second or third year. Rebecca Reynolds and Jim Carpenter will be returning with their film, “Girl on the Train,” Carl Deal and Tia Lessin will be showing their latest film “Citizen Koch,” and Bryn Mooser will be bringing his latest short “Rider and the Storm.” Filmmakers Bob Byington and Mark Cousins will join industry professionals Ira Deutchman and Thom Powers as Moderators of Panels, Q&As and Cinema Salons. Cousins will also be introducing two of his own films to the eager TCFF audience.

Also returning are Traverse City Film Festival board members Terry George, John Robert Williams and Rod Birleson. Founders Michael Moore and John Robert Williams join filmmaker Rod Birleson and Academy Award-winner Terry George in welcoming the local, state-wide, national and international audience of film lovers to this years TCFF.

The continuing list of filmmakers includes:

Mark Covino, Jeffrey Howlett and (“A Band Called Death”);
Patxo Telleria (“Bypass”);
Carl Deal, Brian Cunningham and Tia Lessin (“Citizen Koch”);
Rick Rowley and Jeremy Scahil (“Dirty Wars”);
Doug Benson and Graham Elwood (“Doug Loves Movies Podcast”);
Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling (“The East”);
Chiemi Karasawa and Robert Bowman (“Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me”);
John Gianvito (“Far From Afghanistan”);
Dawn Porter (“Gideon’s Army”);
Jim Carpenter, Larry Brand and Rebecca Reynolds (“The Girl on the Train”);
Roger Ross Williams (“God Loves Uganda”);
Shosh Shlam (“Good Garbage”);
Nicholas Wrathall (“Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia”);
Robert Reich and Jacob Kornbluth (“Inequality for All”);
Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (“Lovelace”);
Michel Poulette and Roseanne Supernault (“Maina”);
Tom Berninger, Craig Charland and Carin Besser (“Mistaken for Strangers”);
Markus Imhoof (“More Than Honey”);
Jordan Kenneth Kamp, Larisa Oleynik, Jeffrey Rosenberg and Spencer Houc (“Orenthal: The Musical”);
Robert Stone (“Pandora’s Promise”);
Terence Donahue, Roger Miller and Kenneth Winokur (“Phantom of the Opera”);
Slavko Martinov (“Propaganda”);
Stan Brock, Farihah Zaman and Jeff Reichert (“Remote Area Medical”);
David Darg and Bryn Mooser (“The Rider and the Storm”);
Ky Dickens, Alexis Jaworski, Kristen Kaza, Amy McIntyre and George Lamson (“Sole Survivor”);
Jane Gillooly (“Suitcase of Love and Shame”);
Laurie Collyer (“Sunlight Jr.”);
Cullen Hoback (“Terms and Conditions May Apply”);
Bill Siegel (“The Trials of Muhammad Ali”);
Kristina Borjesson and David Jakubovic (“TWA Flight 800”);
Patrick Moote (“UnHung Hero”);
Angela Bernhard Thomas, Thomas Morgan, Pushpa Basnet and Ali Sandler (“Waiting for Mamu”);
Robert Greenwald (“War on Whistleblowers”);
Steve Kochones and Joe Russo (“Who Shot Rock & Roll: The Film”);
Arvin Chen (“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”);
Lynne Sachs (“Your Day is My Night”).

TCFF will take place July 30 to August 4. For a full schedule please visit traversecityfilmfest.org.

Tickets for newly announced films and events are on sale at traversecityfilmfest.org, 231-929-FILM and at the TCFF Box Office at 128 Union St. above 7 Monks Taproom in downtown Traverse City, MI.

Social: https://www.facebook.com/TCFilmFest or https://twitter.com/TCFF.

ABOUT THE TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL
The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable and educational non-profit organization founded by Academy Award-winning director and local resident Michael Moore, committed to showing “Just Great Movies” and to helping 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. The festival has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in the Midwest and one of the most respected in the country. The Festival operates the State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay, as year-round, community-based, mission-driven and volunteer-staffed art house movie theaters. For more information, visit traversecityfilmfest.org.

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The Traverse City Film Festival Announces a New Slate of Films for “Moviegoers on a Budget”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Traverse City Film Festival Announces a New Slate of Films for “Moviegoers on a Budget”

“Compliments of the Festival” Expands the Festival’s Lineup of Free Events “Affordable to Everyone”

TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 21, 2013) — A series of free films are the newest addition to the lineup of the ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF), founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore. Select movie screenings at the new Bijou by the Bay, and inside the Dennos Museum’s Dutmers Theater, will be offered free to the public.

“We want to make sure everyone in our state — especially those who are experiencing the fallout from the economic collapse — can be a participant in the Traverse City Film Festival,” said Moore, who also programs the festival. “The people have been having a hard time here in Michigan for far too long, so while somebody figures out what to do, everyone should at least be able to see some great movies, free of charge.

“And anyone who wants to see great movies, who wants take their families on vacation or just wants enjoy a night off, has the chance to do it here at the Traverse City Film Festival.”

Included in these screenings will be Michael Apted’s landmark documentary “7 Up” series. Apted will appear at the festival. Classic films “She Done Him Wrong,” “Gold Diggers of 1933” and “The Last Days of Pompeii” join documentaries “The Battle of amfAR,” “Waiting for Mamu” and “War on Whistleblowers.” And filmmaker Mark Cousins will introduce a special sneak screening of one of his films.

These new “Compliments of the Festival” screenings will join new free Evening Panels at the Cinema Salon in Clinch Park, and a “Newbie” Program for first-time festival attendees. Also new this year, TCFF invites the community and visitors to the first ever TCFF Closing Night Bash in Open Space. Free to the community, the event will feature a special screening of “The Princess Bride.” There will be live music, games and prizes, as well as “Just Desserts,” a variety of delectable confections and sweets available for purchase. Everyone is invited to join TCFF in Open Space park on Sunday, August 4 starting at 7 pm.

TCFF will also continue to offer the following free and affordable events:

*Open Space Movies: Hollywood hits projected on a 65-ft screen at dusk each night in Open Space, surrounded by Grand Traverse Bay.

*Morning Filmmaker Panels at the City Opera House: Join our visiting filmmakers as they share stories from Hollywood to New York, Berlin to Taiwan. The panel members mix it up with each other and the audience in sessions that range from the hilarious to the moving. Panels at the City Opera House are free and begin at 9:30 am daily, so you won’t miss lunch or your 12 noon movie.

*Cinema Salon: After specific 12 noon and 3 pm films, moviegoers and the general public are invited to gather in the Cinema Salon, located in Clinch Park near the new Bijou by the Bay theater, to talk about the movies.

*Kids Fest: After the $1 family movies at Lars Hockstad Auditorium, Wednesday-Saturday at 9:30 am, Kids Fest takes over the front lawn outside for games, arts and crafts, performances, sports, bubbles, music and much more. Bring the sunscreen and kids ready for fun — from 11 am to 2 pm, the entertainment is on us!

*Film School Classes: Returning this year to Scholars Hall at our sponsor Northwestern Michigan College, TCFF Film School offers twice-daily sessions Wednesday through Saturday, featuring visiting filmmakers and professionals sharing insights and experience with an audience of all ages. This year, TCFF board members Michael Moore and Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”) will also each teach a class. More affordable than a textbook, tickets are just $5 per class.

*Music in Clinch Park: Enjoy free concerts by the best local, national and international musicians at our Music Stage on the patio overlooking the water and one of downtown Traverse City’s most popular beaches.

These free and affordable events are designed to say “thank you” to the community that works so hard to make TCFF the best possible festival experience, year after year. TCFF is a charitable non-profit organization that depends on the generosity of community volunteers, who run all areas of the festival and the “number-one-in-the-world” State Theatre.

“I think people have a real sense of ownership of this festival,” Moore says. “Every ticket our volunteers take is not just from someone going to the movies, but also from a stakeholder in this festival. We’re all founders. We all own the festival.”

For more information about the Traverse City Film Festival, ticket information and to receive updates on the 2013 lineup, visittraversecityfilmfest.org. Tickets are on sale now at our Main Box Office at 128 Union St., directly above 7 Monks Taproom in downtown Traverse City, by calling 231-929-FILM (3456), or by visiting
traversecityfilmfest.org.

Social: www.facebook.com/TCFilmFest or twitter.com/TCFF.

ABOUT THE TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL
The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable and educational non-profit organization founded by Academy Award-winning director and local resident Michael Moore, committed to showing “Just Great Movies” and to helping 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. The festival has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in the Midwest and one of the most respected in the country. The Festival operates the State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay, as year-round, community-based, mission-driven and volunteer-staffed art house movie theaters.

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Tickets for Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival on Sale to the Public

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tickets for Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival on Sale to the Public

TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 19, 2013) — Beginning today, Saturday, July 20, tickets are on sale to the general public for the ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival, founded by Academy-Award winning director Michael Moore.

With over 150 films on the schedule, the 2013 Film Festival will once again celebrate the best of American and foreign cinema, kids and midnight movies, experimental films, shorts and documentaries of the year, and highlight “Under the Radar” gems. This year, the festival will also be debuting its newest venue, the Bijou by the Bay, which will act as a year-round sister screen to TCFF’s anchor venue, the State Theatre, recently rated the number one theater in the world by the Motion Picture Association of America.

“This year’s festival has the best lineup of films we’ve ever had, with tickets still available to almost everything — including the series of free films we are offering this year for the first time,” said Michael Moore, Founder of TCFF.

Along with continuing to offer the great programming and events of previous years, this year TCFF will be starting a festival “newbies” program, designed specifically for festival first-timers. The “newbie” program will help the newest TCFF moviegoers schedule their time and make their way around the festival and beautiful downtown Traverse City. Each new festivalgoer can pick up a folder filled with information about food, lodging, transportation and fun in Northern Michigan, as well as guide to how to get the most out of their TCFF experience.

Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival have had access to tickets since the morning of July 14 – almost one full week before public ticketing. While Friends ticketing has been strong in response to the spectacular selection of films – with over 40,000 tickets sold since Friends ticketing began – there are still tickets available to almost every film, with 12 added screenings to be announced shortly. Tickets are also available to popular festival parties and Film School sessions.

When tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friends Memberships for the 10th Anniversary 2014 Traverse City Film Festival will also be available for purchase at a discounted price. Along with advanced ticket sales, Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival memberships also include free tickets to the Friends Only Screening Party, and 50% off one ticket to the Opening Night Party or Filmmaker Party. Friends of the 2014 Traverse City Film Festival will have advanced access to the many events planned to celebrate 10 years of Just Great Movies.

Tickets are available today at the Film Festival Box Office, located at 128 S. Union Street, above 7 Monks Taproom in downtown Traverse City, MI, and by phone at 231-929-FILM (3456) starting at 11 am. Online ticketing will be beginning at 6 pm. For more information about the Traverse City Film Festival, visit www.traversecityfilmfest.org or 231.392.1134.

ABOUT THE TRAVERSE CITY FILM FESTIVAL

The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable and educational non-profit organization founded by Academy Award-winning director and local resident Michael Moore, committed to showing “Just Great Movies” and to helping 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. The festival has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in the Midwest and one of the most respected in the country. The Festival operates the State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay, as year-round, community-based, mission-driven and volunteer-staffed art house movie theaters. For more information, visit traversecityfilmfest.org.

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Traverse City’s Bijou by the Bay Will Open on July 29 – “On Time and On Budget!” says Founder Michael Moore

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Traverse City’s Bijou by the Bay Will Open on July 29 – “On Time and On Budget!” says Founder Michael Moore

Traverse City, MI, July 19, 2013 — Two months ago, the Traverse City Film Festival set out to open the Bijou by the Bay movie theater in Clinch Park by the beginning of this year’s ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival. The first film is scheduled to be shown at the Bijou on July 29, and films will play at the Bijou throughout the festival.

With less than two weeks before its grand opening, teams of more than 35 skilled tradesmen are working three shifts at a time to complete the theater. President and founder of the Traverse City Film Festival, filmmaker Michael Moore, issued a report today stating that the project is “going along so well, it looks like we may come in under budget and finish a few days early.” The total budget to restore and open the Bijou is $800,000.

“Six years ago we rebuilt the State Theatre on Front Street in downtown Traverse City, Michigan in six weeks for under $800,000,” said Moore. “With the Bijou, we’ll have it done in five weeks for under $800,000.”

He added, “The people of northern Michigan LOVE to go to the movies — good movies and great movies. People who hadn’t been to a theater in years now flock to the State to watch foreign films, indie movies and documentaries. That’s not on the coasts — it’s here in middle America. It’s proof that everybody wants to see a good movie, something which has gotten harder and harder to do.”

The State Theatre, recently rated the number one theatre in the world by the Motion Picture Association of America, is expected to sell its one-millionth ticket this week — a major accomplishment in a town with a year-round population of 16,000 people.

“Everything is going great,” said Bijou general contractor Thom Darga. “We’ve had zero cost-overruns, zero change orders and, frankly, we’re going to come in at a couple dollars under budget.”

Darga said he’s been able to stay within budget because local subcontractors have donated much of the extra costs to make the theater “a top-flight venue.”

Tickets to the Bijou Grand Debut on July 29th are available now at traversecityfilmfest.org. There will be a sneak preview of a major Oscar-contending Hollywood film which will open nationally this fall. The Debut screening and after-party will be being sponsored by Chef Mario Batali and Susi Cahn.

The Bijou will open as a year-round movie house this coming Labor Day weekend. A grand opening party and community-wide celebration, which will include a free open house and numerous free festivities, are currently being planned.

“I would love to share with communities nationwide how they, too, can rebuild a 1930s-era movie house that will turn their town around,” said Moore. “We invite anyone and everyone to come to the Bijou to see how we do this.”

9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival Officially in a Go Mode!

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Traverse City Film Festival

Ticket buyers boarding the shuttle at the State Theatre | Jane Boursaw Photo

With ticket sales now underway, the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival is officially in a go mode! I’ll be your host and humble blogger here for the duration, and I look forward to chatting with you here on the blog, as well as out and about in the fest. I’m excited!

So let’s start with Sunday, a.k.a. Day One of Ticket Sales. Listen, I’d stood in line for tickets in previous years, so figured I had plenty of time to take my mom to church in the morning, then buzz to town and chat up a few people standing in line.

But holy smokes, I got to the State Theatre around 1:30 p.m., and just barely caught the last few people before they boarded the shuttle to head down the street to the Main Box Office, which this year is located above 7 Monks Taproom at 128 S. Union Street.

Clearly, the new system is a smashing success. Instead of standing in the hot sun for hours as in previous years, ticket buyers sat in the cool comfort of the State Theatre and watched previews of the festival films. The festival keeps changing it up, and each year things get more and more streamlined.

“It was so much better than last year,” said film festival volunteer Nancy Briggs. “Once we got going, it was just like clockwork. People were able to watch previews, and some even changed their minds about films after watching the previews.”

Traverse City Film Festival: Volunteer N

Volunteer Nancy Briggs on day one of ticket sales at the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival | Jane Boursaw Photo

Tom Sawyer (yes, his real name, he assured me!), didn’t have to wait long after arriving at the State Theatre. The film aficionado from Chapel Hill, North Carolina expressed excitement over many of the films, but is especially looking forward to the documentaries, including “The Human Scale,” which delves into the impending issue of overpopulation, and “Inequality For All,” an engrossing film about the widening income gap in America, featuring former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich as an affable tour guide through the current U.S. economy.

Traverse City Film Festival: Tom Sawyer

Tom Sawyer, looking forward to the documentaries at the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival | Jane Boursaw Photo

Kristin Smith, Linda Poindexter and Juli Ringwelski agreed they were looking forward to ALL the films, as were Muriel and Bob Peavler, whom I chatted with while they waited in comfort at the State Theatre before boarding the shuttle to the box office.

Traverse City Film Festival

Kristin Smith, Linda Poindexter & Juli Ringwelski on day one of ticket sales at the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival | Jane Boursaw Photo

Then I scurried down the street to the box office and caught up with a few folks in line there. Terry Haslinger perhaps had one of the longest journeys to buy tickets on Sunday. The film fan left Stratford, Ontario at 6 a.m. that morning and drove six hours to Traverse City. That’s dedication!

Traverse City Film Festival

Terry Haslinger traveled to T.C. from Canada to get tickets for the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival | Jane Boursaw Photo

Stephanie and Nathan Schultz were fresh off a game of tennis as they waited in line at the Main Box Office. The couple moved to Traverse City from Los Angeles three years ago, and have been attending the film festival each year. Yes, you read that right. They moved here from L.A. and now watch more movies than ever before. That’s how we do it in Traverse City.

Traverse City Film Festival

Stephanie and Nathan Schultz, fresh off a game of tennis to buy tickets for the 9th Annual Traverse City Film Festival | Jane Boursaw Photo

While we’ve already set a new record for first-day TCFF ticket sales, there are still plenty of tickets available for great films.

Tickets for Friends of the Film Festival are now available at this site you’re reading, by phone at (231) 929-FILM(3456), and at the Main Box Office, located, as mentioned, at 128 S. Union Street, above 7 Monks Taproom.

Public ticket sales begin on July 20 at 11 a.m. for walk up and phone sales. Online sales begin at 6 p.m. that same day.

Box Office Hours:

Pre-Festival Hours (July 14-29):
Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Special extended hours: Open until 9 p.m. July 28 & 29

Festival Hours (July 30-Aug 4):
Tue-Sat, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Special extended hours: Open until 9 p.m. July 30 & 31

Check back here daily for news, interviews, festival tips, tidbits and more!

Ticket Swap

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Everyone’s comments have been removed – thanks to all who participated in the swap!

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 moviegoers 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 is post tickets that you want/have and a telephone number or email where you can be reached.

See you at the movies!

The Traverse City Film Festival Celebrates Its Ninth Year With Over 150 Screenings of Films From Around the World

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Traverse City Film Festival Celebrates Its Ninth Year With Over 150 Screenings of Films From Around the World

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (July 9, 2013)— Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore has announced the lineup for the ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival, to be held July 30 to August 4 in Traverse City, MI. This summer’s festival will feature more great movies, more free and family events, and the grand opening of a brand new, year-round venue. It is anticipated to be the biggest and most exciting festival to date.

“There’s something for everyone here in Traverse City, with one guaranteed promise: we’re the people who show just great movies,” said festival founder, president and programmer Michael Moore.

With over 150 films on the schedule and a record number of industry guests invited, this year’s festival will once again celebrate the year’s best in both American and foreign cinema, hits and hidden gems and a continued focus on bringing important and engaging documentaries to the big screen.

“I can’t wait for the audience to see what we’ve found on our cinematic travels around the world,” Moore continued.

Kicking off this year’s festival will be the latest film from renowned filmmaker Woody Allen, “Blue Jasmine.” Broadway legend Elaine Stritch will be in person for the special screening of Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” as will former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and British filmmaker Michael Apted will be bringing “56 Up,” plus his entire “7 Up” Series. More surprise guests and films will be announced in the next two weeks.

As a part of the Traverse City Film Festival’s commitment to celebrating and preserving the art of cinema, TCFF will open a second year-round indie movie theater located in Traverse City called the Bijou by the Bay. The TCFF is restoring the Con Foster Museum, a Traverse City landmark located in the newly renovated Clinch Park on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay. The Bijou will be the new sister screen to the TCFF anchor venue, the State Theatre, recently named the number one movie theater in the world by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Other new additions to the festival this year include daily free Compliments of the Festival screenings, evening panels at the Cinema Salon in Clinch Park and a “newbie” program for first-time festival attendees.

The festival is held in downtown Traverse City, continually recognized as one of the best and most beautiful vacation destinations with some of the greatest cultural events, art, food, wine and entertainment offerings in the country.

Early tickets will be available to the Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival starting Sunday, July 14. There is still time to become a Friend by going to traversecityfilmfest.org. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, July 20. Tickets can be purchased online at traversecityfilmfest.org, or in person at the TCFF Box Office located 128 S. Union Street, above 7 Monks Taproom.
2013 Festival Highlights:

OPENING NIGHT

The festival kicks off with “Blue Jasmine” by legendary comic auteur Woody Allen. After a stretch of films set abroad, his latest work brings us back to American soil, where a wealthy New York socialite, played by Cate Blanchett, moves to San Francisco to escape her faltering marriage to a wealthy Wall Street executive, played by Alec Baldwin. With an outstanding cast, including Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard and Louis C.K., 2013 will have an opening night to remember.

RENOWNED FILMMAKER MICHAEL APTED IN ATTENDANCE

The Traverse City Film Festival proudly welcomes celebrated British filmmaker Michael Apted, known for his revealing documentaries and his iconic work with James Bond. His groundbreaking “Up” series (“Seven Up!,” “7 Plus Seven,” “21 Up,” “28 Up,” “35 Up,” “42 Up,” and “49 Up”) has followed the trials and tribulations of a group of British children from a variety of backgrounds, taking a snapshot of their lives every seven years. The series will be screened for free at the Dutmers Theater, culminating with a screening of the latest installment, “56 Up,” at the State Theatre.

OPEN SPACE MOVIES

The free Open Space films include “Across the Universe” on July 30, “Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” on July 31, “Some Like it Hot” on August 1, “Independence Day” on August 2, and the People’s Choice vote winner “Apollo 13” on August 3. As a special treat this year, we’re extending Open Space films to Sunday night where we will screen “The Princess Bride” on August 4, preceded by a special community party, the TCFF Closing Night Bash.

BEST OF WORLD CINEMA

“Dancing Queen,” starring two of Korea’s biggest pop stars is a charming comedy and the definition of a feel-good crowd pleaser. Oscar-Nominated Best Foreign Language Film “Kon-Tiki” will be showing along with “Wajdja,” the first feature film ever shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first by a female Saudi filmmaker. We will also be showing hit rom-coms, South African “Fanie Fourie’s Lobola” and Taiwanese “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

DOUG LOVES MOVIES

Comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me, Last Comic Standing, The Benson Interruption) invites his friends to sit down and discuss his first love: movies! Benson, a stand-up sellout at this year’s Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival, is back to record a special live edition of the popular Doug Loves Movies podcast live from the Old Town Playhouse with Michael Moore and special guests.

STATE THEATRE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

As the State Theatre’s celebration of 100 years of showing movies in the historic downtown movie house fast approaches, the festival continues a five-year pre-party with great films from the early days of cinema. Look for classics like “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “The Last Days of Pompeii,” “She Done Him Wrong,” as well as a special screening of “The Phantom of the Opera” accompanied by the world-famous Alloy Orchestra, which Roger Ebert called “the best in the world at accompanying silent films.”

TCFF SHORTS PROGRAMS

The Traverse City Film Festival is honored to have been named to the Documentary Short Subject Qualifying Festival List for the Academy of Motion Pictures Sciences. The winner of the Best Short Documentary Film award at the TCFF is automatically eligible to submit to the Academy for Oscar consideration.

FESTIVAL ON A BUDGET

The festival strives to offer fun experiences for everyone – no matter their budget. With free industry guest panels, free outdoor nightly movies on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, film school sessions for $5, Kids Fest movies for $1 with a free daily lawn party, and free musical performances on the music stage in Clinch Park from 12 noon to 7 pm daily, everyone who attends the festival can have a fun, memorable experience at an affordable price.

CLOSING NIGHT

TCFF will be wrapping up the ninth annual Film Festival with “Austenland,” starring Keri Russell as a thirty-something with an unhealthy obsession with all things Jane Austen. Lucky for her, there’s Austenland, the ultimate getaway for literary devotees. The directorial debut from “Napoleon Dynamite” screenwriter Jerusha Hess is a rollicking rom-com featuring a supporting cast including Bret Mackenzie and Jennifer Coolidge delivering big laughs.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable and educational non-profit organization 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 and local resident Michael Moore. For more information, visit traversecityfilmfest.org.


Announcing the Movies of the 2013 Traverse City Film Festival

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Friends,

Today we announce 150+ films that will appear at this summer’s 9th annual Traverse City Film Festival. It’s an incredible list of new American and foreign movies plus the best documentaries of the coming year. And we’ve got great classics and tributes and lots of surprises. There’s something for everyone here in Traverse City, with one guaranteed promise: we’re the people who show just great movies! I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve found from our cinematic travels around the world.

This year you’ll find a range of movies that will take you from a hilarious romantic comedy in Spain and a harrowing World War II drama in Amsterdam to a woman who wants to be the Madonna of Korea and a man who wants to play OJ in a musical. And we have an abundance of documentaries that will turn your head, make it spin, drive you crazy and then inspire you to get up and dance.

Joining us in person will be the great British filmmaker Michael Apted, the Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and the groundbreaking director Rob Epstein. Other surprise guests and films will be announced in the next two weeks.

Most importantly, we will have the opening of our second brand new indie theater here in Traverse City, operated year-round by the TCFF. It’s called the Bijou by the Bay and it sits behind the State (on the Bay!). I encourage you to catch a film in this beautifully-restored Traverse City landmark that was originally built in the 1930s as part of the Roosevelt Administration’s New Deal.

You’ll notice other new additions to the Traverse City Film Festival this year: select FREE Compliments of the Festival screenings at the Bijou and at Dutmers Theater, evening panels at the Cinema Salon in Clinch Park and a newbie program for first-time festival attendees.

So go online now (or pick up today’s Traverse City Record-Eagle for a full-color printed guide) and see the amazing line up we have for you this year. Ticketing starts next Sunday, July 14 for Friends of the Film Festival (public sales begin Saturday, July 20), so take the week to make your list, and try to see as many of these great movies as you can.

Looking forward to seeing all of you here in Traverse City!

Yours,
Michael Moore
President and Founder
Traverse City Film Festival

P.S. As always, I want to point out some special films that I fear many may make the mistake of over-looking because they may seem too “different” or “hard” or “foreign.” While each film in this guide is exceptional, please don’t miss these “Under the Radar” movies which you’ll only see in TC.

“Propaganda” – No film festival has had the courage – or been crazy enough – to show this “North Korean Propaganda Film.” But we will. Be the first American to say you saw it!

“56 Up” – The latest in the series of documentaries about the lives of a half-dozen British children. They were 7 years old when the series started in 1964, and every seven years since, acclaimed director Michael Apted has made a movie about where they are at in their lives. It is nothing short of fascinating. Roger Ebert called the combined series “one of the 10 best films of all time.” See the latest in the series at the State with the director in person – and watch the entire series over at Dutmers Theater this week!

“Wadjda” – Some believe this will be the guaranteed hit of our festival this year, like “Searching for Sugar Man” was last year. This is the first ever feature-length movie made by a woman Saudi director, and it’s a great movie! You’ll fall in love with this 11-year-old girl growing up in Riyadh, and her pursuit of freedom in the form of a bicycle.

“The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology” – Every year I bring at least one film for very smart people. As that includes most of you, please don’t fight in line over the tickets to this movie. If you love philosophy, psychology and the movies, and have wondered why capitalism is the beast that just won’t die, this mind-f*** of a movie has been brought here just for you. (Note: there are no perverts in this film.)

“Fanie Fourie’s Lobola” – Huh? What’s this title say? I dunno. But it’s maybe the sweetest romantic film in the fest. Set in South Africa, a white boy and a black girl fall in love – and it’s funny. Go see it. (While watching it recently, with Nelson Mandela clinging to life as we go to press, I was truly moved by this story from a country that was the poster child for racism not too long ago.)

“The First Movie” – Oh man, what a beaut of a film! The great Mark Cousins (maker of the 16-hour “The Story of Film,” TCFF’12) returns to TCFF with a documentary about his attempt to set up the first (outdoor) movie theater in a small village in the Kurdish section of northern Iraq. The power of film and its effects on people is front and center in this moving documentary.

“Citizen Koch” – The most important film no American should miss. Find out why the Citizens United decision that lets corporations buy elections poses the single greatest threat to our democracy. A must.

“Orenthal: The Musical” – Orenthal, as in OJ Simpson? Yup. The film I wish I woulda made, and one of the best comedies in the festival.

“The Act of Killing” – They were the torturers and murderers who ran the genocide in Indonesia back in the 20th century. Now they are old men, still in power in their country. The director of this documentary asked them to show him how they did their killing, and they agree, and then proceed to do so with frightening glee. Think Goebbels giving you a tour of how the German ovens ran, and how the gas showers worked even better! Shocking. Weird. Real.

Afghanistan War Films – Oh yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “I just can’t get ENOUGH of more movies about America’s longest war ever!” Yeah, me too. But just when other filmmakers and I felt we’d said everything that needs to be said about this mess, along came new films this year that blew my mind and took me to places I didn’t expect to go. From the esoteric, experimental genius of a film “Far From Afghanistan,” to the sarcastically blunt “This Is What Winning Looks Like,” to the damning expose of this war’s “My Lai” massacre, “Dirty Wars,” all I can say – in the words of Arthur Miller in “Death of a Salesman” – is “attention must be paid.” Don’t miss these powerful films!

“Much Ado About Nothing” – Best Shakespeare Film of the last decade.

TCFF 2013 FREE Movie Screenings!

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Compliments of the Festival

This year, we’re making select movie screenings at the Bijou by the Bay and at Dutmers Theater free for the public. Free tickets to these select screenings will be available at the Main Box Office at 128 S. Union Street, by phone or walk-up, when public ticketing begins on Saturday, July 20.

Free Screenings:

Wednesday, July 31

Waiting for Mamu – 12 noon at Bijou by the Bay
The Last Days of Pompeii – 12 noon at Dutmers Theater
War on Whistleblowers – 6 pm at Bijou by the Bay

Thursday, August 1

She Done Him Wrong – 12 noon at Dutmers Theater
Mark Cousins Secret Screening – 6 pm at Bijou by the Bay

Friday, August 2

The Battle of amfAR – 9 am at Bijou by the Bay
Seven Up! with 7 Plus Seven – 3 pm at Dutmers Theater
21 Up – 6 pm at Dutmers Theater
28 Up – 9 pm at Dutmers Theater

Saturday, August 3

35 Up – 9 am at Dutmers Theater
42 Up – 12 noon at Dutmers Theater
49 Up – 3 pm at Dutmers Theater

Sunday, August 4

Gold Diggers of 1933 – 12 noon at Dutmers Theater